Buchanan Town Council officially hired Jason Tyree as town manager during a called meeting Monday evening.
Tyree will start June 18.
Tyree is an Amherst County native and a current Property Maintenance Official and Supervisor for the City of Lynchburg’s Department of Community Development.
Tyree was introduced Monday evening when council voted to offer Tyree the position. He was at the council meeting.
Mayor Craig Bryant and council members noted in a press statement that the hiring “is the result of a thorough search process begun earlier in the spring and culminating with several highly qualified candidates. Tyree rose to the top of the candidate pool, earning the support of Town Council for the position.”
“I am very humbled to have this chance to serve Buchanan as town manager,” said Tyree in a statement. “My family and I have visited the town many times as tourists, but now, I cannot wait to work with council and the citizens to move the town into its next chapter.”
In his time with Lynchburg, Tyree quickly progressed from an entry-level position to a supervisor in the Department of Community Development, according to the announcement. At the same time he also earned his Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management from Virginia Tech and became a Certified Zoning Administrator.
Prior to his service in local government, Tyree spent over 10 years in the insurance industry, leading training and customer service programs for his division.
“Jason’s experience, education, and enthusiasm make him an excellent choice as town manager,” said Bryant. “The town has many exciting projects and opportunities upcoming in the near future, and Jason will be an energetic leader to help us accomplish our vision.”
Tyree is familiar with the joys and challenges of living and working in a small town. He was born and raised in the Town of Amherst, north of Lynchburg. He met his wife of 13 years just after high school, and the couple has two sons— one in middle school and one in elementary school.
Tyree has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Liberty University and enjoys reading presidential biographies and learning about Civil War history in his spare time.
“I’m a small town guy, and coming to work in Buchanan is like coming home,” said Tyree. He and his family plan to move to Buchanan in the coming months.
That move is a requirement for the job— and part of the reason council was looking for a town manager after Mary Zirkle resigned from the position effective at the end of 2017. Zirkle maintained a residence in Buchanan, but also has a farm with her husband in Bedford County.
Council split last fall over whether to change the Town Charter to adjust a requirement that a town manager reside within the corporate limits. The vote was 3-2 to keep the requirement.
