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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 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 internship.
2020 Recruitment Process
Please check back at the end of 2019 for information on the 2020-2021 application process.
Current Management Assistant

Sierra Anderson is the Graduate Management Assistant for the City of Fort Collins. She is a recent graduate from the University of Montana, where she earned a Master’s in Public Administration, a Master’s in Business Administration, and a Bachelor’s in Political Science. Sierra has always had a passion for excellence and public service. After interning for the City of Missoula’s Office of Housing and Community Development, Sierra was inspired by the positive impact local government can have on a community. She looks forward to serving the City of Fort Collins and the people who make the community a great 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 |
CPS HR Consulting |
Executive Recruiter |
2012-13 |
Kelly Houghteling |
Town of Wellington, CO |
Assistant Town Administrator |
2013-14 |
Pam Davis |
City of Boulder, CO |
Senior Management Analyst |
2014-15 |
Travis Machalek |
Town of Estes Park, CO |
Town Administrator |
2015-16 |
Tyler Marr |
City of Fort Collins, CO |
Project Manager |
2016-17 |
Jackson Brockway |
City and County of Denver |
Budget Analyst |
2017-18 |
Alyssa Johnson |
Salt Lake City Corporation, UT |
Strategy and Special Projects Manager |
2018-19 |
Joe Wimmer |
City of Topeka, KS |
Management Analyst |