During this episode of Getting Real with Rob, we are introduced to Dena R. Diorio, our Mecklenburg County Manager. Rob and she pack a lot of information into a 20-minute podcast, but her journey to become the very first woman to serve as County Manager for Mecklenburg County is a story worth hearing. After moving from the Northeast to Charlotte in 2007 to take the position as Director of the Department of Financial Services, (a time she was recognized as guiding the County through the fiscal crisis and implementing policies that significantly improved its financial position), she was then promoted in 2013 to Assistant County Manager, and in 2014 was selected to serve as County Manager.
During a lively and informative interview – that includes a fun lighting round Q and A session uncovering the fact that she needs more golf in her life, that pasta is her meal of choice, and that her bucket list trip would be to beautiful St Petersburg, Russia – we hear her easily transition from personal to professional as she gives our listeners a broad-stroke update about parks, school bonds, and the valuable lessons learned during COVID.
If you read her entire bio, you see a dedicated and incredibly gifted public servant. You’ll note her experience in local government spans a broad range of positions which even include working for then mayor Rudy Guiliani. And despite what has transpired to change the world’s collective opinion of this ‘storied’ mayor, Dena focuses now on the lessons learned when sweeping changes are needed and how to get there. This leads us to sharing her admission that she is not afraid of change, progress, or the hard decisions, telling us that when leading her team one of her singular questions is, “If not us, then who?”
Other topics include learning more about the amazing park system in Mecklenburg County, and her openness to having frank discussions with our members to meet our area’s lack of affordable housing. “It’s only going to get worse,” she states when speaking about this critical issue. “We can’t do it alone. What we need are the experts to help guide us…” a clear invitation to our REBIC members to engage and engage now.
Make no mistake, Dena doesn’t just speak about issues, she intends to find solutions. Listen to this episode now!
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