County Manager Announces New Staff Structure

This morning the Board of County Commissioners approved a change to the County Manager’s staffing table. Two new positions, a Deputy County Manager and a Public Information Officer, have been created as part of the organizational development discussed in the County Manager’s 90 day letter to the Commission. As Mike Scholes stated in that letter, “critical functions can be aligned to create staff synergy and increase horizontal and vertical information flow within the county staff structure. Such transformation and realignment will support and improve information flow to our internal and external stakeholders and ultimately the citizens we serve.” The Deputy County Manager position will be posted and filled in the near future. Additional functions of the Deputy County Manager will be forthcoming with the overall organizational development plan.

Today, Scholes announced the creation of two new functions: Public Information and Corporate Communications Offices. Both of these functions will report to Ron Holt, Assistant County Manager until the Deputy County Manager position is filled. Kate Flavin will serve as the Interim Public Information Officer (PIO). As Interim PIO Flavin is the central point of contact for external communications and information countywide and will serve in support of/liaison to the County Manager and the Board of County Commissioners. The PIO exists to promote communication, cooperation, and strong connections between Sedgwick County Government and the diverse communities we serve. Jessica Ostmeyer will serve as Interim Assistant to the County Manager. She will be the point of contact for the County Manager’s schedule/calendar and all agenda items.

The new Corporate Communications Office will be supervised by Jill Tinsley as Manager, Corporate Communications. The Corporate Communications Office including Tony Guiliano, Art Director, John Peterson, Systems Analyst, and Tracy Crockett, Communications Coordinator will provide information management services to County Departments/Divisions and direct support to the Public Information Officer.

As the County Manager and his Leadership Team continue to work through the overall organizational development plan, more announcements will be forthcoming.