Mayor Nadolski took office on January 2, 2024, bringing with him a breadth and depth of experience to the office, including two terms on the Ogden City Council, and a 23-year career with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR).
During his time with the DWR, Nadolski dedicated his professional life to natural resources, wildlife, habitat protection and restoration, public administration, policy, finance, and leadership. He oversaw operations across northern Utah, including a team of 70 employees and an annual budget of $17-million, while managing billions of dollars of land, open space and assets. Nadolski has experience working with State Legislators, as he served as a legislative liaison for the DWR, and built partnerships with elected officials across the State. His skillset didn’t go unnoticed by State leadership, and he was often tasked to find solutions and build consensus for complex issues. Notably, he negotiated an agreement on behalf of the Governor with the Northwest Band of the Shoshone Nation to honor their heritage and treaty rights to hunt and fish, consistent with their history and culture. Nadolski was also charged with implementing executive orders and across seven agencies to change government operations so they delivered for the people of Utah. He was also appointed as the sole representative for the State of Utah on serious and controversial regional and national policy issues, including land rights, water rights and conservation efforts for a variety of species.
During his tenure with the DWR, Nadolski was awarded the Administrator of the Year in 2022 for his work in leading the Northern Region and transforming its culture and performance. He was also awarded an employee of the year award in 2014 for his work with local communities to protect and restore their rivers and incorporate them into their economic development visions.
Nadolski was instrumental in the inception and implementation of the Ogden River Restoration Project; a $6-million project in Ogden, Utah, that transformed a blighted and polluted river into a Blue Ribbon Fishery that paved the way for a surge in recreational use and community and economic development for Ogden City.
Nadolski served as Chair of the City Council in both 2018 and 2022, and as the Vice-Chair in 2017. He represented the City in numerous capacities throughout his time on Council, including with the Utah League of Cities and Towns Policy Committee and the Ogden/Weber Chamber of Commerce. A passionate advocate for youth sport, Nadolski led the funding and development of the Ogden Untamed Youth Sports Program in Ogden, a program which offers all of Ogden’s youth the opportunity to excel in sports and to play at a competitive level of play, at a recreation level of pay. As Chair in 2022, Nadolski was instrumental in ensuring that the Marshall White Recreation Center stayed in its current location per the request of the citizens, and secured funding to move forward with the long-overdue renovation. He also helped create an expansion of the 4th Street Ballpark. Both of these projects have secured more recreation opportunities for the community, and will serve as an economic driver for the future.
Nadolski first came to Ogden in 1996 when he was recruited by legendary WSU football coach Dave Arslanian, to wear the Wildcat uniform. He graduated in 2000 with a degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Law Enforcement, and went on to earn his Master of Science degree from Utah State University, where he studied stream ecology. Nadolski is professionally trained and certified in Public Management by the UCPM Institute and in community and organizational leadership by the MAT Conservation Leadership Program in Shepardstown, West Virginia. Prior to taking office, Nadolski attended the Program for New Mayors hosted by Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
A native of Phoenix, Az., Ben met his wife Jaynee at WSU, where she was a two-sport athlete in volleyball and basketball. Jaynee graduated with a degree in Public Relations and is currently the Senior Associate Commissioner/Governance for the Big Sky Conference where she oversees all governance-related matters, as well as volleyball, women’s basketball, tennis and sports medicine. The couple have two young daughters, Hazel (14) and Millie (13).
