RUTHERFORD COUNTY APPOINTS GARRISON TO COUNTY MANAGER

Rutherford County Commissioners voted Monday night to appoint Steve Garrison as the next County Manager.

“As Chairman, and on behalf of the Board,” states Commissioner Bryan King, “after interviewing several candidates, and all with excellent qualifications, we feel Mr. Garrison brings to our county a professional understanding of how all county functions operate together to their best effect, and consider him to be an exceptional leader for our county.”

Steve Garrison is a lifelong western North Carolina resident with a solid background in various functions of county government. He served five years as the County Manager in Madison County, nine years (1987 to 1998) as a private-sector Program Manager for the Buncombe County and Polk County child support offices, eleven years with the Buncombe County Department of Social Services, and is most recently employed with Buncombe County Government in their Library, Recreation and Culture Department.

Steve is a graduate of Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College and Mars Hill University where he majored in Sociology and Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Technology. He has served on numerous local and State boards and committees during his career, including the North Carolina Child Support Council (President in 2004), Carolina West Economic Development Board, and the Smokey Mountain Economic Development Board. He is currently serving as the Chairman of the Madison County Planning Board, is a NC SECU Marshall Branch Board Member, and a member of the Madison County Arts Council, Madison County Historic Barns Alliance and other civic organizations.

He is the son of Joe and Annie Garrison of Mars Hill, NC, the husband of Tonya Garrison and the proud father of Savannah, Cameron, Lauren and Emily Garrison.

“I am looking forward to joining the team to help Rutherford County continuously move forward,” noted Mr. Garrison. “The Board of Commissioners is a great team, and I hope that the County staff and I can help the Board meet their goals to better serve the citizens, guests and businesses of Rutherford County. My family and I are excited about coming to Rutherford County.”

Steve will begin work as Rutherford County Manager on March 16, 2015.