The city is excited to announce that Ernesto Reyes is the new assistant city manager for operations, handling day-to-day operations among all city departments as a liaison to the city manager.
He will begin work with the city on Monday, Feb. 29.
Reyes comes to Battle Creek from the City of Pompano Beach, Fla., where he most recently worked as assistant to the city manager for budget and strategic planning. In that capacity, he worked with department directors in coordinating and planning general government budget development of more than $237 million.
Reyes started work in Pompano Beach in 2006, working in the budget office. He was promoted to budget analyst in 2012 and to his most recent position in 2014.
In line with recent work in the City of Battle Creek, Reyes focused much of his effort in Pompano Beach on increasing the transparency and civic engagement of city government, in part by implementing a community engagement process for residents to convey their priorities for budget consideration.
"We believe Ernesto will be a great fit for the City of Battle Creek," said City Manager Rebecca Fleury. "His budget experience, in particular, will be a great asset as we transition to the priority based budgeting model this year.
"The ACMO position was created last spring and it has greatly benefited our organization. I am confident Ernesto will be a great liaison to our department heads on a daily basis."
Reyes, 41, holds master's degrees in public administration and accounting from Florida Atlantic University. He holds a bachelor's degree in the health field, as a medical technologist, from Georgia State University in Atlanta.
Reyes also is bilingual in English and Spanish.
The public is invited to meet Reyes before the next City Commission meeting:
5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 1
City Commission chambers, City Hall, 10 N. Division St.