Rick Getschow, Eden Prairie’s City Manager since 2011, was officially recognized for his leadership chops yesterday, snagging the Dr. Robert A. Barrett Award for Management Excellence at the Minnesota City/County Management Association's blowout bash. The award isn't just some shiny mantelpiece trinket; it's the MCMA's top accolade, dished out yearly to the finest in local government management who have shown exceptional commitment to their communities.

MCMA spills that the award's recipient has to not only demonstrate top-tier leadership but also serve to notably inspire others in the mucky trenches of city and county management. Getschow seems to have clearly earned his stripes, with his team delivering the goods day in and day out and he keeping Eden Prairie on the map as a Top Workplace in Minnesota for an impressive 10-year run. That's an honor usually hogged by the suits over in the private corners of the market.

Eden Prairie has basked in economic upswings and a bulletproof financial rep under Getschow's watch. The hometown crowd seems to dig it, giving his leadership the thumbs-up consistently. The city's Mayor Ron Case is on record as having nominated the honoree, calling Getschow a whiz at “managing the business” of the city government and nailing the elusive art of rapport-building with his team, according to an official statement. Case added, “He has continued Eden Prairie’s tradition of hiring the best and brightest and has done an exceptional job of maintaining high retention levels of key employees year after year.”

Before his current gig, Getschow was the top dog in other Minnesota stomping grounds like Hector, Lauderdale, and Hopkins. His resume also boasts a substantial wrap sheet of community service and membership in state and national organizations linked to local government. And he isn't one to kick back in his spare time either, currently marking his territory on the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.