July 22, 2008

Harris, who is presently serving as Interim Assistant City Manager in Wilmington, North Carolina, and has served as Director of Wilmington’s Community Services Department since 2002, has been named one of two Assistant County Managers in Catawba County. He will begin his new duties on August 25, 2008. Harris will succeed Joellen Daley, who left Catawba County in 2007 and is current serving as Human Resources Director in Evanston, Illinois.

“We’re very pleased to have Dewey join the County’s management team,” said Catawba County Manager, Tom Lundy. “He emerged from a rigorous process involving eleven department heads over two separate interviews. Dewey has significant experience in North Carolina local government. During his nine years with the City of Wilmington he has had responsibility for administrative services such as budget, technology, finance, emergency preparedness, community development, economic development, code enforcement, working with the film industry and the media. He brings a strong commitment to public service and experience in community engagement, having responsibility for implementing Wilmington’s strategic plan. We look forward to having Dewey, Sandy and their family as part of the Catawba County community.”

Harris will work as part of Catawba County's management team, with Lundy and Assistant County Manager Lee Worsley. Each member of the management team works on a day-to-day basis with specific County departments under Lundy’s direction. The entire team works closely with the Catawba County Board of Commissioners to carry out the goals and directives of the board.

"It was evident to me, during the interview process for the Assistant County Manager position, that Catawba County government is a leader in service delivery because of its dedicated employees,” Harris said. “I have been impressed with the commitment of County staff, and look forward to joining their ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of life for citizens".

Harris earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Rutgers University and later earned a Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. In the years since, he has continued his education in matters directly relating to government, including studies in international economics at Harvard University, a Municipal Administration Course provided through the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and, in 2006, studies at the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia. During those sessions, Harris met Catawba County Assistant County Manager Lee Worsley.

“I first met Dewey during our time at the Senior Executive Institute in 2006”, Worsley said. “I immediately was impressed with his character and commitment to public service – values that are important to Catawba County employees. Dewey’s vast experience in administrative areas and community services will be a great fit for our organization. I am excited about the addition of Dewey to the management team and welcome him and his family to Catawba County.”

Following his initial university education, Harris worked for the City of Pacific, Washington, and with the state governments in Oregon and Washington from 1989 until 1999. He was employed as a Senior Budget Analyst for the State of Oregon’s Department of Administrative Services from November 1989 to 1994 and then served as Assistant Director of the Accounting and Administrative Services Division of the Office of Financial Management of the State of Washington through March 1998, directly involved in financial management and policy in both of those agencies. As City Administrator in Pacific, Washington, from March 1998 through December 1999, he was responsible for providing direction and supervision to all departments and functions including administration and finance, human resources, public works, community development, municipal court services and operations, parks, community services, police, fire, and risk management. He also directed the enforcement of ordinances and policies; helped resolve complaints; established positive working relationships with the press; and represented the organization in intergovernmental relations, contract negotiations, collective bargaining, and major capital project development.

Harris moved to the City of Wilmington in December 1999 when he was named Director of Wilmington’s Administrative Services Department. His duties included many which touch on services provided by Catawba County, including direction and supervision of the budget, information technology, purchasing, fleet, and mail services staff supporting more than 1100 employees. In this role, Harris developed and implemented administrative policies; and coordinated emergency preparedness activities.

In May 2002, Harris was selected to establish a new department, with a staff of 100, for the City of Wilmington as Director of the Community Services Department. This department is charged with addressing strategic plan objectives to improve the quality of life in Wilmington. His responsibilities include working in economic development and redevelopment, including technical assistance to small businesses; improving the operating climate for businesses through enhanced understanding of City requirements; code enforcement (regulation of zoning ordinances, minimum housing codes, and public nuisance ordinances); enrichment programs for adults, seniors, and youth; and several parks and recreation facilities.

“I have represented the City of Wilmington in intergovernmental and community relations endeavors,” Harris added. “We have established positive working relationships with the media; helped increase the number of volunteers engaged in delivering services; and helped establish collaborative partnerships with private sector organizations, non-profit agencies, leaders in the faith community, and governmental agencies at the local, state, and federal levels.”

In addition to these duties, Harris has been serving as Interim Assistant City Manager since February 2008 and as Interim Human Resources Director since May 2008, assisting Wilmington’s City Manager in coordinating interdepartmental goals; establishing organizational policies and procedures; assessing City departments for performance; coordinating interdepartmental activities; meeting with civic and professional leaders; and representing the City Manager before groups on City plans, events, and activities.

Dewey Harris has also been very active in the Wilmington community. He has served as President of the New Hanover County Partnership for Children, which has a mission to develop, sustain and enhance health, family support, and early education services for children ages birth to five. He was 2005 Campaign Chair of the Cape Fear Area United Way, working with staff and volunteers to refocus fundraising strategy which resulted in new business development in a three-county area. He served as co-chair of a University of North Carolina at Wilmington Community Relations Task Force, establishing a standing committee consisting of state and local agencies, as well as students and residents, to identify and resolve ongoing quality of life problems in the University of North Carolina at Wilmington area; and is a member of the New Hanover County Cooperative Extension Advisory Council, through which he works with community leaders to develop and promote nutrition; 4-H; coastal management; urban forestry; and natural resource and environmental education programs to enhance economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and improved quality of life in the community.

Harris said he has no firm goals as he gets ready to move to Catawba County, saying he will work to make a smooth transition to the area for his family and learn about the community issues in which he will be involved.

“My wife, Sandy, and I feel that Catawba County will be an excellent place to work, worship, and raise our 15 year old son and 11 year old daughter,” Harris said. “ We love the outdoors. Catawba County is a beautiful area that we are excited about calling home".