Deputy City Manager/CFO Brian Waldes was named acting city manager for the City of Loveland last night with a 9-0 City Council vote. He will work closely with City Manager Jim Thompson to ensure a smooth transition leading up to Thompson’s retirement on July 7.

“I am humbled to be trusted by Council with this critical role. In my four years with Loveland, I have learned a great deal about our strengths and challenges. We have a lot of both. Our biggest strength is our people, and I am looking forward to meeting our challenges in this interim period with their help. We are One City, One Team,” said Waldes.

Waldes has more than 20 years of experience in local government and has served on the Executive Leadership Team in Loveland since 2022, first as chief financial officer and mostly recently as deputy city manager/CFO where he oversees the finance, communication and engagement, information technology departments and the new unified department comprised of cultural services, golf, library, open lands and trails, parks and recreation.

In his role as CFO, Waldes has led the City on a years-long journey toward financial transparency and collaborative process improvements. The Colorado Government Finance Officers Association (CGFOA) recognized City of Loveland Chief Financial Officer Brian Waldes as its 2024 Finance Professional of the Year for the significant impact he has made within the City of Loveland, his achieved success in the organization’s growth, and his demonstrated exemplary leadership skills throughout his career. 

Prior to joining the City of Loveland, Waldes served as director of finance and information technology for the Town of Breckenridge, where he led the 17-person department that managed all financial, IT and clerk functions for the Town.

Waldes will step into the role at 5 p.m. July 7 and serve until a permanent city manager is selected.

“Brian’s strong leadership and his commitment to doing what’s right for both the organization and the community were central to his promotion to second deputy city manager earlier this year,” Thompson said. “I fully support council’s decision for Brian to guide the organization as we begin a national search for Loveland’s next city manager, and I’m committed to working closely with him throughout this important transition.”

The City Council also expressed interest in conducting a national search for a permanent city manager. Work is underway to identify options for consideration.