PRESS RELEASE
January 12, 2022
For Immediate Release
Media Contacts: Jeff Hembury, Jeff.Hembury@PitkinCounty.com, 970-456-9532
Laura Armstrong, Communications Director, Laura.Armstrong@PitkinCounty.com, 970-309-7191
Pitkin County Announces Human Services Director Finalists
Three candidates to interview week of January 17th
Pitkin County, CO- Pitkin County is one step closer to naming a new Human Services Director. Pitkin County has selected three finalists: Justin Garrard, Lindsay Maisch, and Matthew McGaugh. Finalists will be interviewed on the week of January 17th.
“The Human Services Director application process began in November 2021, following the announcement that Nan Sundeen is retiring from her role after 30 years of service. Nan leaves big shoes to fill, but we are excited to be interviewing these three well qualified candidates. Next week, we enter the next phase in selecting the new Pitkin County Human Services Director,” says Phylis Mattice, Pitkin County Deputy County Manager.
The Director will be tasked with leading the effective coordination of programs, partnerships, priorities, strategies and funding to protect and improve the health, wellness and safety of the Human Services staff and residents. These services include Senior Services, Economic Assistance, Adult and Family Services, Veteran's Services and the Healthy Community Fund. The three finalists include two internal applicants, Lindsay Maisch and Matthew McGaugh, and one external applicant, Justin Garrard, who resides in the Roaring Fork Valley.
Justin Garrard is the Assistant Director of Operations at Ascendigo Autism Services in Carbondale, holding this role since 2019. Garrard comes from a background in university-level athletics leadership, administration, and coaching. He was Athletics Operations Assistant at Florida State University from 2016-2019. An avid marathon runner, he also brings experience managing and planning events for several specialty athletic stores across the country. Garrard has held positions with the University of Pennsylvania, William Jewell College, and Ottawa University, as well as working with government departments in Boulder County, CO and the Social Security Administration. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Administration from Ottawa University.
Lindsay Maisch is the Deputy Director of Human Services for Pitkin County, a role she has served in since 2019. From 2017-2019, Maisch was the Director of Mental Health Services for Mind Springs Health in Aspen, a role that included the implementation of the Pitkin Area Co-Responder Team and the Vital Mental Health Services programs with regional partners. Previously, Maisch was the Director of Quality Assurance and Training Operations for A Better Way, Inc. in the San Francisco Bay Area, a foster care and permanency organization that serves hundreds of families a year. Maisch's career has evolved through her professional experience to focus on quality improvement and systemic change to help those who need it most. Maisch has her Masters in Counseling Psychology from the Pacific University School of Professional Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Piano from Fort Lewis College.
Matthew McGaugh has been working for the Pitkin County Human Services Department since 2014, as Adult and Family Services Manager since 2017, and previously as the Child Protection Services Supervisor and as a Caseworker. McGaugh is an Adjunct Professor for University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work extension program in Glenwood Springs. McGaugh was appointed to the Division of Youth Services Board (Western Region) in 2020 and Chair's the 9th Judicial District’s Juvenile Services Planning Committee. Previously, he worked for Garfield County Department of Human Services. He is currently working on his Public Leadership Certification through the University of Colorado. He holds a Masters in Social Work from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University.
In November 2021, Pitkin County began recruiting for the Human Services Director role. The recruitment process began with a field of 72 candidates and has now been narrowed to a final three. The finalists will now participate in a robust interview process with representatives from a variety of Pitkin County departments and local human services nonprofit directors who meet in a monthly coalition called the POD. This interview process will take place virtually due to COVID-19 precautions. Phylis Mattice, Deputy County Manager, will make the final hiring decision. The new Director is expected to start in February 2022.
For additional information about Pitkin County Human Services, visit https://www.pitkincounty.com/182/Human-Services.
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