Jim Ristow, has served as the City Administrator for the City of Bellevue since December of 2018 after being appointed to the position by Mayor Rusty Hike and confirmed by the City Council. Mr. Ristow is responsible for the direction, administration and coordination of the daily operations of the City of Bellevue as well as overseeing over 500 employees.
Mr. Ristow comes to the City of Bellevue with a wealth of experience and knowledge. He previously served as the President & CEO for the Greater Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce since 2012. In this role, Jim was responsible for an organization that had a mission to maintain economic vitality in the Bellevue community and served over 450 businesses and non-profit members.
Prior to his tenure at the Greater Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce, Jim had a 30 year career in the newspaper and media business. He served as a Publisher for Lee Enterprises, Inc., in several Nebraska communities from 2004 to 2012. He also worked for the Omaha World Herald Company from 1982 to 2003. He worked his way up through the company holding several management positions in the Circulation division including Circulation Director. He also oversaw several niche companies as the president and board chair.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he became a Nebraska resident when his Father was assigned to Offutt AFB. He also served in the Nebraska Air National Guard and has called Nebraska his home for the past 35 plus years.
His community involvement includes Offutt Advisory Board, Nebraska Military Support Coalition, ACC Community Relations Alternate Group Commander, Bellevue Public Safety Foundation Board of Directors, American Red Cross Board of Directors, Bellevue Rotary, Fontenelle Forest Association Board, Salvation Army Advisory Board and Pilgrim Lutheran Church Council of Ministries and Kiwanis’s member. .
He and his wife, Judy, have three daughters – Christina, Courtney and Jacqueline.