Trailblazers: Park City Mayor Nann Worel on leadership, resilience, and service

Park City Mayor Nann Worel, the city’s first woman to hold the office, reflects on her legacy of servant leadership and her hopes for the community’s future in TownLift’s Trailblazers series. Photo: Tanzi Propst/Park City Municipal Corporation

PARK CITY, Utah — Nann Worel made history in 2022 when she was sworn in as Park City’s first female mayor. After 15 years of civic service, including stints on the Planning Commission and City Council, Worel has defined her tenure with what she calls “servant leadership”—a style rooted in collaboration and collective achievement.

“My leadership style is servant leadership,” Worel said. “It is where you bring people together and move a project forward together. Rather than the ‘I’ in everything, it’s a ‘we.’ When something is accomplished, you look back and say, ‘Didn’t we do a good job?’ That has served me well throughout my career.”

Balancing Park City’s growth with the preservation of its character has been a central focus of her work. From Deer Valley Snow Park redevelopment to complex land-use decisions, Worel has walked what she calls “a fine edge.” “With every decision, we ask how this benefits our locals who enjoy this beautiful place, while also maintaining our resort economy,” she said. “Without visitors, Park City residents would pay significantly more in taxes for the services we receive.”

Earlier this year, Worel announced she would not seek reelection. In her State of the City address, she outlined goals for her final months in office, including advancing a senior center, moving forward with Bonanza Park development, and addressing park-and-ride solutions.

“It’s important to me that when I leave office, I leave things in great shape for whoever takes the seat next,” she said. “That will include having a committee in place to look at the Olympics, so the next mayor can take it up and run with it.”

Her passions, however, extend beyond city hall. Worel said she looks forward to returning to her nonprofit roots and contributing through volunteer work. “People’s Health Clinic is near and dear to my heart,” she said. “Making sure our underserved have access to the health care and services they need is something I will continue to be involved with.”

A marathon runner, Worel sees endurance as essential to public service. “With civic challenges, there’s usually not one silver bullet, but rather a series of small decisions that lead to an outcome,” she said. “You’ve got to stay with it, and the same goes with a marathon—you need mental strength to push through even when things aren’t going as well as you want.”

As Park City’s first woman mayor, Worel has become a role model for younger generations. “I’ve had so many moms bring their daughters to meet me, and I have treasured each one of those conversations,” she said. “I tell young women, you’ve got to take that first step and put yourself out there. It’s scary, and it’s not always pleasant, but nobody is going to knock on your door and invite you. You have to figure out what you’re passionate about and how you can contribute to this community, and then go for it.”

Worel said that mentoring has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her role, particularly as Park City has sought to diversify its city boards and commissions. “Not everybody has experience reading a balance sheet,” she said. “It’s been fun for me to teach some of those skills and provide encouragement, especially for people stepping out there for the first time.”

Looking ahead, Worel hopes Park City remains true to itself. “I hope Park City maintains its sense of self and sense of character,” she said. “It’s always a fine balance between our resort economy and our quality of life, and I hope future mayors and councils keep that focus front and center.”

For Worel, leadership has always been about community. “I’ve been extremely fortunate in my life to have a village around me—people who, when I stepped out, said, ‘How can I support you? How can I help you?'” she said. “As a veteran of three successful campaigns, I wouldn’t be here without them. That’s something I try to carry forward: how can I encourage people who have stepped out, and how can I help them reach their goals?”