NCLM.ORG 29 And still, despite that competition, North Carolina hosts a dedicated core of municipal managers. James sees it through the interim program and the retired managers that continue coming back to help communities. “These managers are so committed to the profession because they’ve seen what success looks like in our towns,” said James. “Once you get one success you want to continue getting more and more. Even minor changes can be huge for a town. None of them are there for the money. They’re community driven.” Logan Ford notes the same motivation. Through the state’s many managers and their different personalities and different towns in which they work, the element that binds the group is consistent to a person: the desire to watch a community prosper and to have a hand in that success. “I’m in public service because I care about the community. I fundamentally believe we can create spaces where people can use their talents to define their version of success, be successful in a way that is meaningful to them and support the broader economic vitality of the region. I want to see a community that’s thriving. I want to see a community that’s creating their own sense of identity with growing businesses and community ties that bind. In High Point, we will attract generational investments and residents who feel they can be successful,” says Logan Ford. “There’s nothing personal in it for me. It is about being able to leave this environment—whether it’s my community environment or the environment of my organization—in a better position than it was when I found it. That is what motivates me every day and gets me excited about the work we do.” “Those who stay in this work do so because they want their community to be successful. It’s adaptive work and Managers are committed to that ideal and the process to make it happen.” continued from page 27 Always On Call
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