North Range announces the retirement of Larry Pottorff, LCSW, Chief Executive Officer, in the fall.Larry joined North Range in 1983 and became its Chief Executive Officer in 2010, with a commitment to improving the state of mental health in Weld County.
Pottorff, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, spent his early career at North Range helping people living with severe and persistent mental illness re-engage in life and their communities. Inspired by the idea that individuals with mental illness recover by working and socializing together in a welcoming environment that emphasizes strengths, not diagnoses, he and a group of clients founded Frontier House in 1990. Pottorff’s career at North Range began with clinical work as a therapist. Through the years, he progressed into administrative work as the director for various North Range programs before eventually becoming Chief Executive Officer. His staff and colleagues know him to be a social worker at heart, a gift that has refined and shaped the voice of North Range.
Pottorff says, “I am thankful Janis and I could raise our family in Greeley and be a part of this innovative community mental health center for 39 years. It has been a privilege to work with many wonderful individuals with behavioral health concerns and our talented, compassionate staff. I treasure the friendships I’ve made across the county and state. Serving the most vulnerable has been our mission for more than half a century and will continue long beyond my tenure.”
John Gates, Greeley mayor, has worked with North Range on a variety of initiatives and says, "North Range Behavioral Health continues to excel in our community under Larry’s excellent guidance. Larry has set the leadership bar very high, and he will be hard to replace. He is a true professional who will be greatly missed, both personally and professionally."
Pottorff’s many contributions include strengthening community partnerships, improving resources and facilities, increasing outreach and educational efforts, and expanding North Range’s presence and impact in Greeley, Windsor, and southern Weld County. Known for his humility and calm demeanor, he has helped North Range weather funding volatility, rapid developments in behavioral health treatments, and a shifting cultural and technological landscape.
Throughout Pottorff’s tenure, North Range’s school-based team has grown to serve over 50 area schools and is a model across the state. “The collaboration between Greeley-Evans District 6 and North Range has been one of the most valuable partnerships of my career,” says Greeley-Evans District 6 Superintendent, Deidre Pilch, “Larry has never wavered from his pledge to provide for the behavioral health needs of our students. He is a remarkable leader and human, and it has been a privilege to work with him.”
The North Range board of directors has begun its national search for the next Chief Executive Officer who will continue the agency’s longstanding commitment to mental wellness.
The ideal candidate will serve as a guiding voice to build upon the work that he has inspired. Pottorff leaves the organization in a strong position as North Range is one of the largest non-profits in the county, serving over 16,000 people a year with over 500 employees at 25 locations.
