Courtesy photo.
FLAGSTAFF — Shannon Anderson, City of Flagstaff Senior Deputy City Manager, has been selected to receive the prestigious 2025 Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Award. These awards, presented annually, spotlight the invaluable work of Arizona’s civil servants, fostering appreciation for their role in solving problems, strengthening institutions, and making a tangible difference in people’s lives.
Shannon was honored with the Civic Leader award, which recognizes extraordinary public servants who have spent much of their careers supporting Arizona communities. Since 2006, Anderson has helped drive operational excellence and strengthen city services in Flagstaff through a people-first approach. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to public service, cross-department collaboration, and enhanced quality of life for the Flagstaff community.
Flagstaff City Manager Greg Clifton shared “this is truly a great honor for Shannon, and one that is so well deserved. She is an amazing leader, with boundless dedication to this community and to the organization that she serves. We are all so happy for her.”
Shannon said “thank you to the Center for the Future of Arizona and Ross Zimmerman for recognizing the work and contributions in public service. I was honored to be nominated and receive the Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Award for Civic Leader. It is a privilege to work with the amazing team in Flagstaff in serving our community. Congratulations to all the Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Award recipients!”
The Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Awards, named after the Community Outreach Director whose life was taken in a mass shooting in 2011 at a “Congress on Your Corner” event, are a collaborative effort between the Center for the Future of Arizona, the Zimmerman family, and the Arizona City/County Management Association, highlighting the contributions nonelected public servants make to the communities they serve.