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City of Fort Collins Graduate Management Assistant Program#

The City of Fort Collins Graduate Management Assistant (GMA) program allows current Master of Public Administration students and recent graduates (as well as students and recent graduates from closely related fields) the opportunity to gain valuable career experience in a wide variety of areas of municipal operations. This position provides future municipal leaders with the opportunity to learn from seasoned professionals in a community consistently rated as one of the best places to live in the country. The Management Assistant will have the opportunity to learn about the inner-workings of a full-service city.

The Management Assistant will be provided the opportunity to work on projects based in a variety of City departments, while maintaining a "home base" in the City Manager's Office. The Management Assistant will be involved in research, analytical work, and managing special projects. This position represents a full-time, one-year fellowship.

2025 Recruitment Process#

GMA applications will open in the Spring of 2025. The position will start in the Summer of 2025. Please contact Max Valadez at mvaladez@fcgov.com with any questions.

All applicants must provide:

  • Cover letter
  • Current resume

To apply, please visit: https://www.fcgov.com/jobs/

Current Management Assistant#

Max Valadez

Max Valadez serves as the current Graduate Management Assistant for the City of Fort Collins. He graduated with his Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia in the spring of 2024. Max also holds a BS in Agricultural Leadership & Development and a Graduate Certificate in Public Management from Texas A&M University. Hoping to bring a more human-centered and pragmatic approach to government, he has appreciated the guidance of City staff who share his care for improving the lives of all people in their community. Max has spent the early years of his professional career in roles within local and federal government. Notably, he was a Committee Intern for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, and an Inclusion Fellow for the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia. Throughout both experiences, Max has deepened his commitment to public service and developed the skills necessary to achieve positive change for his community. He will continue to pursue impactful work while serving the City of Fort Collins with gratitude and pride. 

Previous Management Assistants#

Year Name Organization Position

1983-84

Wendy Williams

City of Fort Collins, CO

Assistant City Manager

 

Mark Rohloff

City of Oshkosh, WI

City Manager

1984-85

Jody Kole

Grand Junction, CO Housing Authority

Chief Executive Officer Director

 

Deborah Sagen

Pikes Peak Community College

Vice President Workforce Development

 

Susan Loo

City of Louisville, CO

City Councilmember

1985-86

Ann Turnquist

Poudre Fire Authority

Administrative Services Director

 

Mark Campbell

Multnomah County, OR

Chief Financial Officer

 

Don Gaeddert

City of Larned, KS

Retired City Manager

1986-87

Julia Novak

Novak Consulting

President

 

Todd Vance

BreakForth Counseling and Consulting; Salem, VA

Clinical Psychologist

1989-90

Jon Ruiz

City of Eugene, OR

City Manager

 

Steve VanderMeer

Hometown Connections

Senior Vice President

1990-91

Kristin Epley

University of Colorado - Boulder

Sustainability Project Manager

1991-92

Stet Schanze

Gray Manufacturing Company, Inc. 

President

2000-01

Heather Sanchez

City of Alamosa, CO

City Manager

2002-03

Sam McFerran

First Church (UCC)

Minister of Faith Formation 

2011-12

Josh Jones

U.S. Federal Government

U.S. Federal Government Employee

2012-13

Kelly Houghteling

Town of Wellington, CO

Deputy Town Administrator

2013-14

Pam Davis

City of Boulder, CO

Assistant City Manager

2014-15

Travis Machalek

Town of Estes Park, CO

Town Administrator

2015-16

Tyler Marr

City of Fort Collins, CO

Deputy City Manager

2016-17

Jackson Brockway

City and County of Denver

Capital Planning and Budget Manager

2017-18

Alyssa Johnson

Minnesota Department of Human Services

Change Management Coordinator

2018-19

Joe Wimmer

City of Fort Collins, CO

Senior Financial Analyst

2019-21

Sierra Anderson

City of Raleigh, NC

Senior Budget and Management Services Analyst

2021-22

DeAngelo Bowden

City of Fort Collins, CO

Lead Environmental Specialist 

2022-23

Megan "Meggs" Valliere

City of Boulder, CO

City Council Program Manager

2023-24

Lachlan Woods

Town of Erie, CO

URA & Development Accounting Analyst