Xavier Crockett will step down as executive director of Mesa County Public Health on Dec. 31 due to personal matters, the department announced in a Dec. 2 news release.

The Mesa County Public Health board voted during its regular meeting on Dec. 2 to make Erin Minnerath the interim executive director, effective Jan. 1, and appointed Crockett as a temporary special advisor for the first half of 2026.

“I would like to thank Xavier for what he has done at Mesa County Public Health,” said Marguerite Tuthill, Mesa County Public Health board chair. “We are grateful for his leadership over the past two years. He built a strong, dedicated team that will continue the vital work of protecting and improving the health of our community.”

According to the news release, Crockett:

• Led transformative change that strengthened the organization during his tenure.
• Restructured the agency, leading to more efficient operations and more opportunities for leadership development.
• Built a culture where teams are empowered to lead and innovate.
• Provided steady, decisive leadership during critical public health responses, including the E. coli and measles outbreaks, ensuring timely action and clear coordination.
• Was involved with the Intermountain St. Mary’s Hospital board of directors and Grand Valley Catholic Outreach.
• Brought diverse stakeholders together for the Behavioral Health Community Planning Summit.
• Helped guide the development and publication of the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), aligning the community around shared priorities.
• Positioned Mesa County Public Health to meet emerging community needs with greater collaboration, adaptability and impact.

Minnerath has been the deputy director at Mesa County Public Health since April 2024, leading the Health Protection Division and supervising the Health Promotion and Behavioral Health divisions.

“We are confident that operations will continue without interruption,” Tuthill said. “We appreciate Xavier stepping into an advisory role to support continuity, and we know Erin’s proven leadership and problem-solving experience position her well to guide the agency through this transition.”