City Manager
Keith Rogers Jr.
City Manager
252-972-1325
Frederick E. Turnage
Municipal Building
331 S. Franklin St.
Rocky Mount, NC
Keith Rogers Jr.
Rogers began work as Rocky Mount’s city manager in March 2023.
Rogers comes to Rocky Mount from Dumfries, Virginia, where he served as town manager since 2019. Rogers previously worked for the city of Richmond, Virginia, where he held various executive roles.
Rogers has a Master’s degree in public administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association and a past adjunct professor in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at VCU.
The City Manager’s Office
The city manager is the chief executive officer for the city of Rocky Mount. Operating under the council-manager form of government, the city manager provides oversight for all departments, ensures that departments carry out the city’s mission, vision and values, and has the responsibility of carrying out policy decisions enforced by the mayor and members of the city council.
The city manager is assisted by two assistant city managers. Their responsibilities include overseeing the city’s various departments and ensuring that the department’s projects and daily activities coincide with the city’s organizational goals of excellent public service, excellent customer service and innovation. Each assistant city manager provides direction to their assigned areas.
Elton Daniels
Assistant City Manager
252-972-1325
Frederick E. Turnage
Municipal Building
331 S. Franklin St.
Rocky Mount, NC
Elton Daniels
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- Parks & Recreation
- Development Services
- Public Works
- Rocky Mount Event Center
- Water Resources
- Fire
Nyki Hill
252-972-1325
Frederick E. Turnage
Municipal Building
331 S. Franklin St.
Rocky Mount, NC
Nyki Hill
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- Development services
- Community development
- Energy resources
- Technology services
- Business and collection services
The Assistant to the City Manager provides additional administrative and operational oversight and support to key functions and projects. Their specific responsibilities include the following:
Kenneth Hunter
Assistant to the City Manager for Budget Evaluation and Development
252-972-1325
Frederick E. Turnage
Municipal Building
331 S. Franklin St.
Rocky Mount, NC
Kenneth Hunter
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- Advise and support financial management
- Annual fiscal plan (budget)
- Five-year capital improvement program (CIP)
- Oversee intergovernmental relations with state and Federal delegations and agencies
- Manage special projects
Kellianne Williams
Assistant to the City Manager for Strategic Initiatives
252-972-1325
Frederick E. Turnage
Municipal Building
331 S. Franklin St.
Rocky Mount, NC
Kellianne Williams assists with large strategic development projects and community initiatives primarily in the areas of economic development, community development and downtown development.
Cekeithia (Kia) Blakney
Executive Assistant to the City Manager
252-972-1327
Frederick E. Turnage
Municipal Building
331 S. Franklin St.
Rocky Mount, NC
Cekeithia Blakney brings over 23 years of invaluable experience to the City of Rocky Mount. Throughout her career with the city, Cekeithia has consistently demonstrated her exceptional professionalism, extensive knowledge of city operations, and unwavering dedication to providing outstanding customer service.
As the Executive Assistant to the City Manager, Cekeithia plays a vital role in ensuring smooth and efficient office operations. Her responsibilities encompass a wide range of tasks, including supervising the administrative assistant, managing the city manager’s calendar and travel arrangements, organizing reports and documents, and collecting items for city council agendas for scheduled meetings and work sessions. With her meticulous attention to detail and exceptional organizational skills, Cekeithia consistently exceeds expectations in all her endeavors.
Charise Bullock
Administrative Assistant
252-972-1325
Frederick E. Turnage
Municipal Building
331 S. Franklin St.
Rocky Mount, NC
Charise Bullock is a dedicated professional providing essential support to the Office of the City Manager. With her exceptional skills, she ensures the smooth operation of daily activities by providing front-end and back-end assistance to Assistant City Managers and the Executive Assistant to the City Manager.
Charise’s responsibilities include managing calendars, coordinating logistics, handling confidential information with utmost discretion, arranging travel schedules, and maintaining a high level of organization. She also excels in preparing reports, maintaining tracking systems, and collaborating harmoniously with other administrative staff.
Charise is always ready to extend her support to other executives when needed. Her commitment and efficiency contribute significantly to the efficient functioning of the office.
Offices that report directly to City Manager
Budget
Evaluation
& Development
Keyana Walston
Budget Manager
252.972.1287
Frederick E. Turnage
331 South Franklin St
PO Box 1180
Rocky Mount, NC
Grant Roberson
Communications Manager
252-972-1333
Frederick E. Turnage
Municipal Building
331 S. Franklin St.
Rocky Mount, NC
Downtown
Development
Tanika Bryant
Internal
Audit
Abdul Baloch
Chief Internal Auditor
P: 252-972-1334
F: 252-972-1662
Frederick E. Turnage
Municipal Building
331 S. Franklin St.
Rocky Mount, NC
City Recognized by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Rocky Mount, N.C. — Rocky Mount is one of 10 winners of the 2020-2021 RWJF Culture of Health Prize awarded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Prize honors and elevates communities for working at the forefront of advancing health, opportunity, and equity.
Rocky Mount is being nationally recognized for pursuing innovative ideas and bringing partners together to rally around a shared vision of health. Rocky Mount’s award-winning efforts include, addressing generations of disinvestment through an array of community wealth building approaches, changing the longstanding power dynamics that impede progress, and partnering to create a vibrant downtown corridor with a renewed sense of possibilities for area residents.
“Winning the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize is not only a humbling honor, but also a symbol of reassurance that our community is on the right path to making the city of Rocky Mount a place of health, opportunity and equity,” City Manager Rochelle Small-Toney said. “We are thankful for our community partners who work tirelessly to make the city of Rocky Mount an exciting place to work, play and live.”
Rocky Mount will receive a $25,000 prize, join a network of Prize-winning communities, and have its inspiring accomplishments shared throughout the nation. The other nine winning communities are: Addison, Ill.; Alamosa County, Colo.; Chickaloon Native Village; Drew, Miss.; Howard County, Md.; National City, Calif.; Palm Beach County, Fla.; Thunder Valley Community— Oglala Lakota Nation (Oceti Sakowin Territory), and Worcester, Mass. Rocky Mount now joins Buncombe County and Durham County as the third North Carolina community to win the distinguished Prize.
To become an RWJF Culture of Health Prize winner, Rocky Mount had to demonstrate how it excelled in the following six criteria:
- Defining health in the broadest possible terms.
- Committing to sustainable systems changes and policy-oriented long-term solutions.
- Creating conditions that give everyone a fair and just opportunity to reach their best
possible health. - Maximizing the collective power of leaders, partners, and community members.
- Securing and making the most of available resources.
- Measuring and sharing progress and results.
“Our community recognizes that we have accomplished so much through dedication and commitment,” Rocky Mount Mayor Pro Tem Richard Joyner said. “My expectation is that the Culture of Health Prize will be something that inspires our citizens and partners to continue working on improving our community block by block and citizen by citizen.” The Foundation will honor this year’s winners, November 9-10, during a virtual RWJF Culture of Health Prize Celebration and Learning Event. During the event, representatives from the Prize communities will talk through the different ways they are leveraging their strengths and bringing partners together to expand opportunity. The 10 new winners will also connect with their 44 fellow Prize Alumni communities.
City Manager’s Award Program
The City of Rocky Mount considers its employees to be one of its most valuable assets. The City Manager’s Awards Program is a recognition program that acknowledges employees who go above and beyond the job description requirements and excels at exemplifying the City’s core values: Customer-Centered Service, Professionalism, Respect, Teamwork & Leadership, and Supportive Work Environment.
How do I Nominate an Employee?
The City of Rocky Mount considers its employees to be one of its most valuable assets. The City Manager’s Awards Program is a recognition program that acknowledges employees who go above and beyond the job description requirements and excels at exemplifying the City’s core values: Customer-Centered Service, Professionalism, Respect, Teamwork & Leadership, and Supportive Work Environment.
Be sure to read the Eligibility and Nomination requirements, then complete the online form at the bottom of the page.
Be sure to read the Eligibility and Nomination requirements, then Download the form and email to communications@rockymountnc.gov
Eligibility
All employees beyond the probationary period are eligible for the award. Nominations must be made for accomplishments that occurred within one year prior to the deadline of the current nomination period.
Nominations
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- Nominations for the award can come from any employee or citizen (an employee cannot nominate himself/herself).
- Nominators must provide detailed, accurate and specific information on what makes their nominee outstanding. Nominators must also explain how the nominee executes the City’s core values.
- The City Manager may also choose to add employees into consideration for the award, however the nomination form does not need to be completed in this case.
- Nominations must be submitted on the nomination form which is available on the City of Rocky Mount’s website, in the Communications, Marketing and Public Relations Office and at drop boxes at various locations throughout City Facilities.
- Deadlines for submission of nominations are: March 31 for the April awards, June 30 for July awards, September 30 for October awards, and November 30 for December awards. Award presentations will be made during the April, July, October, and December Award Luncheon.
Selection Process
Nominations must be received within the specified deadlines in order to be considered. Completed forms may be reviewed by the City Manager, Assistant City Managers and Department Heads. The nominator may be contacted by the City Manager for clarifications or if there is missing information on the nomination form. The City Manager may also choose not to give any awards in a given year. The City Manager will make the final selection of award winners.
Awards
Award recipients will be presented with a custom designed trophy, a certificate and a letter of commendation signed by the City Manager during the quarterly Award Luncheons and recognized at the Annual Employee Luncheon.