Title: Town Manager

Municipality: Carrboro

Position Interested In: At Large - Manager

Q&A's:

Tell us why you would like to serve in a leadership position at the League. In particular, specify goals you would like to accomplish as an officer or board member and indicate how, if attained, they will help to achieve Vision 2030 – the League’s future vision of how cities and towns will operate in 2030?

I would like to serve in a leadership position for the NCLM to represent a local government manager’s perspective on the board and to effectively contribute to the shaping of policies that will positively impact communities across the state of North Carolina. Currently representing a small community as Town Manager and formerly a Budget Director of a larger municipality, I understand the need for fiscal soundness and autonomy for local governments to align/leverage revenues to better meet the needs of their communities. I would also like to support the League's commitment to municipalities demonstrated value for the community’s quality of life, which I believe could be enhanced through environmental sustainability efforts such as green infrastructure, climate-resilient land use and urban planning policies, and encouraging more renewable energy sources, all to mitigate the environmental harms of the climate crisis. In addition, mobilizing communities through intentional resident engagement, technical assistance for smart city technology solutions leading to data-driven planning, and supporting small business creation by leveraging public-private partnerships are all priorities of mine and are in alignment with Vision 2030.

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Tell us about your experience as a municipal official. You may want to include information on your service on the municipal governing body, other related boards and special areas of interest?

I have spent my entire career supporting, influencing, and implementing policies of municipal officials in local government. My career uniquely includes dynamic and progressive years working in three forms of local government in North Carolina, including city, county, and town governments, and I currently serve as a Town Manager. I have been recognized by the International City/County Management Association for 25 (plus) years of significant contributions and advancement of local government administration.

As Town Manager, I support the Mayor by participating in the League’s weekly Mayor’s Metro meetings where I stay up-to-date on legislative actions/bills from the NC House and Senate, directly impacting local communities. I also attend conferences and professional development opportunities offered by the NCLM, NCCMA, NCBEMO, NLC, and WING, to keep abreast of emerging issues raised by elected leaders across the state and having a seat at the table to learn about (or help develop) data-driven policy solutions.

I have served on numerous community advisory boards and currently serves as the vice-chair of the International Black Theatre Festival/NC Black Repertory Company, and Winston-Salem State University Graduate School Advisory Board. I also have professional membership in the International City and County Management Association (ICMA), National Black Forum for Public Administrators, and the North Carolina City and County Managers Association.

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Tell us about your educational background, professional experience, and/or community or civic activities?

I have a master’s degree in public affairs/administration from UNC-Greensboro and a bachelor's degree from UNC-Charlotte. My professional development includes 'senior executives in state and local government' from Harvard University Kennedy School of Government and the 'public executive leadership academy' from UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government.

I have served the Town of Carrboro as the Town Manager since May 2024, making history as the first woman and the first African American woman to hold this position in Carrboro. Since being in this role as Manager, the Town has received an ETC award for ranking in the top 10% of governments in the nation on resident satisfaction, and in March 2025, the Town opened its first free standing library complex, the largest public facility in the Town's history. Previously, I worked since 2016 for the City of Winston-Salem, serving as an interim city manager and assistant city manager providing direct oversight to police, fire, human relations, emergency management, neighborhood services, and housing development. I also served as budget and evaluation director, managing a $500 million annual operating budget and six-year capital improvement plan.

In my earlier employment, I served seventeen years with Forsyth County Government where I held positions as senior budget and management analyst, public health outreach supervisor, community resource consultant, and police department communications for the city of Winston-Salem.

I also hold numerous honors including the 2024 NC Power 100 Black Business Inc Magazine Award, which recognizes North Carolina’s most influential black leaders, Winston-Salem’s Mayor and City Council Outstanding Women Leaders Award, the Chronicle Newspaper Community Service Award, and the YMCA Distinguished Service Award.

Have You Participated in Any NCLM Events or Committees? 

• CityVision Annual Conference

• Town & State Dinner or Town Hall Days

• Legislative Goals Planning Events or Process

• Regional Meetings

• Affiliate Organizations: NCBEMO, NCCMA, NCLG Budget Association, WING, Mayor's Metro