Asheville names new Human Resources director

ASHEVILLE - The city has announced a new Human Resources director. It executed a $33,200 contract with recruitment firm Raftelis for the search, which posted the position in May.

Emily Provance will begin Sept. 16, the city said in a Aug. 21 news release. Prior to Asheville, Provance served as Human Resources Director at Malone University, a Christian liberal arts university in Canton, Ohio.

Former Asheville HR director Shannon Barrett, who held the position for three years, according to her LinkedIn profile, left in March. City Manager Debra Campbell appointed Cheryl Brown as interim director. She began on March 11.

Brown came from a long career with the city of Charlotte, where she retired in 2017 as director of HR.

As Human Resource director, Provance will oversee all HR functions, including talent acquisition, employee relations, employee development, compensation and benefits.

“On behalf of the city, I am thrilled to welcome our new HR Director, Emily Provance” City Manager Debra Campbell said in the release. "I look forward to her leadership and the fresh perspectives she will bring to our organization and the broader community.”

Provance holds a master’s degree in public administration from University of Akron and a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-CP) certification, the release said. Prior to Malone, she worked for nearly 10 years with Stark County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery, also in Canton. For three and a half of those years, she was director of HR.

"Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a commitment to fostering inclusive work environments and developing strategies that align HR practices with the overall goals of the organization," the release said.

According to the job posting by Raftelis, the salary ranges from $140,000 to $170,386, depending on qualifications. The Citizen Times requested Provance's annual salary amount.

A statement from the City Manager's Office Aug. 15 said that it is "typical for local governments to work with recruiting firms, especially for executive level positions."

“I am honored to join the City of Asheville as the Director of Human Resources,” Provance said in the release. “I am eager to contribute my skills to further the City’s commitment to innovation, diversity, sustainability, and engagement and look forward to working with a team dedicated to serving a vibrant community.”

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Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on X, formerly Twitter, at @slhonosky. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times .

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville names new Human Resources director