Conway Mayor to be next Metroplan executive director

Conway Mayor Tab Townsell will be the next executive director of Metroplan when his mayoral term expires at year end. He succeeds Jim McKenzie who retires later this year after 28 years with Metroplan.

He has served as the Conway mayor since 1999, during which time he focused on urban planning, transportation improvements, and community and economic development.

Townsell earned a master’s degree in business administration from Texas Christian University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas. He has served on the Metroplan Board of Directors since 1999, and was Board President from 1993-1995.

Metroplan is the federally designated metropolitan planning organization for the four-county region of Faulkner, Lonoke, Pulaski and Saline counties. It is a voluntary association of local governments that has operated since 1955.