Erin Hut, Communications Director, 509.625.6740
Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 11:34 a.m.
Mayor Lisa Brown is pleased to announce her latest appointments to the City of Spokane’s leadership team, finalizing the Cabinet and positioning the administration to continue delivering on many of its goals. The team is now fully staffed with a mix of internal promotions, a new hire, and the return of a former City employee to fill a key new position.
Mayor Brown has elevated her Chief of Staff Alexander Scott to serve as City Administrator. A graduate of Gonzaga University School of Law, Scott has been with the Brown Administration since its inception and previously worked for the Washington State Department of Commerce, United States Senate and Spokane City Council.
“Alex has been an integral part of the City team since the start of this year and I am excited to see him step into the City Administrator role. He has a proven track record, strong working relationships with the Cabinet, and is more than qualified to take on this role. Having worked closely with him, I am confident he will help our city achieve its goals and continue building a stronger Spokane,” Interim City Administrator Garrett Jones said.
Jones, who has served in the interim role since July 2023, will return to his position as Director of Parks and Recreation.
“I am incredibly grateful to Garrett for his steady leadership during the mayoral transition and for the first 10 months of my administration,” Mayor Brown said. “His dedication and expertise ensured continuity, but I know his heart lies with making our Parks and Recreation Department the best in the country. I am happy that he is returning to his role as Parks Director and will stay on as a member of my Cabinet.”
Mayor Brown has also appointed Allison Adam to serve as Human Resources Director. Adam worked most recently as Director of Human Resources for Washington Gastroenterology and brings more than 20 years of experience in strategic human resources management, primarily in healthcare and manufacturing. She has worked extensively with bargaining units to foster collaborative labor relations and workforce solutions.
“The City of Spokane is fortunate to have someone of Allison’s caliber stepping into this role,” said Mike Ormsby, who came out of retirement to serve as Senior Advisor to the HR Department for the past several months. “With her background and years of experience, I am confident the department is in great hands and positioned for continued success.”
Former Council Member Jon Snyder will return to the City of the Spokane as the new Director of Transportation and Sustainability. Snyder is a dedicated public servant who served two terms representing District 2 on the Spokane City Council and spent the last nine years as Governor Jay Inslee’s Senior Policy Advisor for Outdoor Recreation and Economic Development. Snyder will hold a Cabinet-level position that replaces the now-vacated Chief of Staff role to remain budget neutral.
Lastly, Mayor Brown has appointed Laz Martinez to IT Director. Martinez steps into this role following Mike Sloon’s recent retirement. Martinez has been with the City of Spokane since 2019, when he started as IT Manager for Public Works. Prior to his time in Spokane, he worked as Assistant Director and Chief Technology Officer for the City of Lakeland, Florida. He started his local government career as a Helpdesk Engineer for the City of Miami.
“With these appointments, my Cabinet is complete,” Mayor Brown said. “Each person brings unique expertise and a shared dedication to making the City of Spokane a better place for all. Together, we’ll tackle challenges and continue building a better future for our community.”
