Today, Mayor Yemi Mobolade announced that Sallie Clark has been appointed as the City’s government and military affairs advisor, effective Tuesday, Aug. 1. In this role, she will engage local, regional, state, and federal government partners, and lead the engagement strategy regarding military and veteran affairs from the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs.
“As Colorado Springs continues to grow in both its footprint and prominence, it’s critical for our City to have a voice at the table where important decisions are being made and continue serving as a trusted partner for our military community,” said Mayor Yemi. “Sallie’s extensive experience serving at varying levels of government, plus her unwavering dedication to our local military community, including military families and veterans, make her an ideal leader to focus on and champion these efforts. I’m excited to bring her many talents to the City, and we look forward to the work ahead.”
Clark is a longtime community advocate, businesswoman and a respected government leader in Colorado Springs. She has served in elected and appointed positions at the local, state and federal level. Most recently, Clark served as the state director for USDA Rural Development for Colorado, where she advocated for rural Colorado by assisting communities through housing, business and community infrastructure programs. She is also a military spouse and has volunteered extensively with military organizations, including the Home Front Military Network.
Her appointment, which fills an existing vacant position, completes the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs. The office also includes Thomas Thompson, community affairs advisor, and Danielle Summerville, cultural & community outreach programs manager.
Bob Cope has announced his retirement as the City’s economic development officer. His last day with the City is Sept. 2. Cope started at the City in 2008 as a senior analyst for economic development, and he has led the economic development division since 2011.
“We thank Bob for his many years of excellent service,” said Mayor Yemi. “He has brought wisdom, positivity, and constancy to the role and has seen us through a period of prosperity and record job growth and development. His dedication to the City for Champions initiatives was vital to the success of these five game-changing projects. There were long hours, many presentations to City Council and the community, and a lot of hard work and community-building efforts to bring these projects to life. We wish him the best in his next adventures.”
