FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 1996
Contact: Courtney Wiercioch
714.252.5166
Mittermeier Names
First Members of County Management Team
External Recruitment begins for remaining spots Business
plans, cost savings due in September
(SANTA ANA) - Chief
Executive Officer Janice M. Mittermeier has named the
first four members of Orange County's new management team.
The managers will assume responsibilities outlined in
the internal restructuring program proposed by the CEO
and approved by the Board of Supervisors on June 20, 1996.
Mittermeier also announced that she would recruit for
five additional key management positions.
Three of the four individuals named today will serve as
Assistant Chief Executive Officers:
Michael Ruane, now the Director of the County's
Environmental Management Agency, will take
on the role of Assistant CEO, Strategic Affairs.
Jan Walden, currently serving the County
as the Director of Human Resources, will assume
responsibilities of the Assistant CEO, Human
Resources.
The responsibilities of the Assistant CEO,
Public Affairs will be handled by Courtney
C. Wiercioch, who is currently Deputy Airport
Director for Government/Community Relations
at John Wayne Airport.
The fourth manager named, Thomas B. Mathews,
currently the County's Director of Planning,
will become Director of the new Planning and
Development Services Department.
Mittermeier characterized all four as strong managers, dedicated to public service,
and willing to tackle their respective responsibilities
with an eye toward innovation. "The Board's approval
of the restructuring plan last week sent a clear message
that the County needs to take a hard look at what we do
and how we do it, then figure out how to do it better,"
Mittermeier commented. "The four managers I've chosen
for the County's new team are ready and able to meet this
challenge."
Mittermeier also announced that she would seek to complement
the skills and talents of the four managers drawn from
within County ranks by recruiting for five remaining key
management positions: Assistant CEO, Chief Financial Officer;
Assistant CEO, Information & Technology; Clerk of
the Board; Internal Audit Director; and Director of the
new Public Works Department. Recruitment for the CFO,
Clerk of the Board and Internal Audit positions has already
begun.
Mittermeier hopes to have her full complement of top managers
in place by the end of September. During the summer, each
new Assistant CEO and the Directors of the Planning and
Development Services Department and Public Works Department
will prepare business plans for their functions.
"Restructuring focuses on streamlining and flattening
the County's organization, and these managers must evaluate
every position and every task and ask: Does this fit our
mission? Are we doing it efficiently? How much should
it cost?" said Mittermeier.
The Board of Supervisors directed Mittermeier to put her
staff in place and deliver the business plans in September.
At this time, cost savings resulting from Phase I of the
internal restructuring program will be documented and
presented.
Biographies
Thomas B. Mathews has been the Director of Planning for
the Environmental Management Agency of the County of Orange
since March, 1990. In that capacity, Mr. Mathews is responsible
for the day-to-day operations of the Planning Department
and has been involved in developing policy governing Planned
Communities in the incorporated area of Orange County.
He has experience working with the State and Federal agencies
in the development of new habitat and open space policies.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Mathews served as an
Executive Assistant to several members of the Orange County
Board of Supervisors working primarily in land use matters.
Prior to that he was Chief of Land Use Planning for the
Environmental Management Agency.
Mr. Mathews received his Bachelors and Masters Degrees
in Geography from California State University, Fullerton.
He also holds a certificate in Environmental Planning
from the University of California, Irvine.
Michael M. Ruane has been the Director of the Environmental
Management Agency of the County of Orange since December
1989. In that capacity, M r. Ruane is responsible for
administering a major County agency which includes land
use, transportation, harbor, beaches and parks, environmental
review, housing and redevelopment and public works programs.
He has been involved in several Countywide efforts to
develop growth management and housing program policies
and plans and is the Executive Director of the Orange
County Development Agency which administers County redevelopment
programs. In addition, Mr. Ruane is the Co-Director of
the Local Redevelopment Authority, the federally recognized
reuse agency for the MCAS El Toro. Prior to his current
position, Mr. Ruane served in a variety of positions within
the County of Orange Environmental Management Agency,
including Director of Planning, Special Assistant to the
Director, and Manager, Environmental & Special Projects
Division.
Mr. Ruane received his Masters Degree in Architecture
and Urban Planning from University of California, Los
Angeles and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Ecology
from the University of California, Irvine. He is an adjunct
lecturer in the Graduate Program in Urban and Regional
Planning at the University if California, Irvine. He also
serves on the Board of Directors, and is President-Elect,
of the Orange County Forum.
Jan Walden has been the Human Resources Director for the
County of Orange since April 1995. In that capacity, Ms.
Walden is responsible for overseeing the provision of
labor relations and general personnel support for the
County. During her 15 year tenure with the County, she
has served in a variety of assignments including labor
negotiator and division manager with responsibility for
the classification and recruitment functions.
Courtney C. Wiercioch has been the Deputy Airport Director
of Government/ Community Relations for John Wayne Airport
since November, 1995. Previously, she served as Manager,
Government/Community Relations for JWA from 1990 to 1995.
As a Deputy Airport Director, Ms. Wiercioch is responsible
for overseeing the Airport's legislative activities, noise
and access programs, community and press relations, and
the tour, arts, and filming programs. Prior to her tenure
at John Wayne Airport, Ms. Wiercioch served as an Executive
Assistant to Orange County Supervisors Thomas F. Riley
from 1986 to 1990.
Ms. Wiercioch received her Masters and Bachelors Degrees
in Political Science from the University of California,
Irvine. She is also a graduate of the Coro Foundation
Orange County Focus Leadership Program.
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