After overseeing 11 years of explosive growth, city manager Richard Ferry has decided to take his talents to the private sector.
Ferry’s last day is Sept.30, and then he will head to the planning environs of Fayetteville-based Scarborough and Rolader Development.
Ferry said he’s been approached before, but this was an opportunity that he mulled over for a while.
“There are just some opportunities that you can’t pass up,” he said.
During his tenure, Ferry has worked under three mayors and has fond memories of them all.
“Bob Hannah was one of the best businessmen I’ve ever seen, even though I worked with him for just seven months. Robert Belisle was pragmatic and a big intellectual thinker and (current mayor) Larry Owens has a heart of gold and only wants what is good for the city.
Ferry started his position just as the city was finishing its sewer project and on the cusp of one of the biggest growth spurts in the area. Under his watch, downtown was transformed and became a center of activity for the area.
The city is currently in the middle of another growth spurt, but Ferry believes the city is positioned correctly and will continue to succeed.
“Working with the city has been great and I wish nothing but the best for its future,” he said.
