Cynthia Kurtz was until quite recently the Interim City Manager for the City of Pasadena. She brought to that job years of practice — because she was also a previous full City Manager for the City. She took the original job in 1998 and had been with the city for 20 years when she left the position. Kurtz is the only woman to have served as Pasadena City Manager.
Kurtz will dish on how Pasadena City Hall has changed over the years.
She will meet with the Rotary Club of Pasadena on Wednesday, Sept. 7, at the Club’s weekly meeting. It is also open to the public and begins at 12 noon.
The meeting is in person at the University Club of Pasadena, and live on Zoom as well.
A longtime Pasadena resident, Kurtz was City Manager for Pasadena from 1998 to 2008. Since 2008, she has worked as the interim city manager in both Covina and Santa Ana, as well as the chief operating officer of River LA. She also served as the president of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership.
Before returning to Pasadena, she partnered with Philip Hawkey representing National CORE Affordable Housing Developers in the San Gabriel Valley. They were responsible for finding opportunities to expand the supply of housing and supportive services for all those needing housing assistance.
Kurtz received her undergraduate degree in community development and housing from Pennsylvania State University. She also holds a Master of Arts in transportation and urban development from the University of Iowa. She has taught Public Sector Ethics and Collaborative Decision Making at the University of La Verne Graduate Program for Public Administration.
In December last year, she assumed the Interim City Manager role in Pasadena after Steve Mermell retired. She helped the City in a nationwide search for a permanent City Manager, until Miguel Marquez was appointed in July.
As Vice Chair for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Kurtz represents the City of Pasadena.
To attend Wednesday’s meeting in person, RSVP by calling (626) 683-8243 or sending an email to office@pasadenarotary.com.
To attend online, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81957991086?pwd=SlNHQWhGTnVjY1I5dVBmU1lwaG1IUT09. The meeting ID is 819 5799 1086 and the pass code is 783239.
