Town Manager
The Town Manager's Office implements policy as directed by the elected officials of the Town through the voters and directs the day-to-day operations of the entire Town and all its departments. The Town Manager is ultimately responsible for the annual budget direction, water portfolio expansion, commercial economic development, capital projects, neighborhood services and the public relations function through a variety of media for the Town.
Larry Tarkowski, the current Town Manager, is the longest tenured incumbent in the Town's history. Serving since 2004, Mr. Tarkowski started his public service career in 1989 as the Public Works director for the rapidly growing Town. As a management philosophy, he has embraced long term vision coupled with aggressive infrastructure development as foundational elements critical to the success of Prescott Valley.
Town Manager Larry Tarkowski
Photo Courtesy: Gail Reffert
Mr. Tarkowski has served in many professional capacities including the Governor appointed Groundwater Users Advisory Council, Northern Arizona Council of Governments Transportation Subcommittee, the Governor's committee on water resources, technical advisor to the Central Yavapai Transportation Planning Organization, Yavapai County Water Advisory Council and Yavapai Soccer Club Board of Directors.
Deputy Town Manager Ryan Judy
Deputy Town Manager
Ryan Judy serves as the Deputy Town Manager for Prescott Valley. Ryan graduated with degrees in Political Science and International Relations from Utah State University and a Masters of Public Administration from Brigham Young University. He worked for the cities of College Station and Ennis, Texas for six years combined before beginning employment with the Town in 2004. Ryan is responsible for Management Services, Utilities, Communications, and elements of Executive Management. He acts as the Town Manager in the Town Manager's absence and also has responsibility for legislative tracking, assists with preparation of the Town's financial planning program, and participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies and priorities of the Town.
Assistant Town Manager
Karen Smith began her employment with the Town in 2011 and currently serves as the Assistant Town Manager. Karen obtained her degree in Business Administration with a focus in Human Resources Management from Baker University. She is a SHRM-Senior Certified Professional in the field of Human Resources and is responsible for oversight of the Town’s centralized Human Resources function as well as Information Technology, Library Services and our Parks and Recreation Department. She previously worked for the cities of Lawrence and Lenexa, Kansas for 11 years combined before moving to Prescott Valley.
Assistant Town Manager Karen Smith