Greenville names new city manager

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Greenville has promoted from within for its new city manager.

Former assistant city manager and planning director, Shannon Lavrin, is Greenville’s new city manager, according to a news release from the city.

 Lavrin was sworn in during the city council meeting on Monday, and assumes the role immediately. Her salary with Greenville was $167,440 and will increase to $225,000.

“We are proud to have a seamless transition in the City Manager position,” said Mayor Knox White in the release. “Shannon Lavrin becomes the first urban planner to become city manager and the first woman named to the position permanently. With Shannon, the Council has a true partner in protecting neighborhoods and preserving our quality of life.”

The change in leadership comes after the resignation of John McDonough on June 7 to pursue employment with a Greenville development corporation, according to the release. Council chose not to conduct a formal search, but instead appoint Lavrin, based on her experience, character and strong reputation in the community, the release stated.

“Hundreds of city residents have worked with Shannon during the long process of crafting and adopting our new land use code. They know first-hand her willingness to listen and to act fairly. The skills we saw her display make her a superb choice for the city’s top administrative position,” White said in the release.

Lavrin was hired by the city in January 2018 as a development planner, according to the release. She was promoted to assistant planning and development manager and most recently assistant city manager. In a previous municipal government role she served as assistant to the city manager in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

“This is what I have worked for,” Lavrin said in the release. “I began my career as a Planning Assistant and was told if I wanted to advance, I needed to go back to school. I went to night school for four years to earn a post-graduate degree in Public Administration. It’s been a long climb from the first rung of the ladder, but now, to achieve a professional goal in a city I love, is so deeply rewarding,” she said.

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As one of her first major assignments, Lavrin worked with community stakeholders to develop the GVL2040 Comprehensive Plan, the release stated. The plan is the vision document that laid the groundwork for the City’s Zoning Code overhaul. The code, passed earlier this month, protects neighborhoods and green space, and directs growth to nodes and corridors. Lavrin says she’s equally appreciative of her work on the City’s Tree Protection Ordinance and neighborhood small area plans.

“I am proud of the relationships I have built during my five years in Greenville. I have invested as much time as I can in neighborhoods, meeting residents and listening to the desires of the community. I’ve also been fortunate to build a world-class Planning and Development Department with planners who want Greenville to grow in a balanced, responsible way,” Lavrin said in the release.

Lavrin inherits several large projects including the redevelopment of the current City Hall at 206 S. Main St., the implementation of the new zoning code, construction of a new police headquarters, fire administration and Municipal Court on Halton Road and capital improvement projects to promote road and bridge safety, the release stated.

“We will continue to be bold,” she said. “Even though Greenville is small, we think big.”