Ben Ellinor
Chief Administrative Officer, City of Austin Building Services Department
LBJ School of Public Affairs, Master of Public Affairs 2013
What I do
I oversee finance, procurement, accounting, business operations, and safety, while also collaborating with our leadership team on strategic planning and organizational improvement. Our department manages over 190 city facilities, including City Hall, the Animal Center, and all Police, Fire, and EMS buildings. I also serve on the Board of Trustees for the City of Austin Employees’ Retirement System.
What I love most about my job
Working at the local level is especially fulfilling because I live here and see firsthand the results of our City’s decisions and priorities. You can take almost any major national issue—infrastructure, climate resiliency, alternative energy, homelessness, affordable housing, public health, education—and find that the solutions are being implemented and governed at the local level. That’s incredibly motivating. I get to work with talented people on challenging issues to ensure our public facilities are well-managed. On a personal level, I enjoy driving around Austin with my family and pointing out all the great City projects we’ve supported. My son gets especially excited when I update him on the progress of a new bike trail near our home.
Something that might surprise people
After college, I served for a year in the AmeriCorps program with a mid-sized Habitat for Humanity affiliate in North Carolina. During the week, I guided families through the application process to qualify for housing. On Saturdays, I worked on construction sites building homes with volunteers. I learned how to frame walls, hang siding, paint drywall, and shingle roofs—often working alongside the future homeowners. The most rewarding part was always the home dedications, when the new homeowner received their keys and welcomed friends, family, and volunteers to celebrate the beginning of their new chapter.
My advice for others considering a role in public service
Public service is both a rewarding profession and a meaningful calling. I found it helpful to reach out to alumni working in organizations that interested me, so I could learn more about their career paths and day-to-day work. The world is a big place, but you can make a difference anywhere. Start with your street, your neighborhood, your school, or your community—every step matters.