This news item expired on Thursday, April 30, 2015 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
After 28 Years of Service, Fran Thigpen has retired as Director of Buncombe County Parks and Recreation. We wish her all the best!
We welcome Josh O'Conner as the new Recreation Manager for Buncombe County Recreation Services. Josh comes to the Recreation Department from Buncombe County Planning. We look forward to all the wonderful things Josh has to offer.
More about Josh (in his own words)...
I have lived in Asheville since I was three years old, so I’m not quite a native, but I’ve spent nearly my whole life here. I attended college at AB Tech majoring in Computer information Systems and went on to UNCA to major in Environmental Studies. I also hold a Masters degree in Geography from Appalachian State University and Masters of Project Management from Western Carolina University. I served as a combat engineer for the Army Reserves in Afghanistan prior to coming to work for Buncombe County and deployed as a construction equipment supervisor in Iraq from 2010 to 2011.
My work in the Planning Department has been focused on land use regulation and administering the County’s zoning ordinance. I also contributed to the creation of Buncombe County’s Sustainability Plan and Land Use Plan. More recently, I’ve been working on transportation issues with the County including working alongside the Recreation Services Department in order to look for sources of money which can be used to implement the County’s Greenway Master Plan.
Outside of work, I try to stay actively involved in my community. I live in the Oakley neighborhood of Asheville. I have a five year old daughter, Samara, and a four year old daughter, Eila. I tinker with the idea of having an urban farm with several bee hives, turkeys, quail, ducks, muscovy, and chickens. I live with my fiancé, Lexi and dog, Diamond along with rotating cast of foster puppies from Brother Wolf. Prior to coming on board with Buncombe County Recreation Services, I served on the City of Asheville’s Recreation Advisory Board and served as Vice Chair of the Asheville Parks and Greenways Foundation. I’m working on a Masters in Sustainable Food Systems during my spare time and I serve on the board of Oakley Farmers Market.
Josh
WELCOME JOSH!