County Manager Kate Thomas
The Board of County Commissioners unanimously appointed Kate Thomas to the role of county manager.
As of July 1, Assistant County Manager Kate Thomas has served as interim county manager while the Human Resources Department launched the recruitment for the position. HR contracted with CPS HR Consulting to conduct the recruitment to target highly qualified candidates across the nation. The recruitment was closed on September 22, and CPS HR Consulting received 109 applications. The top 14 candidates advanced to a screening interview with CPS and the Washoe County board chair and vice chair. The top four candidates were then identified to move forward in the selection process.
In addition to Thomas, the finalists included James Doar, current county administrator for Gallatin County, Montana; Laura Freed, director of administration at the Regional Transportation Commission; and Tyler Stone, chief administrative officer of Wasco County, Oregon. The public was invited to a meet-and-greet on October 26 where the four candidates introduced themselves and talked with residents about their concerns and questions.
“This was a great group of candidates. You all brought great expertise and passions to this process, and we really appreciate your time,” Chair Alexis Hill said. “Thank you for your service to our community as well as your communities. We need committed public servants, and we’re really lucky to have you in our country to really make sure that we all thrive in our communities.”
Thomas’s public service career spans 28 years. She has been assistant county manager since 2017 and at city and state levels of government before that. She has served on numerous boards in the region, currently as Board Chair for the State of Nevada Board of Indigent Defense and High Sierra Industries Reno. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Resource Development from Michigan State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Previous County Manager Eric Brown’s contract ends on November 21. Negotiations with Thomas will begin immediately with an expected start date as county manager in early January 2026.
