Defining workplace culture, elevating customer service and strengthening collaboration have been the name of the game for José Madrigal, Durango city manager, since he was hired in September 2020. Other municipal government professionals have taken notice.
Madrigal was nationally recognized earlier this month by Government Business Review, a leading magazine in government policy and government service-related issues, when it named him one of the Top 10 City Managers for 2025.
The honor highlights Madrigal’s “exceptional leadership in municipal management, public service delivery, and community engagement,” according to the city.
In an email notifying Madrigal that was chosen by the magazine’s editorial team, Government Business Review said the honor “underscores your outstanding contributions to effective city management, public service delivery, and community engagement.”
Madrigal said his selection feels surreal. City managers don’t always get opportunities to have professional achievements recognized. But it also feels good to know people across the country are taking notice of Durango’s inclusive and empathetic approach to leadership and staff support.
He said he was invited to speak about culture change at the International City/County Management Association in Tampa, Florida, in October and he learned Oklahoma City is using Durango as a model of how to implement culture changes.
Additionally, the Colorado Government Finance Officers Association has highlighted Durango, and the Stanislaus State University in Turlock, California, has requested the city’s financial documents for educational purposes, Madrigal said in a follow-up email.
“People are using our stuff, people are looking at us. So when this (recognition) happened, it just made it all the more real,” he said.
Madrigal’s colleagues said the recognition is well deserved.
Councilor Jessika Buell, who was elected in 2021 and is the senior official on City Council, said the recognition is delightful and an acknowledgment of Madrigal’s impressive leadership.
She said Madrigal’s implementation of the Balridge Leadership Framework has elevated leadership and performance and carried the city forward toward its strategic goals.
“From my very first days on council, José has been instrumental in helping me understand the intricate workings of our city, and his impressive leadership is evident in every interaction,” she said. “I am continually impressed by his dedication and vision for Durango.”
Assistant City Manager Bob Brammer said the recognition is “an incredible honor and a testament to who José is – as a leader and as a person.”
“From the very beginning, he has been a supportive leader who fosters independence and growth, while promoting a strong sense of teamwork across the organization,” he said.
Brammer served as chief of Durango Police Department when City Council was still interviewing candidates for city manager. He said Madrigal was “deeply inquisitive” about interdepartmental and city-community relationships.
“He has opened doors for me that I never imagined possible, and I’m sincerely grateful for the opportunities he’s provided,” he said.
Madrigal’s position at the city is his first foray into the city manager position, aside from a six-month stint as interim city manager in McKinney, Texas. He took his first assistant city manager position in 2006 after entering civic service as an intern in 2002.
City leadership is challenging but fulfilling work, Madrigal said. Polarized community issues often turn personal against city staff – and pressure mounts. A leadership and team framework based on empathy and understanding is key.
“We all come to work wanting to make the best for Durango, and sometimes that’s not 100% seen by the outside,” he said.
He’s worked to create an environment in which city employees are motivated by understanding that their work is not only in line with City Council’s direction, but with each other, and it’s done with the best effort and intent, he said.
Madrigal created an executive leadership team and cross-functional teams to facilitate closer coordination between departments, which he said also bolsters morale and gives staff at all levels to be heard in decision-making.
He said the city exists to provide services to residents and to act as a regulatory body, but enforcing rules and laws sometimes rubs residents the wrong way. An outward-facing empathetic approach to enforcement can result in compliance through education, he said.
Madrigal said as much as he is proud of his award, he shares the accomplishment with his staff and the community at large.
He said city staff are amazing, dedicated and supportive, and they adapted to Madrigal’s management and culture shift. The community took a chance with Madrigal as city manager, and the city is garnering nationwide recognition.
“I hope that they see that there is a tremendous value that we’re doing, and while we’re not always going to hit the mark, we are being recognized as some of the best governance in the country,” he said. “That’s important for our community and a show of pride.”
cburney@durangoherald.com
