On Tuesday night, the Aurora City Council approved the appointments of Michele Clark to serve as the City’s chief Human Resources officer, Theodore Van De Sampel to serve as the City’s Emergency Management coordinator, and Josue Alcaraz to serve as the City’s director of Property Standards. All three employees had previously been serving in interim roles until their formal approval by the Council.
Michele Clark, Chief Human Resources Officer
Clark, who had also served as the City’s director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) for four years, boasts an impressive level of experience in human resources that helped her rise above a group of highly qualified candidates for the position. Clark’s previous experience includes a 20-year stint at John Deere, serving as the manager of Equal Employment Opportunity Compliance, the manager of HR Global Compliance, and the manager of Global Diversity and Inclusion. Clark also led John Deere’s Human Resources Department in Sub-Saharan Africa, spearheading efforts to implement corporate human resources processes and a coordinated human resources strategy.
“This role is about more than processes—it’s about people,” Clark said. “My commitment is to cultivate a workplace where staff feel supported, respected, and empowered to grow—because when our people thrive, our City thrives. I believe each of us has the power to ‘be the one thing that changes everything.’”
“I was most impressed with Michele Clark’s vision for the City’s HR Department, along with her remarkable background and proven leadership skills,” mayor Laesch said. “I look forward to continuing to work with her to build a thriving, mission-driven workforce that will move Aurora forward.”
Clark has been serving as the interim chief Human Resources officer since October 1, following the retirement of former chief Human Resources officer, Alisia Lewis. In her role, Clark will oversee a Department of nearly 20 employees that assist in a number of duties, including the negotiation of labor contracts, administering workers’ compensation claims, employee recruitment and retention, analysis of employee benefits, and more.
Theodore Van De Sampel, Emergency Management Coordinator
Van De Sampel, who served as the Aurora Emergency Management Agency’s Training and Exercise specialist until becoming the interim Emergency Management coordinator in October of 2025, also possesses a high level of experience in emergency planning and management. Before starting with the City in February of 2024, Van De Sampel spent 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, beginning as a readiness specialist in 2003. He would go on to serve as an Education and Training specialist at the Royal Air Force Mildenhall Station in the United Kingdom, a Logistics and Operations supervisor at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, an Emergency Management Planning and supervisor at the Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, and the Emergency Management director at Kunsan Air Base in Korea.
While in the Air Force, Van De Sampel was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal in 2023, the Meritorious Service Medal in 2021, and the Air Force Achievement Media in 2017. He has also been certified in a number of different trainings offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including the Senior-Level Leadership Technical and Management Development Course, the FEMA Incident Commander Course, the FEMA Planning Section Chief Course, and the Air Force Emergency Operations Center Director Course.
“I am proud and excited to be given this opportunity,” Van De Sampel said. “I will remain committed to the City of Aurora, my emergency management team, and our amazing volunteers.”
“Theo’s experience here with the City and in the Air Force has greatly prepared him to succeed in this role,” mayor Laesch said. “His commitment to resilience and operations management will help the City maintain continuity in the face of any crisis.”
Van De Sampel will formally become the head of Aurora’s Emergency Management Agency, overseeing a Division of three employees, along with a vast volunteer network that spans throughout the City. The Aurora Emergency Management Agency is a Division of the Fire Department, and Van De Sampel will directly report to interim Fire Department chief Kevin Nickel.
Josue Alcaraz, Director of Property Standards
Alcaraz is a longtime municipal employee who began his tenure with the City in 2009 as a Facilities Security Worker. He rose through the ranks since then, serving as an Account clerk, Quality of Life inspector, and Property Maintenance Compliance officer. In 2021, Alcaraz shifted into an administrative role, serving as a management assistant in the Property Standards Division. He was named the assistant director of Property Standards in 2024, before taking on the interim director role in October 2025. Alcaraz has also served as a firefighter and Code Enforcement officer for the Village of Sugar Grove, and is a certified American Association of Code Enforcement Property Maintenance and Housing inspector.
“I am honored and excited to be named the City’s new director of Property Standards,” Alcaraz said. “I am looking forward to leading our team, and helping to keep our neighborhoods safe.”
“Josue has been a great asset to the City for a number of years,” mayor Laesch said. “His experience in both code enforcement and management makes him a great choice to lead our Property Standards team.”
Alcaraz will formally lead the City’s Property Standards Division, overseeing a group of 15 employees who help enforce codes to ensure that neighborhoods and rental homes stay safe. The Division also works with neighborhood groups and individual residents to help them identify code issues, prevent blight, and improve curb appeal in their neighborhoods.
— City of Aurora government