Team

Zach Walker has served as Independence City Manager since October 1, 2016.

Walker began his career working as a legislative assistant in the Missouri House of Representatives and a regional planner at the Mid-Missouri Regional Planning Commission before transitioning to local government administration.  Walker began his career in local government with the City of Kansas City, Missouri as part of the Cookingham-Noll Management Fellowship Program, one of the longest-running fellowship programs in the nation.

Since that time, he served four years in the City of Kansas City, Missouri, including roles in the Office of Management and Budget as well as the Capital Projects Department. After leaving Kansas City, he served four years as the Management Analyst for the City of Independence, a role he held until his appointment as Assistant City Manager in October 2015. 

Walker received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and a Masters Degree in Public Administration, both from the University of Missouri. He has two children, Brett and Caroline.  He was named the 2018 Citizen of the Year by the Independence Chamber of Commerce, awarded the 2018 National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award, and recognized by the Kansas City Business Journal as a 2019 Next Gen Leader.

Adam Norris has spent over 15 years working for local communities filling multiple roles such as Deputy City Manager and Management Consultant. Mr. Norris began his career in Mission Hills, Kansas as Assistant to the City Administrator. He went on to serve as Assistant to the City Manager in Dallas, Texas and was part of the team that led to the approval of the largest bond program in the City’s history at the time. Mr. Norris then worked for the City of Overland Park, Kansas as Assistant City Manager overseeing the City’s enterprise operations and major capital projects. He then became Deputy City Administrator of Development in Blue Springs, Missouri overseeing all facets of development and public utilities, including serving as  Interim President of the Economic Development Corporation. Mr. Norris then joined Shockey Consulting, a local government consulting firm, assisting cities with strategic planning, comprehensive plans, and interim management services. Mr. Norris is now Deputy City Manager of Independence, Missouri. In this role he is responsible for the City’s three utilities, Community Development, Finance and Administration, Public Information, and Municipal Services. He is involved with several professional organizations and is active with the University of Kansas Public Administration Program as a guest presenter and resource for local government graduate students.