County Manager Hiring Process
The board of commissioners is responsible for appointing the county manager, a duty established in Ramsey County's Home Rule Charter. The county manager oversees Ramsey County’s budget and the operations of all departments.
The county board is currently in the process of hiring a new county manager to succeed Ryan O’Connor, who joined the Metropolitan Council in March 2024 as its Regional Administrator.
The board is committed to upholding the county’s mission, vision and goals and providing a transparent hiring process. Updates will be provided throughout the county manager hiring process on this webpage.
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Ling Becker selected as next county manager
Following an extensive national search, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners has selected Ling Becker to be the next county manager.
Finalists and next steps
Following an extensive national search, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners have selected four finalists to interview for the position of county manager.
The finalists were chosen through a national search led by GovHR USA/MGT, starting in May 2024. The county received 54 applications, creating a diverse pool of highly qualified candidates.
The finalists are:
Anthony Alongi
Alongi currently serves as the section manager of Policy and Planning with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. He has a Master of Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton College. Prior to his current role, Alongi served as director for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and has served on the Hastings City Council.
Ling Becker
Becker currently serves as the director of Ramsey County Workforce Solutions and the executive director of the Ramsey County Workforce Innovation Board. She has a Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota Morris. In addition to her current role with Ramsey County, Becker has also served as the executive director of the Vadnais Heights Economic Development Corporation and as project administrator for the Twin Cities Metropolitan Council Transportation and Transit Development Office.
Nikki Farago
Farago currently serves as deputy commissioner of Agency Culture and Relations at the Minnesota Department of Human Services. She has a Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota Law School and a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Georgia. Farago previously served as assistant commissioner and deputy assistant commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Children and Family Services Administration.
Jonathan Sage-Martinson
Sage-Martinson currently serves as the chief executive officer for the Amplio Economic Development Corporation as well as the president/chief executive officer of the Amplio Lending Corporation. He has a Master of Arts from the University of Minnesota School of Public Affairs as well as a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota. Sage-Martinson also served as the director and executive director of Saint Paul Planning and Economic Development and the collaborative director of Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
Schedule
The board will interview the four finalists on Tuesday, July 30. Interviews will begin at 9 a.m. and run throughout the day at the Ramsey County Courthouse in Saint Paul, MN.
Timeline
Feb 1 - Interim county manager begins
Deputy County Manager Johanna Berg was appointed as the interim county manager on February 1, 2024.
May 1 - Recruitment firm hired
After a competitive Request for Proposal process, GovHR USA (also known as MGT) was selected by the county board as the recruitment firm the board would work with to hire the next county manager.
May 14- Board workshop
A board workshop was held on May 14 for commissioners to discuss the search process and next steps with GovHR USA/MGT. The workshop was open for public observation.
May 15-20 - Stakeholder input
GovHR USA/MGT conducted stakeholder interviews and surveyed county staff to gather input to develop the position description and expectations.
May 29-June 21 - Position posting
The position of county manager was posted May 29-June 21, 2024.
55 total applications were received during the application period.
June 24 through July
GovHR USA/MGT conducts initial screening interviews.
July 23 - Board workshop
A board workshop was held on July 23 for commissioners to receive an update on the search process for the county manager from GovHR USA/MGT.
July 30 - Finalist interviews
Interviews for finalists will be held on July 30 in the Saint Paul City Hall - Ramsey County Courthouse.