HERTFORD – She’s back!

After a four-year hiatus in Ohio, Cathy Davison has returned to northeastern North Carolina, accepting the position of Executive Director of the Albemarle Commission.

Prior to moving to Ohio, Davison served as Town Administrator for Murfreesboro from Aug. 1, 2007 until Feb. 26, 2010. She left Murfreesboro to serve as City Manager in Steubenville, Ohio. She remained City Manager there for a little over three and one-half years before taking on the positions of Finance Director for a non-profit social services agency, as well as being an adjunct member of the business and management faculty for Eastern Gateway Community College at the Steubenville and Youngstown, Ohio campuses.

Davison, a Michigan native, said she enjoyed her time up north, but was happy to return to North Carolina.

“I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to get back here,” Davison said. “It is a great honor to be named to this position with the Albemarle Commission and I look forward to serving the counties and municipalities in northeast North Carolina as we move forward economic development and workforce development, senior nutrition and aging services, as well as transportation and planning programs.”

Davison began her new duties last month, based in the Commission’s office in the Town of Hertford (Perquimans County). She was on the job for just a few weeks when the Commission, through the Northeast Workforce Development Board (NWDB), adopted a new Youth Program Incentive Policy.

She said the new policy allows NWDB Youth Program participants to be recognized and rewarded for their successes and achievements while participating in the federally funded Workforce Investment Act (WIA) related activities.

Participants will be recognized by the NWDB when they attain their high school diploma or GED certificate, reaching set reading and math goals, as well as receiving a career readiness certification. Importantly, participants have the opportunity to be involved in programs offering human resource development and soft and work readiness skills. For those participants that want to succeed, they will be thoroughly recognized and rewarded for their efforts.

Initially organized in 1969 under the direction of the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the Albemarle Commission is sanctioned as the lead regional organization for Region R by the federal government. It provides direct services and assistance in planning, program development and management, public-private partnerships and leadership in the counties of Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington, as well as numerous municipalities, to include Columbia, Creswell, Duck, Edenton, Elizabeth City, Gatesville, Hertford, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Manteo, Nags Head, Plymouth, Roper, Southern Shores, and Winfall.

Davison received her degree in political science and legal studies from Anderson University in Indiana, and owns two Masters degrees – Organizational Leadership focused on public relations and marketing from the University of Denver, and Public Administration and Government Finance and Budgeting from Norwich University.

Prior to coming to Murfreesboro, Davison was the small business development manager for Franklin Southampton (VA) Economic Development, Inc.