FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:    October 15, 2018

CONTACT:    Nick Berkowitz, Group Gordon, nberkowitz@groupgordon.com; 212-784-5706

WASHINGTON, D.C. — ICMA, the International City/County Management Association, has announced the installation of its 2018-19 executive board. The 21-member board, composed of the president, president-elect, 18 regional vice presidents, and the past-president acts in the capacity of directors, overseeing the organization’s financial, member-related, and programmatic affairs and selecting the board president. The board also enforces the organization’s Code of Ethics, which governs the professional and personal conduct of the membership. ICMA Executive Board members attend four board meetings annually, which are paid for by the organization.

ICMA’s president leads the organization’s 21-member board and executive director to establish the organization’s direction, oversee its management, represent it to state and national associations of local government managers, and maintain relationships among affiliate organizations. The president for the 2018-19 term is Karen Pinkos, assistant city manager, El Cerrito, California. Karen will assume the role of city manager of El Cerrito in December.

“The story of local government is the story of making lives better, one that I am so proud to be a part of as I look forward to this journey as ICMA President,” said ICMA President Karen Pinkos. “I plan to focus on how we can work together to build resilient communities, resilient organizations, and resilient leaders… through building relationships, building trust, and making sure that everyone we represent feels that they belong, and are heard, and are represented within their communities.”

The ICMA’s president-elect serves as a member of the board and assumes the presidency the following year. For the 2018-19 term, the president-elect is Jane Brautigam, city manager, Boulder, Colorado.

Pinkos is the fourth woman to serve as president of ICMA. Brautigam is the first woman to serve as president-elect under a woman ICMA president.

“ICMA is proud to demonstrate a commitment to diversity in our leadership,” said ICMA Executive Director Marc A. Ott. “Karen and Jane have shown dedicated and courageous leadership in their own communities, and we’re excited that they will bring these experiences to our board as we move into the future as an organization and as a profession.”

Regional vice presidents represent ICMA to regional associations of local government managers and maintain relationships among other affiliated organizations. ICMA recognizes five regions within the United States, each of which elects three representatives to the Executive Board. Three vice presidents are also elected from countries outside the U.S. Vice Presidents serve staggered three-year terms, with one third replaced yearly. The new board members for the 2018-2019 term are:

• International Region: Sue Bidrose, chief executive officer, Dunedin City Council, New Zealand
• Midwest Region: Clint P. Gridley, city administrator, Woodbury, MN 
• Mountain Plains Region: Michael S. Land, city manager, Coppell, TX
• Northeast Region: Christopher T. Coleman, assistant town manager, Needham, MA
• Southeast Region: Laura A. Fitzpatrick, deputy city manager, Chesapeake, VA
• West Coast Region: Edward K. Shikada, assistant city manager/GM of utilities, Palo Alto, CA

About ICMA

ICMA, the International City/County Management Association, advances professional local government worldwide through leadership, management, innovation, and ethics. ICMA provides member support, publications, data and information, peer and results-oriented assistance, and training and professional development to more than 12,000 appointed city, town, and county leaders and other individuals and organizations throughout the world. The management decisions made by ICMA's members affect millions of individuals living in thousands of communities throughout the world, from small villages and towns to large metropolitan areas.