Building Effective County Systems through Coordinated Service

Tanya Ange is a seasoned public-sector leader with a proven record of aligning complex organizations around shared priorities. She applies a collaborative, facilitative leadership approach grounded in trust and practical problem-solving to advance responsible public service.

In an interview with Government Business Review, Ange offered insights on leading large-scale organizations within a complex, data-driven county environment. She also highlighted the importance of breaking down silos and strengthening integrated approaches to service delivery across government and community partners.

Leadership Trajectory Shaped by Real World Experience

My career has been rooted in public service, shaped by community-focused work. I joined Washington County in August 2020, during a period marked by a global pandemic, regional wildfires and significant disruption for communities. That experience reinforced the importance of professionalism, strong teams and steady leadership.

I am grateful for the support of my colleagues during my early weeks at Washington County.  Local government offers a rare opportunity to make a tangible difference by staying closely connected to the community, and it remains the work I am most committed to.

Operating amid Complexity and Constraint

County government operates in an increasingly complex environment shaped by evolving community needs and limited financial resources. No single entity can meet community needs alone, which requires counties to coordinate closely with cities, regional partners, state and federal government, community-based organizations and the private sector. Each faces similar resource constraints, making integrated service delivery essential.

At the same time, counties operate within clear structural limits. Washington County faces a persistent fiscal imbalance that has resulted in year-over-year cuts and sustained pressure on operations. Despite these constraints, we are required to deliver mandated services under state statute and federal regulation, leaving little flexibility.

Local government offers a rare opportunity to make a tangible difference by staying closely connected to the community, and it remains the work I am most committed to.

As federal and state funding continues to shrink, the gap between expectations and available resources widens. This reality requires us to rethink how services are delivered by improving coordination, efficiency and collaboration while keeping community needs at the center of every decision.

Aligning Operations with Missions and Priorities

Within county government, departments carry very different missions, and that can create tension when priorities compete. Aligning that work requires a shared focus on purpose. Through our ‘One Washington’ County approach, we work to connect systems, reduce silos and reinforce responsibility.

When financial or operational constraints shape decisions, collaboration keeps the focus on serving the community. By returning to a shared vision, we are better positioned to make thoughtful decisions, manage tradeoffs and move forward with unity under sustained pressure.

Grounding Systems around Trust and Access

Building trust requires systems embedded into daily operations rather than reliance on individual champions. In 2025, the Board of Commissioners adopted a new Access and Opportunity Order and Resolution. Following that, teams across departments worked together to align county language across policies, documents, websites and service delivery.

The goal was to ensure consistency, remove barriers and reflect values in how residents access services, “continuing to serve our diverse community and strengthening organizational trust”.

At the same time, we continue to modernize systems that support our workforce. Washington County recently launched a new enterprise resource platform, Workday, following years of planning and contributions from hundreds of employees. We are also improving our telephone system and web accessibility to strengthen internal processes, increase flexibility and respond more effectively to community needs.

Leading with Purpose and Care

For those entering public service, staying grounded in purpose is essential. Passion for this work must be balanced to avoid burnout. Investing in relationships and relying on your team is critical.

Resilience comes from caring for yourself while caring for the people you serve. When leaders stay focused on relationships and sustainability, they are better positioned to serve their communities over the long term.