North Bend has hired a new city administrator after seeing 51 applicants and giving panel interviews to five finalists.

Amber Emery was confirmed as the new city administrator at the June 17 meeting of the North Bend City Council. She has worked in the public sector for more than 10 years, first working in the court system, then moving into her current role as Deputy County Manager for Clark County, Washington.

Emery has her master’s degree in criminology, law and society. Out of school, she held positions as the Criminal Operations Manager for Multnomah County Circuit Court and the Court Executive Officer for Clark County District Court before moving into county administration.

Emery had “all intents and purposes” to go back to the law and justice realm, but after spending time in the community, she pivoted.

“I just got bit with the bug of being out in the community and connecting with the residents and talking through everyday problems,” she said. “Law and justice is a huge, important cornerstone of our counties, cities, government, everything that we do, but it’s a small portion of what the cities and counties serve the public in. This has given me the ability to serve on such a grander scale in my community.”

Emery is coming to North Bend after several years of living in Vancouver, Washington, but she’s excited about the change. North Bend, she said, is “magical.”

“One of the highest livabilities in that region is North Bend, and you feel it,” she said. “The water running through town, the beautiful mountains in the background. It’s truly breathtaking.”

In North Bend, Emery will work closely with Mayor Mary Miller and city council. In her first week, she said she plans on meeting with the city’s executive team to identify the city’s priorities and do some strategic planning.

The city has several development projects in the works that Emery will get up to speed on, a map of which is available at northbendwa.gov/91/Development-Projects. Current projects include providing public sewer to the Meadowbrook area of west North Bend, housing developments, office complexes and an athletic center.

Emery said part of her job is helping North Bend pursue that development in a sustainable manner.

“There’s that balance of keeping that picturesque, beautiful mountain town with the demand that’s going to be on the city in the upcoming years of people wanting to move there and us having the amenities and the infrastructure to support that.”

Overall, Emery said her job is to be a strategic business partner with Miller, working to move initiatives forward to the city council that align with what residents want.

Emery said the system doesn’t work without a strong partnership — but she isn’t worried about that.

“Mayor Miller is phenomenal, and she’s one of the major reasons why I did also apply here and go forward with this process, because you feel the passion and fire coming off of her,” she said. “As far as I know, she and I are going to be able to move mountains, and I’m very excited about that.”

North Bend Mayor Mary Miller (left) stands for a photo with new City Administrator Amber Emery at a City Council meeting June 17, 2025. Photo courtesy of the city of North Bend