NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH — The leader of North Topsail Beach’s administrative operations is stepping down for a new role in the western side of the state, prompting an immediate search for leadership as the town enters its busy spring season.
Town Manager Alice Derian will conclude her tenure effective June 1, 2026, the Board of Aldermen announced in a statement Thursday. Derian has headed the town’s administration since late 2021, overseeing major infrastructure projects including the town hall restoration and the completion of the town’s first living shoreline project at Richard Peters Park.
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North Topsail Beach Mayor Richard Grant confirmed to Port City Daily that Derian has accepted the Town Manager position in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.
“Alice has done a good job for us,” Grant said. “We’ve got interviews set up with temporary people tomorrow, and we’re already working with an outplacement firm to try to find somebody permanently.”
Grant thanked Derian for her nearly five years of service to the town, noting there are no hard feelings regarding the departure.
“You can’t be upset with somebody that believes that they’re going to something that is better for them,” Grant said. “If you get a better offer, it’s hard to turn it down.”
As the search for a replacement begins, Grant said the board is looking for a candidate with specific experience in FEMA regulations and beach management.
“We’re a beach town,” Grant said. “Our beach is our business. We want somebody that’s got FEMA and beach experience, and somebody that is a team player.”
Working with the North Carolina League of Municipalities, the board is interviewing interim candidates this week to ensure daily operations remain stable until a permanent replacement is hired.
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