County Administrator hits ground running after storied career in local government

Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – April 4, 2024 – Brandon Shrader took over as Craighead County administrator on March 28 after serving in various positions at the Jonesboro Parks and Recreation Department for five years, the last two as Assistant Director.

Shrader took over the post from Lisa Lawrence, who retired after 25 years with the county to take a position with the Red Wolf Foundation.

As administrator, Shrader will oversee day-to-day operations for the county government, informing and advising County Judge Marvin Day, who hired him. Shrader said he’ll attend Quorum Court meetings to update members on county operations, oversee budget issues and grants coordination, and meet with members of the public.

“I started as a supervisor for Urban Parks and Cemeteries, overseeing 18 neighborhood parks and green spaces, along with four city cemeteries.” Shrader said. “The last two years I served as assistant parks director supporting the parks director with day-to-day department operations, staffing, budgeting and more.”

Before working for the Jonesboro Parks and Recreation Department, Shrader served positions with the Fayetteville and Batesville parks and recreation departments before returning to Jonesboro in 2019. He served as assistant director of the Batesville Parks and Recreation Department.

“I’ve worked in City government since 2009. Since then, I’ve worked for four different municipalities, specifically in parks, recreation and administration,” Shrader said. “Beginning my career in Trumann, moved on to Fayetteville in 2013, from there to Batesville, and back home to Jonesboro in early 2019.”

“It was so great at the city,” Shrader said of his time with the City of Jonesboro. “I’m still close to those people.”

He graduated from Arkansas State University with a degree in sports management and a minor in marketing.

On Monday, April 1, Day said Shrader was the best of the 25-30 people who applied for the position.

“I guess what I liked about Brandon is he’s spent a career in public service,” Day said, adding that he was impressed by the qualities of the other applicants.

He said Lawrence worked for him since he took office on Jan. 1, 2019, and she worked for the District Court before that.

Tony Thomas  served as county administrator for about seven and a half years, Day said. Thomas is currently the chief operating officer for the city of Jonesboro.