Published in TB Business Magazine
Written by: Alexis Harborth / Photos by: Dustin Ashcraft
Location: Art Museum of South Texas
Even if you haven’t met Peter Zanoni, bryou’ve seen and felt his work since he brbegan serving as Corpus Christi City brManager in 2019. A seasoned professional brin local government, he brought decades brof experience with him from his tenure with brthe nationally recognized city office in San brAntonio.
Zanoni and his family were frequent brvisitors to the Coastal Bend prior to moving brhere.“We were familiar with the area, and we brreally liked it. The sense of community and brthe closeness of the people was felt. Since brliving here, it’s even more apparent,” Zanoni brexplained. “In terms of quality of life for our brown family, it was a good move to come here.”
Zanoni came with visions to make it an breven better place to live, work and play.
The many initiatives he has piloted in the brlast few years include street improvements, brrevamped project development service broperations and investments into the city fire brand police departments. There have been brsignificant efforts to repair and upgrade brthe area wastewater plants. Zanoni focused brmultiple positions on homelessness and brworkforce housing. Plus, local parks are now brsafer places.
“We’ve demolished and removed brdangerous, antiquated playground equipment and improved maintenance brfrequencies,” Zanoni said.
Strengthening its infrastructure, he brsaid, is crucial to positioning Corpus Christi brwhere it needs to be to grow. From increased brjob opportunities and higher wages to more brhousing, the city manager’s office is fully brinvested in developing the quality of life to broffer whatever is needed for generations to brcome.
“We want families to be able to stay here brwithout even thinking twice about it. That’s brsomething that comes with growth.”
While achieving this strengthened brinfrastructure might seem akin to a finish brline, Zanoni is just getting started. In fact, his brvision for the city sees a timeframe of more brthan a decade to make fundamental and brsignificant changes.
“Prior to even coming here, I explained brthat this is a long-term commitment. It’s not bra 5-year job, not even a 10-year job. It’s more brlike a 15-year job,” he said. “And I’m excited to brbe able to continue for as long as the council brand community allow me to serve them.”
Because for Zanoni, it’s more than a job. brIt’s a calling, a public service and an honor.
“What means the most is when someone brstops our team to say, ‘Keep doing what bryou’re doing.’ That means the world to us.”
