About Bobby
Born and raised in Kalamazoo, Mayor Bobby J. Hopewell has spent his entire adult career in the service of others. From his professional positions in healthcare to his board memberships and civic responsibilities, he has demonstrated leadership and passion for improving the lives of all citizens in Kalamazoo.
Mayor Hopewell is currently the Director of Hospitality Services at Borgess Medical Center, where he leads a team of 250 dedicated individuals to provide a clean, safe and comfortable environment for Borgess patients and customers. Before joining Borgess, he served as the Community Relations Manager for Bronson Healthcare Group where he was actively involved in community health improvement and wellness efforts. Prior to his hospital service, the Mayor served as Operations Manager for Life EMS Ambulance, directing a staff of extremely skilled and professional emergency responders. He was instrumental in developing Life EMS into one of the first ambulance companies in the nation to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services.
First elected to the Kalamazoo City Commission in 2003, and subsquently re-elected twice, in 2005 as Vice-Mayor and in 2007 as Mayor, Mr. Hopewell has contributed his time and energy to comprehensive community development and public safety. And he has worked to ensure accountability and equity in all his efforts there. He continues to work tirelessly to create a vision for Kalamazoo, one that stresses “the possible.” For him it is about the true promise of Kalamazoo and the opportunity to create excellence.
Like his work on the Commission, Mr. Hopewell has served with distinction in organizations that play a role in significantly improving our community. He was recognized for his lifetime of service with the 2008 Community Trustee Award from the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce. That award is presented annually to a Leadership Kalamazoo graduate who has made significant and notable contributions for the betterment of the community. Recipients exemplify the spirit and goals of Leadership Kalamazoo, especially civic involvement and trusteeship.
Mayor Hopewell’s service includes chairing the Kalamazoo Planning Commission (1995 – 1999) and the Kalamazoo Charter Review Committee (1997-1999), as well as his membership on the Kalamazoo Community Foundation Community Investment Committee (2002-2003).
The Mayor has also been actively involved with organizations that are dedicated to local economic development. He served on the boards of both the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce (1998 – 2001 and 2003-2004) and the Northside Business Association (1993-2007).
Youth and leadership development have also been common threads in the Mayor’s career of volunteerism. To that end, he chaired the Leadership Kalamazoo Advisory Board, was president of the Kalamazoo County SAFE KIDS Coalition, and President of Pretty Lake Vacation Camp. where he continues to serve as a Board Member. A member of the Black Police Officers Association, past board member of the Northside Association for Community Development and former mentor for the Kalamazoo Area Academic Achievement Program, Mr. Hopewell is a fervent advocate for the Kalamazoo community and its citizens.
A graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School, he received an Associate’s in health technology from Kalamazoo Valley Community College and a bachelor’s of arts degree in public service and EMS administration from Sienna Heights College. The Mayor has participated in the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government, Seminar on Transition and Leadership for Newly elected Mayors, sponsored by the United States Conference of Mayors, additionally the Mayor participated in the Mayors Institute on City Design Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the United States Conference of Mayors.
Swearing in Ceremony of the 58th Mayor of the City of Kalamazoo Bobby J. Hopewell
