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Portola Valley: Firm chosen to recruit manager candidates

by Dave Boyce

The executive recruiting firm of Ralph Andersen & Associates, based in Rocklin, California, is the choice of the Portola Valley Town Council to locate suitable candidates to take the place of Town Manager Angela Howard, who announced in June that she plans to retire in April 2012.

The town received four proposals in response to a request issued in July, and a subcommittee of Mayor Ted Driscoll and Councilman John Richards and Ms. Howard interviewed three of them. The council agreed to the subcommittee's recommendation on Sept. 28.

Andersen has "an excellent track record working with small Northern California cities and towns," Ms. Howard said.

The company has offices in the Southwest, but clients all over the country. Recent positions filled include a probation officer in San Francisco, a college president in Modesto, and an urban forester in Palo Alto, according to its website.

The website includes a prominent logo stating: "We support green government," a convergence of priorities with government in Portola Valley, where environmental ethics run high.

Using funds allocated in the 2011-12 budget, the recruitment will cost the town $24,500, which includes $19,000 for professional services and $5,500 for expenses, according to a staff report.

Next up: the recruiter meets the council at its meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 26, according to a schedule in the staff report. The council plans to have a list of finalists by late February, to negotiate an offer of employment in early March, and to make a choice by mid-March.