Executive-elect Ryan Mello revealed his leadership Cabinet roster yesterday, featuring a combination of experienced officials and interim appointees who will guide the county starting in January. The lineup includes familiar faces continuing in their roles, as well as new appointees filling the positions of departing directors. According to Pierce County, this transition marks a period for strategic shifts and renewal in county management.
The changes include the retirement of Emergency Management Director Jody Ferguson in October, with Amy Gillespie appointed as the interim director. Finance Director Gary Robinson is also on his way out, passing the reins to Acting Deputy Director, Julie Demuth. In the Human Resources corner, Judy Archer stays tentatively as the hunt for her successor is on. But transitions mean more than just new appointments, "Transition brings a lot of change and offers an opportunity for renewed perspectives and ideas,” Mello said, as detailed in the county's announcement.
Stability remains a focus in certain departments, with officials such as Betty Capestany and Libby Catalinich continuing to lead Economic Development and Communications, respectively. The group of ongoing leaders also includes Karl Imlig, Dave Katayama, Michael Kawamura, Dr. Karen Cline-Parhamovich, and Constance White, each providing continuity in their roles. However, some leaders are set to move on, with Heather Moss, Roxanne Miles, and Jen Tetatzin scheduled to depart after January 3 of the coming year.
Amid this reshuffle, Helen McGovern-Pilant takes on the role of interim director of Human Services, bringing a wealth of experience from various regional non-profits to inform her upcoming tenure. Kyle Wintermute steps in as the interim head of Parks & Recreation, while Brian Stacy, PE, is brought out of retirement for an interim role at Planning and Public Works. With all interim positions set to undergo open competitive hiring process, a clear path is in place for securing permanent leadership.
These arrangements, however, are not just placeholders, they are part of Mello's strategy for steering the county toward his "Forward Together agenda", seeking to combine the progress achieved thus far with a forward-looking vision for the future. Mello, cognizant of the gaps left behind by retiring figures, expressed profound gratitude for their tenure, “I am deeply grateful for the service of every department leader. For those who are retiring or transitioning to new ventures, I thank them for serving with such dedication and professionalism and wish them well,” he acknowledged in the official communication from the county.
