SMITHFIELD – Benson Town Manager Kim Pickett has been hired to fill the newly-created position of assistant town manager in Smithfield.
Mrs. Pickett has been with the Town of Benson since 2014 and has served as their town manager since 2022.
“This decision was not made lightly and comes after careful consideration of my career goals and personal aspirations,” Mrs. Pickett said in an email to The Johnston County Report. “During my eleven years at the Town of Benson, I have gained valuable skills and experiences, for which I am truly grateful. I have enjoyed working with the staff, the community, and the board of commissioners in reaching for the goals of the Town.”
“Smithfield will be a new challenge and one I am excited to take on with a larger population and staff to work with. I hope to spend the second half of my public service career at the place that I grew up in and give back to the community that helped raise me,” she said in the email.
Pickett started her professional career in banking in the mid-2000s before moving to a customer service job in the Town of Selma in 2010. In 2014, she was hired by Benson as a supervisor for the town’s Finance Department.
In 2016, she was promoted to Finance Director and in 2018 to Assistant Town Manager. Mrs. Pickett became the Interim Town Manager in March 2022 following the resignation of then-Town Manager Fred Nelson. She was selected as the Benson manager in October 2022 following a lengthy hiring process.
Smithfield Town Manager Mike Scott said, “We are very excited to have Kim begin her role here in Smithfield. Her hiring will put Smithfield in a great place to manage its growth and the administration of the awesome services Smithfield government provides to its citizens, visitors, and business owners every day. Kim was our top candidate, not only because of her qualifications, but because she has a history of being a great person and leader here in Johnston County. She is well respected by the other Managers and government officials in the County and the State and will use those traits to improve our service and delivery to our customers, while keeping Smithfield in a great place economically.”
Mrs. Pickett obtained a Master of Public Administration degree from UNC Pembroke in 2020 and a Bachelor of Science in Communication with a minor in Business Administration from East Carolina University in 2009.
Mrs. Pickett grew up in the Brogden community and after graduation from North Johnston High in Kenly moved to Greenville, NC for a few years.
After marriage, Kim and her husband resided in Clayton and Raleigh, but came back home to the Brogden community in 2015 before their oldest child started school.
Kim is married to Scott Pickett and they have three children.
Kim Pickett comes from a long-line of Smithfield town employees. Her father, brother and uncle all retired as Town of Smithfield employees.
Her last day in Benson will be June 30. She will start work with the Town of Smithfield on July 1.
Kim has been an amazing Town Manager in Benson. She truly loves this community and it’s obvious in her work ethic. It’s a somber moment for us to lose her, however, I know she is excited to be “home” in Smithfield. Good luck, Kim. Smithfield is blessed to have you.