On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt, who has been in the WKTV studio many times over the last four years since he took the position of lead administrator in 2018. But the next time he visits he will have a new title as on July 30 he will be ending his service to the country and its nearly 700 thousand residents, service which goes back almost two decades, to 2004.
On the WKTV set, we talk with Britt about current news within the county governance — including the county’s impressive and cooperative handling of the COVID-19 pandemic over the last year, several new county facility projects moving full-speed ahead despite the pandemic, and his personal challenge of leadership in this unexpectedly difficult time.
Kent County Administrator Wayman P. Britt. (WKTV)
He also details why he and the Kent County Board of Commissioners made diversity, equity and inclusion, in county leadership and staffing from top to bottom, such a priority that they recently hired Teresa Branson as its first Chief Inclusion Officer.
“We understand what (inclusion) is and what it means,” Britt said to WKTV. “And it is very, very important the we identify how do we increase the number of people in our community that are empowered and engaged to make our community a better place to live, to work.”
We also talk with Britt about the importance of coaching — on the baseball court and in government administration — and what’s next for the man whose motor is always running. (Hint: there’s a book in the works …)
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
Kent County, in recent months, has made two unique expenditures as part of its public safety efforts. One, taking a more traditional approach, saw the county spend more than $2 million to equip the Sheriff’s office with state-of-the-art equipment, most notably body cameras. The other, in a distinctively non-traditional approach, has the county funding nearly $500,000 in grants to non-profit community groups to prevent crime from occurring.
During a recent visit to the studio of WKTV Journal In Focus, we talked with Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt and Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young about the two expenditures and why they are important to the community.
Discussion includes the protocol for use of body cameras and vehicle dashboard cameras, and how both can protect law enforcement and the right of the pubic during sometimes tense interactions. Then we get their take on why the prevention of crime, specifically community violence, will take more than just law enforcement officers on the streets, and why the county is allocating funds to its new Community Violence Prevention Grant program.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
Kent County Administrator/Controller Wayman P. Britt — who has held leadership roles in county administration for nearly two decades — will retire in 2021, (Supplied)
Following an announcement early this month from Kent County that current Administrator/Controller Wayman P. Britt — who has held leadership roles in county administration for nearly two decades — will retire in 2021, the county wasted no time in setting out plans for future leadership.
The county expected to extend Britt’s current contract, due to expire in January 2021, to July 2021. It has hired a new Deputy County Administrator who brings more than 15 years of local government leadership experience to Kent County. And it has formed a seven-person Administrator/Controller Search Committee comprised of county commissioners and community leaders to “coordinate a national search to identify a replacement for Britt” as top administrator.
“After 17 years serving Kent County, it will be hard to walk away from this job,” Britt said in his letter of resignation, according to supplied material. “But I remind myself that I’m not walking away from this tremendous community. So many people have made an indelible mark on me — from our County team to those leading and making a difference out in our community. I’ll carry that with me well beyond my tenure here.”
Britt joined the county as its assistant county administrator in March 2004. In July 2017, he assumed the interim county administrator/controller position and was hired to fill the position in January 2018.
At the time of his resignation, announced Oct. 8, county Board of Commissioners Chair Mandy Bolter confirmed that, “working under the authority granted to her by the board,” she and Britt negotiated the six-month extension to his current employment agreement. The Board voted on the extension Oct. 22 to push the contract expiration to July 24, 2021.
“On behalf of the entire Board of Commissioners, I want to thank Wayman for his commitment, dedication, leadership and true public service to the people of Kent County over the past 17 years,” Bolter said in supplied material. “I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to partner with him in service of our County and wish him the best on his well-deserved retirement.”
Under Britt’s leadership, according to supplied material, Kent County significantly modernized its IT infrastructure, worked with First Steps Kent to create a funding source for early childhood services, and helped launch the Kent County Population Consortium to address the need for a mental health crisis center in our community.
Also under his leadership, the county funded a new Kent County Parks Office, a northern county service hub and a new fleet service facility, as well as developed and launched a comprehensive strategic plan, and hosted the first-ever State of the County Address “as part of their commitment to heighten transparency through enhanced County communications programs.”
Most recently, of course, Britt has led the county’s ongoing public health and economic relief response to the COVID-19 crisis — including planning and distribution of more than a $100 million in federal CARES Act pandemic relief funding.
Administrator/controller search committee formed
The county announced on Oct. 12 that the board formed a committee to replace Britt, headed by Commission chair Bolter, as well as fellow commissioners Stan Stek and Carol Hennessy.
Also on the committee are Birgit Klohs, President & CEO of The Right Place, Inc.; Mike Verhulst, Vice President of Rockford Construction; Dante Villarreal, Vice President, Business & Talent Development, at the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce; and Sam Moore, executive director of the Kent County Parks Foundation.
“I am thankful to the community leaders who have agreed to serve on the search committee,” Bolter said in supplied material. “Together, I am confident we will find a highly qualified individual who is dedicated to maintaining not only what we have achieved, but who possesses the drive and ability to push us toward continued innovation and excellence in service to our community.”
Jennifer Kimball James named Deputy County Administrator
The county announced on Oct.15 that it had hired Jennifer Kimball James as deputy county administrator. She was expected to start the new position on Oct. 19.
Kent County deputy county administrator Jenny Kimball James. (Supplied)
“Jennifer’s passion for public service and more than two decades of experience in local government — including 16 years in leadership positions — are what set her apart from an excellent field of candidates,” Britt said in supplied material. “We are confident her background, skills and enthusiasm for serving her community will help us further the County’s mission and execute our strategic plan.”
Most recently, James was the deputy city manager for the City of Rockville, Maryland, and previously served as the assistant city manager. She worked for the City of Rockville since 2004. Prior to that, she held research and analyst positions with Montgomery County, Maryland‘s Office of Legislative Oversight.
“I am honored to have spent the past twenty-three years collaborating with elected officials, city and county leaders and employees, residents, businesses and other stakeholders to implement the vision of the community where I lived,” Kimball James said in supplied material. “I look forward to partnering with the people of Kent County in the same way as, together, we work to strengthen West Michigan.”
According to supplied material, James will “plan, direct, coordinate, and oversee operations activities of the County, ensuring development and implementation of efficient operations and cost-effective systems to meet current and future needs of the County all under the direction of the County Administrator.”
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus is an update on the June partial building collapse at Lee Middle and High School. District Superintendent Kevin Polston separates the facts from the fictions of the incident and the aftermath. Also, Kent County recently adopted an extensive Strategic Plan that not only sets out its mission and vision but also a set of values that will drive its priorities and goals. With us is both the county’s lead administrator and Wyoming’s own representative on the County Commission.
First In Focus is Godfrey Lee Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Polston, who’s summer took a hard turn in June with the collapse of a portion of the Lee Middle and High School complex of buildings. Recently, he has held a series of meetings to inform parents, the general public and the school district community about the collapse as well as where the district goes from here, both in the short and long term. We invited him into our studios to reach out to our WKTV audience with the information. See the In Focus Video here.
County Administrator Wayman Britt and County Commissioner Harold Voorhees on the set of WKTV Journal In Focus. (WKTV)
Then In Focus is Kent County’s new Strategic Plan, set to cover the years 2019 to 2023 and designed to establish and detail the county government’s, “mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities and goals.” With us is County Administrator Wayman Britt, who after serving as county controller was promoted to the dual role of administrator and controller in early 2018, also joining us is County Commissioner Harold Voorhees, whose District 8 is — as he likes to say “entirely within the City of Wyoming”. See the In Focus video here.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
Kent County’s “Honoring the Dream” memorial event, held April 4 at Grand Rapid’s Calder Plaza in memory of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 50th Anniversary of his assassination, held special meaning to many of the people in attendance.
But it also held a very personal meaning to Wayman Britt, Kent County Administrator/Controller.
It did not escape Britt, an African-American recently selected to lead the daily operation of the county, that he, himself, was an example of the inclusion and opportunities Kent County leaders advocate for and work to embrace.
Wyman Britt, on the set of WKTV Journal: In Focus
“Dr. King meant a lot to a lot of us, and we remember what he stood for … I believe his dream is still alive, but we have to do more,” Britt said to WKTV. “What it does for me is it reinforces the role that I play as a leader in this community. That I do not need to be shy as to who I am: I am a black man who grew up in North Carolina and, one day, believed he would have a place in life to serve others. … I know the labor Dr. King and others put forth so that I could be in a place to serve.”
The event drew a crowd of several hundred despite the cold, wet noontime weather. It was hosted by the county Administrator’s Office, the Kent County’s Board of Commissioners and the county’s Cultural Insight Council.
The event began with a presentation of the colors by the Kent County Sheriff’s Honor Guard, the pledge of allegiance led by County Commissioner Robert Womack, and the invocation by Bishop Dennis J. McMurray. It ended with a prayer by Rev. Dr. Willie A. Gholston II.
Matthew Budd leading a poem of tribute at the Kent County event. (WKTV)
In between there was a poetic tribute by Matthew Budd and a musical tribute by Ashlie Johnson, as well as the reading of a proclamation by the County Commissioners and a moment of silence led by county Undersheriff Michelle Lajoye-Young.
There were also remarks by Britt, who, in part, discussed the county’s efforts towards diversity and inclusion, including the work of the Cultural Insight Council.
The Cultural Insight Council is a Kent County’s designed to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Formed in January 2001, the CIC is an interdepartmental work group sponsored by the Administrator’s Office. The council is comprised of employees of diverse backgrounds, representing all levels of the organization. Its mission, according to the county’s website, is “To act as a catalyst to foster a culture which recognizes, accepts and values the individual differences of its employees and is responsive to the changing needs of our diverse community.”
“We wanted to gather as a community and spend a few minutes reflecting on the lessons of Dr. King’s life and death,” Darius Quinn, county human resources manager and chair of the CIC, said in supplied material prior to the event. “The CIC is dedicated to providing an environment where diversity, equity and inclusion are valued. This event is a reflection of the standard the County staff strives to achieve every day.”
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal: In Focus is Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt, who has been serving as Interim County Administrator/Controller starting in July 2017 before being named to the county’s top management position in January.
While Britt’s impressive resume includes positions at Steelcase, Inc. and Michigan National Bank before joining the county — and management oversight for the Health Department, the Community Development and Housing Department, and Veterans Services with the county — he also played basketball for the University of Michigan, and was part of the school’s National Championship runner-up in 1976.
Given this week’s Wolverine return visit to the Final Four, In Focus host Ken Norris just had to ask Britt about the lessons he learned on the basketball court and how that impacts his management style today.
Also on the episode, Christine Mwangi, founder and president of the Grand Rapids based Be A Rose non-profit, which advocates for and educates on women’s health issues. She was born in Kenya, immigrated to American when she was 11, gained a bachelors degree in the United States and a masters in the United Kingdom. Now, while she is now firmly rooted in West Michigan, Be A Rose’s name and inspiration returns, again, to Africa and to Mwangi’s paternal grandmother.
The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.
The episode will debuted on WKTV cable channels on Tuesday, March 27, and will again air on Thursday, March 29, also at 6:30 p.m., and will continue on the same days and times the week of March 19. But all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.
Wayman Britt is Kent County’s new administrator/controller.
This morning the Kent County Board of Commissioners promoted Interim County Administrator Wayman Britt to the role of Administrator/Controller. The unanimous (19-0) vote came after a year-long search for candidates across the country. Britt has been with Kent County since 2004, serving as management oversight for the Kent County Health Department, Community Action and Veterans Services.
In addition, he is the liaison for the State Department of Health and Human Services, and is responsible for several community initiatives such as the Kent County Family and Children’s Coordinating Council. “This was a comprehensive search that led to a clear-cut result: Wayman Britt is the best person for the job,” said Board of Commissioners Chair Jim Saalfeld. “I’ve worked with Wayman for the past seven years, and I am confident Kent County has selected an outstanding leader and Administrator. Wayman shows a steadfast commitment to our community, a collaborative nature, and impeccable ethical standards.”
Britt has been serving as the Interim County Administrator since July 2017. “The past seven months made me more certain that I wanted to serve our County as Administrator/Controller. I am humbled by the support I’ve received throughout the process and honored to be selected by the Board,” Britt said. “I will continue to serve the people of Kent County with passion and enthusiasm, and I’m confident we will continue to find innovative ways to provide residents with the great programs and services they’ve come to know.”
Chair Saalfeld assembled an Administrator/Controller Recruitment Subcommittee comprised of himself, current and former Commissioners, and current community leaders to lead the search process. The subcommittee used the search firm GovHR, which received nearly 70 applicants for the role. Subcommittee Chair Sandi Frost Steensma (who previously served as County Board Chair) was pleased with the outcome. “Wayman excelled during the interview process; he has a demonstrated track record of great leadership abilities,” she said. “He had great support from the community and leaders throughout Kent County. He is the right leader at the right time.”
Subcommittee member and Board of Commissioners’ Minority Party Vice-Chair Carol Hennessy echoed that sentiment. “I’ve received many calls and emails from residents showing their support for Wayman throughout this process. He is the right choice for this role.”
Prior to beginning his career with the County in 2004, Britt held several management positions at Steelcase, Inc. and Michigan National Bank – Central. He holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Michigan. Britt has served on numerous boards and councils, including the Gerald R. Ford Council Boy Scouts of America, Grand Rapids Community Foundation Board of Trustees, Grand Rapids Downtown Market Board of Directors, West Michigan Sports Commission, Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy Board and the Kent County Human Services Board.
Kent County leadership is nearing the end of its process to name a new county administrator/controller — in essence the chief administrative and financial officer, as well as the person who oversees day-to-day operation of county government.
And the public will have opportunity in this week to engage and offer feedback on the process and the two final candidates for the job.
The final candidates for the position are Wayman P. Britt, from Grand Rapids, and Marc S. Ryan, from Land O’Lakes, Fla.
On Wednesday, Jan. 10, from 5-7:30 p.m., the county will host an open Candidates Community Forum in the Multi-Purpose Room at the Human Services Complex, 121 Franklin SE, Grand Rapids. This will provide an opportunity for the public to provide feedback regarding the candidates, according to supplied material.
The importance of that job is evidenced in the fact that the county’s just approved 2018 budget of $417 million will be second highest in the area, behind only the City of Grand Rapids’ $528 million budget, and that the county will spend just over $350 million to fund the sheriff’s office and courts, social services, the county’s elections, veterans services and other programs.
The position answers directly to the Board of Commissioners. The position’s salary ranges from $110,300 to $171,078, according to the county, but the specific contract for the new administrator/controller is as-yet undetermined.
“The (recruitment) committee is proud to hold the community forum and ask for public feedback in the recruitment process for this important role,” Sandi Steensma, commissioner and Administrator/Controller Recruitment Subcommittee Chair, said in supplied material. “The community’s input in the process is critical to making the right decision for such an important leadership role. We hope residents will make their voices heard as we complete this process.”
Britt is currently the interim county administrator and previously served as assistant administrator. He also played basketball for University of Michigan, and played in the NBA for two seasons before continuing his education. Ryan is currently Chief Strategy and Compliance Officer at MedHOK, Inc., and previously served in the State of Connecticut Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management/State Budget Director.
One of the two will replace former Kent County Administrator Daryl Delabbio, who retired in June of this year after 22 years of service to the county.
IN addition to the Jan. 10 public access opportunity, on Jan. 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the finalist candidate interviews with the full Board of Commissioners, will take place and will be open to the public. Finally, also on Jan. 11, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., recruiting subcommittee will review member commissioner feedback and identify the top candidate to be recommended to the full Board of Commissioners for consideration.
