Grand Rapids announces administrative leadership changes

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids is seeing some leadership changes at city hall.

From a retirement to promotions, City Manager Mark Washington announced several changes across the city’s public services, sustainability, equity and oversight offices on Feb. 24.

Here’s an overview of the changes:

James Hurt retirement

James Hurt, managing director of public services, retired on Friday, Feb. 21, after 26 years working for the city.

Hurt was appointed to oversee the public services department in October 2019. As managing director, he oversaw the City’s Environmental Services, Public Works, and Water departments.

Before that, he served as the city’s public works director and neighborhood improvement director for nearly 20 years, according to a city news release.

Hurt has worked in public service in local government for over three decades. Before coming to Grand Rapids, he served as assistant city manager and city manager in Newaygo. He began his career with a private company doing planning and zoning work for several local governments.

“As I reflect on my time serving Grand Rapids, I feel incredibly blessed to have worked alongside city managers, mayors, commissioners, and my fellow public servants to provide excellent city services,” he said in a statement provided by the city.

“The teams in the public services group are truly the best, working tirelessly around the clock to serve our residents and customers — often without recognition or fanfare. It’s been a remarkable journey, and I will miss it.”

Water Systems Manager Wayne Jernberg will take over some of Hurt’s role on an interim basis, overseeing water and wastewater. Current administrators in the public works and the electric, lighting and communications departments will handle other duties, reporting to Assistant City Manager Doug Matthews.

Annabelle Wilkinson promotion

Annabelle Wilkinson was appointed as the city’s chief sustainability officer after a national search to fill the position, Washington said.

Wilkinson has worked with the city for over five years in the Office of Sustainability and served as interim chief sustainability officer since June. Before that, she served as the city’s environmental and climate justice specialist leading project management for the city’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.

She has worked to embed environmental and climate justice into other state, regional, and local plans like the MI Healthy Climate Plan, West Michigan Healthy Climate Plan, Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan, the city’s Community Master Plan and the city’s Parks & Recreation Strategic Master Plan, the release said.

“Climate change is one of the most complex and interconnected challenges facing our community today,” Wilkinson said. “I am excited to lead the office as we work collaboratively across community on innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change as we aspire to a healthy, resilient and safe environment for all.”

Wilkinson received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Michigan State University.

Brandon Davis promotion

Washington also appointed Brandon Davis to serve as managing director of the city’s Office of Equity and Engagement and the city’s Office of Oversight and Public Accountability.

Davis had served in an interim capacity overseeing both departments since November 2023. In his role, Davis functions as the city’s chief diversity officer and works to promote community, workforce, and supplier diversity for the city’s employees and residents, the city said.

He leads many of the city’s civilian violence prevention efforts like Cure Violence GR, and he has been a champion for embedding equity in all city operations, according to the release.

Davis began his law career in his hometown of Detroit, where he served as a defense attorney and prosecutor. He has a bachelor’s degree in interpersonal and public communication from Central Michigan University and a law degree from Wayne State University.

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