Mark Williams to retire April 30

After a remarkable three decades of service to the Town of Wake Forest, Town Manager Mark Williams has announced he will retire effective April 30, 2015.

Williams’ retirement will cap a 36-year career in public service, the last 22 as Wake Forest Town Manager.

Williams informed the board of commissioners of his intentions during the board’s closed session at the conclusion of Tuesday evening’s regular monthly meeting. He broke the news to town department heads and staff earlier today.

“Mark is leaving huge shoes to fill,” said Mayor Vivian Jones. “He has earned the respect and admiration of town staff and our entire community. We will all certainly miss him and the steady leadership he has provided.”

A Raleigh native and N.C. State graduate, Williams began his career in public service in 1979 in the Town of Henderson. Four years later he came to work in Wake Forest as the town’s parks and recreation director. In 1987 Williams was named assistant town manager, and in 1993 he was appointed town manager.

In a profession marked by high turnover rates and little job stability (the average tenure is approximately five years), Williams has held the position through three U.S. presidencies, four North Carolina governorships, four Wake Forest mayors and dozens of town commissioners.

Williams’s tenure also coincided with the town’s explosive growth. When he arrived in Wake Forest in 1983, the town’s population was just under 3,500. Today it stands at just over 37,000.

Mayor Jones says Williams’ longevity is a testament to his temperament and ability to hire exceptional staff.

“Mark deserves tremendous credit for both his management style and his hiring decisions,” said Mayor Jones. “Not only has he assembled a superb management team, but he’s also given them the tools and the freedom to effectively manage their departments.”

Under Williams’ leadership, Wake Forest has enjoyed several notable accomplishments, including the opening of E. Carroll Joyner Park, the Flaherty Park Community Center, the Wake Forest Town Hall and the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre. During his tenure the town also completed the South White Streetscape project, introduced local bus service, successfully merged its water and sewer system with the City of Raleigh, and significantly expanded its system of trails and greenways.

Williams’ proudest moment, however, came in 2009 when the town earned its AAA bond rating. At that time, among municipalities with populations under 35,000, Wake Forest was one of only 73 towns in the U.S. and just the second in North Carolina to achieve a triple-A rating from Standard & Poor’s.

“Mark has been instrumental in not only helping us establish our AAA credit rating but keeping us fiscally healthy through many ups and downs in the economy,” said Jones. “Although we will miss his conservative approach to budgeting and his stabilizing influence, we are fortunate that he is leaving the town in excellent financial condition.”

In addition to his duties as town manager, Williams also serves as a commissioner on the North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency and is a long-time member of the Local Government Employees’ Credit Union Loan Committee. He has also served on the ElectriCities Board of Directors and was the 2003 Wake Forest Citizen of the Year.

Williams plans to spend his retirement traveling with his wife, Dianne, continuing to coach youth soccer and spending time with his family.

Meanwhile, Mayor Jones says Wake Forest will begin searching for a new town manager for the first time in over 20 years.

“We will immediately begin our search for Mark’s successor,” said Jones. “I have recommended to the board that we engage a consultant to lead this process. Our goal is to have a new manager on board by late spring or early summer.

“Although town hall will be a much different place without Mark, we are fortunate to have Deputy Town Manager Roe O’Donnell and a capable and experienced management team in place to help facilitate our transition.”