Assistant City Manager of Hickory identified as top finalist for the role of City Manager of Bozeman, Montana

HICKORY, NC (October 3, 2017)…The Bozeman City Commission announced Monday night that Andrea Surratt has been chosen as the finalist for the Bozeman, Montana City Manager position and that she will enter into negotiations with the Interim City Manager regarding the contract. 

“Based upon the conversations I have had with the hiring consultant in the last 12 hours, I fully expect for this to be final in the coming days, and I felt it was important for City Manager Wood to have as much notice as possible,” Surratt said. Surratt has served as Hickory’s Assistant City Manager since November 2007, working closely with the City Manager and City Council to craft a vision and plan for a strong and prosperous city. 

Surratt managed all City operations while serving as Interim City Manager from June 2016 to April 2017. Throughout her ten years with Hickory, she managed 268 of the 643 full-time employees and their portion of an annual budget of over $100 million. Additionally, Surratt assisted with the Operation No Vacancy: Vacant Building Reuse and Demolition Program, initiated FBO services for private air craft at the Hickory Regional Airport, helped streamline the permitting process, provided staff leadership for the Inspiring Spaces Plan and the $40 million bond program, worked closely with the Hickory Downtown Development Association, and was instrumental in the Hickory. Life. Well Crafted branding initiative. Most recently, Surratt has been focused upon the work of the Business Development Committee, to champion the economic development-oriented city department reorganization to the newly formed Office of Business Development and Planning.

“This is an excellent and well-deserved opportunity for Andrea,” noted City Manager Warren Wood. “She is skilled and proficient in city management.  Her talents will certainly be missed here in Hickory and I wish her all the best in her future endeavors. We will work diligently to continue Andrea’s efforts in city development and growth and see the bond projects, of which she has been such an integral part, through to completion.”  

Surratt has balanced her role as Assistant City Manager, while also engaging in the community by serving as a United Arts Council Board Member, a Member of the Hickory Rotary Club, and as a Corporate Board member for the YMCA of Catawba Valley.  Surratt is presently serving on the NC City County Management Association Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

“It has been a privilege to serve the citizens of Hickory for the past ten years, as well as work with two talented City Managers, a dedicated City Council and all of our outstanding City coworkers,” said Surratt. “I leave the City knowing that its future is filled with opportunity that will only enhance what I have known Hickory to be—a special, uniquely beautiful community with tremendous civic pride.”

Prior to becoming the Hickory Assistant City Manager, Andrea worked in Moore County, and the towns of Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington in both planning and management roles.

Surratt is a native of Wingate, NC and a graduate of Guilford College in Greensboro, NC with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1989 and a Masters of City and Regional Planning from Clemson University in 1991. She and her husband Robert Menard have two college-age children.