Colorado: Governor Polis Announces Cabinet Update

DENVER ~ In a surprising announcement today, Governor Jared Polis revealed that Tony Gherardini, the Executive Director of the Department of Personnel & Administration (DPA), will be stepping down from his position to pursue a new career opportunity. Gherardini's last day in office will be April 2.

Governor Polis expressed his gratitude for Gherardini's service, stating, "Tony has spent his career serving others, from his time in the military to his service in state government. His leadership at the Department of Personnel & Administration will be greatly missed, but we wish him all the best in this next chapter." The governor also highlighted some of Gherardini's accomplishments during his time at DPA, including implementing skills-based hiring and expanding the state's electric vehicle fleet.

In a statement, Gherardini reflected on his career in public service and expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to lead DPA. "My career in public service has been profoundly rewarding," he said. "Working alongside the dedicated employees of DPA to ensure our state employees are fulfilled and cared for has been an honor."

During Gherardini's tenure as Executive Director, DPA made significant progress in various areas. One notable achievement was the implementation of Colorado's Skills Based Hiring initiative, which ensures that state employees are hired based on their skills rather than just their degrees. Additionally, Gherardini oversaw changes to the Statewide Partnership Agreement with Colorado WINS and implemented a new step pay system for state employees.

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Under Gherardini's leadership, there was also a significant increase in the number of electric vehicles in the state fleet by over 800. Furthermore, he successfully reduced the state's physical footprint by more than 580,000 square feet, resulting in annual savings of over $9 million in lease and facility operations costs.

Gherardini's impressive background includes serving as a military police officer in the Colorado Army National Guard from 2004 to 2017, with two tours of duty in Afghanistan. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his meritorious service during this time. Gherardini also worked as a detective for the Lakewood Colorado Police Department from 2007 to 2014 before joining the State of Colorado workforce in 2014.

Throughout his time in state government, Gherardini has held various roles within the Colorado Department of Human Services, the Office of Governor Jared Polis, and DPA. He has served as Executive Director, State Personnel Director, and State CAO.

The news of Gherardini's departure has left many wondering who will fill his shoes at DPA. Governor Polis has yet to announce a replacement for the position, but it is clear that Gherardini's contributions will be greatly missed by his colleagues and fellow Coloradans.

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