Budget, management analyst becomes chief

Tatum replaces Bartel, who retired at end of September

By: Wesley Young | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: November 18, 2009

Ronda Tatum has always liked staying in the background.

And she was able to do so for most of her 16 years working for Forsyth County, most recently as an analyst specializing in public-safety budgeting in the county's department of budget and management.

But her days in the background are a thing of the past.

Tatum has been named the county's new director of budget and management, replacing Joe Bartel, who retired Sept. 30 after more than 30 years with the county.

Bartel was a fixture at meetings of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners and frequently commented publicly on the state of the county budget.

"Joe let us know in June that his plans were to retire in October," Tatum said. "From that time until the job became posted I thought about it. I wasn't exactly sure that I was going to apply."

Tatum said that in her new role she will be learning a lot more about departments.

"Now I am going to have to be a little bit knowledgeable in all areas," Tatum said. "I am going to have to broaden my horizons and learn about departments such as tax and social services."

Tatum said she is also going to have to learn to delegate a lot of jobs that she formerly would have done herself.

Dave Plyler, the chairman of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, said that Tatum is a good selection.

"She knows her business and is very capable," Plyler said. "She loves what she is doing."

Tatum started with the county in 1993 in the budget office, and went to the finance department in 1996 to work as an internal auditor. After a short stay as a business officer in the county social-services department in 1998-99, Tatum came back to budget and management to stay.

Tatum, 43, grew up in Statesville. She has a master's degree in public administration from UNC Chapel Hill. She received a bachelor's degree in public administration from High Point University, and a bachelor's degree in political science from Winston-Salem State University. She has held budgetary positions in Winston-Salem, Catawba County and Decatur, Ga.

Tatum is the first black woman to hold her position, but said she does not make a big deal over that.

"My dad always told me to do your best and you will get rewarded for it when the time is right," Tatum said. "It makes all the hard work more worth it. I would tell any young person that you can achieve any kind of dream and aspiration as long as you work hard and put forth your best effort."

wyoung@wsjournal.com

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