Mesa County Public Health’s interim executive director, Erin Minnerath, is the lone finalist for the executive-director position, the agency announced in an April 8 news release.

Minnerath joined Mesa County Public Health in April 2024 as deputy director and oversaw the Health Protection, Health Promotion, and Behavioral Health divisions. She served as incident commander during the agency’s measles response this past fall. Before joining Mesa County Public Health, she led the Infection Prevention Team at St. Mary’s Regional Hospital, providing guidance throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Board of Public Health Chair Marguerite Tuthill said Minnerath’s leadership and community focus set her apart from other candidates to succeed Xavier Crockett, who resigned as executive director, effective Dec. 31.

“We had an impressive candidate pool for this position, but we unanimously agreed that Erin is the right person for the job,” Tuthill said. “We have been consistently impressed with her work as interim director. She has struck a vital balance between supporting our staff and connecting with the community. She has a clear dedication to the residents of Mesa County.”