Botetourt County is preparing for a significant transition in its leadership ranks, with three longtime officials in key positions departing within a relatively short period of time.
Deputy County Administrator David Moorman will conclude his service with the county at the end of the year after more than three decades with Botetourt County, while Community Development Director Nicole Pendleton will leave her position Sept. 30 after more than a decade leading the department.
The departures follow the July announcement that Fire & EMS Chief Jason Ferguson was leaving Botetourt County after 25 years to become chief of the Bedford County Department of Fire & Rescue.
Together, the three departures represent decades of experience and institutional knowledge across several areas of county government.
Botetourt County Communications Manager Brent Watts provided the county’s responses to recently asked questions about the leadership changes.
The county has not disclosed whether Moorman or Pendleton are leaving for other positions, saying it generally does not discuss an employee’s plans or reasons for leaving.
“Our focus is on making the transition as smooth as possible,” the county said when asked recently about the departures.
Moorman has given the county several months’ notice of his departure, allowing time to plan for the transition. The county said staff is prepared to keep his work moving forward and that the public will be updated on next steps.
In Community Development, County Planning Supervisor Jon McCoy will serve as interim director following Pendleton’s departure. The county has said it will begin the search process for permanent replacements and noted it will look both internally and broadly for candidates to fill the positions.
“We are fortunate to have a talented team of employees who understand the county’s operations and are already prepared to help maintain continuity while these searches take place,” the county said. “At the same time, we will look broadly and internally for candidates who can bring new ideas and expertise to these important leadership roles.”
The county did not indicate that any additional senior leadership departures are currently anticipated. It directed interested applicants to its website, where current job openings are posted.
The leadership changes come as Botetourt County continues to manage a number of major projects and initiatives.
Among them is Google’s planned data center campus at Botetourt Center at Greenfield, along with continued development activity, infrastructure projects and other efforts affecting the county’s future growth.
County officials said planning for leadership transitions is an ongoing part of county operations.
“The county has always placed a strong emphasis on planning for continuity,” the county continued. “Leadership transitions occur in any organization, and we know the success of the county does not rest on any one individual. It is the result of a team working together.”
The county pointed to experienced employees throughout its departments who are familiar with the Board of Supervisors’ priorities, county projects and daily operations.
“That depth of knowledge allows us to continue moving important initiatives and projects forward while transitions take place,” the county said.
While the county expressed confidence in its existing staff, it also acknowledged the significance of losing several longtime leaders in a relatively short period.
“We understand that having several leaders leave within a relatively short period of time can feel unsettling for employees and the community,” the county said. “We don’t take that lightly.”
The county said it has emphasized documenting procedures, cross-training employees and providing continuing education so critical responsibilities and processes are understood by more than one person.
That preparation, officials said, is important even outside periods of leadership turnover, including when employees are on extended leave or simply away from work.
“We will certainly miss the experience and institutional knowledge these longtime leaders have brought to the county,” the county said, “while also being confident in the talent we have in place and their ability to carry that important work forward.”
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
