NEW DIRECTOR—Former West Jefferson Town Manager Ken McFadyen took over as executive director of New River Community Partners on Sept. 18.

McFadyen officially starts work here

Ken McFadyen officially began his job as executive director of New River Community Partners on Sept. 18. He replaces Patrick Woodie who resigned from the position he had held since 1999 to accept a job as vice president of business and natural resource development for the North Carolina Rural Center in Raleigh.

McFadyen grew up in Florida, where his parents settled and trained thoroughbred horses. Upon high school graduation, he attended Appalachian State University in Boone. He received a bachelors in history and pre-law from ASU, as well as a masters in public administration with a concentration in town, city and county management. McFadyen has now resided in mountain communities full- time for the last 15 years.

Upon receiving his master's degree in 1999, McFadyen accepted a position with McDowell County, where he worked as an assistant to the county manager performing a variety of economic development and county management duties until 2002. In December 2002, McFadyen accepted a job as the town manager in West Jefferson. During his time at West Jefferson, among other duties, McFadyen worked on the recruitment of Smiths Aerospace to the community. The European-based aerospace equipment company brought more than 300 jobs to Ashe County. During his tenure, a playground was replaced with a handicapped accessible and safety-rated playground and a variety of other projects.

McFadyen stated the opportunity to work in the nonprofit sector of public service intrigued him.

"I've worked for county government, I've worked for municipal government and now the third component is the nonprofit area providing community development services," McFadyen said. "To work on economic development projects solely and not so much in the day-to- day administration is really what had intrigued me, (As did) the New River Community Partners (and) the opportunity to work in three states, 21 counties within the New River Basin and to work on such things as historical and cultural development, tourism, (and) natural resources. Those sorts of things I get a charge out of personally. It all just came together."

The New Job

"The opportunity here working with New River Community Partners and Blue Ridge Development Center, really, it was a perfect fit from the word go," McFadyen said. He noted although he, like others in the community, are sad to see his predecessor, Patrick Woodie, leave for Raleigh, he is confident Woodie will be "a great asset to the community in Raleigh."

McFadyen said one facet that intrigues him about his position is learning about technology.

"Anyone who is aware of how the world operates these days understands that technology is key," he said. "I'm looking forward to getting into that and working in technology more than I ever have before.

Get the rest of this article in this week's issue of the Alleghany News! Back