Former Asheville Civic Center manager lands Vt. job

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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David Pisha ran the Asheville Civic Center for about 10 years. Looks like he’s moving north. Here’s the story from the Rutland Herald:

CHESTER — After a six-month search, the Select Board has chosen a new town manager.

On Wednesday morning, Select Board Chairman Richard G. Jewett announced the board had appointed David Pisha of Asheville, N.C.

Jewett shared some of Pisha’s credentials — a graduate of the University of North Carolina with an MBA in finance and director of the Asheville Civic Center for 10 years.

“He has been involved in local government/public assemblies for over 25 years,” Jewett read from a prepared statement. “He is familiar in working with city councils, commissions, administrative personnel, chambers of commerce, the media and general public.”

According to Jewett, as director of the Asheville Civic Center, Pisha supervised 11 full-time and about 200 part-time employees. He oversaw an annual budget of $1.8 million and reduced the civic center’s deficit from $900,000 to $250,000, Jewett said.

According to the Asheville city Web site, Pisha resigned as director of the civic center in July 2007. Pisha’s phone number is not listed and he could not be reached for comment.

Pisha’s salary will be $55,000 a year — higher than outgoing town manager Susan Spaulding’s salary of $50,200 — and he is expected to start work Aug. 15.

The board had been engaged in a search with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns since January to replace Spaulding, who left in May after 14 years of service.