The Glenwood Springs City Council has selected Debra Figueroa, currently the assistant borough manager in Carlisle, Pa., as the new city manager. She has agreed to a two-year contract and will start on June 13, 2016.
“I am honored to be chosen as the new city manager,” Figueroa said. “The City of Glenwood Springs is an outstanding city with a dedicated and passionate city council, staff, and community. Working together, we will ensure that the many challenges ahead will lead to a more vibrant and sustainable city.”
Figueroa has a strong background in city administration and community development. “Debra has the ideal skill set to guide our city’s many unique opportunities – including the Grand Avenue Bridge and its related projects such as the 6th Street improvements, the remaining 7th Street Improvements, the 8th Street Connection and the Development of the Confluence,” said Mayor Mike Gamba.
The City of Glenwood Springs is replacing longtime former city manager Jeff Hecksel with whom the city parted ways in December 2015. Andrew Gorgey, the former Garfield County manager, has been serving as acting city manager for the interim. “We sincerely appreciate and want to thank Andrew Gorgey for stepping in as interim manager. He has been the consummate professional and has displayed true integrity over these last six months,” said Gamba.
Prior to Carlisle, Figueroa was in charge of community development and strategic planning for Sarasota, Fla. She also served as a management analyst in the city manager’s office in Salem, Ore., and as the assistant to the city manager in Sarasota.
“The best part of being hired for this position will be the opportunity to make Glenwood Springs our home,” Figueroa said. “The incredible beauty of the city, outdoor recreational opportunities, and small town ambiance make Glenwood Springs a wonderful place to live. “
She will move to Glenwood Springs with her husband, Dylan, and her nine-year-old daughter, Tessa. Figueroa holds a master’s degree in political science with an emphasis on public policy from the University of Florida.