CARRBORO, N.C. – Following a national search for town manager, the Town Council has selected Patrice Toney, an assistant city manager for the City of Winston-Salem.
“The Carrboro Town Council is pleased to announce the hiring of Patrice Toney as the next Town Manager,” said Mayor Barbara Foushee. “Ms. Toney brings over 25 years of local government experience, having served as an assistant city manager and interim city manager. She has also served as the director of the budget and evaluation office and has overseen multiple departments including community development, human relations/DEI and the fire and police departments.
“We look forward to her leadership and welcome her to the community.”
Toney has worked since 2016 for the City of Winston-Salem, where she serves as assistant city manager providing oversight to police, fire, human relations/diversity equity and inclusion, emergency management, neighborhood services, and housing development. She has also served Winston-Salem as an interim city manager and budget and evaluation director, where she managed a $500 million annual operating budget and six-year capital improvement plan.
"Accepting the role as Town Manager of Carrboro is truly an honor, and I look forward to providing leadership in carrying out the progressive policies and program directives of the Mayor and Town Council, while being responsive to the needs of the residents of Carrboro," Toney said.
Previously, Toney was a senior budget and management analyst and senior analyst for Forsyth County Government. She also has held positions as a public health outreach supervisor and police department communications operator, also for Forsyth County Government.
Toney holds numerous honors including the ICMA Workplace Diversity Conference Scholarship Winner, where she received a fully paid conference scholarship for her submission on diversity in the workplace;
Outstanding Women Leaders Award, where she was recognized by the Winston-Salem Mayor and City Council for outstanding leadership and service to the community; and the Chronicle’s Community Service Award, where she was recognized by the newspaper for years of community and volunteer service in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.
Toney has a master’s degree in public affairs/administration (MPA) from UNC-Greensboro and a bachelor's degree in English and criminal justice (double major) from UNC-Charlotte. Her professional development includes certifications in public executive leadership from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government.
More information:
- Manager’s Office – The Town of Carrboro has a Council-Manager form of government. The seven council members, including the mayor, are elected. The Council appoints the town manager. Each has a different set of responsibilities. The Council sets policies: the Town Manager and her staff carry them out. As a professional administrator, the Town Manager coordinates all day-to-day operations and administration of about 200 employees and an annual total budget of $81 million.
- Background -- The previous town manager was Richard J. White III who left the Town of Carrboro in November 2023 to assume a position with the City of Salisbury, N.C. During the recruitment period to fill the position, Assistant Town Manager Marie Parker has served as interim town manager.
- To manage the process for selection and recruitment of the town manager, the Council hired recruitment firm Baker Tilly in September 2023, which led an intensive process over four months. Following a national search, candidates conducted virtual interviews, completed a scenario-based writing questionnaire, and met for in-person interviews and sessions with the Town Council, management team, and employee staff groups. The process has remained on schedule for an early spring selection.
- The Council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 28, to authorize the employment contract for Patrice Toney. Under the contract, the town manager’s salary is set at $195,000 with a starting date of May 6, 2024.
Patrice Toney is announced as Town Manager
for the Town of Carrboro.