About Me
Hello, My name is Talia Butler and my passion is public service, helping others, and saving lives through innovative programming. I am currently Division Director for Salt Lake County government in Salt Lake City, Utah. In this role, I oversee everything related to animals and agriculture county-wide. This includes zoonotic health regulations, code enforcement, permit enforcement, animal sheltering, veterinary standards, emergency management, farming and environmental management, and leading legislative policy. My role includes administering and cultivating service contracts with over a dozen jurisdictions, direction over $10M of budget initiatives annually, oversight of a large fleet, and responsibility for the operations of several locations. I also govern partnerships with a multitude of state and federal organizations, lead over 100+ team members and hundreds of dedicated volunteers, and guide services and programs that reach millions of people annually.
I excel in creating impactful programs that maximize resources and improve lives. I have over 20 years of experience working within government; managing programs, partnerships, and personnel. I am an expert in navigating legal, statutory, and bureaucratic processes. I have relationships nationwide with elected representatives, partner agencies, and influential entities to help guide change. My unparalleled networking skills create long-term, sustainable success. I thrive on creating innovative initiatives and driving them to completion. My division has won Best of State 14 times because of my innovative methods. As evidence to quantify this skill, one of my programs was also awarded as the top volunteer program in the nation in 2022 by the National Association of Counties. I have also facilitated fundraising, service, and development relationships that garner over $6M a year in revenue and contributions, up from just $30k a year before my tenure. These are just a handful of my achievements that are extremely unusual in a traditional municipal
setting and are due to my unique ability to levy support, engage investment, and usher in progressive change.
I specialize in resolving issues, fiscal accountability, and strategic organizational transformation. I am a strong communicator with impeccable attention to detail. I have presented at numerous national conferences and authored several scholarly publications. I graduated, With Distinction, from Southern Utah University with a Master's degree in Public Administration. I am currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree, focusing on Organizational Leadership, from Southeastern University. My greatest skill is my ability to hire and retain talented team members. I pride myself in creating an environment where team members are invested in our mission, care about each other, demonstrate their best talents, and strive for universal success.
Within this portfolio are examples of my core competencies in public administration. Sections are dedicated to my leadership, ethics code, program initiatives, governance standards, career, and educational goals, highlighted achievements, and experience.
Click the links to see examples of how my education, work, and experience have expanded my effectiveness in these core competencies.
