City Hires Suzanne Russell as Compliance Director

Published on May 29, 2026

The City of Wilmington welcomes Suzanne Russell as its new Director of Compliance. Russell will lead the department’s permitting and code enforcement operations and serve as the City’s Zoning Administrator.

The hire follows the City’s recent organizational alignment, which elevated Compliance into a standalone department, separate from Planning and Development. This move allows the City to strengthen its focus on permitting, code enforcement, and regulatory consistency while enhancing customer service, operational efficiency, and coordination across development-related functions.

As Director of Compliance, Russell will oversee permitting, compliance, and enforcement activities; provide strategic leadership for departmental planning and performance; and collaborate with City departments, partner agencies, and the community to ensure compliance with the City’s adopted codes and ordinances.

Russell brings more than nine years of municipal and private-sector planning experience, with expertise in land-use regulation, development review, zoning administration, and cross-departmental coordination. She most recently served as Planner and Assistant Project Manager with WithersRavenel, where she managed complex development review processes, coordinated multidisciplinary project teams, and provided ordinance interpretation and regulatory guidance.

Prior, she held planning positions with the Town of Morrisville and the Town of Southern Pines, where she managed development applications, conducted technical plan reviews, prepared staff reports, and presented recommendations to boards and elected officials.

“Suzanne has demonstrated the leadership, technical expertise, and professionalism needed to lead a department with this level of responsibility,” said City Manager Becky Hawke. “The Compliance Department brings together several critical functions that support safe neighborhoods, orderly development, and consistent regulatory processes across the city. Suzanne’s experience in both municipal government and the private sector, combined with her collaborative and solutions-focused approach, makes her exceptionally qualified to lead this new department and help strengthen coordination and service as Wilmington continues to grow. We are thrilled to welcome her to the team."

Russell is a Certified Zoning Officer and is currently completing a Master of Science in Planning and Development with a concentration in Urban and Community Planning at East Carolina University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from NC State and an associate’s degree in horticulture from Sandhills Community College.

Russell will begin her new role with the City of Wilmington on June 15.