Town of Grottoes, Virginia

                                                                                                         Press Release

                                                                                                          April 19, 2021

The Mayor and Town Council of Grottoes are pleased to announce the appointment of Stefanie D. McAlister as Town Manager.  Ms. McAlister will assume the position on May 10, 2021.  During a special meeting on Monday, April 19th, the Town Council unanimously appointed Ms. McAlister and approved the employment agreement.  

Mayor Jo Plaster said, “We are delighted to welcome Ms. McAlister to the Grottoes community.  We look forward to her leadership and to working with her to develop and implement of the Council’s vision for the Town.  The Town is fortunate to have Ms. McAlister join the Town, as she has experienced success at both at the state and local government level. During the interview process, we were impressed with her ability to relate to Council and with Town employees.  Her experience and knowledge of the local area, both as a native of the area and from her time at Rockingham County, makes her an excellent fit for our community."

The Town conducted a national search for the new Town Manager, assisted by The Berkley Group, of Bridgewater, Virginia.  The Berkley Group received 32applications and interviewed nine candidates. It then assisted the Council in selecting five finalists for interviews with the Mayor and Town Council.

Ms. McAlister is a native of Augusta County and currently resides in Richmond, Virginia.  She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from James Madison University, and has several professional affiliations, including the National Association of State 911 Administrators and the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association.  She most recently served in the Virginia Department of Emergency Management as Operations Manager of the 911 & Geospatial Services Bureau and Director of its Regional Outreach Division from 2018 to present; as Regional Coordinator with the Virginia Information Technologies Agency from 2009 to 2018; and as Geographic Information System Coordinator and Planner for Rockingham County from1995-2009.  

Ms. McAlister shared these thoughts about her appointment, “The opportunity to be Grottoes Town Manager is truly exciting.  I appreciate the confidence that Council has shown in me, and I look forward to meeting and working with the employees and serving the residents of Grottoes.  I am so pleased to be coming back to the area that I love.”

Ms. McAlister replaces Joseph S. Paxton, Executive Manager of the Berkley Group and retired Rockingham County Administrator, who has served as Interim Town Manager on apart-time basis since November 30, 2020. The employment contract for Ms. McAlister provides for an annual salary of $95,000 and standard Town employment benefits.