Published: Wednesday, Sep. 09, 2009 / Updated: Wednesday, Sep. 09, 2009 02:06 PM
McCallister take reins of new town post
FORT MILL --
– A former Municipal Association of South Carolina staff liaison now heads up Fort Mill's business department.
James Simpson McCallister was recently named the town's first business manager.
“I'm really excited,” said McCallister, 33. “This position is a great opportunity. The Town of Fort Mill is a great place to work. I've always heard great things not only about the town but also the leadership.”
McCallister's governmental work history includes a stint with the Municipal Association of South Carolina, where he was a staff liaison for affiliate services with the S.C. Business Licensing Officials Association, the S.C. Municipal Finance Officers, the Clerks and Treasurers Association, the Municipal Technology Association of S.C. and the S.C. Association of Municipal Power Systems, according to his resume.
He worked as a part-time management assistant for six months with the Town of Springdale, where he served as the special projects and grants coordinator among other duties.
McCallister, whose roots are anchored in Rodman near Chester County, also interned with the City of Columbia. In that position, he assisted with the organization of the funding determination process for accommodation and hospitality taxes as well as community promotions, the resume notes.
McCallister earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's in public administration, both from the University of South Carolina.
That work and educational background helped make McCallister, a soon-to-be father, a prime candidate for his new Fort Mill post. He started working with the town Aug. 17, Town Manager David Hudspeth said.
“He has a good background in local government,” Hudspeth said. “He has a lot of technical background and seemed to have the right demeanor for the job.”
Just over two weeks into the job, McCallister is focusing on three goals, including ensuring that the business office has a high level of customer service.
“We are the face of the town,” he said. “It (the business office) should operate in a professional, courteous manner,” he said.
Also vital is ensuring that the town's decision makers receive financial information in a timely manner, he said.
“In these economic conditions, the decision makers need to be aware of where they stand at any given moment and be able to make informed decisions on future planning,” he said.
Another paramount goal, he said, is maintaining the town's accountability.
“We are dealing with taxpayer money and fees,” he said. “There's quite a bit of procedures and standards that need to be followed from a legal stand point. Private information has to be protected. I want to do everything to ensure that the Town of Fort Mill is accountable in all financial matters.”
The soft-spoken McCallister, who once caught a nine-pound large mouth bass, has an eye for photography. He also knows his way around gardening and local government.
“I'm a big fan of municipal government, and I hope through my work here to impart some of that enthusiasm on the citizens of Fort Mill,” he said.
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