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Lacey recreation supervisor Janette Cer honored for 19 years of service; retirement set for June 18
Summary
The board celebrated Recreation Supervisor Janette Cer’s nearly 19 years with the department and announced her final day will be June 18, with a public reception 3–5 p.m. in the Council Chambers; staff said interviews are underway to fill the position and hope for a July start for an outside hire.
The Parks, Cultural, and Recreation Board used part of its June 3 meeting to recognize Recreation Supervisor Janette Cer, who joined the department on April 10, 2007 and will retire June 18, 2026 after roughly 19 years of service. Director Jen Burbage and several commissioners reviewed Cer’s long record of program management and community events.
Burbage outlined Cer’s contributions to numerous community programs — from children’s events such as family fishing and the train-playground programming to large festivals and holiday events — and noted department records indicating Cer helped lead or contributed to an estimated 606 community events through 2025. Staff highlighted program continuity Cer built, her role in establishing recurring series (concerts in the park, children’s entertainment) and her reputation for attention to event presentation and logistics.
Janette Cer spoke briefly, saying, "I love working for Lacey. It's been a great experience all these years," and thanked staff and commissioners. The department announced a public retirement reception for June 18 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers and said the recruitment process for her replacement is underway: the first round of interviews was scheduled for the Friday following the meeting, with a second round the following week and an aim to onboard a new candidate in July if an outside hire is selected.
Why it matters: Cer’s long tenure has shaped many of the city’s signature community events and programs. Staff said they will try to minimize service disruption during the transition by accelerating recruitment and onboarding timelines.
Next steps: Staff will continue candidate interviews and keep the board apprised of progress; the board will appoint a new member to fill outgoing Chair Aaron Wheeler’s seat after his term ends in August.
