City of Fort Collins Graduate Management Assistant Program#
The City of Fort Collins Graduate Management Assistant 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. Management Assistant will be involved in research, analytical work, and managing special projects. This position represents a full-time, one-year fellowship.
Current Management Assistant#

Lockie Woods is the current Graduate Management Assistant for the City of Fort Collins. He graduated with high honors from Michigan State University with a degree in International Relations and History in the spring of 2021, and he will complete his Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Kansas in the spring of 2024. An Eagle Scout, Lockie’s lifelong commitment to public service has driven him to pursue a career in local government where he can work alongside similarly motivated public servants to build a better community. After a series of undergraduate internships in municipal government, Lockie spent last year working as a Management Intern in the City of Lenexa’s City Manager’s Office. There, he dove into meaningful projects that increased the effectiveness of City staff and directly improved the lives of residents. He is excited to keep performing important and impactful work as he continues his local government career with the City of Fort Collins and is immensely grateful for the opportunity to serve the exceptional people who make this city an exceptional place to live.
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 |
President |
2000-01 |
Heather Brooks |
City of Alamosa, CO |
City Manager |
2002-03 |
Sam McFerran |
First Church (UCC) |
Associate Minister |
2011-12 |
Josh Jones |
U.S. Federal Government |
U.S. Federal Government Officer |
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 Analyst |
2017-18 |
Alyssa Johnson |
Slalom Consulting |
Organizational Effectiveness Consultant |
2018-19 |
Joe Wimmer |
City of Pittsburg, KS |
Deputy Finance Director |
2019-21 |
Sierra Anderson |
City of Raleigh, NC |
Senior Budget and Management Services Analyst |
2021-22 |
DeAngelo Bowden |
City of Fort Collins, CO |
Senior Environmental Sustainability Specialist |
2022-23 |
Megan "Meggs" Valliere |
City & County of Denver |
Associate Budget Analyst |