By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Four city manager finalists Dowagiac City Council will be interviewing Tuesday afternoon, July 1, at City Hall are all in southwest Michigan.
They include Portage Assistant City Manager Sean P. McBride (1 p.m.), Wayland City Manager Deborah K. Nier (2 p.m.), Grand Haven Assistant City Manager Lisa Sutterfield (3 p.m.) and South Haven City Manager Kevin P. Anderson (4 p.m.).
Anderson has been South Haven city manager since 1999.
From 1990 to 1999, he was administrator of fast-growing Howard, Wis. (population 13,800).
In South Haven, the 1978 Alpena graduate grappled with a shrinking year-round population, but growing part-time population, as it converts from a manufacturing-based economy to an economy based on tourism.
The 1988-1990 Lowell, Ind., town manager oversaw some of the largest infrastructure reconstruction projects in the Van Buren County community's history as it replaced aging and failing utilities and streets.
His 1987 MPA is from the University of Missouri in Kansas City.
Nier, with Wayland since 2003, has more than 20 years of public sector service, including eight years as a city manager and administrator for two cities with populations of about 4,000 and 14 years at the assistant level in a city of 96,000, Elgin, Ill.
She earned her master's degree in public administration from the University of Iowa in Iowa City.
Sutterfield, Grand Haven assistant city manager since November 2005, was Allegan city manager from April 2001-April 2005.
In Allegan, she assisted with more than 30 businesses expanding or relocating, with an average yearly economic impact of $160,000. She obtained $6.7 million in grants for city and community projects.
Sutterfield, a former economic development coordinator for Downtown Kalamazoo Inc. (July 1993-May 1996), earned her MPA from Western Michigan University.
McBride, with Portage since February 2003, previously held management positions in Highland Park, Ill. (population 32,000, 280 employees) and in Phoenix, Ariz.
He recently was responsible for managing a community visioning project that involved approximately 150 residents, as well as elected and appointed officials.
He also provides oversight for implementation of the annual capital improvements program, which totals about $20 million annually for infrastructure improvements and economic development initiatives.
Completed projects he managed include construction of a $2.5 million addition to police headquarters, development of an award-winning park/stormwater treatment facility and development of 2.5 miles of linear bikeways.
He directly supervises Portage's Fire Department, Streets and Equipment Department and Senior Center and has experience managing departments that include Police, Parks and Recreation, Engineering and Auditor.
Portage has a population of 45,000. McBride, who is married with a young son, earned his MPA from the University of Vermont in Burlington and his bachelor's degree in Colorado.