Athens-Clarke County Unified Government Manager Alan Reddish has announced his retirement from the position of Manager as of February 6, 2016.

Reddish was appointed to the position in 2001 by the Mayor and Commission as the third Manager of the Unified Government. The longest serving Manager of the Unified Government, he was most recently re-appointed by a unanimous vote for a two-year term in May.

"This is a decision that I have made of my own accord," says Reddish. "I believe retirement should be carefully planned in the same way a career should be planned."

After he retires, Reddish plans to pursue part-time opportunities for an "encore career," spend more time with his family - particularly his grandchildren - while exploring community educational opportunities, traveling, furthering his skills in hobbies such as woodworking, and continuing to serve the community through volunteer efforts.

"The Unified Government is a unique place to serve," he says. "I have had many experiences in my professional career here that have allowed me to grow in ways I could not have imagined. It truly has been a rewarding and challenging professional journey that most managers could only hope to experience."

Reddish is confident that the Unified Government will continue to place a high value on providing exceptional service to its citizens and the community well beyond his tenure as Manager.

"The professional staff we have assembled consistently delivers high quality service that exceeds the norm in most communities," he notes. "They are the primary reason for any successes I may have had as Manager of this government. I will truly miss the daily interaction with these professionals who are not only committed to the citizens they serve, but also dedicated to maintaining a strong, supportive working team that values the skills each one brings to the group."

Prior to his appointment with Athens-Clarke County, Reddish served for three years as the Associate Director of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia. With more than 35 years of local government management experience, he also managed two other Georgia county governments, Wayne County and Dougherty County, between 1977 and 1998.

Mayor Nancy Denson will announce an acting Manager prior to Reddish's retirement and the timeline and process for hiring a new Manager at a future date to be determined.