May 1^st marked the first day on the job for Randy Keaton. Keaton assumed the duties of the HRPDC’s Deputy Executive Director following the January retirement of 40 year HRPDC veteran, John Carlock. Mr. Keaton is starting his second career as a municipal servant, this time in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Keaton began his career 30 years ago as the Register of Deeds in Camden County, North Carolina. From that position, he became Perquimans County’s first County Manager and moved to Pasquotank County in that same capacity. For Pasquotank County, he was responsible for the day to day operation of the County including budget development and implementation, as well as administrative support to the Board of Commissioners. He was responsible for implementing the Board's policies. 

According an editorial in The Daily Advance, he shepherded several multi-million dollar County projects including the construction of a new Pasquotank County High School, a reverse-osmosis water treatment plant, and several new county services buildings. He was also recognized by the northeastern North Carolina community as a strong supporter of education, in particular the county’s public schools and the College of Albemarle.

When the hiring of Keaton was announced, HRPDC Executive Director Dwight Farmer told The Virginian-Pilot, “Running a county for that many years gives him a huge breadth and depth. He's going to give us a dimension we never had before.”

Mr. Keaton will provide his experience and guidance to an agency which provides the region’s jurisdictions with expertise in such areas as economic analysis, planning, water resources, emergency management and housing.

Welcome aboard Mr. Keaton!