Robert Gelder

Robert Gelder currently serves as the Assistant County Manager for Thurston County Government, a position held since April 2023. Prior to this role, Gelder was a County Commissioner for District 1 in Kitsap County from March 2011 to May 2023. Previous experience includes serving as the Director of Development and Community Relations at Martha & Mary Lutheran Services, overseeing fundraising and community initiatives for a well-established non-profit organization from 2004 to 2011. Earlier roles encompass positions such as Director of Development at the Washington Health Foundation, Executive Director at GAGV, and Annual Fund Manager at Hopelink, among others. Gelder holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Rochester and has also studied at the University of Oslo.