Anne Popp Lewis ’92, ’06 is the epitome of public servant.
She spent 10 years with the City of Winchester, working in many different capacities, and ultimately rising to the position of assistant city manager. At the end of 2010, the business major took her talents down Interstate 81 to Harrisonburg, and is thoroughly enjoying her experiences there.
“As the saying goes, ‘Time flies when you’re having fun!’ Harrisonburg is a great community and I’ve felt very welcomed. Harrisonburg has some tremendous programs in place for staff, citizens and businesses,” said Lewis. She highlights the communication effort between important stakeholders, such as the citizens, schools, Rockingham County, the universities and Rockingham Memorial Hospital, as having a positive impact on the community.
Although she is enjoying her new position as assistant city manager of Harrisonburg, Lewis values the close-knit community that she left. “I worked with a tremendous team in Winchester. Our employees were professional, caring and talented individuals. While we had many departmental missions to carry out, we worked together as one team to provide the best quality service,” she said.
Now, Lewis oversees special projects as assigned by the city manager and works closely with upper level management recruitment in departments. She represents the city on the Harrisonburg/Rockingham Emergency Management Taskforce and Community Policy and Management Team under the Virginia Comprehensive Services Act.
At the end of the day, Lewis is committed to the mission of making peoples’ lives better.
We all have an impact on our neighbors, friends and even strangers. I like to be a part of and see the positive influence that we have on making our world better, right here in our own backyards. To me, there is no better career than working in local government.”
Her community involvement doesn’t stop at City Hall. She has served as a board member for Rotary and the Salvation Army and has been actively involved in the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival© Queen’s Dinner.
As a member of the SU Alumni Association Board of Directors, Lewis is Shenandoah through and through. She not only holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, but a graduate certificate in Public Management as well. In May 2011, she will graduate from SU again – this time with her Master of Science in Organizational Leadership.
Lewis is excited to see what’s in store for the next 50 years of Shenandoah’s history. “It’s been exciting to participate in activities associated with Shenandoah’s 50th anniversary and the branding process. I feel like we are really focused on being the best university we can and being inclusive of people, environment and community,” she said.
Lewis, her husband, Gene, and their daughter, Maddie, live in Cross Junction, Va. She is teaching Maddie how to drive, “and we’re both still living to tell the funny, and sometimes heart-pounding, stories,” said Lewis.