Loveland names acting deputy city managers during leadership transition

The City of Loveland has appointed two employees to serve as acting deputy city managers as the city moves through a leadership transition.

Brian Waldes, who will move from deputy city manager and chief financial officer to acting city manager after Jim Thompson’s retirement on July 7, named Deputy CFO Molly Elder as acting deputy city manager/CFO and Chief Human Resources Officer Julia Holland as acting deputy city manager after Deputy City Manager Rod Wensing retires on July 6.

Waldes said in a statement that the city can keep its daily and strategic functions moving forward during the transition because of its staff and leaders, and thanked Holland and Elder for taking on the roles.

According to the city, Holland has led the Human Resources team for more than 15 years and has been involved in previous leadership transitions. In her acting role, she will oversee development services, economic development, public works and utilities directors while continuing to lead HR. Elder has been with the city for 10 years and served as administrative business manager for Parks & Recreation for eight years before becoming deputy CFO in 2023. She will oversee communication and engagement, finance, information technology and the new unified department that combines parks and recreation, cultural services and the library.

The city said council will consider funding for a nationwide hiring process for Loveland’s next city manager at the July 7 City Council meeting, with a second reading and vote set for Aug. 18. The city has not yet announced plans to permanently fill the deputy city manager position after Wensing’s departure.