Rocky View County has announced the appointment of Dorian Wandzura as council's new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).
According to a March 22 press release from the County, Wandzura will assume the CAO's role and responsibilities as of May 2.
"Wandzura has been serving in a senior leadership capacity within both the public and private sectors for nearly 30 years," stated the release. "As a designated engineer and operations professional, Mr. Wandzura worked his way up through the ranks in several progressive and complex municipalities throughout Saskatchewan, ending up as the Deputy City Manager and Chief Operations Officer with the City of Regina."
He was then recruited to the City of Edmonton as a member of the municipality's senior leadership team before stepping down in 2016, according to a CBC report. He then moved into a full-time consulting capacity with his own company.
Wandzura replaces long-serving Rocky View County employees Byron Riemann and Kent Robinson, who have each served in the CAO's seat on an interim basis following the resignation of Al Hoggan in early 2021. Riemann is the County's executive director of operations, while Robinson serves as the County's executive director of corporate services.
According to his LinkedIn page, Wandzura's career has seen him hold senior administrative positions with municipalities throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta, including Yorkton, Moose Jaw, Saskatoon, Regina, and Edmonton. His responsibilities have ranged from public works and infrastructure, to parks and recreation spaces, fleets and facilities, emergency services and emergency responses, water/wastewater/stormwater, and environmental services, solid waste, water and power utility systems.
His LinkedIn page currently lists Wandzura as a partner with LadderUp Consulting Ltd. – a firm that "provides support to municipalities in the areas governance, strategy, operational performance, executive coaching and asset management," according to a post on assetmanagement.ab.ca
He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Saskatchewan, where he graduated from in 1994.
"Mr. Wandzura has been guiding and supporting sizable public and private organizations, as well as numerous municipalities to refine their governance structures, create and implement strategic plans, develop and streamline operational efficiencies, and offer overall support to elected officials, Boards of Directors, and senior administrative leaders,” said Rocky View County Mayor Don Kochan in the release
“[He] has a solid understanding of leadership and local government best practices along with the right mix of education and hands-on experience. We have great confidence in the future of Rocky View County as Mr. Wandzura joins our skilled and robust administrative team."
