Shannon Lavrin named Greenville city manager, first woman named permanently to position

Former assistant city manager and planning director Shannon Lavrin will serve as Greenville's city manager following John McDonough's recent resignation.

Lavrin is the first woman to serve in the position permanently and the city's first urban planner to hold the role.

City Council swore in Lavrin to the position at their meeting Monday night before a crowd of her friends, family and city staffers, many of whom wore pink to celebrate her appointment.

"I started off as a planning assistant in Gallatin, Tennessee, and I've worked my way up throughout several organizations, and tonight I finally reached my dream of being a city manager at the age of 48 after starting at the age of 24," Lavrin said. "I hope it serves to all of our staff that with the right encouragement, with the right leadership, and with hard work, that everyone has an opportunity to succeed within an organization, specifically within city government and more specifically within the city of Greenville."

“We are proud to have a seamless transition in the city manager position,” Mayor Knox White said in a press 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 John McDonough's sudden resignation June 7. McDonough is leaving to join Centennial American Properties, a Greenville-based development group who has partnered with the city on multiple development projects.

In Greenville's model of government, the city manager serves as the city's CEO and is responsible for carrying out City Council’s objectives, city policies and negotiations. The last woman to hold the position was Nancy Whitworth, who served as Greenville’s interim city manager, deputy city manager and economic and community development director for about 40 years before retiring in 2020.

City Council chose not to conduct a formal search and instead appoint Lavrin based on her "experience, character and strong reputation in the community," according to a press release from the city of Greenville.

"I'm so excited for the city, but I'm even more excited for the state, for the community, and so excited for the employees of this city," said councilmember Russell Stall. "I can't wait to see what's going to happen. I can't wait to see what Greenville's going to be."

"I commend you on earning this position," councilmember Dorothy Dowe told Lavrin Monday. "You stand on the shoulders of many who are here in full support of you. We couldn't be more thankful for your service thus far, and we're all so excited to see what you do in this role in the future."

What to know about Shannon Lavrin

Lavrin was hired in January 2018 as a development planner, then promoted to assistant planning and development manager and most recently assistant city manager. Originally from Asheville, she previously served as assistant to the city manager in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Lavrin said her biggest accomplishment in Greenville was her relationships she has cultivated with the Greenville community.

"I believe in this city, I love this city, I love the fact that we are a true city in all the things that come with that," she said. "So I'm very honored to serve this community, and I thank the community."

One of Lavrin's major projects was the GVL2040 Comprehensive Plan, a document that informed the city’s zoning code rewrite, or set of development laws. Lavrin said she’s equally appreciative of her work on the city’s tree protection ordinance and neighborhood small area plans.

In her new role, Lavrin inherits several large projects, including the redevelopment of the current City Hall; implementing the new zoning code; construction of a new police headquarters, fire administration and Municipal Court on Halton Road; and capital improvement projects focused on road and bridge safety.

Macon Atkinson is the city watchdog reporter for The Greenville News. She's powered by long runs and strong coffee. Follow her on Twitter @maconatkinson. 

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville SC gets first female city manager in Shannon Lavrin