Shaun Groden receives distinguished McEvoy Award

CATSKILL―The message is simple and wholehearted from Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden who has been named recipient of the 2026 Robert D. McEvoy Excellence in Local Government Service Award, presented by the New York State Academy for Public Administration.

“I operate pretty straight forward,” says Groden, who has been on the job for 16 years, an appointee under contract through the county legislature.

“Ben Franklin was right when he said one of the certainties in life is taxes. People in our county understand that we need a tax base and public services,” he said.

“You don’t have to rehearse the truth. When citizens come to the podium at public hearings [on the budget or other issues], I am very direct. I look them square in the eye, give them the best, informed answer I can and substantiate it with facts,” Groden added.

The official award ceremony unfolded on the evening of May 21 in Albany where Groden wasn’t, albeit for the best of family reasons. His niece is getting married in Italy.

“She is my late wife’s favorite niece. This is something that’s been planned for months,” he said.

“It feels awkward, not being able to attend. I’m no Ronald Reagan anyway with speeches, but I am flattered and very honored,” said Groden, who prepared a video recording for the event.

Awardees are limited to five minutes of talk time, so Groden needn’t have worried about mesmerizing the crowd, and colleagues were pleased to speak about his meaningful presence in the county and beyond.

He was nominated for the award with “great enthusiasm” by New York State Association of Counties Executive Director Steve Acquario.

“Shaun’s distinguished career in local government management, his visionary leadership at the state level, and his innovative solutions to critical challenges facing rural communities make him an exemplary candidate for this prestigious recognition” said Acquario.

“Shaun Groden has dedicated most of his professional career to local public service in New York, first as the finance director for the Town of Greece and most recently as the Greene County Administrator,” Acquario continued. “In these positions, he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to effective governance and fiscal stewardship, which is the foundation for this nomination.”

Throughout his tenure as county administrator, Groden “has guided Greene County through periods of significant economic and operational challenges, consistently delivering results that improve the quality of life for county residents while maintaining fiscal sustainability,” Acquario noted.

“His deep institutional knowledge, collaborative leadership style and strategic vision have made him an invaluable asset to Greene County government,” Acquario said, adding that Groden’s leadership extends beyond Greene County.

“As president of the New York State County Administrators Association, he has represented the interests of county governments statewide, advocating for sound public policy, intergovernmental cooperation, and professional excellence in county administration,” Acquario said.

Greene County Attorney Ed Kaplan stood in for Groden at the award dinner, saying, “I cannot think of anybody more worthy of such a huge honor. I have worked alongside Shaun Groden for the past twelve years and I can tell you that this man has redefined the concept of dedication.”  

“He is tireless. He is a natural leader.  He is a builder not only of municipal buildings and infrastructure, but of relationships with people. Shaun brings out the absolute best in everyone around him,” Kaplan continued.  

“The more monumental the challenge, the more likely that Shaun will show interest; dive right in, engage fully and deliver results,” Kaplan said.

Under Groden’s administration, the county has had seven consecutive budget cycles with no tax levy increase while establishing multiple reserve funds.

“If asked to describe Shaun’s tenure at Greene County in one word, I would say: progress.  While some may work to protect the status quo, Shaun Groden takes sharp focus on change, opportunity and growth. He researches, analyzes, identifies resources and seeks opinion and counsel from those in his orbit,” Kaplan said.

“Shaun Groden is fearless; he constantly seeks challenges, [asking] what are the needs of the people of the County that are not as yet met? Shaun is not fixated on the rearview mirror. In his world, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished and he does just that, achieves in every way imaginable,” Kaplan added.

“And on top of it all, he laughs easily, sees all of us at Greene County in the most positive light imaginable and respects all of us,” Kaplan said. “As Steve Acquario recently stated, ‘What a beautiful mind.’ As I can tell you firsthand, what a wonderful person.”

Hailing from western New York, Groden earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and was accepted into the FBI training program before serendipity struck and he pursued his master’s degree.

“I was introduced to budgets and projections and spreadsheets and that was it. I had a career change before I had a career,” he laughed.

“Someone asked me once to describe my typical day. The truth is they are never the same which is a good thing,” Groden said. “They say if you do what you love, you’ll love what you do. That’s true for me.”

Robert McEvoy was a highly respected mentor and inspiration for hundreds of students at SUNY Albany’s Rockefeller College, also serving as a village and county manager prior to his passing in 2022.

“Shaun Groden embodies the qualities that the Robert McEvoy Award seeks to recognize: professional excellence, innovative leadership, commitment to public service, and dedication to improving the practice of public administration,” Acquario said.