Verona added a new member to its administrative team Tuesday night.

Jacob Russell, 26, was unanimously appointed full-time borough manager, a position he will fill on Monday.

According to council president Trish Hredzak, the borough received 12 applications for the position. She said the pool was narrowed to four candidates who were interviewed by Verona Council.

“All of the candidates were extremely unique,” Hredzak said. “It almost felt like we weren’t comparing apples to apples. They were all great.”

She said Russell stood out as someone who is extremely community oriented and engaged with residents.

“We’re so excited to bring him into the community,” Hredzak said. “He’s very organized and undaunted by government bureaucracy.”

This is the first time Russell, of Penn Hills, will be holding a municipal manager position. He’s coming to the borough after working three years in State Rep. Joe McAndrew’s office where he has worked with letters of support, interacting with constituents and generating consensus among stakeholders.

“I have a lot of knowledge and experience from a state level,” Russell said.

Being able to evaluate projects, discuss resource allocation and speak with residents was his favorite role in McAndrew’s office, Russell said. He said when he saw the job opening, he recognized the opportunity.

“I saw the opportunity to be more directly involved with a borough that I live just down the street from,” Russell said. “I feel well connected with the community.”

Russell lives just a few blocks from Penn Hills’ border with Verona and does most of his shopping in the borough.

Having worked with multiple communities, including Verona, in McAndrew’s office, Russell said he will be adjusting his mindset to a more hyperlocal way of thinking.

“We’re going from four communities to one,” Russell said.

Russell will be replacing the borough’s previous manager, Stefanie Woolford, who announced her resignation in July 2025. Jason Dailey took over as interim manager after Woolford’s departure on Aug. 8. His stint with the borough lasted seven months, an average timeline in his line of work, Dailey previously told TribLive.

His business, Dailey Operation Consulting, based in West Deer, specializes in serving in whatever professional capacity a municipality might need during a time of transition.

Russell said one of the main goals he has for the position is improving various corridors in the borough, such as Arch and Jones streets, to assist in the VOPP (Verona, Oakmont, Penn Hills and Plum) Trail project. He’s hoping to update the streets’ paving, sidewalks and lighting.

“Those micro communities within Verona, they need resources brought to them,” Russell said.

Russell was hired at a starting salary of $65,000.

“I’m excited to start,” he said.

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