Karla Henderson

Karla Henderson became the City of Bloomington, Minnesota’s Director of the Community Development Department in March of 2021.  She oversees the Assessing, Building and Inspections, Environmental Health and Planning divisions in addition to the Housing Redevelopment and Port Authorities. She serves as a board member of the Twin Cities Land Bank and the Mall of America Community Foundation and is a member of the Local Advisory Committee for Twin Cities Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).  Recently, Karla completed the Minneapolis Regional Chamber Leadership Twin Cities Program (2021-22).

She brings to this role an extensive background in planning, infrastructure maintenance, community engagement and economic development.  Karla’s municipal experience includes five years working for Highland Park, MI and nine years in Ann Arbor, MI, where she advanced quickly from a mid-level supervisor to a department        director.  She also served three years as the head of planning and facilities for the City of Detroit, working directly for Mayor Dave Bing.  During her time in Detroit, Henderson also served at an officer level for two area nonprofits and as director of capital development for Wayne County, MI. She later became the managing director/change   strategist for a consulting firm working with cities and nonprofit organizations on economic and business development, comprehensive planning and project management.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Resource Management from Michigan State University.