News Release

Shawn Leininger Joins Town of Hilton Head Island as Assistant Town Manager

May 20, 2024

The Town of Hilton Head Island welcomes Shawn Leininger to its leadership team as Assistant Town Manager.  Leininger brings over two dozen years of experience in city government with him to this role and will oversee the Planning, Facilities, and Information Technology departments.

"Shawn knows the Lowcountry region from his experience working for the Town of Bluffton,” said Town Manager Marc Orlando. “His vast understanding and management of planning, zoning, community and economic development, facilities, and capital improvement projects make him an incredible asset to our team.”

Leininger comes to Hilton Head Island with experience in various public sector organizations. Almost a decade ago, he was an Assistant Town Manager in Bluffton. For the last four years, he has served as the Director of Planning and Development for the City of Lakewood, Ohio.  In that role, he oversaw the planning, zoning, community development, economic development, and workforce housing programs for the densest city in Ohio, with over 50,000 people in 5.5 square miles. He also established and fostered strategic partnerships with public and private agencies to implement various initiatives and capital improvements.

One of Leininger's notable achievements in Lakewood was spearheading the $135 million mixed-use redevelopment of a 5.7-acre city-owned site downtown. This project will create over 320 new market-rate and affordable workforce residential units, 40,000 square feet of neighborhood market space, and a community gathering space. It also will result in the adaptive reuse of the historic Curtis Block building.

Leininger was also instrumental in Lakewood’s Active Transportation Plan, Safe Streets for All Action Plan, and Americans with Disabilities Act Self-Evaluation & Transition Plan.  Additionally, he established multiple tax incentive districts supporting redevelopment, job creation, and workforce housing, and helped lead reinvestment in Lakewood’s parks and facilities.

“I was proud of what I accomplished in Ohio - leading teams, implementing initiatives, and redeveloping programs that improved the lives of citizens every day. But I always loved the Lowcountry of South Carolina and jumped at the chance to return to the area, work with Marc Orlando again, and help make Hilton Head Island even better through my role in Town government."

Before his position in Lakewood, Leininger was the Executive Director of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, which consisted of 59 cities, villages, and townships. He previously spent three years as the Director of Development and Public Service for the City of Fairview Park, Ohio, overseeing development, building, and public service departments.

Leininger spent five years with the Town of Bluffton, where he started as a Principal Planner and rose to Assistant Town Manager. Among his accomplishments were overhauling the Unified Development Ordinance, helping to develop the Bluffton Home Series and Workforce Housing Incentive Program, which promoted the construction of workforce housing and the replacement of manufactured homes. He also executed the sale of town-owned property at Buckwalter Place to EviCore, ensuring a long-term home for one of Bluffton’s top employers.  Leininger negotiated a multi-party agreement resulting in the transfer of the Kent Estates development rights to the Town and the sale of foreclosed property to the Rural and Critical Lands Board, protecting the headwaters of the Okatie River and the interests of a top employer (NHC Healthcare) that occupied a portion of the site.

"During his time in Ohio, Shawn has worked on a series of initiatives that mirror what we are doing or want to accomplish on Hilton Head Island,” Orlando said. “Additionally, his previous experiences in the area equip him with an understanding of South Carolina’s rules and regulations for development and partnership agreements. This familiarity will enable him to hit the ground running in his new position, overseeing and improving operations, information technology, and facilities and contributing to the strategic planning of our community."

Leininger earned a master’s degree in city and regional planning and a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in sociology, both from The Ohio State University. He holds certification as a planner from the American Institute of Certified Planners. Leininger’s office will be at the Hilton Head Island Town Hall, 1 Town Center Court. He can be contacted via email at ShawnL@hiltonheadislandsc.gov.

Meet Shawn Leininger

What drew you to this position and a return to the Lowcountry?
It's Hilton Head Island and a coming home of sorts for us.  We lived in Bluffton before making the difficult decision to move back to Ohio so our kids could be closer to family during their middle and high school years. While we did not have a specific timeframe, we had hoped to return to the Lowcountry someday.  Now we are almost empty nesters and the opportunity to be part of the senior leadership team for the Town of Hilton Head Island was tremendous and could not be missed. I was particularly drawn by the work of the Town Council and the Town Manager in establishing a clear vision, mission, and Strategic Action Plan and how it aligned with my experiences and abilities.

What is the project, initiative, or program that you are most proud of in your career?
I am proud of each of my accomplishments throughout my career.  In leading numerous municipal departments, I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to be part of many projects, programs, and initiatives covering most functional areas of local government including planning and zoning, economic and community development, building safety, capital projects planning and implementation, and operations and maintenance.  Personally, the most rewarding aspect of all these efforts has been how my teams and I were able to solve different, and at times opposing, inputs to create results that improved the quality of life for the community.

What do you hope to accomplish in your position as Assistant Town Manager for Hilton Head Island?
Leading the successful implementation of the current and future Strategic Action Plans would be a tremendous accomplishment in preserving and enhancing the quality of life of Hilton Head Island residents and businesses. The Strategic Action Plan is the playbook for how we as a community continually strive for excellence in the services we provide. In leading these initiatives, my role is to provide appropriate oversight, as directed by the Town Manager and Town Council, so that the implementation is on time, on or under budget, and of the highest quality possible. It is also my role to be a resource and mentor to Town Staff to make certain that they have the tools necessary to be successful.