Montgomery County Administrator Craig Meadows will be retiring on November 3, 2023. Craig was hired in the role of County Administrator in August of 2009. Pictured here are the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors members with Craig Meadows. 

"Craig is an absolute champion for Montgomery County," said Montgomery County Board of Supervisors Chair, Sherri Blevins. "His leadership has been and will continue to be valued by both the board and employees. Montgomery County has been extremely fortunate to have such an exemplary leader like Craig. We will all miss him greatly, but we wish him and his family all the very best in his retirement."

As Montgomery County Administrator for the past 14 years, Meadows has led Montgomery County through significant growth and even a few tragic events with grace and strength. He has facilitated over 20 new construction and renovation projects in our community to address education, public safety, recreation and key infrastructure needs. He also continues to focus on economic development and growing and expanding existing businesses in our community. 

"I was on the Board of Supervisors when Craig was hired as the Administrator," said Montgomery County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair, Mary Biggs. "As soon as we met Craig, we knew he was exactly what Montgomery County needed. He has always been accessible and approachable. He is a wonderful collaborator with local, regional and even national partners and colleagues. His service and leadership in outside organizations has brought both recognition of and increased knowledge to Montgomery County.” 

In addition to his leadership role as County Administrator, Craig has been involved in several regional organizations and initiatives over the years that have had a significant impact on our community. He helped establish and continues to support the New River Valley Emergency Communications Regional Authority with the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg, Montgomery County, and Virginia Tech. In addition, he organized an unprecedented regional forum in the summer of 2019 for government, university, and healthcare leaders to open a dialogue about how localities can be part of the planning and anticipated growth of Carilion Clinic and Virginia Tech. He also helped to facilitate a regional conversation surrounding a Regional Trail Initiative. All of these things have increased efficiency for each locality and greatly expanded and improved services to citizens throughout the region.

Currently, he serves in leadership roles on the New River Valley Emergency Communications Regional Authority; the New River Valley Regional Water Authority; the Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board; the Western Virginia Regional Jail Authority; the Economic Development Authority; Montgomery Regional Tourism Board; Public Service Authority; Greater Montgomery Liaison Group and County/School Liaison Group; and the Fire and Rescue Commission. 

Not only does he serve locally, he serves in leadership roles with state and national organizations to include the Virginia Association of Counties; the Virginia Local Government Management Association; and the International City/County Management Association. In addition, Craig had an active role on the New River Valley Regional Public Health Task Force since its inception in March of 2020. The New River Valley Public Health Task Force is a regional collaboration of community leaders to include public and private health officials, first responders, educational leaders, and local government representatives who have been working together to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I have enjoyed my time as County Administrator in Montgomery County. Our community really is a special place, with a rich history and a very exciting future. This is home for me and my wife, Rhonda. We will continue to be engaged in our community as we enjoy our retirement and our children and grandchildren," said Craig. 

Prior to joining Montgomery County, Craig served as the Interim Town Manager of Red Springs, N.C.  In addition, he served as City Manager of Monroe, N.C., from 2005-09. Prior to that, he served as City Manager of Bedford, Va., from 1998 to 2005. From 1993-98, Craig served as Assistant City Manager in Monroe, N.C., and prior to that he served as Director of Finance from 1991-93. From 1989-91, he served Assistant City Manager and Director of Finance and Administration in Mount Airy, N.C.

Meadows began his career in private industry in accounting for nearly six years after graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s in accounting from Gardner-Webb University, North Carolina. He is a certified public accountant and a graduate of the municipal administration program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Government. He also earned a graduate certificate in local government management from Virginia Tech in 2012, and he is also a 2015 graduate of the Senior Executive Institute at the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia. 
The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors will be discussing next steps for the County Administrator position.