Q+A with new Forsyth County Manager Shontell Robinson

Shontell Robinson assumed her new role as Forsyth County manager July 1. City Editor Cambridge spoke to Robinson about her leadership style, priorities, and her passion for serving residents. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

You are the first new county manager in 17 years, but have been with Forsyth County government for a decade. How has the transition been and how are you settling in?

So far, so good. Everyone’s been super supportive. I have an amazing team, which makes things so much easier. The previous county manager left things in great shape, too, so it’s not like I’m coming in trying to make any massive changes.

Give us a little bit of a refresher of your main duties and responsibilities as county manager.

I serve as the chief executive of the organization. I report directly to our county commissioners.

Essentially, I’m responsible for managing the day-to-day responsibilities of county government. I oversee a $583 million budget. We have 25+ departments — about 2,500 employees that provide services to our residents, such as law enforcement, emergency services, libraries, parks, social services, public health, behavioral health services [and more] — so I’m responsible for overseeing that operation.

During your time as assistant county manager, then deputy county manager, you served as the director of Forsyth County’s Health and Human Services during the pandemic. Did you learn any lessons during that experience that will impact your leadership in the future?

[It] definitely strengthened my crisis management experience skill set. For me, the best thing I could do — and it’s really been my leadership skills anyways — is I never asked people to do anything I wouldn’t do. I was a traffic controller. I was wiping chairs. I was on the corner holding up “free COVID vaccine” signs. I’m like, whatever I can do, if they’re going to be there, I’m going to be there next to them, as well.

That was, I would say, probably the most challenging time as a leader, just because it was something completely, completely different. But I also thrive in chaos. I’m one that I will make a decision. It may not be the right decision. It’s going to be based on the facts that I have at the time. And then, if it doesn’t work, then we’ll make another decision. So, I would say that definitely has strengthened me as a leader.

Photo by Forsyth County North Carolina Government via Facebook

Your listening sessions with citizens are underway. What do you hope to gain from these meetings?

As I embark on this journey — even though I’ve been here for 10 years — it’s still different when you are the chief executive. I want to make sure that whatever decisions that we’re making or however we’re prioritizing things within our operations, that we’re listening to the community first and foremost. I really just want to get feedback .

What are your top priorities for the remainder of 2024? Anything big you want to accomplish or projects you’re looking toward?

We have a lot of capital projects currently in the works. We have a facility-based crisis center that’s being constructed — that’s for individuals with mental health substance use issues. We have a lot of work going on on our Highland Avenue campus [and] our primary care clinic.

We have Belews Lake Park that’s finishing up and an agricultural park in Tobaccoville. A lot of those are funded with American Rescue Plan Act dollars, so we’re on some really strict time frames.

Beyond that, we have a lot of statutory obligations that we are required to do. So we want to make sure that we’re meeting those. Then again, for me it really is going out, listening to the community before we really embark on any other big initiatives. I’m also doing the same for our employees [by hosting] listening sessions.

You are the first woman and African American to serve as manager for Forsyth County government. What do those distinctions mean to you?

I certainly don’t think our commissioners hired me because I’m a Black woman, it just so happens that I’m a Black woman. I’ve really worked hard.

I also was the first Black human resources director. I think in this day and age, it’s kind of interesting to think about. Like, I know a whole lot of first Black or first female, which at some point you hope that that’s not a thing. That you want people to just see you for who you are and your experience and all of that.

But I also recognize that that is something that is kind of monumental right here, locally, especially for our community. It shows progress for women and for people of color. And then, certainly, even for my children to see that this is something that can happen for them, as well — or for anyone — with just hard work and perseverance.

What are you most looking forward to in your new role?

I love county government. I very much like mission-based type work. To be able to serve a community where you live, work and play — there’s nothing like it.

When you have employees that really are out there in the trenches, serving residents, saving lives — literally — I think for me, it just keeps you grounded in the why behind what we do each and every day. I’m really passionate about serving our community and improving the lives of our residents.

Photo by Forsyth County North Carolina Government via Facebook

What do you want Forsyth County citizens to know about you — personally or professionally?

I want people to know I’m very approachable, accessible — I will absolutely listen. I take my job very seriously. I want them to know that, for me, it’s important for county government to go beyond the walls of our building to serve our residents.

Personally, I was born and raised in Louisiana. I’m the wife of a retired US Marine who served 20 years [and] have three kids. Outside of just work, I’m just a regular mom and wife, and just really committed to the work that we are doing here each and every day.