Goochland Utilities Director Named a National Public Service Champion

Elizabeth McDonald, a licensed professional engineer who oversees Goochland County's Department of Public Utilities, was selected as one of the nation's 250 Public Service Champions by the Local Gov 250 coalition in partnership with the National Academy of Public Administration, the county announced March 17.

McDonald, a Michigan native, brought experience from six municipalities to Goochland when she joined as Director of Public Utilities, replacing Matt Longshore, who left the position in 2024. She officially began her role on September 8 and holds a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering from the University of Michigan. She is currently pursuing a Master's of Public Administration from the University of Central Florida.

Her team's trajectory since she arrived has been visible on multiple fronts. McDonald shared posts on LinkedIn celebrating her department winning Goochland County's Team of the Quarter award and represented the county at WEFTEC2025, the water industry's major annual conference, in Chicago. She has also been actively recruiting, posting about open positions and describing Goochland as "a rapidly growing locality" where "big things are happening."

County Administrator Dr. Raley welcomed McDonald's arrival alongside County Engineer Austin Goyne, who was hired in the same leadership announcement. "Their knowledge, skills, and expertise will be a tremendous asset to our community as we continue to deliver high-quality services and customer service to Goochland residents," Dr. Raley said.

McDonald described her own priorities in terms grounded in infrastructure reliability. "I look forward to building on the County's strong foundation of providing reliable, high-quality utility services that benefit its residents and support future growth," she said when she joined the county.

The Local Gov 250 recognition places McDonald among a select group of local government professionals identified nationwide for public service distinction, an acknowledgment that arrives less than two years into her tenure leading Goochland's utilities operations.