City Welcomes David Marquardt as Deputy City Manager
Published on June 09, 2025
The City of Kalamazoo is pleased to announce the hiring of a new deputy city manager, David Marquardt. Marquardt will be joining Kalamazoo’s City Manager’s Office on Monday, July 7.
Marquardt comes from the City of Grand Rapids, where he has served as director of parks and recreation since 2015. He brings extensive experience in municipal leadership and public service.
“I am thrilled to be joining the City of Kalamazoo team that has a real passion for community and a team that is genuinely warm and welcoming,” said Marquardt. “Kalamazoo has the charm of a smaller community as well as many amenities found in larger cities. With its thriving college and university institutions as well as its numerous well-known businesses and corporations, I am looking forward to contributing to and uplifting the strengths of Kalamazoo’s community fabric.”
Marquardt has years of experience leading municipal teams and in roles that will serve him well in the City of Kalamazoo deputy city manager position. The portfolio of departments for which Marquardt will be responsible include parks and recreation, public services, and communications. Marquardt will also oversee comprehensive City communication matters and projects while managing media relations and promoting City efforts with Kalamazoo’s communications team.
“We welcome David Marquardt to the City of Kalamazoo and look forward to him joining our team,” said Kalamazoo City Manager James Ritsema. “Marquardt’s extensive municipal experience in parks and recreation, public services, and communications will be a great asset to Kalamazoo. We believe he will play a crucial role in helping us achieve our strategic vision and guide Kalamazoo to become a stronger social and economic force in the region.”
While in Grand Rapids, Marquardt managed a $20 million annual budget and led multiple divisions with the parks and recreation department, including finance and administration, operations, planning and capital projects, and youth development. He oversaw more than 300 employees and was a key leader in several major initiatives, including the relocation of a city facilities campus and the development of two new community facilities. He also was instrumental in a seven-year capital campaign and helped launch the “Forever Capital Campaign,” which received more than 73 percent approval from voters.
“Since David joined the City of Grand Rapids in January 2015, we have achieved significant improvements in our parks system through key partnerships with stakeholders and advocates, local and state political support, and strong staff work under David’s leadership," Grand Rapids City Manager Mark Washington said. "David leaves us with a capable department of dedicated employees, a thriving parks system and numerous community partnerships. I appreciate his service and wish him well in this management role for our neighbors in Kalamazoo.”
Washington said the City of Grand Rapids is working on a transition plan for interim leadership before David departs July 4.
Prior to his work in Grand Rapids, Marquardt served as planning division manager for Denver parks planning, design and construction in Denver, Colorado. There, he managed a $500 million capital asset portfolio and led a $10 million annual capital planning program.
Marquardt holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado–Denver and a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.