Greenville City Council has appointed Mark Garner to the Greenville Utilities Commission Board of Commissioners, beginning immediately. Commissioner Garner will serve the remainder of Kristin Braswell’s term. Braswell resigned earlier this year due to relocating out of the GUC service territory.
Garner retired in 2021 after a 46-year career with Rivers & Associates, Inc. where he was a Partner, Vice-President, and Senior Project Manager. Mr. Garner is a nationally certified planner with a strong background in public works and public utilities planning and design. He also holds several licenses in water and wastewater treatment.
He is a graduate of J.H. Rose High School and East Carolina University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning with an emphasis in Environmental Resources.
"Born and raised here, I have always particularly enjoyed being of professional and personal service to the citizens of Greenville, Pitt County and eastern North Carolina through both my career and my involvement in specific organizations, committees and boards,” said Garner. “I'm appreciative of the Pitt County Commissioners' nomination and the Greenville City Council's approval of this opportunity to once again serve the overall Pitt County community in this important capacity as a member of the Greenville Utilities Commission Board."
Mr. Garner has served many roles on various boards and commissions including various Pitt-Greenville Chamber of Commerce committees, Vice-Chair of Uptown Greenville, President of Pitt County Girls Softball League, Building Committee Chair for the design and construction of the Sara A. Law Memorial Softball Complex, President of East Carolina Engineers Society, Board of Directors for the NC Society of Engineers, Chair of the Pitt County Industrial Development Commission, Chair of the Pitt County Board of Adjustment, Chair of the ECU Planning Advisory Board, Vice-Chair for the ECU Alumni Association, and Chair of the ECU Board of Visitors where he still serves as an Emeritus member. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the ECU Coastal Studies Institute in Wanchese, NC.
A life-long Pitt County resident, Mr. Garner is a Greenville native and has lived near Simpson for over forty years. Married to Gail Gladson Garner for 45 years, they have two daughters: Kelly Dixon and Megan Hardee, both of Greenville; and three grandchildren. He enjoys outdoor projects on the homestead as well as spending time with family in Hatteras Village and attending ECU sporting events.