Stapleton named city administrator

SANDPOINT — Jennifer Pearson Stapleton has been named as Sandpoint's first city administrator, chosen over 32 other applicants. She currently works for the city of Spokane.

Stapleton will be introduced to city department heads Tuesday, Dec. 15, and be on the agenda to meet with City Council for consideration on Wednesday, Dec. 16. The regular council meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. The public can meet Stapleton prior to the council meeting from 4-5:30 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall. If approved by council, Stapleton will start at the first of the year.

Mayor Carrie Logan said Stapleton was up against four other qualified candidates. Logan said Stapleton had exceptional qualifications and showed excitement for the job. Stapleton has experience running capital projects and has a commitment to teamwork, Logan said.  

“(Stapleton is an) excellent speaker and presenter,” Logan said. “(She has) terrific experience in grant writing and management.”  

Stapleton is the current city of Spokane director of Grants Management and Financial Assistance, and interim director of Community, Housing and Human Services. She has been the director of grants since October 2013, and the interim director since December of last year.

According to her resume, she was recruited by Spokane to establish an integrated grants management department and resolve multiple federal audit findings. She formed and led an integrated grants management team made up of grant management specialists, and program and accounting staff, across three departments. She analyzed systemic and procedural issues impacting grant compliance.

In 2013, the city received six single audit findings for the CHHS program, and the changes she helped implement and internal control improvements resulted in zero findings in the 2014 audit. Stapleton restructured staffing and process flows within CHHS, grants management and accounting departments, and handled the personnel, budget, fiscal management and resource development for CHHS when the prior director retired.

Previously, she was employed by Spokane County as the grants administrator, and also worked as director of grants for the Inland Northwest Community Foundation. She was also the executive director for about 12 years with the Spokane County Domestic Violence Consortium.

She has received several awards and honors throughout her career, including two Community Service Awards in 2000 and 2002, with Spokane Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Council. She also was awarded Leadership Spokane in 1999, with the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Currently she volunteers on the board of directors for the Spokane Area Workforce Development Council. She has been a member of the Spokane Community Network since 2007, and spent two years volunteering as a member for the Spokane public relations council.

Stapleton earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Gonzaga University and her master's in public administration from Eastern Washington University. She is credentialed as a certified grants management specialist. Stapleton hails originally from Montana.

Stapleton could not be reached for comment.