Executive Director Tracy Burrows Sails Off Into a New Adventure

As I retire from the position of MRSC’s executive director, I do so with a mix of gratitude, pride, anticipation, and, admittedly, a touch of trepidation. It has been a privilege to be part of such an extraordinary organization, one that is not only committed to excellence but is driven by a team of intelligent, innovative professionals who are deeply invested in our mission of supporting local government success.

Being the executive director of MRSC is a formidable responsibility. You are responsible for stewarding an organization that, for the last 90 years, has been the go-to resource for local governments in Washington. You have to live up to the legacy of so many legends who have been part of MRSC over the years, including Dr. Ernest Campbell, an absolutely superb attorney who served in various leadership roles at MRSC from the 1930’s through 1983.

When I became executive director in 2011, some of the advice that I heard was “Don’t change anything!” But one of my many mantras is “Move or Die,” and I knew that in order to stay relevant to the local government staff that rely on MRSC, we’d have to change. Some of the changes weren’t easy, but they have now become part of the foundation of MRSC, and MRSC will continue to evolve to become even better under new leadership.

The results of change are positive. We are creating more original content for the web, informative weekly newsletters, trainings, and publications than ever before. MRSC Rosters, which started in 2008 with 45 local government members has now been designated the official state roster with over 762 subscribing agencies.

Every innovation at MRSC has been initiated by creative and forward-thinking staff. From John Carpita, who seized on an opportunity to consolidate the administration of the small works roster for public agencies, to Eric Lowell and Cheryl Grant, who saw the tremendous need for intensive training for finance officers and, this year, created our wildly successful Finance Bootcamp program. These are just two examples of a workplace culture that is open to trying something new and willing to risk failing forward. It’s one of the things I am most proud of at MRSC.

MRSC’s longest enduring service is answering the individual research questions that cities, towns, counties and our special purpose partners pose to us. This service has evolved over time, but the core focus is the same — providing one-on-one guidance that local governments can rely on. Some have thought that with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), this type of customer service will become obsolete, but MRSC has put a lot of effort into making our online resources as comprehensive and responsive as possible. Our website is awesome — and I am sure AI technology will pave the way for speedier access to the outstanding content that MRSC produces.

Sometimes, though, there is no substitute for a conversation with a mentor or guru — someone you trust to understand the nuances of the situation you are facing, a person who has years of experience and access to a tremendous pool of knowledge. That is a service that also distinguishes Ask MRSC from other information sources out there.

Over the past 13 years, I have had the good fortune to contribute to MRSC’s mission and I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together. We have played a meaningful role in supporting local democracy and promoting good governance across Washington State, always with an eye toward empowering the dedicated MRSC partners, elected officials, and staff who work in service to their communities.

Thank you all for this amazing opportunity to make a difference.