June 9, 2025

Mayor Paul TenHaken will have a new chief of staff to close out his final year in office.

Vanessa Gomez has been promoted to the role after serving as public relations and communications officer since late 2022.

She will continue to fulfill those duties in addition to taking on the chief of staff role, which is being vacated by Erica Beck later this month. Beck has served as chief of staff since TenHaken was elected in 2018.

As part of the office reorganization, policy adviser Jenna Harris, who joined the mayor’s office in 2023, will transition to policy and strategic initiatives adviser.

“These changes are setting us up to finish my second term strong for our organization and community,” TenHaken said in a statement. “Vanessa has shown strong leadership since she joined my administration, and I know she will continue to shine in this role, helping guide our city alongside me. She has a heart for service and cares deeply about Sioux Falls.”

Before working at the city of Sioux Falls, Gomez worked in local television as a producer, reporter and anchor, and in the marketing department at Sanford Health.

“I’m incredibly grateful Mayor TenHaken has entrusted me with this opportunity. We have a phenomenal team I have the privilege of working alongside every day, and I look forward to continuing to serve our community together,” Gomez said. “When I moved to Sioux Falls in 2016 from Sacramento, California, I had no idea the journey that was ahead. This community has given me and my family so much, and to be able to give back in this role is truly an honor.”