Gerry Gemmill has announced his retirement as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Spokane County, effective April 30, 2021.
Scott Simmons has been named as the new CEO for Spokane County. Scott’s first day as CEO will be April 1, 2021 which will allow for a 30-day transition period.
Scott served most recently as the Acting City Administrator and Director of Public Works for the City of Spokane.
Scott brings with him over 20 years of experience in public administration and executive management with a proven record of effective leadership in the areas of finance, operations, customer service, and employee engagement.
Scott has worked for the City of Spokane since 2013, serving as the City’s Business and Developer Services Division Director in 2015, serving as the Public Works Division Director position since 2016 and assuming his additional current role of Acting City Administrator since Sept 2020. Before joining the City, Scott worked for Ecova, an energy management and sustainability company for over 7 years as the Vice President, Service Delivery. In that role, he oversaw the delivery of resource management solutions, including electricity, water, solid waste and natural gas to Fortune 1,000 companies throughout the United States and Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from the University of Idaho.
Commenting on his new role, Scott said, “I am excited for the opportunity to join such a dynamic team of leaders who are focused on providing excellent services to the people of Spokane County. I look forward to bringing my knowledge and past experiences to the County. Gerry Gemmill leaves some big shoes to fill. I’m grateful that we will have a transition period for me to download from Gerry as much as I can.”
Chair of the Spokane County Board of Commissioners, Josh Kerns, stated, “We’re excited to have such a qualified candidate fill the role of CEO. It became clear in our selection process that Scott would be a great addition to the County’s leadership team. I thank Gerry for his years of service to the people of Spokane County. We wish him all the best for his retirement.”
Commissioner Mary Kuney stated, “We will certainly miss the leadership and wealth of knowledge that Gerry has brought to this position, but I believe we have found a great fit for the County in Scott. I am confident that Scott will hit the ground running and be a true leader for our talented staff and the community.”
Commissioner Al French added, “For almost 40 years Gerry Gemmell has dedicated himself to making the customer experience better, whether at Spokane County or the City of Spokane. When confronted with a pandemic he delayed his retirement in 2020 to assist the County in transitioning through this historic event. With Gerry now moving into retirement, the challenge was to find someone with that same level of commitment and dedication to public service and the citizens of Spokane. I think we have found that individual in Scott Simmons. Scott joins an incredible team of employees at the County, and I welcome him.”
In reflecting on his time as CEO and an employee with the County for nearly 40 years, Gerry Gemmill shared, “It has been an honor to serve the people of Spokane County. As I’ve said many times, I consider myself very lucky to have had the opportunity to build a career working with the great men and women who serve the County. I leave the County in good hands with Scott. He is truly a humble public servant, dedicated to our employees and the citizens of Spokane County.”