Executive Director announces departure, Board of Public Health appoints interim

Xavier Crockett will step down as Executive Director of Mesa County Public Health (MCPH) on December 31, 2025 due to personal matters.

“I would like to thank Xavier for what he has done at Mesa County Public Health. We are grateful for his leadership over the past two years. He built a strong, dedicated team that will continue the vital work of protecting and improving the health of our community,” said Marguerite Tuthill, Board of Public Health Chair.

During his tenure, Crockett led transformative change that strengthened both our organization and our community. He restructured the agency – leading to more efficient operations and more opportunities for leadership development. He built a culture where teams are empowered to lead and innovate. Crockett provided steady, decisive leadership during critical public health responses, including the E. coli and measles outbreaks, ensuring timely action and clear coordination.

Beyond the agency, Crockett served as a respected community leader through his involvement with the Intermountain St. Marys Hospital Board of Directors and Grand Valley Catholic Outreach. He brought diverse stakeholders together for the Behavioral Health Community Planning Summit. He helped guide the development and publication of the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), aligning the community around shared priorities. His clear, forward-looking vision for the agency has positioned public health to meet emerging community needs with greater collaboration, adaptability, and impact. 

The Board of Public Health (BOPH) voted on the transition plan during their regular meeting on December 2, 2025. They selected Erin Minnerath as the Interim Executive Director and appointed Crockett as a temporary Special Advisor.

“We are confident that operations will continue without interruption. We appreciate Xavier stepping into an advisory role to support continuity, and we know Erin’s proven leadership and problem-solving experience position her well to guide the agency through this transition,” said Tuthill.

Minnerath has served as Deputy Director at MCPH since April of 2024. She leads the Health Protection Division, and supervises the Health Promotion and Behavioral Health Divisions. 

She will begin her role as Interim Executive Director on January 1, 2026.