Des Plaines hires suburb’s first female city manager

Des Plaines Assistant City Manager Dorothy Wisniewski has been tapped to succeed her longtime boss and become the suburb’s first female city manager, officials announced Wednesday.

Wisniewski, who also serves as finance director, will take the reins of the city staff effective April 1. She’ll succeed Michael Bartholomew, who recently announced his retirement.

“I am honored to have been chosen to lead Des Plaines as its city manager,” Wisniewski said in a news release. “I look forward to building upon the progress we've made and working closely with the city council, staff and residents to continue moving Des Plaines forward.”

Wisniewski, of Mount Prospect, was selected by Mayor Andrew Goczkowski for the job. Formal approval by the city council is pending.

Bartholomew will stay on until March 31 to ensure a smooth transition, according to the release.

Before coming to city hall in 2007, Wisniewski worked as a senior auditor for KPMG. She started in Des Plaines as finance director and added assistant city manager to her credentials in 2014.

Her efforts garnered praise from Goczkowski.

"Dorothy's dedication and expertise have been instrumental in guiding Des Plaines towards financial stability and sustainability," Goczkowski said in the news release. "Her deep understanding of municipal finance, coupled with her collaborative approach, has earned her the respect and trust of both the city council and the community."

Wisniewski currently collects a $213,609 base salary. The terms of her new contract haven’t been finalized, a city spokeswoman said.