Meet Mill Valley’s Top Headhunter

MILL VALLEY, CA — Mill Valley residents can meet the city’s top headhunter next week.

The City Council at a regular meeting Monday will formally introduce Ralph Andersen & Associates CEO Heather Renschler.

Renschler's public sector executive job search firm consulting firm is leading the search to replace outgoing City Manager Alan Piombo, who announced his retirement last week. Piombo will step down at an unspecified date this fall, according to a news release announcing his retirement.

According to the firm's website, Renschler serves as company's "project director and lead consultant on high-profile national recruitments, including many of a sensitive and critical nature."

Piombo's retirement culminates a 31-year career of public service.

"While I could never have predicted the events that marked my tenure as City Manager, I am thankful for having such a smart, strong, and resilient Council, community, and staff team to work with to achieve our goals as a City," Piombo said in a statement.

"I am proud of the work we accomplished, and I will leave knowing the City is in a strong position for whatever comes next."

Piombo was appointed Mill Valley's chief of police in 2019 and has served as city manager since 2020.

He previously served as an officer in the San Rafael Police Department, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant, a position he held for 10 years.

"As someone who grew up in Mill Valley and worked in the Mill Valley Police Department for 37 years, I have seen many City Managers over the years," Vice Mayor Jim Wickham said in a statement.

"Alan has to be one of the best - he is proactive, engages with the community and is someone that prioritizes and uplifts staff along the way. We are fortunate to have had him step into this role during such a challenging time and leading our City so capably."

Piombo oversees a budget of approximately $32 million and an organization of 150 fulltime employees across eight departments that serve a community of around 14,000, city officials said.

"We commend Alan for his leadership over the past two years, in which his quick, smart actions helped us weather the pandemic and economic downturn. His efforts protected our community as he developed a cost-efficient budget and enacted programs to support local merchants," Mayor John McCauley said in a statement.

"I commend Alan for accomplishing a number of significant projects during his tenure and leaving the City in a strong position for the future."