County Manager Tom Lundy speaking at a 2009 meeting.

The Catawba County Manager's Office staff is responsible for planning and implementing the directives of the Board of Commissioners, strategically managing the various County departments and developing an annual budget.

Catawba County's Manager is Tom Lundy, who has served as manager for 30 years. The Board of Commissioners designates a County Manager as the chief administrator, under State law, for all departments under the Board's general control. His duties include supervising the appointment of county officers, employees or agents, except those elected by the people or whose appointment is otherwise provided by law; supervision of all county departments, boards, commissions and agencies under the general control of the Board of Commissioners; preparation and submission of an annual budget; and any other reports and duties required or authorized by the Board of Commissioners.

Mr. Lundy works directly with the Board of Commissioners, and has primary contact with Catawba County’s three public school systems and Catawba Valley Community College; Catawba Valley Medical Center; the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation; and the County’s Human Resources, Social Services, Utilities and Engineering departments and the Register of Deeds Office.

Assistant County Managers Lee Worsley and Dewey Harris assist the County Manager in the performance of his duties. Lee Worsley began working for Catawba County in 2005 after serving as County Manager in Greene County, North Carolina and with the City of Goldsboro and Durham County. He works day-to-day with the County’s Budget, Emergency Services, Finance, Sheriff, Tax and Technology Departments, as well as the County’s Federal and State legislative concerns.

Assistant County Manager Lee Worsley (left) talks with employees

Dewey Harris came to Catawba County Government in August 2008 after serving as Assistant City Manager in Wilmington, North Carolina and previously with the City of Pacific, Washington and the Office of Financial Management of the State of Washington. He works day-to-day with the County’s Cooperative Extension Office, the Elections Office, County Library System, Planning, Development and Parks Department, Public Health and Public Information Office.

The County Clerk is Barbara Morris. She is responsible for keeping the Minutes of the Board of Commissioners and the County Ordinance Books, as well as various other county records.

Attorneys Debra Bechtel, Anne Marie Pease and Tara Sain provide legal expertise and services to County staff and departments, and the Board of Commissioners, with assistance from Legal Assistant Cari Burns.

Assistant County Manager Dewey Harris (far right) works with a committee

Public Information Officer C. David Hardin is responsible for media relations for the County, the writing of news releases, direct communication to citizens by way of talk with civic, school and other groups, the County web site, a twice monthly E-newsletter, and other communication methods. He also oversees internal communication among County employees through a monthly newsletter, "The Catawba County Spirit".

Kelly Pasour is currently working in the County Manager's Office through the International City-County Management Association's (ICMA) Local Government Management Fellow program. She assists staff with research and development of a variety of programs and projects.

Executive Assistant Avajean Wickes provides administrative support to the County Manager and Assistant County Managers, is the Office Manager, and coordinates support to the County Manager's Staff.

Office Support Specialist Patricia Mathes provides clerical support to the entire County Manager’s Office staff by greeting visitors, preparing correspondence, answering telephones, filing, copying, faxing, distributing mail and assisting with records management.