FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE City Manager Greg Burris has named Darla Morrison to serve as interim Human Resources director effective Oct. 21. Morrison temporarily replaces Sheila Maerz, who announced her retirement in July. Maerz’s last day with the City is Oct. 20. "In addition to her knowledge and experience in Human Resources, Darla has built strong relationships throughout the City’s workforce that will serve her and the City well as the interim Human Resources director," Maerz said. Morrison has served in the City’s HR department since 1991. In her current role as senior human resources coordinator, which she has held since 2011, Morrison supervises and manages the employment, training and classification division of the department. She has a master’s degree in public administration from Missouri State University and a bachelor of science in human resources and psychology, also from MSU. Before joining the City, Morrison worked in Human Resources for Marion Laboratories in Kansas City, Bass Pro and Great Southern Bank. She has passed and received certification in the first sitting of the Senior Professional Human Resources Certification exam and is a member of the Society of Human Resources Management and the Springfield Area Human Resources Association. Morrison lives in Springfield with her husband Scott and two daughters. “I look forward to working with Darla as we continue to strive to be Springfield’s employer of choice and recruit the best and the brightest to join the City team,” Burris says. ### For more information, contact: Melissa Haase, Assistant Director of Public Information & Civic Engagement, 417-864-1003 (office) | 417-536-7648 (cell), [email protected]