Celebrating the Retirement of Kenny Roberts: A Legacy of Dedication at the Statesville Civic Center

After 16 years of dedicated service, Kenny Roberts, Director of the Statesville Civic Center, has retired. His career has been marked by a commitment to public service, a deep love for his community, and an unwavering dedication to making every event at the Civic Center a success. As we bid Kenny a fond farewell, we take a moment to reflect on his journey, accomplishments, and the legacy he leaves behind.

A Passion for Public Service

Kenny began his role as Civic Center Director in 2008, bringing with him over 22 years of public service experience.

From the start, his enthusiasm for helping others and his expertise in event planning shaped the heart of the Civic Center's mission.

"I always enjoyed working with the public and helping them plan and execute their events," Kenny shares. "That essentially is what we do every day at the Statesville Civic Center."

Achievements That Shaped the Civic Center

What started as a facility that was often closed on weekends became a bustling hub of activity, hosting events nearly every day of the year. Kenny's outreach efforts to churches and non-profit organizations brought new life to the venue, solidifying its role as a cornerstone of the community.

One of his proudest achievements was hosting the NC Main Street Conference in March 2023. This large-scale event showcased the City of Statesville's exceptional teamwork and hospitality, attracting visitors and vendors from across the state. “It demonstrated what a wonderful city Statesville is and the people who work and live here,” Kenny notes with pride.

Moments to Remember

For Kenny, every event was significant, whether it was a small meeting of six people or a grand wedding for 600. His favorite memories, however, are the connections he made along the way. "The memories that I will hold dear are the people I met during my years of service," he says. "I will definitely miss the interaction with them, both the citizens we served and the many City employees we worked with."

Of course, not all moments were without challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented obstacles, forcing the Civic Center to temporarily close its doors and adapt to strict gathering restrictions. Through resilience and determination, Kenny and his team navigated these difficulties and worked tirelessly to rebuild the Civic Center's operations.

Looking Ahead

As Kenny steps into retirement, he looks forward to exploring new adventures with his wife, Sharron.

Hiking trails and attending baseball games—whether at Georgia Southern University, Atlanta Braves games, or Kannapolis Cannon Ballers games—are high on his list.

While the thought of retirement hasn’t fully sunk in, Kenny hints at possibly taking on a part-time job to stay active.

As Kenny Roberts retires, he leaves behind a legacy of excellence, compassion, and unwavering dedication to the Statesville Civic Center and its community. His leadership will be greatly missed, but his contributions will continue to resonate for years to come.

Thank you, Kenny, for 16 years of service. Here's to a well-deserved retirement filled with new adventures and cherished memories.

civiccenter.statesvillenc.net