Meet the 2025 Visiting Professional
Patricia "Pat" Martel is a distinguished public service leader whose career spans nearly four decades in California local government.
Since her retirement in 2018, Pat has served as the
International City/County Management's West Coast Regional Director (ICMA), an organization of approximately 13,000 members of local government professionals. As Regional Director, Martel continues to advance her vision of diverse, inclusive, and effective local governance, building on her legacy of outstanding public service.
Throughout her 38-year career, Pat demonstrated exceptional leadership across multiple California jurisdictions, most notably serving as City Manager of Daly City from 2005 to 2018. Her expertise in managing communities ranging from 67,000 to 850,000 residents includes key leadership positions in Inglewood, South San Francisco, San Francisco, and Hayward. During her tenure as City Manager, she championed initiatives focused on efficient service delivery, community engagement, organizational excellence, and diversity in leadership. Pat's influence extends well beyond her direct executive roles. Pat made history in 2015 when she became the 102nd President of ICMA. As the first woman of color to hold this position, Pat’s selection marked a significant milestone for diversity and inclusion both within the ICMA and in the broader field of city and county management. Pat’s led and/or developed numerous ICMA task forces and committees, particularly those focused on advancing women and promoting inclusivity in the profession. Her leadership extended to other prestigious boards, including the California City Management Foundation, Women Leading Government, and the Local Government Hispanic Network.
A proud alumna of the University of Southern California, Martel holds both a Bachelor’s degree in Public Affairs and Journalism and a Master of Public Administration. Her dedication to public service has earned her numerous accolades, including: ICMA City Manager of the Year Award (2017), Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration (2015), Women Leading Government Career Excellence Award (2013), Hispanic Heritage Month Local Hero Award
(2004).
She finds fulfillment in working with public administration students, helping them understand how they can create lasting positive change in their communities. As the 2025 Harrell-Hutchinson Visiting Urban Management Professional, she looks forward to continuing her lifelong mission of advancing excellence in local governance while guiding the next wave of municipal and county leaders.