The City of Davenport has announced the hiring of two new key officials. Samuel “Sam” Huff IV will serve as the city’s corporation counsel. Denise Hnytka will serve in the newly created position of chief communications officer.
Mr. Huff will start his job with the city on Sept. 3. He is currently employed as an attorney with Deere & Co., where he focuses on litigation, response to government subpoenas, and evidence management and collection.
He has previously served as a felony prosecutor in the Scott and Wapello counties attorney’s offices. He also has been a staff attorney at Iowa Legal Aid.
Prior to practicing, Mr. Huff served his community through various roles including by assisting the homeless and safeguarding children against abuse and neglect.
He earned his bachelor’s degree at Roanoke College and his juris doctor degree from Drake University’s Law School.
“I am truly honored to be selected as the corporation counsel for the City of Davenport, and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the council for their support. This is an incredible opportunity to serve our community, uphold the rule of law, and work collaboratively to address the challenges we face. I am excited to bring my passion and dedication to this role, and I look forward to making a positive impact together with all of you,” Mr. Huff said.
The Davenport City Council approved Mr. Huff for the position during a special meeting July 31. Former City Attorney Tom Warner announced his retirement at the start of this year. After his retirement, Brian Heyer was named acting city attorney.
Hnytka starts Aug. 19
Ms. Hnytka will start her new position as chief communications officer on Aug. 19. The job will focus on the city’s media partners, developing communications strategies, and providing leadership to numerous community engagement initiatives.
She comes to the City of Davenport from MindFire Communications, where she served as public relations counsel for the agency’s marketing clients. In her role, she supported brand communications and media relations strategies for both businesses and nonprofit clients across a wide-range of industries.
Prior experience also includes 16 years in broadcast journalism, including 11 years behind the anchor desk at WQAD-TV. She earned her degree in broadcasting from Western Illinois University.
“It’s an honor to join the talented team at the City of Davenport. I look forward to working alongside leadership to help Davenport tell its story with authenticity and transparency,” Ms. Hnytka said.
“Both of these individuals show tremendous potential, have strong work experience and education credentials, and I’m excited to see them help us continue to move Davenport forward,” Mayor Mike Matson said. “The corporation counsel and the chief communications officer will hold significant leadership responsibilities within the organization and were selected through competitive recruitment processes.”
