Non-essential offices will be closed on Monday, September 1, in observance of Labor Day. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, September 2.
A summary of the August 12 Stakeholder Meeting is now available on this page under "Related Information".The City Manager job posting and recruitment brochure are now available below. The Community Survey remains open through August 24.
After more than a decade leading the City of Kalamazoo, City Manager James Ritsema has announced his retirement, effective November 18, 2025. The City Commission is leading a process to identify candidates and select Kalamazoo's next city manager. Information and updates will be posted to this page as the process moves forward.
Share Your Feedback in the Community Survey
City Manager Recruitment Brochure
City Manager Job Posting
A request for proposals was issued in May, and the City Commission interviewed three firms at a Committee of the Whole Meeting on June 16. At a Special Meeting on June 23, the Commission approved a contract with Raftelis of Cincinnati, OH. Raftelis has offices across the U.S., and its recruiters have successfully placed managers in cities large and small. Pamela Wideman will lead the search for Kalamazoo’s next city manager.
View the full Raftelis proposal(PDF, 2MB).
After more than a decade leading the City of Kalamazoo, City Manager James Ritsema will retire on November 18. The City Commission is leading a process to hire a new City Manager to start before Ritsema's departure date.
The City Commission appoints a City Manager to serve as the Chief Administrative Officer for the city. The City Manager is responsible for all administrative appointments, the delivery of services to Kalamazoo residents, and the day-to-day management of the city government.
The relationship between the City Manager and City Commission is similar to that between a Chief Executive Officer and a Board of Directors.
The City has hired Raftelis, a firm with experience in senior-level public sector executive searches, to lead a national recruitment effort. Raftelis was selected after evaluating ten firms that responded to a Request For Proposals. The subcommittee ranked the top three, in-person interviews were conducted, and community input was heard. Raftelis was selected unanimously by all seven members of the City Commission, and is working closely with the City Commission Subcommittee and administrative staff throughout the process.
The Kalamazoo City Commission is responsible for making the final hiring decision on the next City Manager. Following community engagement and candidate interviews, the Commission will deliberate and vote on the final selection.
A subcommittee was created to oversee the hiring process consisting of Vice Mayor Jeanne Hess, Commissioner Chris Praedel, and Commissioner Alonzo Wilson. The subcommittee is supported by City staff.
The search process began in July and is expected to conclude with the hiring of a new City Manager in October or November. milestone information is:
This web page was created to contain information and be a resource on the search process. A community survey will be available through August 24 to gather feedback on the search process. Community members are always welcome to make public comments during City Commission meetings as well, and City Commissioners can be reached via email here.
You can click the "subscribe to this page" button below to be notified when updates are posted.
Additional inquiries may also be directed to Mike Smith, Communications Manager, at smithm@kalamazoocity.org or 269-226-6501.
Yes! Once finalists are selected, the City plans to host a public opportunity for residents to meet the candidates and provide feedback to the City Commission before a final decision is made. We expect this to take place in mid-October.
Raftelis will compile the community survey results and stakeholder meeting findings to understand everyone’s unique perspective on the desired skills and experiences the next City Manager should possess. Raftelis will consider not just the technical skills needed for the position, but also what makes the right organizational fit in terms of traits and experiences. This feedback will be incorporated into the candidate evaluation process.
The City Commission has committed to a transparent, inclusive, and competitive nationwide process. Regular updates will be shared at each City Commission meeting, and community input is being integrated at key stages. The selection process is being facilitated by a professional search firm to ensure a fair and impartial approach. This page has been created to improve communication and transparency.
The City Commission has instructed Raftelis to conduct a thorough national search, which is open to both internal and external candidates. All applicants will go through the same fair and competitive evaluation process, guided by the qualifications and leadership profile.
You can request a Spanish language copy of surveys and materials or get help in Spanish by calling 311 or (269) 337-8000. Additionally, free online tools like Google Translate can be used to instantly translate text, documents, or web pages into Spanish or other languages. The City of Kalamazoo's website can also be translated using the drop-down menu near the top of each page.