Under Minn. Stat. § 383B.102(c)(3) and the County’s policy on Open and Unclassified Service Appointments, the county board approves appointments of personnel in the unclassified service.

Following a transparent and thorough internal recruitment process, the County Administrator is recommending Anna Abruzzese be appointed as the Director of Service Centers, effective 8/28/2022.

This Director will oversee the seven Service Center operations for the county, playing a critical role in shaping the future of the way the county delivers services for our residents. Responsibilities will include interpreting and implementing changes in adherence of current regulations; reviewing and recommending legislative changes; steering legislative strategies to ensure the best possible outcomes for county residents; and influencing and advising the state and federal government on county policy. This position will report to the Assistant County Administrator of Resident Services.

Ms. Abruzzese will bring 13 years of management and administrative experience to this role. Since 2018, she has served as Division Manager for the Resident and Real Estate Services (RRES) Service Center Division, overseeing seven licensing/motor vehicle centers, and remote processing, learning and development, and vital records units (responsible for driver’s license, motor vehicle registration, snowmobile/ATV/boat registration, birth records, death records, marriage licenses, and assorted other services). This included managing a $13.75 million budget, over 140 staff, performance, budget, technology, and engagement with outside stakeholders.

Some of the many changes Ms. Abruzzese has led the team through include responding innovatively to the pandemic, improving services to customers while maintaining safety for them and staff for which the County received a 2021 NACO Achievement Award; implementing strategic technological improvements (MNDRIVE, eLockers, online chat, Qmatic ticketing, VLP Vital Record system, online forms, etc.); and improving the hiring process to reduce bias and increase diversity and equity.

From 2014-2018, Ms. Abruzzese was a Sr.  Administrative Assistant in RRES where she created and managed the Real Property Group (RPG) Internship Program, managed the Midtown Customer Service project, and led development and implementation of: RPG Hiring Process Application, New Employee Orientation Tool, RPG Orientation, and RPG Individual Development Plan (IDP) tool set.

From 2009-2014, Ms. Abruzzese was a Conflict Resolution Specialist at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) where she developed and facilitated a consensus based strategic plan, operating plan, Superfund, Native American, and Environmental Justice client strategy and flexible budget for Conflict Prevention and Resolution Center. In this role she also designed and delivered agency-wide training and managed the office’s annual operating plan of $790,000.

From 2006 – 2008, Ms. Abruzzese served in Nicaragua as a Peace Corps Community Health Educator where her accomplishments included the proposal and implementation of a USAID grant to design, manage and build a youth center/clinic, the training of 30 youth community health promoters and instruction of Peace Corps trainees in youth development.

Ms. Abruzzese has additional leadership experience as a board member of the Association of Metro County Officers, an advisory board member of the Women in Leadership Executive Education Course at MN State, Mankato, and as the chair of the Community Environmental Advisory Commission for the City of Minneapolis, 2014- 2016.

Ms. Abruzzese received a BA in Political Science from the University of Minnesota, where she was Undergraduate Political Science Association President, and a Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School, Syracuse University with a Certificate of Advanced Study in Conflict Resolution.

As required by the Open and Unclassified Service Appointments Policy, a list of final applicants who interviewed for this position is on file with the Clerk of the County Board.

Current Request: The County Administrator requests the board approve the appointment of Anna Abruzzese as the Director of Service Centers, effective 8/28/2022.