Government Market News StaffKansas – Mario Vasquez has been appointed as the new city manager of Kansas City in an 11-2 vote by the City Council. Vasquez currently serves as director of city planning and development and assistant city manager, where he has overseen over $600 million in public-private development initiatives and capital projects.
Nevada – Shannon Ernst has been appointed as interim administrator for the Central Nevada Health District (CNHD). She also serves as Churchill County’s Social Services director and steps into the role following the retirement of Darin Winkelman, who had been the district administrator since September 2023.
Utah – Jefferson Moss has been appointed by Gov. Spencer Cox as the new executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) effective June 2. He currently serves as majority leader in the Utah House of Representatives, and he will be stepping down from his legislative responsibilities on May 30.
Colorado – Kelly Mackey has been selected as Denver Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) next CFO effective May 12. She brings 22 years of experience to the role and will oversee the agency’s $1.4 billion budget, steward resources with fiscal integrity on behalf of more than 3,000 employees and drive financial strategies.
Arkansas – Jeremy Ecke has been appointed interim dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education (CHASSE) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR). He steps into the position following the departure of Sarah Beth Estes and previously served as associate dean for college operations and chair of the Department of English.
Washington – Brittany Gregory has been appointed as the new director of the Washington State Women’s Commission effective June 1. She brings more than a decade of experience in legislative affairs, judicial policy and public service to the role.
California – William “Bill” Scott has been appointed as L.A. Metro’s first chief of police and emergency management effective June 23. He brings more than 35 years of law enforcement experience to the role and will be responsible for building the new public safety department and leading L.A. Metro’s security coordination for high-profile global events.
Kansas – Felice Lavergne has been appointed as the new director of Lawrence Transit. She currently works as a transit planner II for Lawrence Transit, where she has secured over $8 million in grant funding, overseen more than 50 bus stop improvement projects, built public engagement tools and cultivated partnerships through programs like Transit Poet Laureate and the Fruit Tree Project.
Louisiana – William Daniel has been hired as the new assistant CAO for the Baton Rouge Department of Public Works. He brings over 40 years of experience to the role spanning engineering, executive leadership and public service and has served in many leadership roles within East Baton Rouge City-Parish Government like director of Public Works and director of Environmental Services.
Missouri – Mary Edgerton has been appointed as the new director of College and Career Readiness at Springfield public schools. She currently works as the assistant principal with the Launch Missouri Workforce program and has also worked as a middle school Project Lead the Way teacher, a high school business teacher and FBLA adviser, GO CAPS facilitator and Launch business teacher.
Pennsylvania – Michael Cabell has been appointed as the new USDA Rural Development state director. He previously served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where he worked on infrastructure, economic growth and education in rural communities.
Colorado – Bret Heller has been appointed as the new superintendent for the Thompson School District. He is moving to the Thompson School District from the School Town of Munster in Indiana and previously worked as the assistant superintendent in the West Ada School District in Idaho.
