Ms. Cheryl Harrison–Lee was appointed to the position of Interim County Administrator for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS effective Friday, January 7, 2022. Harrison-Lee brings more than 35 years of professional experience as a nationally-recognized public and private sector executive at a time when the Unified Government anticipates making generational investments in the community while managing a public health response to a global pandemic. Throughout her career, Harrison-Lee has worked to bring a more data-driven, accountable approach to public agencies through a commitment to collecting, using and sharing performance data to enhance transparency and continually improve organizations and communities; all skillsets she will apply in her role as interim County Administrator.
PRINCIPAL, HARRISON-LEE DEVELOPMENT CONSULTING
As Principal of Harrison-Lee Development Consulting, Harrison-Lee serves as a technical advisor on the City of Kansas City, Missouri Central City Sales Tax, a catalytic program to spur economic opportunity in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KANSAS OFFICE OF RECOVERY
Previously, Ms. Harrison-Lee served as the Executive Director for the Kansas Office of Recovery, where she developed strategic funding priorities, established management and financial systems for disbursing $1.034B CARES Act funds through the State of Kansas to address the impacts of COVID-19. She also spearheaded the implementation of strategies to provide guidance to all Kansas counties, including toolkits, webinars, templates, and financial reporting on ways to expend $1B in COVID-19 recovery funds.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF GARDNER, KS
Ms. Harrison-Lee managed a leadership team tasked with municipal operations for a full-service city. She provided policy direction in areas such as economic development, quality of life, fiscal stewardship and infrastructure/asset management. She oversaw significant economic growth during her time in Gardner, positioning the city for more than $200 Million in economic development projects. These successes included a new Hilton Hotel, Justice Center, 700,000 square feet of industrial development plus more than 400 new single-family homes and more than 100 multi-family homes scheduled for construction.
Ms. Harrison-Lee developed a strategic plan resulting in the city receiving the Certificate of Excellence in Performance Management from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). The ICMA awards this certificate to governmental entities that demonstrate a commitment to collecting, using, and sharing performance data to enhance transparency and continually improve their organizations and communities. This certificate is the highest level of recognition awarded.
The County Administrator directs and supervises the day-to-day operations of all county and city departments and agencies, which are under the oversight of the Commission, as well as personnel matters including the appointment of senior department heads.
The Office of the County Administrator executes the policies of the Unified Board of Commissioners through the divisions and departments. Providing administrative support to the Board and implements its directives with regard to Board agendas, meetings, resolutions, ordinances, policies, and constituent services. It is the highest-level management office of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS. Additionally, serves as the Board of Commissioners official liaison to the Constitutional Officers, the Judiciary, and state and regional agencies.
County Administrator's Office is also responsible for preparation and submission of the annual Unified Government Budget to the Mayor and Commission in early July of each year.