Boone Hires Consultant for Town Manager Search
The Boone Town Council has engaged consulting firm Developmental Associates, LLC to lead the search for a new town manager. The move follows the departure of the previous manager. The firm specializes in executive recruitment for local governments and will oversee the selection process for the town's chief administrative role.
- The previous Town Manager, Amy Davis, retired on November 30, 2025, after more than 25 years of service to the town of Boone. She started as a finance director in 2000 before becoming town manager. - Dale Presnall, the director of human resources, has been serving as the interim town manager following Davis's retirement. - The new town manager will be the chief administrator for the town, responsible for overseeing all departments and the day-to-day operations of the local government. This includes preparing and submitting the annual budget, ensuring laws and ordinances are enforced, and appointing and removing department heads. - A significant challenge for the incoming manager will be continuing recovery efforts from Tropical Storm Helene, which caused extensive flooding, sinkholes, and damage to homes and infrastructure in September 2024. The storm severely impacted local businesses by wiping out revenue from the crucial fall tourism season. - Developmental Associates, the hired consulting firm, utilizes a multi-stage recruitment and assessment process that goes beyond interviews. Their method often includes skills-based simulations and emotional intelligence assessments to evaluate candidates. - The firm will gather input from the public, department directors, and the town council to create a profile for the ideal candidate. They typically narrow down a pool of 30-45 applicants to a small group of finalists. - The new town manager will also take a key role in implementing "Boone Next," a comprehensive plan for the town's future that was developed with community feedback. - Before Amy Davis, the Town Manager was John A. Ward, who served from 2014 until 2022, when he left to become the County Manager for Walton County. One of his major accomplishments was executing the $42 million Boone Water Intake and Water Treatment Plant Upgrade project.
