Manager Management
Resume:
OF
GEORGE JOSEPH STRAND
Battle Creek, Michigan 49014
**************@*****.***
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
I have more than twenty-five years of local government experience of which more than twenty-four years
have been in the capacity of a City Manager or Village Manager for five different municipalities ranging in
population from 1,851 to 53,364. During this period of time my employers have received state and
national recognition for several significant projects. Additionally, I have served on the Michigan
Municipal League Board of Directors, I am a Past President of the Michigan City Management Association
(Michigan Local Government Management Association), have served as a member of the
ICMA/Innovation Groups Management Practices Panel and the National Board of the Innovation Groups.
I ve earned a Master of Public Administration Degree from Western Michigan University and have
researched and/or been published in professional magazines on topics such as strategic planning, downtown
development, land-use policies, managing change within an organization and completed a National State
Management Association Benchmarking Study. I am a member of the World Future Society. On January 7,
2010 I received notification that I was approved as an ICMA Credentialed Manager in which there are
approximately only 1200 in the World, in 2002 I received the Michigan Municipal League s Excellence in
Service Award presented at the Legislative Conference and in 1995 I received the Michigan Municipal
League s Special Award of Merit for my contributions made to local government.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Village Manager, Village of Middleville, Michigan. October 2007 to September 2009. Middleville is a
small Village with a population of 2,721 and is 2.07 square miles. The Village s 2009 Fiscal Year Budget
totals approximately $2.5 million and the Village employs 10 employees. The Police Department and
Wastewater Treatment Plant Services are contracted to outside service providers.
Accomplishments: (1) Assisted in the implementation of an approximate $1.5 million Downtown
Beautification and Watermain Project, the Street Improvements Program and an approximate $350,000
Village Hall Renovation and Expansion Project. (2) Initiated the Village s first Six (6) Year Capital
Improvement Program for each fiscal year as part of the budgetary process. (3) Assisted in the
acquisition of a new integrated financial software system. (4) Assisted in the preparation of the Request
for Proposal (RFP) Document for the purposes of initiating a Village-wide Residential Waste Hauling,
Curbside Recycling and Spring Clean-up Program. The program commenced on October 6, 2009. (5)
Assisted in the procurement of Federal and State Grants for the construction of the approximate $11 million
Finkbeiner/Crane Road and Bridge Project. (6) Assisted in a presentation at the August 2009 Michigan
Economic Development Corporation Strategic Fund Meeting which resulted in a MEGA Tax Credit being
granted to a local industry. (7) Assisted in the preparation of the new County 9-1-1 Plan. (8) Conducted
performance reviews, designed a comparative wage/benefit study, reviewed various fringe benefit plans,
and participated in union negotiations which resulted in the approval of a high deductible health insurance
plan. The adoption of the high deductible health insurance plan and Health Savings Account (HSA)
resulted in significant savings to the Village.
Village Manager, Village of Homer, Michigan. August 2004 to June 2007. Homer is a small historical
Village (has more than 130 buildings on the State and National Historic Register) with a population of
1,851 and is 1 square mile. The Village s 2006 Fiscal Year Budget totals $3 million and the Village
employs 13 full-time employees.
Accomplishments: (1) Assisted in the approval of a $1.3 million Downtown and Linear Park Project. A
total of three (3) grants were submitted to fund the project totaling nearly $1.1 million. Approval was
granted and the project was constructed during the 2007 Construction Season. Expected outcomes include
having the downtown designated a Historic Heritage Highway and a connection to the $1.5 million-7 mile
linear park system. (2) Assisted in the development of the Village of Homer Goals and Objectives
Mission Statement. (3) Hired an Architectural Firm for the primary purpose of renovating and
expanding the Village Hall to help house the establishment of a 24/7 police department. (4) Conducted
performance reviews, comparative wage study, bid package for health, dental and vision coverage s and
established new wage levels for employees who had experienced a wage freeze for one year. (5)
Developed several questionnaires for marketing and retention purposes for existing and prospective
commercial and industrial businesses. (6) Developed a Village of Homer Newsletter and assisted in the
development of a new Village Website.
City Manager, City of Battle Creek, Michigan. December 2001 to June 2003. Battle Creek has a
population of 53,364 and is 44 square miles, making it the second largest City geographically in Michigan.
The City s 2002-2003 Fiscal Year Budget totals $106.1 million and the City employs approximately 700
full-time employees.
Accomplishments: (1) Initiated an internal strategic planning process resulting in a Comprehensive
Strategic Plan to address the City Commission s long term goals and desired outcomes. (2) Assisted in the
identification and procurement of a Customer Response Management Software Program (CRM) that will
result in improved customer service and where merited new service delivery models. (3) Negotiated
intergovernmental and non-profit agreements which resulted in a new tax base sharing agreement for the
two (2) Downtown Development Authorities and the Aviation Smart Zone, an enhanced downtown
marketing and development effort, a county-wide effort towards a centralized dispatch system and
preservation of a contract to provide police services for a neighboring Township. (4) Initiated a
comprehensive review of the City s purchasing program resulting in the completion of a Diversity and
Contract Compliance Study. (5) Assisted in the implementation of a new Broadband System within
Downtown Battle Creek and the Aviation Smart Zone. This project was part of the strategy to retain
Kellogg s, the Kellogg Foundation and the Federal Center within Battle Creek, Michigan. (5) Participated
in a two week economic development trade mission with Battle Creek Unlimited in Japan in which we met
with representatives of a significant number of manufacturers, national universities and private colleges.
City Manager, City of Lapeer, Michigan. February 1989 to December 2001. Lapeer is the County
Seat, encompasses 7 square miles and has a population of 9,072 which represents a 16.9% increase from
the 1990 census. The City s 2001-2002 Fiscal Year Budget totals $26.26 million. The City employs 119
full-time equivalent employees and is one of only 22 cities in Michigan which levies an income tax.
Accomplishments: (1) In 2001 entered into a historical land and utility agreement with Mayfield
Township that will serve as a positive model of preserving a central city, intergovernmental relations and
smart growth within the State of Michigan. (2) Developed consensus between residents, elected and
administrative officials using a futuring planning process resulting in the adoption of the Lapeer 2001
Strategic Plan. The Plan was presented at the Michigan Mayors State Conference as a successful model of
process as well as implementation. (3) Successfully secured funding and community support for the
construction of a $7 million community/recreation center. (4) Recruited and assisted in the establishment
of a city-sponsored Community College University Center which was an anchor of a 300 acre
redevelopment project. (5) The City received more than $12 million in grants. (6) Successfully
improved neighborhoods by reconstructing more than 40 percent of the city streets and implementing a
state recognized comprehensive housing rehabilitation program. (6) Successfully negotiated three five
(5) year labor contracts with the respective bargaining units.
Recognitions/Awards: During my tenure as the City Manager of Lapeer, the City received the following
recognition/awards:
The City of Lapeer Community Center was selected as one of the seventy State of the Art
Recreation and Athletic Facilities in the Nation by Athletic Business Magazine. Additionally, the
project received the Michigan Recreation and Park Association Facility Design Award and the MML
Innovation Park and Recreation Award Honorable Mention.
The Demille Boulevard received the American Society of Civil Engineers Quality of Life Award .
This is for projects that are instrumental in changing the quality of life in the community. A second
award was received from the American Public Works Association, Michigan Chapter Project of the
Year . The project was also rated as one of the top ten within the nation of projects within its
category.
The City s Industrial Pretreatment Program received national recognition from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. The City was chosen based on our nomination by the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality for the National Pretreatment Excellence Awards Program.
The City s 12 year Housing Program was featured on February 20, 2000 in the Flint Journal. A
representative of MSHDA stated that the City s program was one of the best in the state. Further, he
stated that we have received more grant dollars then any other city our size and the work that was
accomplished was exemplary.
The City and Downtown Development Authority s Pix Theater Project has been featured on
Public Television and was a recent topic at the April 2001 National Mainstreet Conference.
City Manager, City of Otsego, Michigan. January 1982 to February 1989. Population 3,937. The City
employs approximately 20 employees. Accomplishments: (1) Assisted in the development of eight
comprehensive plans. The plans included funding strategies targeted towards downtown development,
neighborhood beautification, reduction of substandard housing, community recreation and park
enhancement, capital improvement programming, solid waste management, utility system improvements
and zoning. (2) Assisted in the establishment of the first Downtown Development Authority in Allegan
County. (3) Assisted in the development of the Eley Acres Subdivision- a public and private housing
development. (4) Assisted the City in receiving more than $4 million in grants to help finance, in part,
park improvements, housing improvements and a new wastewater treatment plant. (5) Assisted in the
development of a 24 Unit Senior Citizen Complex for ambulatory residents. (6) Assisted in the creation of
five governmental boards which resulted in a strengthened alliance with neighboring governmental
jurisdictions and broader community support for municipal programs.
Planning Intern, City of Battle Creek, Michigan. November 1980 to November 1981. Population
53,364. Accomplishments: (1) Assisted in the development of an updated master plan and land use plan
for the city. (2) Conducted a detailed analysis of Battle Creek s $36 million budget. (3) Assisted in the
establishment of a neighborhood non-profit corporation for the purpose of assisting the City in combating
community deterioration. (4) Edited grant applications.
Graduate Assistant, Center for Public Administration Programs. Western Michigan University,
Kalamazoo, Michigan. April 1980 to November 1980. Accomplishments: (1) Assisted in the
preparation and analysis of a governmental survey focused on the management of American Cities with
populations between 2,500 and 15,000 in the States of Michigan, Iowa and Georgia. (2) A panelist for a
graduate seminar on retrenchment management. (3) General office responsibilities, including support of
faculty research activities.
Student Body President, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan 1978-1979.
Congressional Intern, employed in the Office of United States Representative Garry Brown, Third
District, Michigan, 1978.
Vice President of Academics, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan 1977-1978.
EDUCATION
Institute for Executive Leadership: Sponsored by the Michigan City Management Association and
Western Michigan University s School for Public Affairs and Administration, June 1995.
University of Michigan: Michigan Industrial Development Division Economic Development Training
Program, August 1986.
Western Michigan University: Master of Public Administration Degree. April 1981. Master s Paper
Topic: Retrenchment Management: Budgetary Challenge of the 80 s. GPA: 3.63.
Western Michigan University: Bachelor of Science Degree. April 1979. Major: Public
Administration. Minor: Political Science. GPA: 3.03.
HONORS, RESEARCH TOPICS AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
In 2011 I became a member of the World Future Society. The World Future Society has approximately
only 1000 members. The reason I became a member of World Future Society was, in part, to complete a
portion of my 2011 work plan to continue my Certification as an ICMA Credentialed Manager.
In 2010 I received approval by the International City/County Management Association to be an ICMA
Credentialed City Manager. It is my understanding that there are approximately only 1200 in the World.
In 2002 I received the Michigan Municipal League s Excellence in Service Award presented at the
Michigan Municipal League s Legislative Conference.
In 2001 I served on a Michigan House of Representatives Work Group which resulted in an agreement
between the Michigan Township Association and the Michigan Municipal League redefining annexation
and detachment law within Michigan.
Elected to a four-year term on the Innovation Groups National Board 2001-2005.
Past President of the Michigan City Management Association, term 1998-1999 (Michigan Local
Government Management Association) .
In 1999 I completed a bench-marking study of State Local Government Management Associations
throughout the Country.
On May 31, 1997 I presented a study to the Innovation Groups Management Practices Panel at the Kansas
Transforming Government Conference On Managing Change Within An Organization .
Published in the May 1996 Issue of the Michigan Municipal Review. The Future of Cities: Will It be
Bright, Or Are Clouds On the Horizon?
Elected to a two-year term on the Michigan City Management Association Board of Directors, 1996-1998.
Received the Michigan Municipal League s Special Award of Merit, October 1995.
Appointed to the Innovation Groups Management Practices Panel, 1995.
Elected to a three-year term on the Michigan Municipal League Board of Directors, 1991-1994.
Published in the March 1993 issue of Planning and Zoning News Strategic Planning Can Magnify Your
City s Success.
Profiled in the March 2001 Innovation Groups Newsletter and the January 1993 issue of PM Public
Management Magazine published by the International City/County Management Association.
Appointed Chairman of the Michigan Municipal League Subcommittee on the State Role in Municipal
Economic Development, 1986-1987. As a result of the Committee s efforts I wrote a position paper
entitled, The State s Role in Municipal Economic Development, which was adopted at that time as the
official policy of the Michigan Municipal League.
Published in the May 1986 Issue of the Michigan Municipal Review, Otsego: Achieving Potential with
Confidence. The article described the City s establishment of the first Downtown Development
Authority in Allegan County and the plans for improving the downtown.
Lectured at Western Michigan University for various undergraduate and graduate public administration
programs. Topics included the Presidential Management Internship Program, Conflict Resolution,
Retrenchment Management and Grantsmanship.
President of the Lapeer Optimist Club, 1998-1999; President of the Otsego Rotary Club, 1987 to 1988;
Member of the Michigan Municipal League Legislative and Urban Affairs Committee, 1984 to 2002;
President of the Southwest Michigan Manager s Association, 1984 to 1987; Board Member of the West
Michigan Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration, 1987 to 1989; Member of the
American Society for Public Administration, 1980 to 2002; Member of the International City/County
Management Association, 1982 to present and Member of the Michigan Local Government Managers
Association, 1982-2003 and 2007 to present.
PERSONAL BACKGROUND AND INTERESTS
Father of two children who attend Battle Creek Lakeview Schools. Interests include reading, music,
exercise, travel and sports.
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