Sarah Hussong-Johnson Named South Lake Tahoe Engineering Director

By Nancy Kerry
The City of South Lake Tahoe announced today the appointment of Sarah Hussong-Johnson as Director of Engineering. Announcing her appointment, City Manager Tony O’Rourke said Ms. Hussong-Johnson, “has demonstrated outstanding capability to build public improvements on time and within budget and will lead the City’s Strategic Priority to Improve the Built Environment. Sarah brings a solution-oriented collaborative approach to resolving the challenges of constructing public improvements and will be an excellent leader for the years ahead.”

The City Manager continued, “One of the City’s core strategic priorities is to improve our build environment, which lags significantly behind the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe. Both the public, in the 2010 Citizen’s Survey and the City Council have consistently expressed the need to address our long-deferred infrastructure needs. The City Council recently adopted a $25 million Capital Improvement Program to restore and unify the visual and infrastructure integrity of the South Lake Tahoe community. To focus the City’s efforts, we have created a new Engineering Services Department to be led by Ms. Hussong-Johnson who possesses an excellent track record to deliver results.” The Engineering Department will continue the work already begun on the Caltrans Highway 50 project, Harrison Avenue streetscape improvements, Linear Park improvements and road reconstruction and rehabilitation.

Ms. Hussong-Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Michigan and is a registered Professional Civil Engineering in the State of California. Ms. Hussong-Johnson started her career in the private sector working in civil and environmental projects and moved into public sector when she began her career with the City in 2006. She has been an instrumental project leader working on a diverse portfolio for the City of water quality and Capital Improvement Projects including leading the team for the Bijou Erosion Control Program, Rocky Point Erosion Control Project, El Dorado Beach to Ski Run Bike Trail project and more. She has a combined eleven years of experience working in both the public and private sectors and stated she is “looking forward to the opportunity to make a visible difference in the community.”

— Nancy Kerry is the Public Affairs and Communications Manager for the City of South Lake Tahoe. She can be reached at nkerry@cityofslt.us.