“The UNC MPA program enabled me to transition from individual contributor roles to a succession of management and leadership positions. The support of faculty and colleagues gave me the confidence to move beyond my comfort zone and say ‘yes’ to challenges that I would have previously thought beyond my experience and capability.”
Mal Watlington ’69 worked in local government for six years before spending most of his career in the private sector. After attaining an MPA degree, he served as assistant county manager for Forsyth County then as assistant city manager and, later, as acting city manager for the City of Wilmington. Wilmington, a town emerging from a period of racial strife, served as a proving ground for innovations in citizen participation during the City and Community Development Block Grant budgeting processes.
Starting in 1978, Watlington began a transition to the private sector while directing management and executive programs at the University of Michigan’s Business School. Drawing on public sector experience in organization development, and private sector perspectives and contacts from the business school, he was selected to lead OD, strategic and succession planning in a global high technology firm. He later took on progressively responsible roles in executive development, OD and human capital management in global manufacturing companies, and finally transitioned to management consulting leadership in two Big-5 consulting firms.
In 2001, he formed City Square Consulting Inc., of which he is principal and president. The firm focuses on “helping clients make decisions that they will be proud of at critical junctures in the life of their organization.” Areas of specialty include human capital strategy, competitive intelligence, business and new venture strategy, sales and manufacturing process improvement, large group strategic change, organization development, career coaching and more.
Today, Mal serves on the UNC Board of Visitors, and the Advisory Board of Carolina Public Humanities. He is a US Rowing Judge-Referee and has served as Chief of the largest regatta in the United States.
Watlington earned a BS degree in industrial relations and a Master of Public Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill.
“It is important to get along with people, to show compassion to your fellow man and your colleagues, and to practice good manners.”
Charles W. Penny ’80 served local governments in North Carolina for 35 years before retiring, though was called back to public service, in 2019 when he was appointed manager of Statesboro Georgia.
Charles Penny began his career in 1981 serving first as assistant to the city manager in Morganton then Kinston to soon be appointed assistant city manager of Asheville. In 1984, he joined the city of Rocky Mount first as director of planning and development, then as assistant city manager, and finally as city manager until his retirement in 2017. In 2019, Charles was recruit to serve as manager of the city of Statesboro, GA.
Charles is a former southeast region vice-president for the International City County Management Association, a former member of the board of directors for Golden Leaf Foundation, and former member and past chairman of the board of the Rocky Mount Boys and Girls Club of Nash and Edgecombe Counties. He also served eight years as a member and four as chairman of the Board of Trustees of Elizabeth City State University.
Penny earned a BA degree in political science with a concentration in public administration from North Carolina Central University and a Master of Public Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill.
Photo: Charles Penny delivered the 2017 MPA Commencement Address on May 13.
“The MPA Program taught me how to listen to and understand where others are coming from. These skills are required to be an effective leader—and are helping me to navigate my community into the future.”
Esther Manheimer was interested in local government even before enrolling in the Carolina MPA program and her internship with the city of Asheville. It grew after law school as a new attorney staffing a local government committee for the North Carolina General Assembly and when she returned to Asheville, appearing before planning commissions representing land use clients and working on the Asheville Board of Adjustment.
Manheimer was elected to the Asheville City Council in 2009 and mayor in 2013. She says, “As mayor, much of my time is spent listening to people. Then I hope to bring my skills to the table to help shape the direction my community wants to go in.”