Schaumburg Village Manager Ken Fritz, who presided over an era of unprecedented economic growth in one of the Chicago area’s leading economic hubs, has announced his plans to retire at the end of August.
As Village Manager, Fritz oversaw the Village’s ten departments, 500 full time employees and $190 million budget. Schaumburg is home to nearly 75,000 residents and 5,000 businesses that employ over 80,000 people.
During his 15 year tenure as village manager, Fritz oversaw the financing, design, and construction of major economic development projects such as the $240 million convention center and hotel and Alexian Field, home to the Schaumburg Boomers, a minor league baseball team.
Fritz joined the Village in 1984 as assistant director of finance. In 1988 he was appointed assistant village manager. Fritz served in that role until 1998, when he was appointed village manager.
Fritz notified Village Board members and department heads last week of his decision to retire. In an email to Village employees and Board members, Fritz wrote,
“While my wife and I have been considering our next move for some time, I have learned that it is easy to delay that decision when there is one more important project to wrap up, one more budget to oversee, or one more complex financial transaction to work through. But, in my desire to enjoy family life to its fullest, I have also learned that institutions can live forever, but we don’t.”
In the email, Fritz also thanked employees for their dedication and commitment to the residents and businesses that call Schaumburg home.
“I have worked with a number of talented people and enjoyed the support of great Village Boards. While people have come and gone the spirit of Schaumburg as a beacon of progress and planning and an example of what a community can be has always endured. I am truly thankful to have had the opportunity to share with you our success.”
Fritz has been recognized nationally for efforts to promote leadership and talent development among Village employees. In 2002 he won the International City Managers Association’s In Service Training Award for creating the Schaumburg Institute of Professional Development. In 2010 the association bestowed its Program Excellence Award for Strategic Leadership & Governance to Fritz for his role in developing the Village’s Talent Management program.
Fritz has also served on a number of other local and national boards including the Northwest Joint Action Water agency where he currently serves as the Chairman of the Engineering subcommittee; the Board of Directors of Northwest Central Dispatch where he is a past chairman and as a member of the National League of City’s Human Development committee.
Fritz will continue to serve as village manager through August. Fritz and his wife purchased a home in Minnesota several months ago. He plans to move there permanently upon his retirement.
The Village Board will work with Fritz to ensure a smooth transition and begin the task of identifying his successor.
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