Alumnus moves through ranks to GR city manager

Date: October 27, 2009

Grand Valley State University alumnus Greg Sundstrom started out as an intern for Grand Rapids Sanitation Department -- a job given to him through the popular work-study program still available here on campus. But after 12 promotions through literally every level of city service, Sundstrom finally became Grand Rapids' new city manager on July 29.

"Service to country was really a very important value I grew up with," Sundstrom said. "So I decided that if I wanted to serve my country but I didn't want to be in the military, then local government was the best place for that."

Sundstrom originally enrolled at the University of Michigan as a freshman with no real direction. But after switching his major from philosophy to local government he knew GVSU was the best choice for him.

"U of M prepares students to be policy analysts in Washington, D.C., in some small cubicle someplace and that did not interest me," he said. "This is what democracy and government is all about -- local government -- and GV has one of the best programs to prepare students for that."

As city manager, Sundstrom handles day-to-day operations, which include the creation of the annual budget, setting policies for employees to follow, hiring and firing, and managing the city's fiscal affairs. However, these fiscal affairs, at times, have Sundstrom feeling "like he is running in glue."

Sundstrom said he does not know anyone in government who remembers serving in a time worse than this.

"I think it's fair to say that we haven't had this kind of environment to try to manage in 75 years," he said. "We have higher unemployment rates in Grand Rapids than we do in the state as a whole on average. When you have significantly declining revenue but increasing demand for services, it makes it extremely difficult to try to manage in our old government model, and it requires us to think of a new way to provide old government services."

However, Sundstrom added he thinks it is pretty clear just by looking around at all of the city's new developments that Grand Rapids holds great promise for the future.

He added he takes the most comfort in the young professionals he has been able to engage with here in the community.

Referring to the man behind the recent social experiments happening all over downtown Grand Rapids, Sundstrom said, "I said to (Rob Bliss) today, 'It's not the events that make you special. Sure, a Zombie Walk is a fun thing -- but it's that you have harnessed social media to bring people together. The notion is that you can use social media to bring 5 or 10,000 people together.' It's that kind of connection in our young people today that want to come together that is powerful. I recently have met with a couple of young professional groups, and these young people want to change the world. And what makes it special is that they have the talents to do that."

Outside of work, Sundstrom spends his precious free moments with his family and pursuing his passions of music and art.

A fan of jazz and blues, he likes his John Coltrane with a side of Regina Spektor and other breakthrough artists his 18-year-old son recommends. Sundstrom is also a member at all of the local art museums.

"I love art," Sundstrom said. "I have a fair amount of it in my home and my office. It's special because it's enjoyable and there's meaning and that's why I like it."

Sundstrom said thus far in his life he has no regrets, only frustrations.

"You know, I'm very frustrated that I can't be more productive now in this economy," he said. "But regrets? No. Absolutely not."


This article can be found at the lanthorn.com