The City of Antioch is pleased to announce several key personnel changes as it continues its commitment to strong leadership.
- Assistant City Manager Kwame Reed has resigned from his position. In the interim, Brad Helfenberger, the City’s Parks & Recreation Director, has been appointed Acting Assistant City Manager. A competitive internal hiring process is currently underway to permanently fill the position.
- Shahad Wright, Recreation Services Manager with the Parks & Recreation Department, will serve as the Acting Parks & Recreation Director.
- The City also welcomes Jaden Baird as its new Public Information Officer (PIO), who will be responsible for overseeing communications and public engagement efforts.
- David Storer has been appointed Interim Director for both Community Development and Economic Development.
- Scott Buenting, who has served as Acting Public Works Director/City Engineer for the past two and a half years, has now been officially appointed to the permanent role. Buenting was selected after a rigorous competitive process.
To further strengthen the City’s leadership team, Bob Hall & Associates has been selected through a competitive process to assist in filling key director positions that remain open. These positions include Community Development Director, Economic Development Director, and Assistant City Engineer.
The City appreciates the continued dedication of our staff and leadership team as we work to enhance services and opportunities for our community. Please find the attached bios for our new hires and appointments.
JADEN BAIRD
Jaden Baird has assumed the role of Public Information Officer for the City of Antioch. Jaden is a dynamic communications leader with a proven track record of strengthening public engagement, crisis communications, and strategic messaging. He brings years of experience in public relations, media strategy, and community outreach.
Prior to joining the City of Antioch, Jaden served as the Executive Director of Communications and Community Engagement for the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, where he led comprehensive communication initiatives, expanded digital engagement, and managed crisis response efforts that reinforced trust between the district and the community.
His expertise in social media strategy, multimedia storytelling, and press relations will play a vital role in enhancing Antioch’s public outreach efforts. His vision for the City of Antioch’s communications strategy is one of transparency, innovation, and inclusivity, ensuring that every resident stays informed and connected to City government.
SCOTT BUENTING
Scott Buenting has been appointed Director of Public Works/City Engineer, after a nearly 25-year journey through the Public Works and Engineering departments.
Scott is a proud Antioch native. He attended Sutter Elementary, Park Jr. High, and Antioch High School. Scott received a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly. He was hired as an assistant engineer in 2000, designing capital improvement projects, construction contracts, performing inspections, and utility alignment assessments. In 2004, he earned his Professional Engineering Certification. In 2005, he was promoted to Associate Civil Engineer, then managing capital improvement budgets, supervising inspectors, overseeing site visits, field surveys, and environmental clearance documents.
In 2017, Scott was promoted to Project Manager. Since 2022, he’s held the responsibilities of Acting Director of Public Works/City Engineer, working to secure state and federal grant funding, managing contracts, and capital improvement projects. His focus on protecting the City’s pre-1914 water rights and water/wastewater rate structures also encompasses his work toward supervising construction of the $100M Brackish Water Desalination Project.
Scott plans to continue developing and administering Public Works and capital improvement budgets and overseeing the Public Works operations of the City he grew up in and cares for deeply.
BRAD HELFENBERGER
Brad returns to his role as Assistant City Manager after previously serving in this role for 15 months until October 2024. With his extensive experience in municipal leadership, parks and recreation, and community engagement, he is ready to continue advancing key initiatives and strengthening city operations. Brad was originally hired with the City of Antioch as the Parks and Recreation Director in February 2021. Brad has more 25 years of experience in municipal government and holds a Bachelor of Science in Recreation from San Jose State University. Prior to joining the City of Antioch, Brad held leadership roles in the City of Emeryville, the Hayward Area Recreation & Park District, and the City of Milpitas.
His expertise in budget management, policy development, and interdepartmental collaboration has made a lasting impact in every community he has served. As the City’s Parks and Recreation Director, he has been instrumental in enhancing public spaces, expanding recreational programming, and fostering community engagement.
As Acting Assistant City Manager, Brad will focus on supporting citywide initiatives that promote economic development, public safety, and efficient municipal services. His leadership will be key in ensuring that Antioch continues to provide high-quality services to its residents while addressing the city’s evolving needs.
DAVID A. STORER
With more than three decades of experience in city planning, land use policy, and public administration, David brings a wealth of expertise to our community. His distinguished career includes leadership roles as Planning Director for the cities of Sonoma and Folsom, Assistant City Manager for Elk Grove, and extensive consulting experience providing strategic planning services to municipalities across Northern California.
As a lifetime member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), David holds a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Brigham Young University. His deep understanding of community development and public sector operations will be instrumental in advancing the city’s vision for sustainable growth and quality of life.
SHAHAD WRIGHT
As the Acting Parks and Recreation Director, Shahad will assume responsibility for all programs, activities, and operations of the Parks and Recreation Department. Shahad was hired in April 2022 as a recreation supervisor and was promoted to Recreation Services Manager the following year. He was born and raised in the Bay Area and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Recreation with an emphasis in non-profits from San Francisco State University. He became an employee of the YMCA in 2003, leading local and national programming for more than 15 years. While working for the YMCA he also traveled across the country for NIKE as an event planner, hosting events for NBA All-Star weekends and USA Olympics.
Information released by City of Antioch
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