Walter C. Rossmann

Walter Rossmann is a local government professional with 24 years of experience in large to mid-size California municipalities with a focus on public safety, infrastructure, community services, and internal support functions. Walter’s key strengths are talent, policy, and program development, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery, administrative and technology system implementation, budget development, and governance.

Prior to affiliating with MRG, Walter served as Chief Operating Officer, Assistant City Manager, and Deputy City Manager for the cities of Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, and Milpitas, respectively, overseeing municipal operations including but not limited to public safety, parks and recreation, public works and internal support functions such as Communications, City Clerk, Finance, Human Resources, and Information Technology. Walter started his career in the Office of Management and Budget for the City of San Diego, served as the Chief Procurement Official for the City of San Diego and the City of San Jose as well as Director of the Office of Management and Budget for the City of Palo Alto and Finance Director for the City of Milpitas. Additionally, as a parent-elected Member of the Board overseeing the not-for-profit German International School of Silicon Valley (GISSV) and through his role as Treasurer and President of the GISSV Board, he is keenly aware of governance issues between an elected board and an appointed Chief Executive. He also presented regularly at the annual Government Finance Officer Association’s (GFOA) annual conferences and served on various GFOA committees/work groups.

Throughout his career in public service, Walter focused on talent retention and attraction including the development of staff across organizations. He frequently served as a coach and mentor in a voluntary capacity to develop managers and leaders.

In other prior municipal and non-for-profit experience, Walter guided significant initiatives including:

• Council and Administrative Policy Manual development
• Implementation of citywide systems including but not limited to budget, procurement, and agenda management
• Organizational analysis and redesign
• Passage of various tax revenue measures
• Expansion of a Bay Area non-for-profit school to two campuses

Walter earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Administration from the University of Massachusetts and a Master of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from Texas A&M University.