Ryan Aylesworth Biography

Mr. Ryan Aylesworth has served as Mansfield’s Town Manager since November 2020. 

 In this capacity Mr. Aylesworth serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the Town, which includes supervising department heads, overseeing development and execution of annual operating budget and capital planning, serving as chief personnel officer and appointing authority for the Town, playing an active role in shaping collaborative local economic development efforts, pursuing state and federal grants, representing the town on a variety of regional and state-level committees, guiding development of mass communications products, and overseeing staff responsible for the development of long-term/comprehensive planning. Additional information relative to the duties and responsibilities of the Town Manager can be found in the Town’s official charter.

Mr. Aylesworth grew up in western Maine where the region’s abundant open space and scenic beauty fostered a life-long commitment to natural resource conservation, sustainable land use planning, and small-town living. He attended Cornell University where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in natural resource management, and later earned a Master of Public Administration at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. While enrolled in a doctoral program in natural resource policy at the University of Minnesota, Mr. Aylesworth worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – overseeing the agency’s governmental affairs program for its eight-state Midwest Region. 

After returning to New England and serving as the Executive Director of a non-profit organization providing third-party environmental certification to businesses and communities, Mr. Aylesworth transitioned to a career in municipal government. In 2015, he was appointed the Town Administrator in the Town of Hinsdale, MA. Mr. Aylesworth then served as Town Manager of Enfield, NH from 2017 to 2020. During his time in Enfield, Mr. Aylesworth helped facilitate progress in many areas, including: dramatic improvement in the Town’s finances and capital planning, preparation of detailed strategic plans for all operating departments, completion of a multi-million dollar municipal sewer system extension project (largely funded through federal grants), development of asset management plans, facilitating the completion of a comprehensive study and redesign project for multiple municipal facilities (including municipal offices, public library, and public safety complex).

Mr. Aylesworth is presently obtaining his designation as a credentialed Manager through the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).

Current and future priorities for the Town Manager include: improvements to outreach products and stakeholder engagement; sustaining and enhancing the Town’s exceptional municipal services while maintaining affordability and the Town’s financial condition; promoting an organizational culture and work processes that reflect the Town’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; facilitating effective investment in capital improvement projects to municipal facilities and public infrastructure; growth and expansion of housing stock (with a particular emphasis on affordable and workforce housing); collaborating with the University of Connecticut on shared economic development goals, and; continuing to enhance Mansfield’s already outstanding quality of life.

Mr. Aylesworth and his wife, Laura, a practicing veterinarian, have three young children and reside in Mansfield where they thoroughly enjoy exploring the many parks and open spaces that the community has to offer.