Politics

Brantley honored as top assistant manager

Amy Brantley was named assistant manager of the year by the N.C. City and County Management Association

By Lightning Reports, Published: February 20, 2019

Amy Brantley, assistant county manager for Henderson County, has been honored as assistant county manager of the year in North Carolina. The N.C. City and County Management Association presented the award to Brantley during its annual convention on Feb. 7 in Winston-Salem.

A graduate of Illinois State University with a masters degree in public administration from Western Carolina University, Brantley worked her way up from her first job as deputy clerk to the board, a post that Commissioner Grady Hawkins gave her 19 years ago. She was a budget analyst when County Manager Steve Wyatt promoted her to assistant manager five years ago.

The award was "a recognition from her peers based on many applications," Wyatt said. "I can certainly say it's well deserved. She has been a great person to work beside, to work with ... We're very fortunate to have her."

Hawkins also praised Brantley.

"Every day you're doing something keeping the county running and we're very fortunate to have you," he said.

Known for her ability to instantly find and report to the penny the most arcane budget facts, Brantley has been a loyal second-in-command under Wyatt, taking on special projects, mastering the financial side of things and occasionally enduring her boss's cracks about her budget skills.

Brantley told the board it was the people around her, from Wyatt to the elected commissioners and department heads, that account for her success.