The Mayor’s Office works with all City departments on various projects and serves as a liaison between the mayor and the residents of the City of South Bend.
MAYOR JAMES MUELLER
Mayor of South Bend
Mayor Mueller is the chief executive of the City of South Bend. The city’s thirty-third mayor, he was sworn into office on January 1, 2020. As mayor, Mueller is responsible for the city workforce of over 1,000 employees and an annual budget over $380 million.
After attending St. Joseph’s High School, the University of Notre Dame, and the University of Delaware for his PhD, Mueller worked in public policy before returning home in 2015 to join the Buttigieg administration as Mayor Pete’s Chief of Staff, Mueller promoted pragmatic public policies and affordable energy solutions at the George Washington University’s Solar Institute in Washington, DC. He also served in the office of US Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), for nearly four years, first as a John A. Knauss Legislative Fellow and then as a policy adviser on energy and natural resources.
Mueller’s tenure as Chief of Staff included the establishment of the first Diversity and Inclusion Office in Indiana, as well as the creation of the Departments of Innovation & Technology and the Venues Parks and Arts Department. Mueller went on to become the Executive Director of Community Investment where he was responsible for attracting businesses to South Bend and investing in the neighborhoods. Early in his tenure as Executive Director of Community Investment, Mueller established the Engagement & Economic Empowerment Division to empower residents with access to economic opportunities and meaningful civic participation
KACEY GERGELY
Chief of Staff
A native Hoosier, Kacey Gergely has been named Chief of Staff for the Mayor’s Office. Gergely was the Campaign Manager for Mayor Mueller’s 2019 Mayoral election. Prior to moving back to South Bend, Gergely worked on campaign finance and strategy for a statewide race in Georgia. After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame, she served in the Peace Corps in Tanzania and then returned home to pursue a Master’s in Public Health from Emory University.
JORDAN GATHERS
Deputy Chief of Staff
Mayor Mueller is the chief executive of the City of South Bend. The city’s Jordan Gathers has been named as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Mayor’s Office. Gathers joins the administration from Indiana University Health in the Office of the President engaging communications to both internal and external stakeholders. He previously served as liaison between Executive and staff members — overseeing the strategic planning team for $2 billion replacement hospital project. Gathers graduated from St. Bonaventure University with a B.S. in Journalism and Mass Communications. He also attended Butler University and later earned a Master of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Allison Zeithammer
Director of Communications
Allison is a South Bend native who served as a Multimedia Journalist and Weekend Morning Anchor with local news station ABC57 for more than 2 years. She is a proud graduate of Clay High School and Indiana University Bloomington, where she completed her BA in Journalism in 2020.
Shalon “Shay” Davis
Director of Community Outreach
Mayor Mueller is the chief executive of the City of South Bend. The city’s Shalon “Shay” Davis is the Director of Community Outreach. Davis has faithfully served the City of South Bend since 1998. She has served as the city’s United Way Coordinator, a board member of Mamas Against Violence (MAVs), Community Relations Coordinator for the St. Joseph County African American Democratic Coalition, volunteer with the annual Martin Luther King celebration, and is volunteer coordinator with Toys for Tots. Davis is a native of South Bend, a graduate of John Adams High School, and proud mother.
Yesenia Garcilazo
Executive Assistant and Director of Special Projects
Yesenia Garcilazo serves as Mayor Mueller’s Executive Assistant. Yesenia is responsible for tracking scheduling requests, maintaining the Mayor’s calendar, and other administrative duties.
Yesenia is a South Bend native and Washington High School graduate, Yesenia received her bachelor’s degree from IU South Bend in General Studies with a concentration in Social and Behavioral Services.
Her previous experiences include: billing and office management (Cash Processing Representative, Beacon Health Systems) and resolving constituents’ concerns and coordination of various community events for the City (Secretary, Office of Mayor Pete Buttigieg).
Yesenia’s avocations include providing translating services to South Bend residents, volunteering, and spending time with her family.
Mary Mcaffee
Administrative Assistant
Mary loves South Bend and has made it her permanent home. She possesses a social worker degree form Siena Heights University, and a Political Leadership Certification from Michigan State University. She’s a member of League of Women Voters, Indiana Black Expo, and a team member of (SBEAP)- Notre Dame & South Bend Entrepreneurship & Adversity Program. She was the President of Asa Phillip Randolph Institute of Berrien County, Michigan and served as Vice President for the Democratic Party of Southwest Michigan. Mary was the first Black woman elected to the Niles School Board of Education and served 3 terms, first as Trustee, then Vice President, and finally as President.
Mary founded the (MIC) Multicultural Involvement Council, a non-profit organization which ran programs for at-risk youth in grades k-12. Mary wrote and implemented “Fresh Start” a program for students who were expelled from school in grades K-12. The program ran for 17 years with 98% graduation from high school. Over the years she served on other various boards including Big Brothers/Big Sisters, United Way, Michiana Literacy Council, Volunteer in Probation, Optimist Club, Gateway Rehabilitator, and was Notary Public for the State of Michigan. She also served on the Advocate Leaders for Police and Community Trust (ALPACT) Board of Berrien County, Michigan.
Mary has one beautiful daughter and a handsome son-in-law. She loves the South Bend community and aspires to become more involved.
Allie Dolz-Lane
Project Manager
Allie is a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington. She is an avid language learner and has studied and lived in multiple countries. She speaks Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
