Following a successful tenure as acting city manager, by unanimous Council decision, Mondora will lead the City’s administration

The City of Farmington Hills is pleased to announce the unanimous appointment of Karen Mondora by City Council to serve as city manager. 

Since January of this year, Mondora has served as Acting City Manager following the departure of former City Manager Gary Mekjian. In that role, she oversaw the City’s day-to-day operations and worked to advance the priorities of City Council in serving nearly 84,000 residents. 

“I am honored and excited to have this opportunity to serve in this role on behalf of the Farmington Hills community,” said Mondora. “I look forward to continuing to partner with City Council, staff, our community partners, residents and businesses to build upon the City’s successes and keep moving Farmington Hills forward.”

As City Manager, Mondora will focus on advancing the City’s revitalization efforts, including the transformation of the Grand River corridor, expansion of public art and community spaces, and continued implementation of the City’s Strategic Plan and Master Plan. Her leadership will help ensure Farmington Hills remains a vibrant, forward-thinking community. 

Mondora, who is the City’s eighth city manager, joined Farmington Hills in 2012 and since that time she’s held several leadership positions. She served as the City’s director of Public Services from June 2016 through November 2023, leading a team of more than 60 full-time employees across engineering, public works and building maintenance. In that position she also managed the department’s annual budget and capital improvement projects. 

In November 2023, Mondora was promoted to assistant city manager, becoming the first woman to hold that position in the City’s history. She served in that role until becoming acting city manager. 

Mondora is a recognized leader in infrastructure and transportation asset management. She serves as Councilmember of the Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council (TAMC) and as a Board Member of the National Traffic Safety Organization, where she helps guide statewide and national priorities for infrastructure investment and roadway safety. Prior to joining the City of Farmington Hills, she worked in both the public and private sectors, specializing in municipal engineering. She holds a degree in environmental engineering from Michigan Technological University and is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Michigan. She also holds certifications in emergency management through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“Karen has been an exceptional asset since she started with the City in the Department of Public Services. Her experience leading diverse teams and building relationships will be a tremendous asset as the City continues to focus on service excellence, strategic investments and long-term initiatives,” said Mayor Theresa Rich.

As city manager Mondora will be responsible for the administration of 980 full and part-time employees, the City’s budget of more than $85M, and implementation of policies established by the City Council. She joins a line of previous Farmington Hills city managers that include George Majoros, Lawrence Savage, William Costick, Daniel Hobbs, Steve Brock, Dave Boyer, and Gary Mekjian.

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