Tom Cole

The City of Santa Clarita has hired Tom Cole to be its new Community Development Director. The position has been vacant since the retirement of Paul Brotzman at the end of 2011.

Cole has worked and lived in Santa Clarita for 19 years and has been an active part of our community.  For the last two years, he has served as the Chief Operations Officer for the William S. Hart Union School District where he manages over $458 million of school facilities general obligation bonds for the planning, entitlements, and construction of school facilities and modernization of existing facilities.  He advises and counsels the District and Governing Board on laws relating to CEQA, planning, and construction and serves as a liaison between the District and architects, engineers, contractors, and public agencies.

As a member of the Superintendent’s Executive Cabinet, Tom attends governing board meetings and a range of school and community meetings.  He manages a staff of 30 in the business services department, which includes facilities, maintenance and operations, transportation, and development.

Tom’s prior experience includes working with JT Wimsatt Contracting Company in Business Development/Project Management, as Vice President/Director of Construction at Highland Development Company, Director of Development at LNR Property, and Senior Project Manager with The Newhall Land and Farming Co.

Tom received a bachelor’s degree in Geography with an emphasis in Urban Planning from California State University, Fullerton.  He is a board member with the Santa Clarita Valley Rotary Club and YMCA.

“I believe Tom will be a great addition to our management team.  I am looking forward to working with him to continue building strong community relationships, and in moving forward with a range of projects benefiting our City and our residents,” commented Ken Striplin, Assistant City Manager.

Tom Cole will begin his new job with the City in mid-December 2012.

In a separate press release, the Hart District said it will “begin working immediately on the process to fill the vacant position to continue with construction and modernization projects currently in progress.”