Background:
The County Board's Open Appointments Policy and MN Statutes section 383B.102 require that appointments to unclassified service have confirmation by the Board of County Commissioners.
Ms. Palmer will serve as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director and Mr. Waage as the Emergency Management Director.
Ms. Palmer has over 25 years as a Hennepin County employee and currently works in the Human Resources Department as the Executive Diversity Officer. She has championed the development of 8 Employee Resource Groups. Ms. Palmer has led the strategy to promote cross cultural competence, workforce diversity, and an inclusive work environment and has expanded the learning curriculum with such classes as:
- Diversity and Inclusion Awareness;
- Exploring Diversity,
- Biases and Inclusion;
- New Conversations about Race and Racism;
- Uncovering Five Myths that Support Racism;
- Conducting Non-Biased Interviews.
Mr. Waage was appointed Sr. Department Administrator/ Emergency Management Director in 2011 to manage the development, execution and ongoing evaluation of homeland security, emergency management and preparedness strategies and programs for the County. Mr. Waage possesses both educational credentials and professional experience in the coordination and management of emergency situations.
The County Administrator requests the board confirm the appointments of Ms. Tonya Palmer and Mr. Eric Waage to the unclassified position of Director to be consistent with other director positions in the county. The director position better represents the responsibilities in providing strategic direction, operational accountability and budgetary responsibility for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Emergency Management.