City of Abilene
Photo Courtesy of City of Abilene
The City of Abilene is pleased to announce the appointment of Kari Zook as Deputy City Manager, effective December 28, 2025. Zook will continue to serve in her current role as Community Development Director while assuming these additional responsibilities.
The Deputy City Manager position was created to strengthen organizational continuity and leadership depth. The role is intended to support consistent operations during periods of transition or temporary absence, provide succession planning for future executive leadership, and ensure established policies, procedures, and expectations are maintained. The position is not intended to add an additional layer of administration, but rather to support stability, coordination, and long-term organizational resilience.
In this role, the Deputy City Manager serves as the designated acting authority during temporary absences of the City Manager and is responsible for maintaining day-to-day operations, ensuring organizational continuity, and carrying forward established policies, procedures, and expectations.
“Kari has demonstrated strong leadership, sound judgment, and a thoughtful, analytical, and strategic approach, along with a deep understanding of how this organization operates,” said Jon Quinday, Interim City Manager. “This appointment supports both continuity for the organization and long-term leadership development, while maintaining clear accountability within the council-manager form of government.”
Zook was born and raised in Beloit, Kansas, and graduated from St. John’s High School in 2002. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Management from Kansas State University in 2006. She worked in Student Life at Kansas State University’s Salina campus until August 2020, when she joined the City of Abilene Community Development Department as an Administrative Assistant. Within three months, she was promoted to Planning and Zoning Administrator, and in December 2021, she was named Community Development Director.
Zook is a graduate of the Leadership Dickinson County program and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation (DKEDC). She is actively involved in professional development through the American Planning Association (APA) and the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC).
Zook and her husband, Nathan, a lifelong Abilene resident, moved to Abilene in 2007. Nathan is a self-employed contractor and a KSHSAA basketball official. They have two daughters, Brinley, a sophomore at Abilene High School, and Aubrie, a sixth grader at Abilene Middle School. The family are active members of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church.
Outside of her professional role, Zook enjoys staying active, following her daughters’ activities and sporting events, traveling, and participating in the Abilene Parks and Recreation adult volleyball league.
“I am truly grateful for this new challenge and opportunity to grow, lead, and make a greater impact in our community,” Zook said. “I enjoy working alongside my team in Community Development, as well as our dedicated leadership staff. There are so many great things happening in Abilene, and I’m proud to call this place home.”
For more information, please contact Jon Quinday, Interim City Manager, at (785) 263-2550 or jquinday@abilenecityhall.com.
