Thurston Regional Planning Council announces 3 finalists for executive director position 

After conducting a nationwide search and a series of interviews in October, the Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) selected three finalists for a new executive director position. 

The finalists — Ryan Andrews, R. Todd Ashby and Elissa Gertler — have decades of experience in planning, transportation and community development.  

TRPC has been recruiting for a new executive director since the departure of Marc Daily in June. An application period ran from Aug. 8 to Sept. 14. 

The Executive Director Recruitment Subcommittee met in October to interview five semifinalists, and then selected three to advance to final interviews. 

Andrews has 23 years of experience in city and county planning. Since 2014, he has served as Community Planning Manager for the City of Lacey. He started his career with the city in 2005 as an associate planner.  

His background also includes roles as associate planner for Thurston County and city planner for the City of Westport in Grays Harbor County from 2001-04.  

Andrews holds a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from Washington State University. 

Ashby offers the most extensive experience among the candidates, with more than 30 years in planning, land use, transportation and community development. His most recent position was Vice President of Transportation for WSP USA, an engineering and professional services consulting firm. 

Ashby previously led the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization in Iowa as CEO and Executive Director. He also directed the Central Iowa Regional Transportation Planning Alliance.  

He holds a mater's degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in community and regional planning.  

Gertler brings 25 years of experience spanning housing, transportation, land use, and community development across regional and local governments.

She has served as Housing Manager for Clatsop County, Oregon, since 2023. Her Oregon experience includes executive leadership roles with Northwest Oregon Housing Authority, Metro Regional Government and Portland Development Commission. She holds a bachelor’s degree in urban planning.  

The TRPC will conduct formal interviews with the finalists on Friday, Nov. 7.  

While the council meetings are typically open to the public, the interviews and deliberations will be held in executive session.  

The council expects to make its final decision before the end of the year.  

TRPC also announced that community members will have the chance to meet all three finalists at a public reception on Thursday, Nov. 6, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Port of Olympia’s Olympics Room, located at 626 Columbia St. NW, Suite 1B.  

The reception will feature brief statements from each candidate, opportunities for community members to interact with them, and a feedback collection process that will inform council members during their deliberations.