Greenwich Schools Operations Director Ben Branyan Appointed Town Administrator

Greenwich First Selectman Peter J. Tesei has appointed Ben Branyan as the Greenwich Town Administrator, effective June 1. Mr. Branyan currently serves as the Managing Director of Operations for the Greenwich Public Schools and has been successfully managing business operations for the District since 2010. He brings almost 20 years of experience in managing the day-to-day operations of local governments with a track record of success in delivering balanced budgets, and applying innovative and efficient strategies to improve service delivery and operations.

Ben Branyan (left) at backpack giveaway at Town Hall with John Jee Rotary Club’s Community Service Chair and Russ Harden. Credit: Leslie Yager

“Ben brings a wealth of experience in municipal government and schools’ administration,” Mr. Tesei said. “He is thoughtful and approachable and understands the Town’s decentralized governance structure. His experience with the Town through his current position as Managing Director of Operations for the Greenwich Public Schools adds value to the Town administration as he understands our operations and will be an important bridge between the two organizations.”

Mr. Branyan has been highly effective in developing improved systems and structures for the operation areas of the Greenwich Public Schools, including accounting and finance, continuing education, facilities, food services, purchasing, residency, safety and security, technology, and transportation. He has prepared five multi-million dollar school district budgets, successfully ushered them through the Town approval process, and closed each year with a balanced budget.

Mr. Branyan has been instrumental in managing the operations related to the Music Instructional Space and Auditorium (MISA) building project at Greenwich High School as well as the management to date of the New Lebanon School building project.

“Ben Branyan has been a highly valued administrator for the schools,” said Superintendent McKerie in a release. “Without a doubt, this is a loss for the Greenwich Public Schools. This is a great opportunity for Ben. All of Greenwich will benefit from Ben’s rare mix of dedication, expertise and integrity.”

Ben Branyan bio:

Ben Branyan began working in Greenwich in 2010 as the Greenwich Public School’s School Business Administrator and was promoted to the Managing Director of Operations in 2011. Over the last five years, Mr. Branyan has provided strategic leadership for the operational functions of the school district to include accounting and finance, continuing education, facilities, food services, purchasing, residency, safety and security, technology, and transportation.

Prior to coming to Greenwich in September 2010, Mr. Branyan was the Chief Operating Officer for the Stratford Public Schools in Stratford, responsible for all school district operations.

He began with the Stratford Public Schools in 2006 as the School Business Administrator
responsible for financial operations, budgeting, payroll, purchasing, food services,
transportation and building maintenance. Prior to his work with public schools, Mr. Branyan spent over ten years in operations for several municipalities. He was with the Town of Stratford, beginning in 2002 as the Assistant Town Manager, and by 2005 he rose to the position of Chief Administrative Officer for this Town of approximately 50,000 residents.

From 1997 to 1999, Mr. Branyan worked for the City of East Grand Rapids, MI as a Project Specialist and then in 1999 he was promoted to the Assistant to the City Manager. Working for the City of East Grand Rapids, he redesigned the city’s emergency operations plan, implemented cost accounting in Finance and Parks & Recreation, and managed and planned for the City’s information technology needs. He started his career in a City Manager Internship with the City of Cedar Springs, MI (1995-1996), and also spent one year as an Assistant and Managerial Trainee with the Township of Lower Municipal Utilities Authority, NJ (1996-1997).

Mr. Branyan received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI in 1998 and his Master’s degree in Public Administration from Western Michigan University, Grand Rapids, MI in 1999.