City Commission Announces Finalists for City Manager Position

Elle Cole, CPA, MPA, is a public servant with more than 20 years of government leadership experience. She currently serves as Deputy City Manager for the City of Saline, where she has advanced multi-million-dollar infrastructure improvements, neighborhood revitalization, and inclusive strategic planning while keeping public trust at the center. Her work is guided by a focus on equity and access, championing policies that expand opportunity across neighborhoods and ensure that growth benefits the entire community. She holds both a Master of Public Administration and Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential.

Malcolm Hankins currently serves as Assistant City Manager for the City of Des Moines, Iowa, and has more than 35 years of local government experience in Iowa, Arizona, and Colorado. His career includes leadership in neighborhood services, housing, planning and zoning, civil and human rights, and community relations. Hankins previously served as Neighborhood Services Director for the City of Aurora, Colorado. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association, the Servant Leadership Institute, and the American Association of Code Enforcement Officials. Hankins earned a Master of Arts in Ministry from Phoenix Seminary, studied Administration of Justice at Northern Arizona University, and is pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, expected in 2026. He formerly served as Pastor of First Watch Ministries in Phoenix, AZ, where he and his family supported the marginalized and those experiencing houselessness.

Odis Jones is a Western Michigan University alumnus with 30 years of experience as a City Manager and economic development professional. He has served as City Manager in Missouri City, TX, where he successfully led the city through the COVID-19 pandemic and supported small businesses in reopening and recovery. In Hutto, TX, he led the redevelopment and reimagining of downtown with the Co-op District, a mixed-use development including retail, offices, and a new City Hall. Jones also served as CEO of the Public Lighting Authority in Detroit, where he rebuilt the city’s electric grid and lighting system, and as Executive Director of Economic Development in Cincinnati, OH, overseeing redevelopment of The Banks sports and entertainment district. He has served as Director of Real Estate and Development for the State of New Jersey, leading several affordable housing initiatives and recruiting major technology companies such as CommVault. Jones is a social justice advocate and has received national recognition for his executive leadership, including features in Forbes and Time magazines.

Laura Lam has more than two decades of experience in community development and municipal leadership. A longtime Kalamazoo resident and graduate of Kalamazoo College, she began her career as a community organizer in Chicago and later led neighborhood revitalization initiatives in San Jose, California. Since returning to Kalamazoo in 2009, Lam has served in several leadership roles, including Community Planning & Development Director, Assistant City Manager, and Deputy City Manager. She currently serves as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing city operations, strategic planning, and major initiatives in housing, public safety, and youth development. Lam has also helped lead communitywide efforts such as Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 and the creation of the Foundation for Excellence. She is a credentialed manager with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and holds a Master of Public Administration from San Jose State University.