New Chief Assistant County Exec Named

Rich Colwell, Placer County Chief Assistant Executive Officer

Rich Colwell has been appointed to the newly created position of  Placer County Chief Assistant Executive Officer.  The appointment was made by County .

Executive Officer Thomas Miller and was confirmed as the Board of Supervisors approved a reorganization plan in January.  Colwell, a life-long Penryn resident and seventeen-year County manager, has most recently been serving as a Deputy County Executive Officer responsible for directing the Redevelopment Agency and as the Director of the Department of Administrative Service.

In his new position, Colwell will oversee county operations in Miller’s absence and will provide policy direction and operational oversight of  several county functions including the Sheriff, District Attorney, Probation, Courts, Public Defender, Health and Human Services, Veterans Services, and the Public Information Office.  He will continue to serve as the Director of the Redevelopment Agency and will assume oversight responsibility for the Office of Economic Development as well.

‘Rich Colwell’s many years experience in managing local government as well as his innovative approach to problem solving in both the public and private sectors made him the right choice as the Chief Assistant CEO,’ noted CEO Miller.

Colwell has worked at Placer County since 1989 when he was hired as the Director of Management Information Services.  Prior to that he worked for several years as the West Coast Senior Consulting Services Manager for a large private sector firm.  He is a graduate of Del Oro High School and holds a Masters Degree in Public Policy from San Francisco State University and a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from UCLA.

He has been very active in the community, serving on the Placer County Board of  Education for the past 21 years, the Penryn Fire District Board for eight years and the Child Abuse Prevention Council for six years.  He and his wife Nancy also work with the youth at the First United Methodist Church in Loomis.

‘ I am very pleased to be given this opportunity to work closely with Tom Miller and the Board of  Supervisors to implement their goals of improving our local communities,” stated Colwell.   “Since I was fortunate enough to grow up here, there is no job more satisfying then assisting in the development of  employment opportunities, improving public safety and human resource services and maintaining the quality of  life which makes Placer County such a special place to live.’