Bill Summers has served as Town Manager of the Town of Knightdale since February 2017. Appointed by the Knightdale Town Council, the Town Manager serves as the Town’s Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for overseeing the administration and implementation of municipal operations, programs, and services.
Summers brings extensive experience in local government operations and management. Prior to joining Knightdale, he served as Town Manager for the Towns of Lillington and Kenly. Earlier in his career, he served as a Senior Planner for the Town of Wake Forest, Human Services Planner for Wake County, and Transportation Planner for the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO).
Summers holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina State University, as well as a Master of Science in Human Environmental Sciences from the University of Alabama. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Government’s Municipal Administration Program and the Public Executive Leadership Academy (PELA). He is also a Credentialed Manager through the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
As a municipal professional, Summers is committed to the principles of professional local government management and the ethical standards established by ICMA. Professional managers are responsible for translating governing-body policy into effective administration, overseeing municipal budgets and operations, working with department leadership, and providing professional expertise to the communities they serve.
In addition to his municipal leadership responsibilities, Summers serves as a guest lecturer in North Carolina State University’s Master of Public Administration program, sharing his experience in local government with the next generation of public administrators.
Summers has been recognized for his contributions to public administration and professional development. His honors include the James E. Swiss Outstanding Teaching Award from North Carolina State University and the Jack Davis Professional Achievement Award from the University of Alabama.