After an exhaustive search, Bill Prokop, the interim City Manager has been named to the permanent position following a vote by the City Council last week.

[caption id="attachment_22470" align="alignright" width="150"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/COMMUNITY-Bill-Prokop-blue-shirt-cropped.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-22470" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/COMMUNITY-Bill-Prokop-blue-shirt-cropped-150x150.jpg" alt="Bill Prokop" width="150" height="150" /></a> Bill Prokop[/caption]

“Bill has a unique ability to communicate with the public and with City Council, and he has a clear desire to share information and to involve people in our work at City Hall,” Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling said.

“His background as a successful businessman, plus his public sector experience, makes him invaluable and the ideal person to move us ahead,” Keyserling said. Prokop had served as interim City Manager since January when former city manager Scott Dadson left. Prokop came to City Hall as Director of Human Resources in early 2014.

“I am humbled and very happy to accept these new challenges as Beaufort City Manager,” Prokop said.

The City Manager leads the administration of the City of Beaufort and is responsible for all departments, including finance, planning, police and courts, fire, human resources and public works. The City’s 2015 fiscal year budget is approximately $16.8 million.

In addition to daily responsibilities, the City Manager will take the lead on the $30 million Boundary Street redevelopment project, building a new fire station on Ribaut Road, and finding ways to continue a high level of public services [we enjoy] in the face of budget challenges.  Prokop came to Beaufort from Keene, New Hampshire, where he worked as the Assistant City Manager and HR director from 2008-2014. From 2002-2008, he served as Town Administrator in Antrim, NH.

His private sector experience includes working as President of Graphic &amp; Office Products Inc. (Dahle USA) in Petersborough, NH, from 1984-2002; and various positions leading up to Vice President and General Manager at Berol Corporation (Eagle Pencil Company) from 1967-1984.

Prokop holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Bryant University and also studied labor relations at the University of Bridgeport and international finance at the London School of Business.