“They all have tremendous energy and passion for recreation and I’m eager to see what new and exciting things they bring to the county,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Billy Martin.
Leading the team is Mandy Adkins, a Craig County native, who was recruited from San Antonio, Texas. As director of the county’s Recreation Department, “she has a passion for improving lives, recreation and sports,” Martin said.
Adkins was director of Youth Community Program for six years and recreation director for a regional soccer club. She holds a Master’s in Sports and Recreation Leadership from James Madison University.
Her teammates include Chris McDonald, who started as recreation manager in mid-December. He transferred from Bedford County, where he was an athletic coordinator. He’s played as a regional program coordinator, a site manager and for a decade a private recreational board league. He holds a B.A. in history from Victory University in Memphis.
Another player is Shontae’ Wade from Jacksonville, N.C., whose starting position is also recreation manager. Her positions included recreational coordinator for athletic services, site manager, sport facility supervisor. She has a Master’s in Sport Manager from Virginia State University.
Martin also spoke of new Maintenance Director Ricky Dowdy. “I can attest our facilities have improved under his leadership and his dedicated staff,” said Martin.
The chairman explained that last spring county leadership decided to break up the recreation and maintenance departments. “This split has allowed the county to hire professionals with expertise in their respective fields,” he said
Martin said dividing the departments was best for the county.
The new hires join Jim Whitten and David Givens. Givens, who started Jan. 1, served as the Development Services Manager, and will assume the position of Botetourt County Engineer. This position was reinstituted after several years and is responsible for all aspects of the county’s erosion and sediment control and storm water management programs. Givens also will liaise with the Western Virginia Water Authority and provide management for specific capital and technical projects
Whitten also started Jan. 1 as Master Building Official and Development Services Manager. In this role, Whitten will carry out the duties of building official for the county and oversee the Development Services staff, including supervising the county engineer, building inspectors, and permit technicians. “We are thrilled to have Jim take on a new role and provide leadership to our inspection, permitting, and plan review operations,” said Director of Community Development Nicole Pendleton. “Jim is a great asset to our team and the community.” Prior to Jan. 1, Whitten had been serving as the county’s Capital Projects Manager, primarily focusing on the construction of the new Colonial Elementary School in Blue Ridge. He has over 40 years of construction/inspections experience, 30 years of management/supervisory experience, and 27 certifications by the International Code Commission, including the certification of Master Code Professional.
Whitten and the Development Services staff can be reached at (540) 928-2070 or by emailing devservices@botetourtva.gov.
“Every so often county leadership takes a hard look at the organization and focuses on identifying ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the government organization,” Martin said.
The chairman did give words of hope about the COVID-19 pandemic, heading into its 10th month with no sign of let up.
“There are still many hard days in store for us. The pandemic is still surging across the country and many people are still suffering. Despite this, more than 100,000 Virginians have received the first dose of COVID vaccine,” he said.
He continued, people should continue to wash their hands, wear masks and maintain six-feet distance between themselves and others.
“We will beat back the virus and reclaim something that looks like normal life,” he said.
Martin is confident that 2021 will have “many good things in store for all of us.”
