New Wilde Lake Village Manager A Familiar Face

The new Wilde Lake village manager has been chosen from a pool of national candidates, and she’s a familiar face around for residents, staff and village board members.

Kristin Shulder has been the covenant adviser for the Wilde Lake Community Association for the past seven years, working as a liaison to residents and the village architectural committee concerning questions about Wilde Lake’s rules on property maintenance and design.

Her new role will come at a time in which  is the biggest issue the village is facing. Kimco Realty Corporation, which owns the village center, is scheduled to begin the village’s architectural review process on May 10.

Shulder, 49, will replace Bernice Kish, who has served as village manager for the past 25 years. , describing herself as “too old,” coyly adding that she is “well past retirement age,” and that she wants to spend more time pursuing her hobby of watercolor painting.

Kish’s last day as village manager is June 15. She will help Shulder transition into the role until then.

“I’ve learned a lot through the years with Bernice. Now I’m going to get into more detail,” Shulder said. “The staff here is absolutely amazing. They’re amazingly committed to all their jobs, and so that will make it a lot easier.”

Kish described the village manager and covenant adviser jobs as being “very different.” The manager is responsible for the village’s budget, programs, services, contracts and leases.

But she sees Shulder’s temperament as well suited to the position. 

“She has a sense of fairness about her that is good in this job,” Kish said. “She’s been very, very patient dealing with residents. That’s a quality that is very important, I think, because you do have to talk to a lot of people about a lot of things.” 

Shulder said becoming village manager is a “natural progression” from her time working as covenant adviser.

“You become very familiar with the village, not only just with where the streets are and the neighborhood they’re in, but with the people,” she said. “I have talked to hundreds and hundreds of residents about all sorts of issues, mostly related to the covenants. I’m familiar with the residents, with the facilities, with the policies and with the board.”

The search for a new village manager was a nationwide one that attracted about five-dozen candidates, according to Kish.

Village board member Nancy McCord said Shulder was her first choice.

“She knows and understands the redevelopment [of Wilde Lake Village Center] and covenant issues better than anyone,” McCord said. “She knows and understands Slayton House. The staff loves her, and the transition will be easy. Her personality is perfect. She laughs and is easy with people. She’s also very smart and catches on quickly.”

When it comes to the way the community association operates, “I don’t anticipate making any big changes in the first six months or so,” Shulder said.

“I want to really just get into the numbers and talk to the staff and see where we can improve and what things need to be done,” she said. “I’m sure the board has some ideas about that, too.”