Shane Childers approaches municipal administration with an understanding that running a small town requires attention to both immediate needs and the future it wants to build. As Town Administrator, he works at the pleasure of the Mayor and Town Council, carrying out their agenda and directives while overseeing municipal departments, managing the budget and coordinating with state, county and other partners. At the same time, he keeps Blacksburg’s longer-term infrastructure, financial position, growth and quality of life in view.
For Childers, balancing those priorities means addressing today’s problems without allowing them to consume the time needed for tomorrow’s planning. Water issues, street problems and employee matters can demand immediate attention, but infrastructure, downtown development, future investments and responsible growth still have to move forward. Delegating to capable town employees allows him to address those demands while maintaining focus on the bigger picture.
“We’re competing against ourselves, so we want to be better tomorrow than we are today,” states Childers.
Making Finite Resources Count
A municipality cannot fund every priority through its annual budget, making creative resourcefulness essential. Childers begins with the fundamentals, including public safety, water, infrastructure, employee needs and financial stability. Once those are addressed, capital improvement planning helps the town prepare for future investments while grants and outside funding provide additional avenues for projects that local budgets alone may not support.
That approach is evident in Blacksburg’s downtown revitalization efforts. The town worked with Studio Maine to develop a study and plan for streetscapes and placemaking, then strategically pursued external funding to help turn that planning into implementation. Several grants have since been secured, allowing one phase to support the next.
We’re competing against ourselves, so we want to be better tomorrow than we are today.
For Childers, the goal is to ensure plans lead to action rather than remain on paper. His advice to future town administrators reflects this mindset: “Just get started.” Whether applying for the first grant or beginning the initial phase of a larger project, he believes taking practical steps creates opportunities for progress.
Communication as an Operating Principle
For Childers, accessibility and communication are central to municipal management. His door remains open to employees, council members and residents because he sees relationships as an important part of governance, particularly when the administrator does not have all the answers. Knowing whom to call, whether inside the organization or among external partners with greater technical or professional experience, can help move difficult issues forward.
Rather than chase every new technology for novelty, Childers looks to practical, affordable tools that improve residents’ interactions with the town. Social media adds another channel for concerns, while criticism can reveal where improvement is needed. A new website, app and mass-text platform will further broaden access to information. That emphasis on listening also shapes how he reads data. Childers uses analytics to identify gaps in the town’s performance, then compares those findings with resident feedback so decisions reflect both evidence and experience.
Planning With the Community
Childers believes residents should have a meaningful place in shaping Blacksburg’s future. He gives residents a voice through public meetings and surveys, listening to their views as the town plans its future and making sure decisions reflect the people who live there. He also points to the Town Council as an important part of the effort to make Blacksburg the best it can be, now and in the future. For him, Blacksburg is not simply the administration’s or council’s community; it belongs to the residents as well.
His approach to administration is built on collaboration, communication and steady progress. He encourages future town administrators to break down silos, work in the same direction and learn from one another.
It is this practical, community-focused approach to municipal leadership that earns Shane Childers recognition as one of the Top Town Administrators 2026, reflecting his ability to balance daily responsibilities with long-term planning, use available resources effectively and keep residents connected to Blacksburg’s future.
