Meet the Staff

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.

Allie Dolz-Lane

Deputy Chief of Staff

Allie was named Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Mueller after more than two years in the Mayor’s Office as Project Manager. She holds a B.A. in International Studies from Indiana University Bloomington.

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.