Herriman’s female assistant city manager overcomes obstacles to make a difference

A 17-year veteran of local government, assistant city manager Wendy Thomas understands the value of diligence and determination; reaching her current position wasn’t easy. 

“[It has been] a lot of long hours and hard work. It was taking on extra responsibilities, making hard decisions and being accountable,” Thomas said. 

Growing up in a small rural community along the Mississippi River in Arkansas, Thomas didn’t arrive in Utah until 1996. Intending to stay only for the summer, she decided to make the move permanent after meeting her husband, Kem. They have two adult children and a grand dog. 

Thomas began her career with a love of learning—a passion she still enjoys—which is not surprising considering her impressive educational background. With two bachelor's degrees in economics and social science and two master’s degrees in gerontology and public administration, she has consistently pushed herself to earn distinction in a playing field generally dominated by men. 

Faced with challenges from her first purposeful steps onto a career path, Thomas has refused to accept limitations for over 20 years. 

“Early on in my career, it was balancing being a wife and mother and working more than 40 hours per week,” she said. “I was also attending graduate school during some of that time. It took a lot of perseverance and support from those around me to make sure the children were fed and where they needed to be so I could be present and focused.”

Though she loves her job, local government wasn’t her original goal when she began her studies as an undergraduate. However, fortuitous circumstances led her to where she is now.

“It was a lot of falling forward and seizing opportunities as they presented themselves,” she said. “One of my electives during my undergraduate studies was in the Gerontology Department, which led me to an interest in Aging Services Administration, which led to an MS in Gerontology, which led me to my first job in local government managing the Community Center and Senior Citizen Programs in South Jordan.” She spent nearly eight years working for the City of South Jordan.

Presenting an unprecedented challenge, the pandemic threw a wrench into everyone’s plans and daily operations, and it was no different for Herriman. 

“The pandemic changed so much for the city. Day to day, we had to pivot our response depending on what was happening at the federal, state and county levels. It impacted every aspect of daily life,” Thomas said. 

She and other city officials scrambled to adapt how they fulfilled responsibilities, met the needs of residents and communicated. “Public trust evaporated,” she said.

Thomas and other staff found creative ways to keep the city functioning, even hosting the first in-person pandemic event within Salt Lake County in July 2020. “[It was called] Xtreme Bulls, with a limited crowd and a lot of health regulations. It was amazing to be with people!” Thomas said.

Later in 2020, an unexpected management change thrust Thomas into the position of interim city manager overnight. She suddenly found herself responsible for all city operations, a huge undertaking she would tackle for the next eight months. “I am grateful for our amazing staff, who stepped up and helped me navigate through that time,” she said. 

Though her stint as the city manager was instructive and helped shape how she approaches challenges today, she is grateful for many aspects of her current job. She particularly enjoys the community camaraderie and respect on display during city events. 

“It is incredibly fulfilling to see the community come together at Fort Herriman Towne Days or to see people enjoying all the activities at the Herriman Howl,” she said. “I love the respect that is shown at our Memorial Day Ceremony and Wreaths Across America.”

Thomas has now worked for Herriman City for almost eight years and enjoys seeing the completion of city projects, including roads, parks or even water tanks. 

“I love seeing people enjoying our trails and playing in our parks. I love seeing new businesses opening and meeting new residents,” she said.

Thomas—and the city in general—face daily challenges. Limited resources, budget constraints, regulatory considerations and legal issues—all while examining the impact on residents—make solving complex city problems difficult at best. 

 Providing unique perspectives gained through experiences as a woman, mother, student and leader, she continues to pursue the realization of the city council’s vision for Herriman. 

This vision includes strengthening financial stability and increasing revenue, improving public trust and transparency, encouraging community engagement, expanding trails for increased outdoor recreation and health and increasing transportation and service efficiency via technology.

She takes pride in her efforts to do what is best for the city, though, of course, she is always proud of her children first. 

“In my career, I think I’ve been a good person who works hard, takes responsibility, and tries to do the right thing, even though that can come through difficult choices,” she said.

Though every city makes mistakes that can negatively impact residents, Thomas is especially optimistic about Herriman’s future. 

“Incredible people make up the Herriman City Staff and City Council,” she said. “They are people who truly care about this community and its long-term sustainability.”

To make a difference in local government, particularly for women, Thomas advises proactivity. “Believe in yourself and your abilities. Speak up, even when you are the only woman in the room. Trust your expertise. Embrace resilience—learn from mistakes and move forward,” she said. “And be kind.”