Ocean Isle Beach director wins award

The Cape Fear Council of Governments has named Justin Whiteside the 2007 Outstanding Planning Director of the Year.

Whiteside said he received the award during an awards dinner last month.

“I haven’t been doing this that long,” he explained.

Whiteside began working for Ocean Isle Beach nearly five years ago. He started as a code enforcement official and CAMA local permit officer. Two years ago, he was promoted to planning director.

Ocean Isle Beach had been a vacation spot for Whiteside for many years. His grandparents own property in the area. Upon graduating from Appalachian State University in 2003, he applied for employment with the town.

“I love my job,” Whiteside said. “There’s definitely a lot of responsibilities, but I get to interact with a lot of different people from a lot of different areas.”

Whiteside said he felt honored to be chosen for the award, as the Cape Fear Council of Governments chose Whiteside out of planning directors from New Hanover, Pender and Columbus counties.

“I just feel honored to be recognized out of all the wonderful planning directors in the area,” he said. “It was definitely a surprise and an honor.”

“He’s an excellent employee we’re very proud he received this award,” Daisey Ivey, town administrator said.

At February’s awards dinner, town officials who also attended kept Whiteside’s award a secret throughout the dinner. They removed Whiteside’s biography information from his program.

“Everybody in the room knew I was getting the award but me,” he said.

Mayor Debbie Smith said Whiteside is an “ambitious professional,” and a great asset to the Ocean Isle Beach town staff.

“We’re very proud of him that he was elected Planner of the Year,” Smith said.

“Justin certainly shows a lot of interest in his job and interest in continuing his education to always make him better and more effective within his position.”