ALBEMARLE, NC – Albemarle City Manager Todd Clark has announced the appointment of Tom Johnson as the City’s new Director of Public Utilities.

The City of Albemarle Public Utilities Department provides electric, water, and sewer services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Albemarle and the surrounding areas.

Johnson brings more than 35 years of experience in the water and wastewater field, working in both the private and municipal sectors. He has previously led the full deployment of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system, a project the City of Albemarle is currently undertaking.

“Tom Johnson’s vast experience in managing public utilities operations, both day-to-day and in long-term strategic planning, will be highly valuable to our city,” said Albemarle City Manager Todd Clark. “I look forward to Tom continuing the progress we’ve made to enhance service quality and reliability.”

Since 2018, Johnson has served as the Water Resources Utility Director for the City of Lexington, NC, where he oversaw drinking water treatment, wastewater treatment, sewer collection, and water distribution.

“I’m eager to join the City of Albemarle’s operations,” said Johnson. “I was drawn to Albemarle in part because of the City’s Strategic Plan, which places a clear emphasis on proactively improving infrastructure. This is an approach I strongly believe in. Proactive asset management, transparency with stakeholders, and building resilient utility systems through modern technology and data-driven decision-making are principles I see as essential to delivering top-quality service.”

Johnson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Brookstone College and holds certifications in Water Treatment and Wastewater Treatment.

He will begin his duties as Director of Public Utilities on July 21, 2025.