SHELBY COUNTY MAYOR MICKELL M. LOWERY ANNOUNCES FIRST FIVE APPOINTMENTS

NEWS from the Shelby County Mayor’s Office 

Mickell M. Lowery, Mayor

Vasco A. Smith, Jr., Administration Building

11th Floor, 160 North Main, Memphis, Tennessee 38103

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 15, 2026

Kyla Rice

Communications Specialist

Mobile: 901.659.3495 

Office: 901.222.2015

Email: [email protected]

SHELBY COUNTY MAYOR MICKELL M. LOWERY ANNOUNCES FIRST FIVE APPOINTMENTS

Shelby County, TN – Shelby County Mayor Mickell M. Lowery announced the appointments of five individuals to key positions within Shelby County Government, marking the first appointments of his administration.

The appointees bring extensive experience in public service, government administration, finance, engineering, construction, human resources and organizational leadership. Together, they will support the administration’s efforts to strengthen county operations, deliver effective public services and serve the residents of Shelby County.

“The culture shift of Shelby County Government is underway,” said Co. Mayor Lowery. “I’m excited to announce the appointments of several qualified leaders who will contribute to the work of this administration in numerous ways. These appointments reflect our commitment to bringing experienced leaders to the table who understand both the responsibility of public service and the needs of our community. As we move forward, our administration is focused on building a team that reflects the spirit of One Shelby. Our goal is to bring people together, set a high standard for service, and ensure the decisions we make contribute to a stronger Shelby County for everyone in our community.”

The five appointees are:

Felecia Higgs Walker — Chief of Staff

Felecia Higgs Walker will serve as Chief of Staff to Shelby County Mayor Mickell Lowery, where she will help lead the administration's day-to-day operations, strategic priorities and engagement with communities. 

A native Memphian and proud graduate of Whitehaven High School, Walker brings more than two decades of experience spanning public service, workforce development, and business leadership. Prior to joining the Lowery administration, she served as Deputy Administrator with Shelby County Government, supporting judicial operations within the Mental Health Court.

Walker also brings extensive non-profit and private-sector experience to this role. Throughout her career, she managed multi-state territories, developed strategic client relationships, and helped organizations achieve sustained growth through customer-focused business development.

In addition to her professional career, Walker is the founder and CEO of a professional development company that focuses on helping students and professionals navigate career opportunities to achieve greater economic mobility.

Walker is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, where she earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees. She is passionate about public service, business development, and creating pathways for communities to thrive.

Maura Black Sullivan — Chief Administrative Officer

Maura Black Sullivan will serve as Chief Administrative Officer for Shelby County Government. Sullivan is a seasoned public-sector executive with more than 30 years of experience leading complex government and public education organizations across Tennessee. She most recently served as Chief Operating Officer for Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), where she oversaw the district’s major operational functions supporting more than 80,000 students and 12,000 employees, including facilities, transportation, technology, safety and security, capital planning, enrollment, nutrition and other districtwide services.

Prior to joining MNPS, Sullivan served as Chief Operating Officer for the City of Chattanooga, working directly with the mayor to lead city operations and major initiatives across public safety, infrastructure, economic development, emergency response and community services. She previously served in leadership roles with the City of Memphis and Shelby County Schools, giving her extensive experience in municipal and county government as well as public education.

Throughout her career, Sullivan has focused on bringing people and organizations together to solve complex public problems, strengthen government operations and improve services for residents. Her leadership has included advancing public safety technology and regional emergency-response partnerships, leading the City of Chattanooga’s operational response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and managing large-scale organizational and infrastructure initiatives.

Sullivan began her career in public service at age 16 as an intern in the Shelby County Mayor’s Office under Mayor Bill Morris.

Returning to Shelby County represents a full-circle moment in a career grounded in a deep commitment to public service and to building strong public institutions that improve people’s lives, strengthen communities, and earn the public’s trust through performance.

Brian Collins — Chief Financial Officer

Brian Collins will serve as Chief Financial Officer for Shelby County Government. Collins is an accomplished senior executive with extensive experience in banking, finance, law and public administration across both the private and public sectors. His career includes leadership roles with some of the nation’s largest law firms and financial institutions, as well as extensive experience managing complex public-sector financial operations.

In public service, Collins served as Finance Director and Chief Financial Officer for the City of Memphis under Mayors A C Wharton Jr. and Jim Strickland from 2012 to 2017. He later served as Executive Director and CEO of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund from 2018 to 2026, overseeing one of the largest public pension funds in the nation, with approximately $65 billion in assets.

Collins also has a passion for teaching and has served throughout his career as an adjunct professor of finance, law, and public finance at several universities, including the University of Memphis, the University of Illinois and Loyola University Chicago.

Collins holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from DePaul University, an MBA from The Ohio State University, and a Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago.

David C. Bradford, Jr. — Director of Public Works

David C. Bradford, Jr. will serve as Director of Public Works for Shelby County Government. A native Shelby Countian, Bradford recently completed two terms as a Shelby County Commissioner representing District 2. He brings more than 25 years of experience in engineering, design, construction, preconstruction and capital project delivery. 

Bradford has held roles with SSR Consulting Engineers and Turner Construction Company, gaining experience in both engineering consulting and general contracting. He has led the planning, estimating, constructability and delivery of complex mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems. His work has required close collaboration with owners, architects, engineers, contractors and other stakeholders to develop practical, cost-effective solutions for major building and infrastructure projects.

Bradford’s combined engineering and construction experience has provided him with a broad perspective on the full lifecycle of capital projects, from early planning and design through budgeting, procurement, construction, commissioning and long-term operations. His project portfolio includes public agencies, healthcare facilities, aviation, commercial buildings and other technically demanding facilities.

During all eight years of his service on the Shelby County Commission, Bradford served as either Chair or Vice Chair of the Commission’s Public Works Committee, giving him extensive experience with the county’s infrastructure and public works priorities.

Bradford holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Mississippi State University and is a Professional Engineer licensed in Tennessee and Mississippi. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Ashley, their twins, Ava and David, attending Memphis Grizzlies games, working out, 3D printing and home improvement projects.

Crystal R. Oliver — Director of Human Resources

Crystal R. Oliver will serve as Director of Human Resources for Shelby County Government. Oliver is an accomplished human resources and operations executive with more than four decades of experience leading people, developing talent and managing complex organizations. Most recently, Oliver served as Chief of Human Resources for Memphis-Shelby County Schools, a position she assumed on July 1, 2025, following an extraordinary 43-year career with FedEx.

Prior to her retirement from FedEx, Oliver served as Vice President of the Memphis World Hub, where she oversaw approximately 7,500 employees and complex daily operations. Her results-driven leadership and ability to align people with purpose earned her widespread respect, as well as five FedEx Express Five-Star Awards, the company’s highest and most prestigious honor.

Oliver began her career with FedEx while pursuing her studies at Christian Brothers University and went on to hold senior operational and human resources leadership roles across the company. As Managing Director of Human Resources, she demonstrated extensive expertise in recruitment, compliance, training and talent development while building high-performing, people-centered teams. Her leadership is grounded in integrity, perseverance and a commitment to continuous growth.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Oliver is active in community service and serves on the RISE Foundation Board and the Christian Brothers University Alumni Advisory Council. She has been recognized nationally as one of the Top 50 Leaders by Women We Admire and has been featured by Grace Magazine, the NAACP Image Awards and Black Enterprise. She enjoys cooking, sports, reading and spending time with family and friends.

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The Office of the Shelby County Mayor provides executive leadership for Shelby County Government, overseeing strategic planning and budgeting while collaborating with the mayors of Shelby County’s seven municipalities and community partners to advance shared priorities. Through the One Shelby agenda, the administration brings people, communities, and partners together to strengthen education, healthcare access, economic opportunity, public safety, and quality of life through collaborative leadership, accountable government, and measurable results for all Shelby Countians.

(End of Release)

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