Jeffrey J. Mantes was appointed Commissioner of the Department of Public Works by Mayor Tom Barrett and confirmed by the Milwaukee Common Council on July 2, 2004. Mantes was re-appointed as Commissioner of Public Works in August 2008.

Mantes began his career with the City of Milwaukee in January 1977 as a Civil Engineer I. Since then, he has served in various engineering positions with the city, mostly specializing in the area of transportation. He also worked for a short time in DPW’s Parking Division, was a paid volunteer emergency snowplow chaser for eight years and was the volunteer Bureau of Engineers’ Snow Duty Coordinator for six years.

Mantes has also served as a liaison to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, railroad companies, Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, Milwaukee County and surrounding municipalities.

Throughout his time with the City, Mantes has been involved with several high-profile projects, including the Grand Avenue Mall, Bradley Center, Midwest Express Center, Milwaukee Riverwalk, Miller Park, Marquette Interchange and rehabilitation of City Hall.

Mantes holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.