Don Theisen
Public Works Director, Washington County
Don is currently the Washington County Public Works Director. He oversees all Transportation, Transit, Parks, Facilities, County Survey, and Land Management functions for the County. He leads a department of 140 staff with an annual operating budget of $25,000,000.
He has previously served in similar roles in Chisago and Dakota Counties and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and registered Professional Engineer. In his 28 year career he has overseen delivery of over $500,000,000 in capital improvements from new interchanges to new courthouses to new regional parks.
He was named the 2009 Minnesota County Engineer of the year by the Minnesota County Engineers Association, and the 2009 Urban County Engineer of the Year by the National Association of County Engineers.
Don lives in Forest Lake, MN with his wife Gail as empty nesters.