Washington City/County Management Association

Newsletter - Winter 2025

President's Message

Greetings, WCMA Members! As I write this message on February 17, we’ve been experiencing quite a cold snap across Washington State. I hope this message finds you safe and warm!

Late last month you received an email inviting you to register for the 2025 Northwest Regional Managers Conference. I’m sure you’re probably thinking, “really, Rich, conference talk already”?! Well, this year Washington State has the honor of hosting the regional conference for the Northwest region. Please consider joining us in Vancouver March 18-21, 2025, for an opportunity to learn and network with colleagues not just from Washington, but Oregon and Alaska as well.

The Conference Planning Committee, led by Vice President Katrina Knutson, has been doing an exceptional job building a conference schedule and agenda that will appeal to city management professionals from all three states. Careful consideration is being given to the August conference, and making sure that sessions at each conference compliment each other and won’t be repetitive. If you’d like to support the work of the Conference Planning Committee, please contact Katrina.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the new Executive Director of the Municipal Research and Service Center (MRSC), Melanie Harding. Melanie is a peer, coming to MRSC from the City of Tacoma, where in her tenure she served as Interim Deputy City Manager, Assistant to the City Manager, Chief Policy Analyst to the Mayor, and Employment Standards Program Manager. Anyone who had the pleasure of working with Tracy Burrows knows the big shoes Melanie is filling, but she has quickly established herself as a strong support and resource to the WCMA Board, and her staff continues to support WCMA and numerous other associations and functions in Washington State with dedication and professionalism.

This week includes City Action Days in Olympia, hosted by another great partner of WCMA, the Association of Washington Cities (AWC). As you all know, the AWC provides invaluable advocacy on behalf of and support to all 281 cities and towns in Washington State. City Action Days provides elected and appointed municipal leaders with a chance to engage directly with the state government. The WCMA Board will also conduct a board meeting during the event. I look forward to seeing many of you in Olympia!

As we enter the second month of 2025, I encourage all of you who haven’t to make sure and renew your membership. As I shared in an early-January message, please consider renewing or registering for a new Packaged Membership in 2025. Packaged Memberships are not only an opportunity to grow the overall membership of the WCMA, but also an opportunity for you to encourage professional development amongst your staff. There are also packages available that include two Full Memberships, great for agencies with a City Manager/Administrator and a Deputy/Assistant. Please consider any department directors, management analysts, or administrative professionals you believe are future leaders in our profession and invite them to join you in a Package Membership.

Thank you all for your continued dedication to our profession, and to each other. Please know your WCMA Board is here to support you in any way we can. Please reach out to any board member if you have a question, need support, or just need a friendly ear!

Rich Huebner
President

Leadership Transitions

Congratulations to these individuals who’ve recently been appointed to top manager or administrator positions in the following communities:


Vicky BakerRob Gelder was recently named as Poulsbo’s first City Administrator, beginning the role in January. He brings over 13 years of public service experience, having previously served as a Kitsap County Commissioner for 12 years and as the Assistant County Manager for Thurston County. Rob is committed to supporting Poulsbo in achieving its community-developed vision for the future. He has a strong background in leadership, budget management, policy development, and strategic planning.

Katherine CaffreyRob Karlinsey has been appointed as the new City Manager of Moses Lake, Washington, effective March 24, 2025. He has held the role of Kenmore’s City Manager since 2012, where he led numerous key projects and initiatives, including the development of downtown Kenmore at the former Kenmore Village site, the Target Zero pedestrian and bicycle safety program, Bus Rapid Transit (set to begin in 2028), the Walkways & Waterways bond measure, and the “For the Love of Kenmore” initiative. His career in public service also includes roles as Gig Harbor’s City Administrator and University Place’s Deputy City Manager.

Diane CarlsonAlex Scott was appointed as the Spokane City Administrator in October 2024. He had previously served as the City’s Chief of Staff as well as the special assistant for federal policy for the Washington state Department of Commerce, Eastern Washington director for outreach in the office of Senator Maria Cantwell, legislative assistant for the city of Spokane, and held a seat on the Collage Place City Council. Alex is dedicated to helping Spokane achieve its goals and enhance the quality of life for its residents.

Rhonda EnderMichael Thomas started work as Centralia’s City Manager in January 2025. With over two decades of experience in government, Michael brings a wealth of knowledge in public administration and problem-solving. He served 20 years in the Air Force as a navigator and electronic warfare officer, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Michael previously served as the City Administrator for Amity, Oregon, where he focused on strategic planning and community development. He is excited to bring his expertise to Centralia.

Dan FordJennifer Willis was appointed as the City Manager of Longview in January 2025. She previously served as the Director of Parks and Recreation for Longview since 2015. Prior to 2015, she gained a breadth of experience from various roles, including outdoor guide, trail builder, wilderness ranger, wildland firefighter, sports coordinator, business administrator, recreation manager, and restaurant owner.

Mike GonzalezJonathan Young was recently appointed as SeaTac’s City Manager. He brings over 16 years of public sector experience. Before joining SeaTac, Jonathan served as the City Attorney for Vancouver, WA, where he also held roles as City Division Chief and Assistant City Attorney. He is excited to work with the SeaTac City Council, staff, and community to address the city's goals and challenges.

Career Compass No. 113: Promote Stability Amid Change

A lot of change creates uncertainty and distress. Learn how leaders can create a sense of stability so the organization and employees can adapt. Career Compass No. 113: Promote Stability Amid All the Change | icma.org

WCMA Accepting Applications for Eastern Washington Senior Advisor


The Washington City/County Management Association (WCMA) is soliciting letters of interest for a Senior Advisor position from qualified applicants throughout the state. WCMA has a current vacancy in the Eastern Washington area, and applicants from this area are especially encouraged to apply. Others are encouraged to express interest at this time for consideration for future vacancies.

Senior Advisors must:

  • Be a resident of Washington at the time of appointment.
  • Have at least ten years’ experience as an appointed chief administrative officer (CAO) and/or an assistant/deputy CAO in local government.
  • Have a willingness to actively participate in the program for the duration of the appointment.
  • Have a commitment to follow the outline of responsibilities for Senior Advisors and the ICMA Senior Advisor Program Guidelines and Manual.
  • Be a member of ICMA and the WCMA at time of appointment and to maintain such memberships during service as a Senior Advisor.
  • Have an active phone number and email address.
  • Not be engaged in consulting work that includes the responsibility for soliciting business or for client development/maintenance for purposes of future business.

Statements of interest can be submitted to Aimy Enriquez by email at aenriquez@mrsc.org and should include a resume and letter of interest. A

For more information please visit ICMA’s Senior Advisor web page.

ICMA Local Government Excellence Awards Application Deadline: March 14

ICMA's Local Government Excellence Awards celebrate the value of professional management and honor creative contributions to professional local government leadership. These awards highlight public awareness of the value of professional management and its impact on the quality of life in our communities. There are six award categories presented to individuals and five award categories for local government programs.

Program nominations are divided by jurisdiction size. Communities with a population of 10,000 or less are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more: Local Government Excellence Awards | icma.org

Upcoming Events

AWC City Action Days: February 19-20, 2025,  Lacey
Held annually during the legislative session, this popular event allows you the opportunity to interact with colleagues as you educate statewide decision-makers about city issues.

NW Manager's Conference: March 18-21, 2025, Vancouver, WA
“Thriving through Change”
Registration is open for NW Regional Manager’s Conference for Washington, Oregon, and Alaska city and county managers.

WCMA Summer Conference: August 12-15, 2025, Walla Walla, WA
Marcus Whitman Hotel and Conference Center, Walla Walla, WA