Acting CAO – Woodlands County (June 2024 – December 2024)

Rod Hawken served as Acting Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for Woodlands County from June to December 2024, working on a rotating week-on, week-off schedule in collaboration with a colleague. During his in-person tenure at the municipal office, Rod took on the full scope of CAO responsibilities, including:

-Providing strategic leadership and administrative oversight to all departments
-Supporting Council in policy development, agenda preparation, and meeting facilitation
-Managing interdepartmental operations, budgeting, and ongoing project delivery
-Serving as the primary liaison between Council, staff, and the public
-Supporting staff leadership and maintaining continuity during a period of organizational transition
-Overseeing legislative compliance, financial reporting, and high-level decision-making processes

Rod’s decades of municipal experience allowed him to step into this leadership role seamlessly, providing stability, governance expertise, and responsive support to both Council and administration throughout the year.