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Council surprises manager with proclamation honoring his 30 years in local government

City Manager John Connet reacts to proclamation in his honor as his daughter Lillie, council member Jennifer Hensley and Mayor Barbara Volk applaud.

By Lightning Reports, Published: October 10, 2022

The Hendersonville City Council last week proclaimed John Connet to be a "City Manager of Distinction" a month after the International City and County Management Association honored him for 30 years of service in municipal government.

City manager here since May 2013, Connet was previously city manager of Clinton for 11 years, town manager of Winterville, NC for three years and worked for the city of Hickory for seven years as risk manager and planner. An Eagle Scout, Connet earned a bachelor's degree from Western Carolina University and master's degree in public administration from Appalachian State University. Besides his day job, he serves as an adjunct professor in WCU’s Master of Public Affairs program.  

He is a credentialed member of the International City/County Manager Association and a member and the past president of the North Carolina City and County Management Association. He currently serves on the Western Carolina University Alumni Association Board of Directors and previously served on the North Carolina League of Municipalities Board of Directors. In 2018, he was named a North Carolina Main Street Champion and received the Robert L. Shepherd Excellence in Local Government Award.