Submitted by Thurston Regional Planning Council
Elissa Gertler has been named the new Executive Director of Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC).
After a series of interviews in October, three finalists were selected. Members of TRPC’s Council interviewed the finalists at their regular meeting on November 7, and selected Ms. Gertler to serve as TRPC’s new Executive Director.
“I’m delighted that Elissa Gertler has agreed to join the Thurston Regional Planning Council as our next Executive Director,” said Robin Vazquez, Council Chair. “This was a nationwide recruitment that resulted in a very competitive pool of applicants. Elissa rose to the top as a creative problem-solver, someone who has rural and urban planning experience as well as knowledge and skill in both land use and transportation policy.”
“She understands the fundamental importance of building relationships with a focus on regional collaboration, and has the enthusiasm, self-awareness, and vision to lead TRPC forward,” Chair Vazquez continued.
Ms. Gertler has more than 25 years of experience in housing, transportation, land use, and community development with regional and local governments.
Since 2023, Ms. Gertler has served as Housing Manager for Clatsop County, Oregon. She founded the county’s first housing program and worked to increase housing supply and affordability.
Previously, Ms. Gertler served as Executive Director of the Northwest Oregon Housing Authority. Prior to that, she spent more than a decade as the Director of Planning, Development, and Research for Metro Regional Government, based in Portland, Oregon. In that role, she led an 85-person department with a $50 million operating budget and founded the organization’s Equitable Housing Initiative.
Ms. Gertler has also served as Director of Public and Government Affairs for Clackamas County, Oregon, and in various leadership roles at the Portland Development Commission. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Planning from Rutgers University.
TRPC’s previous Executive Director was Marc Daily, who served the agency from February 2017 until June 2025. Ms. Gertler will begin working at TRPC on December 5, 2025.
