Clark County Public Works has a new director. County Manager Kathleen Otto earlier this week appointed Ken Lader as director of the department, effective immediately.
Lader was appointed by the county council in October to serve as Clark County engineer and will continue to serve in that position.
He replaces previous director Eva Haney, who was appointed in April 2022 after serving as interim director for nearly a year.
Lader has worked for Public Works for more than 20 years, serving the last eight years as manager of the engineering and design section. He previously worked as an engineer and engineering technician in the department.
“The heart of Public Works is the employees who strive every day to implement our mission to enhance Clark County’s quality of life by providing transportation, environmental, and parks facilities and services,” Lader said in a press release Tuesday. “I feel privileged to be able to serve the community alongside such committed public servants.”
Lader is a licensed civil engineer in Washington and received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Oregon State University.
“He has a unique skill set in that he has the technical expertise to ensure public safety in our community and is a natural leader in Clark County, inspiring all who interact with him with his passion for the work product and services,” Otto said in the release. “He will continue to be an instrumental member of Public Works, leading the team through multiple diverse priorities over the next several years.”
For more information on Public Works, go to https://clark.wa.gov/public-works.
