Kalamazoo Times

Kevin A. Catlin was named the Kalamazoo County administrator/controller during the April 5 meeting of the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners.

Catlin had initially been chosen for the role in March and passed a background check to verify his appointment, a recent news release from Kalamazoo County said. He will officially begin work on May 2.

"We are pleased to welcome Administrator Catlin onboard and (are) eager to work with him to ensure that the County's business continues," County Board Chair Mike Quinn said in the release. "A top priority for the Board was to appoint someone who will put the needs of Kalamazoo residents above all else, and we worked diligently for months to see that through."

Catlin's resume includes being the Boone County administrator in Illinois; city manager of Springfield, Michigan; assistant city manager of Brookings, South Dakota; and management analyst/ICMA Management Fellow with the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma; the release said. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice, a Master of Public Administration degree and is in the process of obtaining a Doctor of Public Administration degree from the University of Illinois Springfield.

Catlin has already outlined obtaining public input for the county government, working with commissioners to prioritize decisions, and enhancing the county's workforce; along with working on employee input and pay raises to boost confidence throughout departments, the release said.

Acting County Administrator James Rutherford and Health Officer Deb Lenz will go back to their jobs as health officer and deputy health officer, respectively, when Catlin begins working, the release said.