Washington County announces leadership changes in several departments
The Washington County commissioners announced leadership changes in three areas last week.
Michelle Gordon was hired as the county's chief financial officer, Jonathan Horowitz was promoted to be the new business development director, and Neil Doran was named the new director of Hagerstown Regional Airport.
In each case, they are replacing people who left county government for other professional opportunities, according to the county.
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Gordon has more than 30 years of finance and accounting experience and more than 20 years of governmental accounting experience. She most recently served as finance director for Jefferson County, W.Va.
A lifelong resident of Washington County, Gordon is a graduate of Williamsport High School. She holds a bachelor's degree from Hood College in Frederick, Md., and a master's degree in business administration from Mount St. Mary’s University School of Business in Emmitsburg, Md.
"I feel privileged to have the opportunity to serve the community that I call home and to serve with community and county government leaders, and the county’s accounting team," Gordon said in a news release. "Together, we will face the tough economic challenges that the future may bring. We will strive for financial sustainability and pandemic recovery while maintaining operations and exploring new opportunities for growth, transformation, and service enhancements."
Gordon's annual salary will be $127,525, according to county government.
She succeeds Sara Greaves, who left county government for another job opportunity.
Horowitz has been employed with government for more than three years as business leader for the Department of Business Development. In that role, he was responsible for marketing Washington County to areas outside the state to attract new development investments, which supported the creation of jobs and increases in the tax base, according to a news release from the county.
Before joining county government, Horowitz spent 16 years in business roles in management, business development, brand management, executive strategy and product development for local, regional and international companies. He was also an adjunct professor at Hagerstown Community College from 2017 to 2019.
He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Frostburg State University and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Maryland, University College.
"I am looking forward to using my skills, education, and career experience in this new role to continue pushing Washington County, Md., toward the future community we all want to reside in," he said in the release.
He will be paid an annual salary of $85,384.
He follows Susan Grimes, who has left the county staff to pursue other opportunities, according to the county.
Doran became actively engaged in aviation studies in 2007 and began working full-time in the aviation sector in December 2013 as a line service technician for Robinson Aviation.
In 2016, Doran was hired as manager of the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport in Martinsburg, W.Va. Since 2020 he served simultaneously as airport manager, director of aviation, chief operating officer and fixed base operations manager. Fixed base operations are airport businesses that handle private aviation (non-commercial), aircraft passengers and services.
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"I look forward to meeting the airport staff and members of the local aviation community," Doran said in a news release. "I’d like to hear their ideas for improving the airport. It’s my hope that we can cooperatively work together to promote the benefits of HGR, and help the airport and its tenant organizations ascend to new heights."
Doran's annual salary will be $96,616. He replaced Rick Johnson, who also left the county for another professional opportunity.
Mike Lewis covers business, the economy and other issues. Follow Mike on Twitter: @MiLewis
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Washington County government fills three leadership positions
