Gary Whitaker has been officially named the new director of the City Planning Department after serving as interim director following the retirement of former director Joseph Aydelott in December 2014. Whitaker had previously served as director of Building and Codes since 2007.

Robert Holtz has been officially named director of Building and Codes after serving as interim director since December 2014. Holtz began his career with the City of Murfreesboro Building and Codes Department in August 1996 as a Plans Examiner. He was promoted to Deputy Director in November 2008.

Whitaker began his career with the City of Murfreesboro in February 1988 as a Mechanical Inspector in the Building and Codes Department. He was promoted to assistant director of Building and Codes in 1994.

"Gary and Robert have long served the City with distinction. This past year has been marked by tremendous development projects and both have excelled," said City Manager Rob Lyons. "The relationship between the Planning and Building and Codes departments is critical to serving our customers effectively and efficiently. Under the direction of Gary and Robert, this relationship is better than ever. I am proud of their teams and their hard work to meet the demands of design professionals, developers, builders and residents."

Whitaker is a native of Murfreesboro and attended Middle Tennessee State University after graduating from Riverdale High School. Whitaker was certified as a Commercial and Residential Building Inspector, including Plan Review, Fire Inspector and Code Analyst. He also holds an electrical and plumbing license with the State of Tennessee. Whitaker previously held a state commercial and residential general contractor's license for 15 years. Whitaker and his wife, Carla, have been married 19 years. They have two children, a son, Brandyn, 23, and daughter, Valyn, 34.

Prior to joining the City of Murfreesboro in 1996, Holtz worked as a project manager and estimator for a general contractor and then a structural steel company. He also serves as a part-time instructor for the Tennessee Fire and Codes Academy. Holtz holds certification from the International Codes Congress as a certified Building Official, Fire Inspector I, Plans Examiner, Building, Mechanical and Plumbing Inspector.

Holtz, a Cleveland, Tenn. native, graduated from Memphis State University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering Technology. Holtz and his wife, Dawn, have been married 21 years. They have a son, Sean, 19, and daughter, Sydney Alexis, 14.