Ray Munch, the city of Naperville’s finance director, has been hired as Wheaton’s new city manager.
Munch will be formally introduced at the Wheaton City Council’s July 6 meeting after being selected by the council following an extensive search by the MGT executive recruitment firm.
Munch is to assume the new position July 27 at a base salary of $260,000. In Wheaton, the city manager oversees the daily operations of all city departments.
“It’s an exciting opportunity,” said Munch, a Naperville resident.
“I was drawn to it because Wheaton just has a great reputation,” he said. “I’ve worked or lived around Wheaton for a long time.”
Munch described Wheaton as a “very livable community.”
“It has a tremendous downtown,” he said. “It provides all the things people are looking for when they think about a great community to live in.”
Munch, who has served as finance director for Naperville since May 2024, was hired by the city six years ago and previously served as deputy finance director and budget manager.
He also worked in several capacities within the DeKalb government, including interim city manager and assistant city manager. He’s held positions in Carol Stream and Glen Ellyn, the latter as a police officer for nearly 12 years.
In 2018, he earned a master’s degree in public administration from Northern Illinois University. He completed a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement and justice administration at Western Illinois University.
“Ray brings to the city of Wheaton a unique and diverse career in public service, combining experience in finance, city management and law enforcement,” Wheaton Mayor Phil Suess said in a news release.
He will succeed Michael Dzugan as Wheaton’s city manager. Dzugan, appointed city manager in 2016 after 25 years as assistant city manager, announced his impending retirement in September 2024.
“The important thing,” Munch said, “is there’s a very solid city government in place there, so I hope to keep that going.”
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