YVHA Launches Search for New Executive Director Amid Slate Creek Growth

Steamboat Springs —The wind off the Slate Creek basin doesn’t care about job postings, but it sure does care about who’s holding the shovel. In the quiet stretch between Steamboat Springs and the valley’s expanding edges, the need for housing isn’t just a statistic; it’s the difference between a family staying put or packing up and leaving. That’s the backdrop against which the Yampa Valley Housing Authority (YVHA) is looking for its next leader.

On Thursday, Aug. 20, Interim Executive Director Elliot Lawrence confirmed the authority had officially launched its search for a new executive director. The move follows a mutual separation agreement signed in the spring between former Executive Director Jason Peasley and the YVHA Board of Directors. It’s a clean break, but the work — the messy, complex work of building homes and managing funds — doesn’t stop just because the person in charge has changed.

The search committee is already at work. They’ve brought in Bridge Partners, a search firm, to help navigate what the job description calls a “pivotal moment of growth and change across the Western Slope.” The committee itself is a mix of local political power and housing expertise: Steamboat Springs City Council President Steve Muntean, Routt County Commissioner Angelica Salinas, Michael Ann LaMotte, YVHA Development Project Manager Emily Katzman, and Lawrence.

They aren’t starting from scratch. Over the summer, the board completed the “stakeholder engagement piece” with Bridge Partners. The goal was to get the firm familiar with the organization’s inner workings and to define exactly what the next leader needs to tackle. The job posting makes it clear: this isn’t just about managing a budget. It’s about leveraging ongoing projects and leading a “community-wide collaborative effort” on the Slate Creek project, a generational, multi-decade opportunity that looms large over the valley’s future housing landscape.

The pay reflects the weight of the role. According to a LinkedIn posting, the base salary ranges from $180,000 to $220,000. That’s a significant investment for a public authority, but the job description promises a significant challenge. The new executive director will be the CEO and the “public face” of the organization, reporting to the board and supervising all programs, staff, finances, partnerships, and strategic initiatives.

The posting emphasizes that the ideal candidate needs to balance vision with execution. They need to be a steward of the affordable housing mission while navigating a “politically engaged community.” In other words, they need to be able to talk to the board, the staff, and the folks in the valley without losing their mind.

“The ED will balance vision and execution, policy and operations, and community trust and organizational performance,” the job description states.

The timeline is tight but deliberate. The search is expected to take six to ten weeks. Initial interviews begin in mid-October. Candidates will be narrowed down to a short list of three or four after background, academic, and reference checks. Those finalists will then be invited to Steamboat Springs to interview with the board and meet staff and community members.

If all goes according to plan, the new executive director will start in late 2026 or early 2027. That’s a long runway for a housing authority that needs to move fast, but it allows for a thorough vetting process. Candidates are being considered on a rolling basis, meaning the board isn’t waiting for a deadline to start looking.

For the people of the Yampa Valley, the question isn’t just who will get the job, but what they’ll do with it. The Slate Creek project is the elephant in the room - a massive development that will shape the valley’s housing market for decades. The new leader will need to bring diverse perspectives together to create a shared vision of what affordable housing means here.

“The incoming Executive Director (ED) will leverage successful ongoing projects and initiatives, bringing together diverse perspectives to create a shared vision of what affordable housing can mean for Yampa Valley,” the posting reads.

It’s a role that demands a steady hand. The authority needs someone who can build strong, transparent, and collaborative relationships with the community. They need someone who can bring all voices to the table in solving the affordable housing crisis. And they need that person to start soon, even if the official start date is set for next year.

As the search moves from the initial screening to the final interviews, the community will be watching. The next executive director won’t just be managing properties; they’ll be shaping the valley’s future. And in a place where the landscape changes with every season, that’s a responsibility that requires more than just a resume. It requires a vision.