Hilton Head Reporter

BEAUFORT, S.C. –  Beaufort City Council has selected Scott Marshall as the new city manager for the City of Beaufort. The appointment was made at Council’s meeting on Dec. 13.

“I'm grateful to this Council for the trust they placed in me to work with them on behalf of the residents, businesses and stakeholders of the City,” said Marshall.  “One of Bill Prokop's legacies is the incredible team he's assembled and I am eager to begin working with all of them.”

“Congratulations, Mr. Marshall, and we look forward to working with you,” Mayor Stephen Murray said at the meeting. “Council was excited to unanimously appoint Scott Marshall as our next city manager. He has big shoes to fill with the retirement of Bill Prokop, but I'm confident he will continue our direction of providing outstanding daily services, while also accomplishing strategic goals for the future.”

Marshall will begin his tenure in January 2023. He will be replacing Bill Prokop, who is retiring after serving as city manager since 2015.

“I look forward to working with Scott during the transition period,” Prokop said. “I know that Scott and Deputy City Manager Reece Bertholf will give the City a very dynamic leadership team and I know the City will be in good hands for the future.”

Marshall, 55, is currently director of Human Resources for Beaufort County. He is a native of Danville, Va., and is a retired U.S. Air Force officer, having served for 23 years. After his military career, he was appointed executive director of the Beaufort County Board of Elections & Voter Registration. In 2013, he became director of the Beaufort County Parks & Leisure Services. He then became deputy town manager for the Town of Bluffton, and was named interim town manager in January 2021. In July 2021, he rejoined Beaufort County in his current position.

Marshall has a Bachelor of Science in political science and psychology from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Public Administration from American Public University. He also has a Master Certificate in Human Resources Management from Villanova University. He is a graduate of the Gettysburg Leadership Institute. He is a member of the International City and County Management Association and is the co-author of an ICMA publication on hiring veterans in local government.

He and his wife, Virginia, live in Beaufort and have two adult children. Virginia Marshall is a paramedic and public information officer with Beaufort County Emergency Medical Services.

Beaufort’s search for a new city manager began immediately after Prokop announced in late September that he would retire from his position in January 2023. The position was advertised nationally, and the application period went from Sept. 28 through Oct. 21, 2022. The Municipal Association of South Carolina helped in the screening of candidates. The process has included a teamwork/leadership assessment, and initial interviews of the top candidates.

The City had 23 applicants from 12 states. The final pool consisted of three applicants.

Original source can be found here.