Island County’s two new department directors come to their jobs with broad experience and a love for the island.

County commissioners approved the two employment contracts during Monday’s regular meeting.

Larry Van Horn started Tuesday as the county’s new facilities director.

Having summered on South Whidbey as a boy, Van Horn said he’s looking forward to island living.

“I have always admired the way of life and the feeling of community, which Whidbey and Camano offer,” Van Horn said. “I am excited to now be a member of the Island County government team.”

Van Horn worked as facilities manager for Snohomish County for 17 years and then moved onto a position as a special assistant to the Lynnwood mayor. In that role, he restructured the facilities and capital programs and budgets.

Van Horn said he plans to hit the ground running.

“I have been asked to begin making assessments of the county’s inventory of facilities,” Van Horn said. “This is likely to take a few months and eventually lead to discussions about best practices for the county.”

John Kent, who hails from the Seattle Art Museum, will serve as the county’s information technology director with a May 12 start date.

“I have been an IT professional throughout my entire business career, beginning as a programmer and working up through the ranks to computer operations manager and IT director,” Kent said.

Kent said he has an extensive background in strategic planning, including budgeting for organizational-wide technology needs.

Kent said his depth of skills “will be valuable as Island County continues to look for ways to use technology to provide information and services to our community.”

Kent, who has been with the Seattle Art Museum for 10 years, lives with his wife on Sandy Hook.