City Trainer Darron Grussendorf Leads Georgetown Employee Development

Darron Grussendorf designs and delivers training programs for Georgetown's 1,151 city employees, emphasizing preparation and active engagement. The organizational development trainer joined the city six years ago after spending 20 years with another organization.

"Do your homework, prepare well, and be ready to engage with learners," Grussendorf said. "You want to create learning experiences that positively impact both the employee as well as the City."

His classes range from two to four hours, though he has also facilitated six-month leadership development programs. He created a "Rock N' Roll Leadership" presentation that draws on his background as a Navy meteorologist and local rock musician in the 1980s and 1990s to teach emotional intelligence and empathy.

"One of the things that surprises me the most about this role is how much I'm learning in the classroom," Grussendorf said. "If I'm doing a good job facilitating this learning, we're going to learn much from each other."

Grussendorf also manages the city's performance management system, which transitions to a new platform later this year. He collaborates with nearly every city department and mentors summer interns.

He completed the Round Rock Citizens Police Academy in 2024 to better understand the audiences he trains. For 2026, Grussendorf plans to visit departments across the city to understand their operations and tailor his work to their specific needs.