Town of Telluride: Council Appoints Zoe Dohnal as Town Manager, Effective 8/20!

19 Aug Town of Telluride: Council Appoints Zoe Dohnal as Town Manager, Effective 8/20!

The Town of Telluride announces the appointment of Zoe Dohnal as Town Manager.

National search concludes following Scott Robson’s resignation in June.

To review today’s special meeting of Town Council, visit the Town of Telluride’s YouTube channel or bit.ly/totcouncil.

Go here for more about the Town of Telluride.

During Monday’s special meeting, Telluride Town Council appointed Zoe Dohnal as the Town of Telluride’s new town manager, effective tomorrow, Tuesday, August 20. Dohnal was selected during a national search process led by Columbia ltd., following the resignation of Scott Robson in June.

“Zoe is a proven leader, a local who already understands our challenges and has strong relationships with staff and other governments,” said Mayor Teddy Errico. “We were fortunate to have four great candidates, and Zoe stood out, making our choice easy and unanimous. The Town of Telluride looks forward to a long future with her.”

Serving as the Town of Telluride’s deputy town manager since November 2022, Dohnal has over seven years of experience in local government. As an executive in the Town Manager’s office, Dohnal has provided executive support to the Town Manager in all duties, overseeing operations and stakeholder relations and taking full responsibility for the role in the Manager’s absence. A few key accomplishments include executing the

Short-term Rental Study, the Town’s 2022 Climate Action Plan, the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) strategy, and the Facilities Master Plan.

Additionally, Dohnal has overseen a team of seven direct reports, including the department heads of the Clerks, Community Services, Finance, and Human Resources departments and three divisions of the Manager’s office, including Communications, IT, and Sustainability, while fostering a culture of accountability and high performance for the organization.

Dohnal has led strategic planning, project management, and community engagement efforts, building on her previous role as Director of Operations and Development in Mountain Village. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado – Denver and a bachelor’s degree in economics and marketing from Butler University.

Since Robson’s resignation in June, Dohnal has served as acting town manager. In May, Town Council established a search committee made up of all seven council members to identify and vet prospective candidates for the role with the help of executive search firm Columbia ltd., based in Colorado Springs.

Dohnal was one of 62 to apply and was announced as one of four finalists announced on July 30.

Town of Telluride, more:

Nestled amidst the majestic San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado, Telluride’s captivating narrative is deeply rooted in the ancient legacy of the Ute tribe, the valley’s original inhabitants, who crafted their summer camps along the San Miguel River, naming the land “The Valley of Hanging Waterfalls.”

In the late 1700s, Spanish explorers traversed the rugged terrain, laying the groundwork for subsequent exploration and settlement. A fervent mining boom followed, igniting a rush of prospectors to the region, culminating in the founding of Telluride in 1880.

Telluride’s allure as a hub of opportunity attracted fortune seekers, bolstered by the arrival of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad and groundbreaking innovations like the hydroelectric power plant in Ames.

Set in a box canyon amid forested peaks at the base of the popular Telluride ski-and-golf resort, the town’s historic district houses landmarks like the Sheridan Opera House and the Telluride Historical Museum while playing host to culture, music, arts, outdoor recreation, and festivals with unrivaled views and dramatic locale.

For more information, please visit online at telluride-co.gov.