City of New Bern City Clerk Brenda Blanco was awarded the title of Clerk of the Year at the 2021 NC Association of Municipal Clerks (NCAMC) Annual Conference on August 21, 2021 in Greensboro, N.C. Brenda Blanco, CMC, MMC, NCCMC was bestowed the honor by a panel of her peers for her professionalism and unselfish devotion to the City of New Bern and to the Association. Brenda works tirelessly researching information in support of her Board of Alderman and spearheads seasonal decorations and city special events, always taking special care to make other co-workers feel valued and appreciated.

Brenda is currently serving on the Membership Committee and the Program & Education Committee and is serving her second term as the NCAMC District 2 Director. She previously served on the Association’s Publicity Committee, State Certification Committee, Website Committee, Site Selection Committee, and Executive Committee. Brenda also serves as an unofficial mentor to many clerks, offering to share her knowledge and skills when called upon.

Brenda’s hobbies include traveling, trying new restaurants, participating in small life groups, and decorating and designing. She also gives considerable time to supporting her two adult daughters’, Lani and Carter, many projects. She is always looking for opportunities to bring a little “sparkle and shine” to the lives of others.

When asked how it feels to be named Clerk of the Year Brenda said, “Like most clerks, I take pride in the work that I do, strive for continual progress, and enjoy building relationships with our citizens. To have others recognize my efforts and nominate me for the award was a great compliment. I know there are so many clerks across our state who are equally dedicated, so to actually be selected as NC’s Clerk of the Year is an amazing honor. I’ll always cherish the designation, as well as the opportunity to serve others in my capacity as a clerk.”

The NCAMC is a professional organization of city, town, and village clerks from across the state, dedicated to the continued growth and development of each municipal clerk and their municipality in cooperation with the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, the School of Government at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and the North Carolina League of Municipalities in Raleigh. For more information, please visit https://www.ncamc.com/ or follow its social media at https://www.facebook.com/NC-Association-of-Municipal-Clerks- 106093127926759.