Deborah Kimble

Deborah Kimble is an expert in local governance, economic development and change management. She joined Creative in March 2013 and is responsible for developing and managing Creative’s governance and civil society portfolio.

Before joining Creative, she served as the Senior Research Associate in the Center for International Democracy and Governance. There, and during the past 30 years, Deborah has managed and led organizational change and institutional reforms in cities and countries confronted with economic decline, limited and shrinking resources for basic services and challenges from transitions of governing frameworks and changes in power.

She was tasked with improving the performance of the municipal administrations in Kosovo under the USAID Democratic Effective Municipal Initiative, and worked with 15 of them for a year and a half. Deborah witnessed them transform into high-performing, empowered teams that maximized resources and meet demands.

Deborah is particularly adept at facilitating constructive, results-focused partnerships. Her experience ranges from fostering consensus among diverse international and government leaders to transforming the governing dynamics and approaches to service delivery in Saginaw, Michigan, for which the city subsequently won the Michigan Municipal League’s Innovation Award in 2004.

She has completed the coursework for a Ph.D. from Cleveland State University, and has a Master’s in Public Administration from Central Michigan University, and a B.S. from Central Michigan University.