Reffett Associates Places Administrative Officer at Spokane Regional Health District
January 29, 2024 – After a nationwide search, Seattle, WA-based Reffett Associates has recruited Alicia Thompson as administrative officer of Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD). Speaking to the placement of Dr. Thompson, mayor Kevin Freeman, City of Millwood and SRHD board of health chair said: “The board of health is delighted to welcome Alicia Thompson as our administrative officer. Both staff and the board are enthusiastic about the public health skills, knowledge and experience Dr. Thompson will bring to our work for a healthier Spokane region.”
“Reffett Associates was great to work with on our administrative officer search they worked diligently to recruit a diverse candidate pool and were always available to meet any needs that we had during the process,” said Mr. Freeman.
“Partnering with a client like SRHD, that is focused on serving every member of their community and on making lives better in tangible ways everyday has been a rewarding and fulfilling experience for our team,” said Tom Young, Reffett Associates’ director of operations and manager of the administrative officer recruitment.
Dr. Thompson brings more than 25 years’ experience in the public health and non-profit sectors to SRHD. Her leadership background includes serving as deputy director of the Cowlitz Health & Human Services department and as director and CEO of the Cascade City-County Health Department in Great Falls, MT. Dr. Thompson received her doctor of public health and policy management at the University of Arizona. Most recently, Dr. Thompson was the chief operations officer of Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. serving the population of southeastern Arizona.
SRHD’s scope of services oversight of public health issues including community & family safety, food safety, disease prevention, recreational facilities, and school health & safety for over 400,000 residents. As SRHD’s next administrative officer, Dr. Thompson, a past intern with SRHD, returns to lead the successful operations of all SRHD initiatives and will develop, implement, and oversee strategic planning, goal setting, and enforcing local and state public health laws, working with the board of health. The administrative officer serves as the chief executive officer for the Health District.
Related: Reffett Associates Recruits President for the United States Army Historical Foundation
Spokane Regional Health District is one of 34 local public health agencies serving Washington state’s 39 counties. The agency was originally established as the Spokane County Health District in January 1970, when the City of Spokane and Spokane County merged their health departments. In 1994, the official name was changed to Spokane Regional Health District to reflect the increased scope of public health services and geographic coverage. They have approximately 250 employees and serve a population of more than 400,000 in Spokane County.
Proven Search Consultants
Reffett Associates is a nationally recognized executive search firm. The boutique talent provider has extensive experience in retail and consumer packaged goods, private equity, commercial and federal services, government sectors, and associations and non-profits. Its team is made up of executives with tangible industry experience, possessing real world, relatable knowledge about the challenges executives face in managing talent in a competitive marketplace.
Reffett Associates Recruits President for the United States Army Historical Foundation
After a nationwide search, Seattle, WA-based Reffett Associates has assisted in the recruitment of U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Burt Thompson as the new president of the United States Army Historical Foundation (AHF) in Washington, D.C. Managing director Eric Reffett led the assignment. He succeeds Roger Schultz, who has led the foundation since 2015. Eric Shinseki, chairman of the board of the AHF, praised Mr. Thompson as the right person to lead the AHF and the Museum of the United States Army into the future. Mr. Thompson joins the AHF after a career in industry and the military. Most recently, he served as chief operating officer at Data Machines Corporation in Ashburn, VA, which specializes in cloud architectures, data analytics, DevSecOps, machine intelligence, and data science.
Mr. Young has 13 years of federal legislative, policy, and constituent services experience. He works closely with a number of leading industry groups including the Clean Technology Alliance, The Center for Advanced Manufacturing Puget Sound and the aerospace and maritime supply chain.
Searches for the Federal Government
Reffett Associates has been enlisted to help fill a series of key senior executive roles in technical and hard-to-fill positions for the federal government. Since 2022, Reffett has assisted the U.S. Army Material Command at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL with recruitments for three highly qualified expert (HQE) positions.
To be considered an HQE, individuals must possess “uncommon and recognized knowledge, skills, and experience in a field of expertise, and judgment that is accorded authority and status by peers or the public,” said the firm. HQEs are considered on par with senior executive service (SES) positions. HQE roles inside of the armed forces carry the status of a lieutenant general.
Reffett Associates also recently filled the position of provost for the Naval War College. This placement, said the firm, is the latest in a string of academic recruitment for the nation’s military institutions of higher learning including:
- Chief learning officer of the Air Force for Air Education and Training Command.
- Dean of the Aerospace School of Medicine.
- President for the Naval Postgraduate School.
- Provost for the Naval Postgraduate School.
Related: Reffett Associates Recruits First Woman Superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
