The Town of Christiansburg is pleased to announce that Craig Hatmaker has joined the staff as the new information technology director.
Hatmaker begins his new position today, Nov. 4.
Hatmaker brings more than 30 years of experience in information technology to the Town. A Virginia Tech graduate, Hatmaker was most recently vice president of information technology for Carlisle Carrier Corp. He has extensive experience in the private sector, working for Perdue Farms, Inc. in Maryland and Smithfield Foods in Virginia. But he is no stranger to local government, having worked as director of management information systems for Roanoke County.
Over the course of his career, Hatmaker has demonstrated skills in IT infrastructure, project management, policy development, systems design, business processes, data security and enterprise governance. But he attributes his success to focusing on needs, not technology.
“I enjoyed my time in the private sector improving return on investment, but improving quality of life through public service is, for me, far more rewarding,” Hatmaker said. “I will do all I can to help the Town of Christiansburg’s front line departments leverage IT in achieving their mission to protect residents and property, enrich residents’ cultural experiences, and assist residents in times of need.”
Hatmaker is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience with others when it comes to technology. He has given presentations at international universities and conferences, published scholarly papers and written a book (Ribbon Recipes: A Beginner’s Guide to Creating Excel Menus). He’s also leveraged social media platforms to help others using Microsoft Excel with his popular YouTube channel and blog: “Beyond Excel.”
Southwest Virginia has a special place in Hatmaker’s heart. It is where he met his wife, Mary, and raised their three adult children, Laura, Julia and Ben, through their formative years. Hatmaker loves cycling, playing the keyboard, watching Hokie football, and attending arts and crafts shows and music festivals. And, of course, he’s a Microsoft Excel enthusiast.
“Craig will be an asset to the Town, and his experience speaks for itself,” Town Manager Randy Wingfield said. “His resume immediately impressed us, and we knew he’d be a great fit once we had a chance to sit down and interview him. His former colleagues had great things to say about his business acumen, leadership and team building skills, and overall knowledge of the field. We’re excited for him to get started.”
Hatmaker takes over for Adam Carpenetti, who left the Town in late September 2019 for a position in the private sector.
Hatmaker’s salary will be $88,836.80.