Recruitment Timeline

March-May: County Manager position application period
June 21: Deadline for community questions for the County Manager Finalists (closed)
June 23-24:  Finalists Interviewed & Public Event (the public event will be live-streamed and available for playback on the County YouTube Channel)
June 24-27: Feedback from community members accepted
July: Offer extended to the selected candidate and a public announcement made upon acceptance.
Larry Dorr, 2022 County Manager Finalist

Larry Dorr

Mr. Dorr offers over 20 years of experience in local government, and currently serves as the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer at the City of Westminster, Colorado. Westminster is a thriving full-service city of 116,000 residents, 1,090 full time employees, 600 seasonal/part-time staff, and a $283M budget. Westminster has adopted a new strategic plan, mission statement, and vision statement in 2022. The City is presently undertaking an extensive capital infrastructure evaluation of its water utility and completing a community survey. Last year, voters approved an extension of the City’s parks, open space and trails sales tax and the City completed its first organizational assessment on diversity, equity and inclusion. 

Prior to his service at Westminster, Dorr served for 16 years as Finance Director at the City of Lakewood, Colorado. During his tenure there, Lakewood completed its Belmar Downtown redevelopment, St. Anthony West Hospital, RTD W-Line and transit-oriented development, and a number of sustainability projects. He earned a master of business administration degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder and a bachelor of arts degree in economics from the University of California, Irvine. Dorr is a member of the International City Manager’s Association and the Colorado City/County Manager’s Association.


 

Paul Fetherston, 2022 County Manager Finalist

Paul Fetherston

Over the past 29 years, Paul Fetherston has served as a member of local government executive leadership teams in communities in Colorado, Connecticut, North Carolina and the Chicago-land area.  Currently the Deputy City Manager for Enterprise Resources in Greeley, Colorado, Paul is responsible for supporting high performance services across the enterprise resources departments.  In this role, Paul has provided valuable project management in areas of organizational and cultural development, engagement, sales tax initiatives, broadband internet, and COVID-19.  In addition to his Greeley service, Paul served as Boulder’s Deputy City Manager for six years with responsibility for various enterprise resources, public safety and community building functions.  

In addition to these roles, Paul served two Connecticut communities as a Town Manager and Chief Administrative Officer; Assistant City Manager in Asheville, North Carolina where he oversaw public safety and diversity and equity efforts; and an Assistant County Administrator for Lake County, Illinois where he focused on supporting enterprise services, emergency management, sustainability, public health, mental health, and governmental affairs at the regional, state and national level.  

A graduate of Trinity College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Paul earned his Juris Doctor Degree from Western New England University School of Law, and completed the Senior Executive Leadership Institute at the University of Virginia.In his spare time, Paul is an avid outdoors enthusiast, enjoys traveling to his family and friends across the United States, and exploring the communities he serves. 


 

James Thompson, 2022 County Manager Finalist

Jim Thompson

Jim Thompson was appointed as Scottsdale City Manager in January 2017.  Prior to that, Mr. Thompson served as the City Manager of Casa Grande, Arizona; Bothell, Washington; and Bullhead City, Arizona.  He also served as Director of Finance in Tucson, Arizona and Sterling, Colorado where he also served as Deputy City Manager.  Before entering public service he served as Senior Auditor for First Interstate Commercial Corporation in Denver, Colorado and a small business owner.

Mr. Thompson served on the Arizona State Personnel Board from 2004 to 2016, and since 2011 has been an Associate Professor in Arizona State University’s Department of Public Affairs.  He currently serves on the Arizona Police Accreditation Board and is a former Arizona State Homeland Security Board Member.  He currently serves on various other National, State and Local Boards and Commissions.

Mr. Thompson has a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Indiana University, a Master’s in Business Administration from Regis University, he also is a graduate from Harvard University, University of Arizona and Arizona State University Executive Leadership Programs.  In 1991 graduated from University of Colorado Municipal Clerks Institute.

He currently holds the following Certifications; Credentialed City Manager, Certified Municipal Clerk, Associate in Risk Management, Certified Governmental Financial Manager, Certified Governmental Accountant, Certified Public Finance Administrator and various others over his career.

Mr. Thompson continues to present nationally and regionally on various topics and continues to mentor many in the local government profession.  He has received numerous honors and recognitions over his career.


 

Lorenda Volker, 2022 County Manager Finalist

Lorenda Volker

Lorenda Volker has been the Interim County Manager since April of 2022.  She joined the County leadership team in December 2008 as the Human Resources Director and was promoted to Assistant County Manager in June 2014.  Prior to coming to Larimer County, Lorenda worked for two municipalities in Florida in various leadership capacities including oversight of human resources functions and serving as chief negotiator for collective bargaining as well as taking on the coordination of more traditional public works departments.  

As Assistant County Manager Lorenda has been responsible for the County’s internal services departments and the Human and Economic Health service area.  She has helped to lead and implement several key initiatives including the establishment of the County’s behavioral health department and broadband program as well as serving as the sponsor for innovative internal projects to improve County operations and enhance services to the community. 

Lorenda has served as president of professional associations in both Colorado and Florida and has held a leadership role with a variety of non-profit boards and service organizations.  She is currently the President of the Crossroads Safehouse Board of Directors in Larimer County.  Lorenda earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Florida State University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Nova Southeastern University.  She has been happily married to her husband, Frank, for nearly 33 years.  They have two adult children and celebrated the birth of their first grandchild this past year.  


 

 

Community members and county employees are invited to attend a public event introducing the County Manager Finalists. 

  • What: County Manager Finalist Public Event
  • When: June 24, 2022, from 4:00-7:00 pm
  • Where: Hearing Room, 200 W. Oak Street, Fort Collins or live-streamed on the Larimer County Youtube Channel.

The event will consist of three opportunities for the community to learn more about the future county manager and provide feedback to decision-makers. The feedback will be reviewed and considered by the Board of County Commissioners during the final hiring decision process. 

  • 4:00-6:00 pm: Individual Presentations from Finalists
  • 6:00-6:30 pm: Round-Robin Community Q&A
  • 6:30-7:00 pm: Community Meet & Greet

Beginning at 4:00 pm, the first opportunity will consist of presentations by all finalists. Finalists will introduce themselves to the community and speak on their philosophy for addressing complex community problems or controversial issues.

Beginning at 6:00 pm, the second opportunity will be a Q&A session with all finalists present. In a round-robin format, candidates will respond to vetted, randomly selected questions submitted by the county employees and community members. 

Beginning at 6:30 pm, the final opportunity will consist of an informal, 30-minute "meet and greet" to allow community members to interact one-on-one with the finalist. The public can freely visit with the individual applicants during that time, each positioned at a separate table. 

Community members and county employees can submit feedback via an online questionnaire following the public event. Those who cannot attend in person will be able to either watch the live broadcast or the event recording on the Larimer County YouTube channel. Commissioners will take feedback from the public through June 27, 2022. 

 

courthouse-offices

Board of County Commissioners

200 West Oak, Suite 2200, Fort Collins, CO 80521
HOURS:  Monday - Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm
PHONE:  (970) 498-7010  
EMAIL:  bocc@larimer.org
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WEBPAGE