Kannapolis Communications Director Annette Privette Keller Announces Retirement
Kannapolis Communications Director Annette Privette Keller announced her retirement, ending a 30-year career in municipal government and public education.
Her departure marks a transition for the city’s leadership, as she concludes a tenure defined by extensive regional branding initiatives and the professionalization of local government communication.
Three Decades of Municipal Service
Privette Keller has served as a central figure in municipal communications across three North Carolina cities: Kannapolis, Concord, and the Town of Matthews. Throughout these roles, she implemented strategic branding initiatives that remain active today.
Her work in the public sector began in education, where she served as the public relations manager for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and led communications for the Mooresville Graded School District. She also worked as the editor of the Mooresville Tribune.
Her impact on the Kannapolis region extends beyond administrative duties. She helped revitalize Downtown Kannapolis and develop community wellness programs, including Run Kannapolis and Loop the Loop. She also helped establish the Kannapolis Youth Council.
“It has been an amazing experience to work in Kannapolis and this region,” Privette Keller said in a statement released by the City of Kannapolis. “I have been blessed to work with great teams in three remarkable cities as we worked to improve the lives of people in the region.”
Privette Keller Leads Professional Communications Organizations
Beyond her municipal responsibilities, Privette Keller has focused on the growth of the government communications profession. In 2007, she founded the North Carolina City & County Communicators, an organization that now supports hundreds of professionals across the state. Her influence reached a national level in 2015 when she was elected to the board of the City-County Communications & Marketing Association.
In 2025, she served as president of that organization, becoming the first person from North Carolina to hold the position. Her career is marked by more than 70 state and national awards, including the Chris Coulson Award for Excellence in Communications and recognition as a Top Woman in Business by Business Today.
“We have succeeded beyond our expectations in creating strategic brands that have garnered national economic development recognition for our region and revitalized our corner of the world,” Privette Keller said.
Future Transitions in Kannapolis
Privette Keller currently serves on the boards of the Kannapolis Education Foundation, the N.C. Open Government Coalition, the Rowan County Tourism Authority, and the Mooresville Housing Authority. While she has announced her intent to pursue new challenges, opportunities, and adventures, she has not yet specified her next professional step. The city has not released a timeline for naming a successor to the role.
“It’s now time for me to move on to new challenges, opportunities, and adventures,” she said. “I will miss the camaraderie, friendships, and positive energy as we all worked together to transform and position Kannapolis and our region into a revitalized area with promising opportunities.”