Haney, Price promoted to deputy county managers

Published 12:06 am Thursday, June 20, 2024

WINSTON-SALEM — Forsyth County government has announced that current department heads Denise Price and Kyle Haney will be the next deputy county managers.

Deputy county managers assist the county manager with all aspects of county administration, including managing the annual operating budget of $580 million, providing direct supervision to department directors and oversight of county departments. Price will begin her new position on July 1, while Haney will start his on Aug. 1.

Shontell Robinson, who will become the county manager on July 1, announced the promotions for Price and Haney, who emerged as the best candidates after a nationwide search.

“Kyle and Denise rose to the top during the recruitment and selection process,” Robinson said. “Their experience, institutional knowledge and passion for serving others is exceptional, and I’m excited to work alongside them in their new role.”

Price currently serves as the Behavioral Health Services director, a position she’s held for the last two years. Prior to holding this position, she served as an assistant public health director for five years. She has also worked in numerous leadership positions at the Guilford Center, CenterPoint and Cardinal Innovations. She has a bachelor’s in psychology from Greensboro College, and a master of business administration and master of healthcare administration from Pfeiffer University.

Along with supervising numerous departments as deputy county manager, Price will also serve the statutory designation of Forsyth County Health and Human Services director, who oversees the departments of Public Health, Behavioral Health Services, Social Services and Bridges to Family Justice Center.

“I am honored and deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve in the role of deputy county manager/health and Human Services director, and I look forward to working in an expanded scope to advance the mission, vision, and values of Forsyth County,” Price said. “I have met and worked with so many wonderful people during my tenure with the county and I am delighted to continue our efforts to achieve excellence.”

Haney currently serves as the community and economic development director, a position he’s held for the last three years. He started in the county’s Budget and Management Office, where he worked for three years, and he transitioned to the Community and Economic Development Department in 2016, where he initially served as economic development program administrator. He has a bachelor’s degree in history and international studies from Wake Forest University and a master’s degree of public administration from UNC-Chapel Hill.

“It has been an honor to work alongside such amazing, hardworking, and passionate public servants at Forsyth County over the past 11 years and I am grateful for this opportunity to continue to serve the county in the manager’s office,” Haney said. “I am following in the footsteps of incredible leaders and mentors in Deputy County Manager Damon Sanders-Pratt, County Manager Dudley Watts and incoming County Manager Shontell Robinson and am dedicated to continuing to support the Board of Commissioners and staff in making Forsyth County a great place to live, learn, work and play.”