July 1: Meridian Chief Administrator Officer Mike McGrevey is resigning his post to take a job with the state of Mississippi.

    McGrevey has been named the new deputy director for the Mississippi Development Authority.

    McGrevey announced his acceptance of the position Tuesday morning from city hall. He will start the position Monday. His last day as the city’s CAO is Thursday.

    “I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to be on a winning team whose goals are tremendously important to our state’s future, and I am ready to go to work serving the people of our state,” McGrevey said. “I know under the leadership of Gov. (Phil) Bryant and MDA we will continue to create economic opportunities for Mississippians. I look forward to working together with our with our partners at the local, regional and state levels as we strive to build a stronger economic future for Mississippi.”

    McGrevey has been Mayor Percy Bland’s CAO since February 2014 and is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the city and its approximate 475 employees. His job also includes economic development and working to improve the city’s infrastructure. Bland said he will name an interim CAO as soon as he can.

    “As chief administrative officer, Mike McGrevey has done an outstanding job for the citizens of Meridian, and we are grateful for his day-to-day management this past year and a half,” Bland said. “We will begin the search for a new chief administrative officer immediately as we continue to move forward, together, as a community.”

    McGrevey came to Meridian after serving four years as president and chief operating officer of JBHM Education Group. There, he established JBHM as the standard bearer for improving schools throughout the Southeast by building instructional leadership to improve student success, an MDA press release states.

    Nov. 16: Richie McAlister, the assistant to Meridian Mayor Percy Bland for the last two and a half years, is now the city’s chief administrative officer, after being unanimously approved for the position by the city council Tuesday night.

    Bland told council members that McAlister “understands that the CAO is where the rock meets the water, in making the mayor’s and city council’s vision for this city a reality.”

    McAlister’s responsibilities as Bland’s assistant included organizing the Governor’s Job Fair, working with the National Resource Network and several other initiatives.

    Bland said several candidates with varied backgrounds interviewed for the position, which has been vacant since July.

    “He’s done a lot of great things for this city,”  Bland said. “He may not have been the person with the most years of experience that we interviewed, but he stood out. He’s done a great job for us so far, and we’re hoping he’s going to continue to do a great job.”

    “The time I’ve spent here, I’ve had some of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life,” McAlister told the council. “We have a great city, and we have a great team here… I just want to serve the citizens of Meridian the best that I can.”  

    McAlister, who has a degree in political science from Mississippi State University, has worked in construction as a carpenter and project manager. He also worked with the Digital Opportunity Trust, a non-profit organization funded through the Phil Hardin Foundation. He took the job as Bland’s assistant in July 2013.

    “I’m a numbers guy,” he said following the meeting. “I believe in data tracking and making strategic decisions from data collection. In the end, you’ll be able to identify where your inefficiencies are, and how to address those while maximizing your efficiencies.”