Board honors IT manager for county phone changes that saved about $50,000 a year

The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 18 adopted a resolution recognizing Jennifer Chitwood, Infrastructure Services Manager in the county's Information Technology Department, for more than 24 years of service and for leading projects that modernized phone systems and reduced costs.

County Administrator Richard Kaywood introduced the surprise recognition, saying Chitwood led the county’s migration to a cloud-based telephone system and later identified contractual rate changes that “have the potential to save the county approximately $50,000 in annual savings.” Kaywood described Chitwood as a “brilliant engineer and compassionate leader” who also briefed other local governments on the county’s technology transition.

Board members praised Chitwood’s support for staff and residents, noting routine helpdesk work and one-on-one assistance. “Whenever your laptop is not working, somebody on her staff comes and helps,” one supervisor said during the adoption. The resolution, moved and seconded, passed by roll call with all members voting yes.

The resolution text says the migration eliminated much on‑premises hardware, configured roughly 2,900 telephone endpoints and 1,650 voicemail boxes, and included training and enhanced 911 services. The board invited Chitwood and her staff for a photograph and expressed appreciation for the reported annual savings and operational improvements.

What's next: the resolution is a formal recognition only; no policy or budget action was required beyond staff implementation of the contract changes described by administration.