About Susan

Susan has more than 30 years of local government experience in Arizona and Texas where she served in numerous managerial roles; she retired as a County Administrator in 2022. Since then, she has served as a Senior Advisor for the Arizona City/County Management Association (ACMA) and International City/County Management Association (ICMA). In this role, Susan has provided professional and personal support and advice to members of ACMA and ICMA.

Her support has ranged from topics such as relations with elected officials, staff relations, overall management questions, assistance to individuals on career goals and professional development, relations with ICMA, responses to local controversies such as referenda on the council-manager plan, and confidential issues and concerns. She joined Raftelis in January of 2024.

Susan’s most recent direct local government experience was with Yuma County, Arizona where she served six years as County Administrator. She started her executive management career in City of Midland, Texas as an Assistant City Manager in 1990. She went on to be Assistant City Manager at the City of Tracy, California from 1993 to 1997. She went on to be the City Manager at the City of Bedford, Texas in 1997 and then the interim City Manger at the City of Lancaster, Texas. She was briefly an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Texas in 2000.

Susan then went on to be the City Manager at City of Rowlett, Texas in 2001 until 2005 and then transitioned in 2005 to 2006. She became the Deputy City Manager at the City of Peoria, Arizona in 2006 for seven years. She then became the Assistant City Manager at the City of Corpus Christi, Texas from 2013 to 2016.

In January 2023, Susan received the John J. “Jack” DeBolske Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Arizona City/County Management Association. This award recognizes City/County Managers who demonstrate the highest level of professional excellence in local government and who have made life contributions in serving the profession.