From the County of Humboldt:

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors today appointed Amy Nilsen to the position of County Administrative Officer (CAO).

Nilsen brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the position. She has worked with the county for nearly 21 years, beginning as a Medical Office Assistant in 1995. She also worked in various analyst roles before being promoted to Deputy CAO in 2010, where she served until being appointed to CAO.

“Our Board was fortunate to have a very good pool of qualified candidates to consider for this appointment, which made this a difficult choice,” said Mark Lovelace, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “We thank all of the candidates that put their names forward for this position.”

The CAO is the county’s top administrative position. As CAO, Nilsen will be responsible for coordinating with county departments to carry out the policies, rules and regulations implemented by the Board of Supervisors. The CAO works closely with the Auditor-Controller to prepare and manage the county’s budget, which is roughly $319 million. In addition, the CAO provides coordination services and administrative oversight for 12 county departments while directly managing five divisions.

Some of the current projects the CAO is working on include:
• Policy on achieving sustainable funding for county pension obligations
• Increased transparency on use of proceeds from Measure Z
• Evaluation of potential reorganization of county services
• Policy on use of debt financing to allow for needed capital improvements
• Fostering a culture of engagement and customer service.

Nilsen’s appointment will be effective April 11 contingent upon Board approval of a final contract.