Memphis City Council members voted to put three new city division directors promptly to work during Tuesday, July 8, double-header meetings.
Members unanimously approved Suzanne Hollenbach as the new director of Memphis Animal Services, along with Justice Bolden as the director of Memphis Parks. They also approved Melanie Neal, who will lead the newly created Division of Community Enhancement.
โThese are all incredible candidates,โ said Mayor Paul Young. โIโm really excited to have them be a part of the team and lead us into the next chapter.โ
Neal will lead a department that was created during the recent fiscal 2026 budget discussions. Community Enhancement will be tasked with monitoring neighborhood quality of life, particularly blight remediation. This includes public reports of illegal dumping, overgrowth and other code enforcement issues. The department is expected to keep tabs on complaints until they are resolved.
โThis type of work deserves its own platform. Deserves its own division. There are so many obstacles weโve faced throughout the years. Iโve been with the city for over 20 years,โ said Neal.
The seasoned employee defined success as fewer service requests. She said this will be the result of behavioral change through accountability for โproperty that has sat vacant and abandoned for years and years.โ The changes will be backed up by a legal strategy โthat moves the needle, instead of cases sitting in Environmental Court.โ
Council member Chase Carlisle requested an update next month. The departmentโs operations are expected to be further defined, along with a realistic set of goals.
โLetโs circle back at the beginning of August with those hard target goals,โ said Carlisle. โEven if we miss them, weโve got to start setting real, articulable, achievable goals that we can hold ourselves accountable to.โ
Hollenbach, the new Memphis Animal Services director, has spent the last 15 years working in Memphis neighborhoods in animal welfare. Most recently, she created All 4โs Rescue League, a community outreach organization that provides assistance to pet owners so they can unchain pets from outside elements and bring them indoors.
Her confirmation led the batting order at the top of the morning discussion. She adopts a division that faces an increasing problem with stray animals citywide, coupled with the tarnished reputation from the previous directorโs term.
Former MAS Director Ty Coleman was placed on suspension four days after the heat-related death of a dog named Lulu on June 24, 2024. The pit mix was allegedly left outside in an unshaded playpen at the Memphis Animal Shelter as temperatures reached 93 degrees. The heat index hit 105 degrees.
Following an investigation, he was fired on Dec. 3, 2024.
Hollenbach replaces interim director Mary Claire Borys, who was confirmed by the council in July 2024.
โShe worked very hard. She was in the community. She was really trying. She was only a phone call away. She did an exceptional job with what she was tasked to do,โ said Council member Yolanda Cooper-Sutton.
Bolden, the new Memphis Parks director is a native Memphian and White Station grad who returns to his hometown after several years on the West Coast. His most recent employer was Oakland, Californiaโs Parks, Recreation and Youth Development division. Pasadena originally lured Bolden away from Memphis. He spent the last decade working as a recreation leader and athletic specialist.
โJustice is a very smart, forward-thinking individual. Heโs already working very hard with the team,โ said Young.
Bolden replaces Memphis Parks interim director Marsha Allen.
The University of Memphis graduateโs experience extends to his youth. He began working with the Memphis Parks after high school. In addition to a degree in journalism, heโs also a graduate of the schoolโs city and regional planning program.
In addition to hearing out stakeholders and members of the community, the new parks director intends to have top-down conversations with division employees.
โThe goal right now is to really assess, enhance, listen,โ said Bolden. โItโs just a tremendous opportunity.โ
