First female manager in PolTryon hires first female town manager in Polk

The Town of Tryon has hired a new town manager after being without a permanent manager since January.

At a special meeting Tuesday, Sept. 3, Tryon Town Council agreed to hire Caitlin Martin as its new manager. Martin will be the first female manager in Polk County government.
From Easley, S.C., Martin graduated from Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and a minor in political science. She graduated from the College of Charleston in May 2011 with a master’s of public administration degree and a certification in urban and regional planning.
The Tryon position will be Martin’s first job as town manager, although she served as an intern to the deputy town manager at the Town of Mount Pleasant, S.C. and also served as an intern at Sen. Jim DeMint’s office. She most recently worked for ScanSource Inc. in Greenville, S.C. and served as a secretary for the graduate student association at the College of Charleston.
Martin has volunteered with Hospice of the Upstate in Anderson, S.C. since 2003.
Tryon Mayor Alan Peoples said the town received 36 applications for the town manager position and interviewed five candidates.
“Of the people we interviewed, she was head and shoulders above the rest,” Peoples said. “And we interviewed people with zero experience up to people with 20 years of experience.”
Peoples said he is pleased Martin holds a certificate in urban and regional planning, saying that can definitely work for Tryon’s benefit.
Martin will begin her employment with the town on Monday, Sept. 10. She is currently looking for housing in Tryon and plans to move here.
Martin said she really likes Tryon, adding if she had two words to describe the town they would be “quaint and eccentric.”
She also said she loves being in the mountains and she’s excited about the opportunity to work with Tryon and to meet the people.
Town council approved Martin’s agreement by a 2-1 vote with commissioners Roy Miller and George Baker approving the agreement and Wim Woody voting against it. Woody said he voted against the hiring for procedural reasons, nothing to do with Martin.
Commissioner Doug Arbogast was absent from the meeting.
Martin’s agreement includes a base salary of $45,000 plus benefits and a stipend of $300 per month for vehicle and travel expenses.
Martin will replace former town manager Justin Hembree, whose employment was terminated in January. The position since January has been filled by Joey Davis, who served as interim town manager, planning and zoning administrator and fire chief.
Davis will continue as the fire chief and planning and zoning administrator.