By K.D. Norris
After hosting a community forum and conducting third round interviews today, June 24, at a Kent County Board of Commissioners meeting, Kent County announced today that the board has selected Al Vanderberg, currently Ottawa County Administrator but with a history of working for Kent County, as its choice for the next county Administrator/Controller.
According to the announcement, Board of Commissioners chair Mandy Bolter “will enter immediate contract negotiations with Vanderberg with the aim of presenting a final contract for board approval” at the commission meeting on July 22.
“This has been an exciting, thorough and transparent process that culminated with the selection of a strong, visionary and highly competent individual,” Bolter said in supplied material. “Thanks to our dedicated search subcommittee, our board of commissioners and the high level of community engagement in the process, I’m confident that Al will be the kind of leader who reflects the community’s priorities and can leverage Kent County’s assets for sustained growth and innovative service to our residents.”
Pending contract approval, Vanderberg is expected to take over the local job later this summer. He has been the administrator in Ottawa County since 2003 managing 1,200 employees who serve a population of about 300,000 residents. Immediately prior to joining Ottawa County, he was the Deputy County Administrator/Controller in Kent County from 1999-2003.
Vanderberg will take over Kent County’s top administrative position from Wayman P. Britt, who notified the board of his intention to retire last October. Britt has been with the county administration for more than 17 years and has served in the top spot since January 2018.
According to supplied material, the process to select Vanderberg was “a multi-faceted market outreach campaign targeting highly diverse recruitment sites across the country.”
A county-hired recruiting firm identified over 140 prospects and contacted more than 100 potential candidates and sources. From this group, the firm identified 13 external and one internal candidate to present for search subcommittee consideration on May 14. The subcommittee selected five candidates for first round interviews at public meetings on June 9 and 10, and three were advanced as finalists.
In all, the subcommittee met 10 times over the course of eight months, with all meetings noticed and open to the public.
Vanderberg’s resume
At his current position, Vanderberg is responsible for oversight of administrative and other departments within Ottawa County and serves on boards, committees and workgroups for numerous Ottawa County and community agencies and organizations, according to supplied material. Those duties included chair of the County Brownfield Redevelopment Board, president of the County Economic Development Corporation Board, and membership on the Grand Valley Metro Council Board, Lakeshore Advantage Board and Housing Next Board.
He began his career in Lenawee County in 1986, and subsequently served in city management in Greenville and South Haven.
Additionally, Vanderberg was appointed in 2018 by the Michigan Civil Rights Department to serve on the Michigan Council for Local Government and Education on Equity and Inclusion. In 2017, he was appointed to the Michigan Child Lead Exposure Elimination Commission by Governor Snyder and reappointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2019. He is a member of the Government Finance Officers Association and the National Association of County Administrators.
He was president of the board of the Michigan Association of County Administrative Officials in 2011 and of the Michigan Local Government Management Association in 2010 and retains membership in both organizations.
