Shawn Colin named Assistant Town Manager – Community Development

Shawn Colin, an experienced community planner and a long-service employee with the Town of Hilton Head Island, has been named its Assistant Town Manager – Community Development.

“Shawn is a proven leader who has planned and led major initiatives across the Town for the last 15 years and has established positive relationships with our residents and stakeholders. I am proud to announce his promotion to Assistant Town Manager in recognition of the contributions he has made to the Town,” said Hilton Head Island Town Manager Marc Orlando.

“With his breadth of experience and leadership in community development, he will continue to be instrumental in guiding our community development team and helping us implement our comprehensive and strategic plans for the Town,” Orlando said.

“I am honored to lead the Community Development Department and am excited for the opportunity to serve the community in this capacity and help the Town achieve its vision of being a dynamic, world-class community,” said Colin, who most recently was Senior Advisor to the Town Manager and Interim Community Development Director.

In his new role, Colin will manage the Town’s newly realigned Community Development Department. This realignment combines the former Infrastructure Services and Community Development departments and brings the work of five divisions under one umbrella: Development Services, Capital Improvement Projects, Community Planning, Facilities Management and Engineering/Stormwater. With a focus on progressive community planning policies, growth management, and natural resources protection, Colin will ensure excellence in service delivery and thoughtful implementation of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan and Capital Improvements Plan. Additionally, he will serve as the Town’s Land Management Official, overseeing the implementation of the land management ordinance.

Colin joined the Town in October 2006 as a Senior Planner. From there he was promoted to Comprehensive Planning Manager in 2010, Community Development Deputy Director in 2013, Community Development Director in 2018, Interim Deputy Town Manager in 2020.   In addition to his extensive community development experience, Colin holds a bachelor of applied science in environmental studies – land use planning from State University of New York and a master of city/urban, community and regional planning from Clemson University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.