CREMONA - After a prolonged search, the Village of Cremona has found its new chief administrative officer (CAO). Aaron Gertzen, a former district manager for the City of Calgary, started with the village on June 10.
Gertzen was officially appointed by council at its regular meeting on June 18.
Shannon Allison, director of corporate and legislative services for Carstairs, had been working as interim CAO for Cremona since December.
Gertzen told the Gazette that he's looking forward to working in a smaller community in a rural area. He and his family have lived for a number of years in Cochrane so he is familiar with the region.
"We're in this area quite often," said Gertzen. "I'm quite familiar with the Cremona-Water Valley area. That's kind of what drew me out here."
Gertzen spent 14 years working for the City of Calgary in various capacities in areas such as planning, parks and recreation, and transportation. Most recently, he was district manager of roads maintenance.
Gertzen said he's excited about all the challenges involved in being CAO.
"The challenge, the excitement, the variety that Cremona offers," he said. "That rural environment. Our family, we love it out here. All those things together drew me this way."
Gertzen has an MBA from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C. He also has a degree from the University of Lethbridge.
Before coming to the City of Calgary he worked as a professional fundraising consultant in Vancouver.
"I'm looking forward to the variety and working with all the residents here," he said. "To be involved in the community -- it's great. It's not something I got to do much of in Calgary because it's so big. I'm looking forward to all the challenges the job brings and working in a small community."
