The lines of communication between Boulder County Public Health, or BCPH, and the city of Longmont about COVID-19 will continue to flow under the direction of a new county public health director, officials said Wednesday.
Camille Rodriguez was named the executive director for Boulder County Public Health earlier this week and will begin work June 7. She replaces Jeff Zayach, who retired in March.
Zayach made video appearances to the Longmont City Council to explain COVID-19 developments and provided weekly updates. Rodriquez will do the same when she takes over the job, said Boulder County Health spokeswoman Angela Simental in an email.
“BCPH will continue to provide once a week email updates on the pandemic next week and attend the monthly city council meeting as requested,” Simental said.
When asked, in an email, if he hopes to maintain the same open lines of communication the city held with Zayach, City Manager Harold Dominiguez responded: “Yes.”
The Boulder County Board of Health appointed Rodriguez as executive director on Monday. She is the first Latina to head BCPH, according to a Boulder County news release.
Rodriguez has more than 20 years of public service experience. Prior to joining BCPH, she served as McLean County Administrator (Illinois). “She has extensive expertise and knowledge in public health, creating systems that reflect the diversity of the community and promoting equity and inclusion,” the news release states.
She served as McLean County Health Department Administrator, worked in public health, the Division on Long-Term Care for Wisconsin State Government and the Department of Children and Family Services and served as Executive Inspector General for the state of Illinois, the news release states.
Rodriquez played a leading role in continuing McLean County’s relationships with municipalities and townships, providing vision and a line of sight to goal achievement inside McLean County’s departments and services, the news release states. In Wisconsin and Illinois, she lent her experience to lead areas of long-term care and public health.
Rodriguez was a key planner and leader in implementing the first-ever health plan for children in foster care and assumed leadership roles in the administration of maternal and child health programs; long-term care; housing and health plans for children, adults, and the elderly and tobacco and chronic disease prevention programs, the news release states.
Rodriquez holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, a Master of Health Administration and a Masters of Jurisprudence in Health Law.
“We are fortunate to have someone like Camille who understands the importance of ensuring that all people have an opportunity for a healthy life,” said Lexi Nolen, Boulder County Public Health acting executive director, in the news release.
“I’m very excited about joining Boulder County Public Health as the new executive director,” Rodriguez said in the news release. “I appreciate the board’s and management’s confidence in me and to have the opportunity to lead such a great organization.”
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