Katy Crosby
Town Manager
On July 12, 2021, Catherine “Katy” Crosby took over as Town Manager of Apex. She is the first African American to hold this job. Crosby, a Cleveland, Ohio, native spent most of her professional career in Dayton, Ohio. Most recently, she left her Chief of Staff job in Toledo to accept the town manager position in Apex.
Crosby brings many years of public service experience to Apex. Her passion for this kind of work runs deep. “I believe it was instilled in me from my mother. I grew up with two brothers and two sisters. She always taught us that once one succeeds you come back and help the other. She also instilled in us to always do what is for the highest and greatest good. I’ve carried these two lessons with me throughout my career,” Crosby shared.
I asked Crosby if there have been any early surprises since she’s been on the job for a little under two months at the writing of this story. She noted she was surprised (in a good way) at the overwhelming support among staff for their employer, the Town of Apex. Crosby has made it a priority to meet one-on-one with every town employee. “It is a good feeling knowing you walk into a healthy organization,” said Crosby.
With the better part of her career spent in Ohio, I asked Crosby if she has any early comparisons or observations about her former and current locations. “It is interesting to be the town manager for a community that is growing, thriving, expanding versus coming from communities in decline (i.e., the Ohio Rust Belt),” she said.
What does the future look like for Crosby as she leads the town forward? In the short-term, it would seem to be a matter of fostering a positive and inclusive internal culture.
“I want to continue to build on the great work that the team is already doing to responsibly grow the community and be as responsible as possible to the environment while doing so. I want to continue to support maintaining a positive workplace culture. Our residents benefit from employees enjoying their work,” Crosby shared.
Long-term goals predictably and necessarily focus on growth management. “I want to make sure the organization is positioned to continue offering a high level of service regardless of how our community grows. That means ensuring that we have the right size team and skill sets to support doing this,” Crosby noted.
Crosby also referenced infrastructure and school capacity as another big issue, pointing out the need to partner with federal, state and local agencies to ensure the town has the necessary resources to stay ahead of the curve. And Crosby noted that she wants to keep the Peak of Good Living at the top.
“We also want to make sure that our community is affordable and welcoming for all. Assessing the types of housing opportunities possible for our community will continue to be an ongoing discussion and priority as we attract new residents, talent, and businesses,” she said.
Crosby cited growth as the number one challenge. Growth will require change to accommodate that growth. There may be some culture shifting necessary to ensure the town is keeping pace with the expectations of residents and employees. “Change can be challenging at first, but I believe if done responsibly and in an inclusive way you can get buy-in from all stakeholders that will allow the process to be an enjoyable learning experience for all,” Crosby noted.
Success for Crosby includes a happy workforce and a happy community. As a public servant, Crosby noted that she is responsible for ensuring that residents and visitors to Apex can count on having a pleasant experience, whether passing through or living here day to day.
When Katy Crosby isn’t inspiring and leading her Town of Apex colleagues, she loves to be outdoors, stay active and be healthy. And, as someone who loves the sunshine and warm weather, she won’t be disappointed here. Additionally, Crosby shared her love of music, whether it’s listening, dancing or singing. Music energizes and inspires her all day long.
With this in mind, Apex Town Manager Katy Crosby’s passion for public service and this local community should be music to everyone’s ears.
Craig Setzer
Director of Apex Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources
Craig Setzer, a long-time Town of Apex employee, is the new Director of Apex Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources. The department currently manages 12 town-owned parks, 16.6 miles of greenway, and over 617 acres of developed, undeveloped, and open-space parkland.
Setzer was selected as the town’s Employee of the Year in 2018 and has been with the town since 2005 where he has held supervisory positions in both athletics and operations. Before coming to Apex, he served as the Athletic Programming and Community Center Supervisor at the City of Durham’s Parks and Recreation Department. Setzer earned a bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management from Appalachian State University and graduated from programs at both the National Recreation and Park Association Director School and the Park Maintenance Management School.
I asked Setzer why his obvious passion for all things recreational. “Having opportunities when I was younger through Oxford Parks and Recreation, to play the games I loved, played a huge part in who I am today. I have always been a sports fanatic and was a three-sport athlete in high school. I love hiking and camping–just not in the middle of winter or summer. I think all of these areas have driven me in the Parks and Recreation field,” he said.
His vision for the Town of Apex, today and in the future, reflects his passion and commitment to the residents of the community, both young and old.
“In the short term, we have a 28,000-square-foot Senior Center that will be coming online [in coming weeks]. We are also in the process of constructing Pleasant Park which will provide needed facilities including athletic fields, an amenity area, splash pad and passive recreational opportunities. For the long term, we have just started the process of updating our Comprehensive Master Plan to provide a road map for the future of Apex Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources. This process will last approximately 12 months,” Setzer noted.
Greenway construction is also a high priority, with the expansion of Beaver Creek and Middle Creek greenways, and the Apex West greenway connection to the American Tobacco Trail.
A familiar refrain can be heard when I asked him about the likely challenges ahead. “I think the greatest challenge we face will be staying ahead of the population growth. The population in Apex has increased over 50% since 2014. Making sure that we are meeting the needs of the current residents along with balancing the additional growth can present different challenges,” said Setzer.
As someone who has celebrated his fair share of professional success, Setzer summarized what success will look like under his leadership. “Building off of the legacy we currently have and continuing to provide diverse, inclusive and accessible programs/facilities to all Apex residents would be a success,” Setzer shared.
And, for a man committed to providing great recreational options for the Apex community, it’s only fair to ask what kinds of recreational diversions Setzer favors when he’s not on the job. True to form, Setzer is more concerned with his community at home than himself. “My main passion/interest involves my family. I have a wife and three sons. I do my best not to miss any of their events and love spending quality time with them. I love the mountains, hiking, camping and being around water. I’m a huge sports fan and bleed Duke blue.”
For a town that is growing by leaps and bounds, the need for diverse, accessible and cutting-edge recreational outlets for all ages is a given. For Craig Setzer, being the new Director of Apex Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources is the job that keeps on giving.
“I am blessed to be able to be a part of offering these opportunities to the citizens of Apex,” Setzer said in closing.
Jason Armstrong
Chief of Police
On August 2, 2021, Jason Armstrong was sworn in as Chief of Police for the Town of Apex.
Born and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and a graduate of North Carolina Central University, Armstrong is happy to be back home.
Armstrong is a 20-year veteran of law enforcement with this, his third stint as chief of police. Dedicating one’s life to law enforcement is not for the faint of heart. What was the attraction for Armstrong? “It looked fun and the excitement of the job appealed to me,” he said.
Though what drew him in was a surprise, what kept him there is perhaps more telling about this man. Once immersed in the job, Armstrong quickly recognized his unique perspective and connection to the community. It was his connection with the community, though, that sealed the deal. He was having difficult, but necessary, conversations with residents and town leaders and was finding these discussions rewarding and inspiring. He realized his early accomplishments were rooted in his unique approach, perspective, empathy and understanding. Armstrong found his calling and it included a badge.
Though Armstrong is in the midst of his third month on the job, there haven’t been any surprises. Having gone through this before, Armstrong was well prepared. “You come in not knowing anyone. That takes time. You start from behind and have a lot to catch up on,” Armstrong noted.
Armstrong shared that his two years as chief of police on the Ferguson, Missouri, force was the ultimate learning experience. With the Michael Brown shooting still hovering over that community/police department, Armstrong described how working in that ground-zero space provided invaluable experience and endless learning opportunities. He noted you can shrink under those pressures or embrace them and grow personally and professionally. He suggested that a Harvard education would fall well shy of what he learned while there.
Armstrong has already begun the work to assess the overall organization wholly, fairly, accurately. While he acknowledges there are surveys and other assessments prominently reported on by the media, Armstrong doesn’t see them as painting a complete picture. He has or will conduct one-on-one meetings with all staff. He sees the need to map out our challenges and to then identify a priority order to address these challenges. Armstrong suggested that every police department’s mission statement is to be the best police department in the world. “You always aspire to this goal when you are running a police force,” he said.
While Armstrong is assessing the current state of the Apex police force, he also has his eyes on the future. “With the community growing so fast, we must be mindful of this growth. Are we growing, too? What does that look like? We must identify the long-term changes we anticipate and commit to doing the right things now to set us up for success in the future, whether that’s five or 25 years down the line. It’s about being mindful of the future,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong candidly shared that the stresses of this job are unbearable at times. As such, one must have outlets and be able to distance yourself from the day-to-day pressure cooker of the police force. Armstrong is a big lover of sports, basketball and football, in particular. He played basketball at NCCU. He sees a basketball league in the town’s future (post-Covid), where the community and members of the police force play together. Armstrong also talked about his love of cooking, especially outdoor grilling. He is an aficionado of slow roasting/smoking meats and likes the commitment of time and attention that particular kind of cooking demands. Seems like the perfect foil for the day-to-day pressures of the police department.
To the Town of Apex, Chief Jason Armstrong brings not only experience but wisdom—a refreshing wisdom in large supply. “Always view yourself through a critical lens and hold yourself accountable,” Armstrong notes.
