Shelby County Mayor Mickell Lowery, who took the oath of office Aug. 31, has announced the first five appointees to county government positions for his administration.
“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,” said Lowery in a statement Tuesday, Sept. 15.
The new administrative leaders bring decades of experience in public service, county governance, finance, engineering, construction, human resources and organizational management. Together, they are tasked with supporting Lowery’s efforts to strengthen county operations, he said.
Felecia Higgs Walker will serve as chief of staff, leading the administration’s day-to-day operations, strategic priorities and community engagement. A native Memphian, Walker brings more than two decades of experience in public service and workforce development.
Prior to joining the Lowery administration, she served as a deputy administrator in county government, supporting judicial operations in the Mental Health Court. She is also the founder and CEO of a professional development company that helps students and working professionals navigate career opportunities. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Tennessee.
Maura Black Sullivan has been named chief administrative officer. A public sector executive with more than 30 years of experience, Sullivan most recently served as chief operating officer for Metro Nashville Public Schools, where she oversaw district operations for more than 80,000 students and 12,000 employees.
She previously worked for the mayor of Chattanooga as chief operating officer, leading city operations and initiatives for public safety, infrastructure, economic development, emergency response and community services. She has also served in leadership roles for the city of Memphis and Shelby County Schools. Sullivan began her career in public service at age 16 as an intern for Shelby County Mayor Bill Morris.
Brian Collins, who is now the county’s chief financial officer, brings experience in banking, finance, law and administration in the private and public sectors. Collins was the finance director and CFO for the city of Memphis under Mayors A C Wharton Jr. and Jim Strickland. He also 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 $65 billion in assets.
Collins also taught finance and law at the University of Memphis, the University of Illinois and Loyola University Chicago as an adjunct professor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from DePaul University, an MBA from The Ohio State University and a law degree from Loyola University Chicago.
David Bradford Jr. has been appointed director of public works. A native of Shelby County, Bradford recently completed two terms as a county commissioner, representing District 2 and serving as chair of the public works committee. He has more than 25 years of experience in engineering, design, construction, preconstruction and capital project delivery. He has held roles with SSR Consulting Engineers and Turner Construction Company and has led the development of mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems for public agencies, along with healthcare, aviation and commercial facilities.
Bradford, who is licensed as a professional engineer in Tennessee and Mississippi, holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Mississippi State University.
Crystal Oliver will lead the human resources department as director. Most recently, Oliver worked as chief of human resources for Memphis-Shelby County Schools, a position she assumed on July 1, 2025, following a 43-year career with FedEx as vice president of the Memphis World Hub, where she oversaw daily operations for 7,500 employees. She has been ranked nationally on the list of the Top 50 Leaders by Women We Admire, an online publication and professional membership organization for women business leaders.
