Pitman (’83) Voted to Board of Top Association for Municipal Officials

Tigerville, SC (June 18, 2020) North Greenville University (NGU) alumna and city clerk for Greenville, SC, Camilla (Gibson) Pitman (’83) was recently elected to the board of directors for the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC), a highlight in her more than 25-year career in local government.  

Camilla was selected for this new position during the IIMC’s 2019 Annual Conference in Birmingham, AL. In her role, she’ll serve a three-year term as a director for the largest region in the U.S., representing the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.  

“God prepared me for this journey,” Camilla shares, as she reflects on her college and early professional career.  

Growing up in the small town of Mount Croghan, SC, Camilla took lessons at the baton twirling and modeling studio her mother owned. Her goal was to attend college on a featured twirler scholarship with the marching band.  

Even though North Greenville — still a two-year college at the time — did not yet offer that opportunity outright, Camilla found a creative way to live her dream.  

“I had the best of both worlds. I could attend North Greenville and twirl for Furman University at the same time,” Camilla says. “I actually decided to complete North Greenville and receive my Associate of Arts degree before transferring to Furman.”  

At North Greenville, Camilla focused on music and ministry. She was involved in Baptist Student Union, Concert Band, and the Etude Music Society. She also participated in deputation teams that traveled throughout the Carolinas and Georgia, serving as a pianist and soloist.  

“It was a wonderful opportunity to serve the Lord and North Greenville while meeting new people,” she says.  

She attributes North Greenville with assisting her in developing at the first level of leadership: teamwork. 

 “I learned how important it was to be part of a team first — whether through singing in the alto section of the Concert Choir, playing clarinet in the Concert Band, or serving as a musician for the deputation teams,” she says. “Anyone can attempt to lead. But if you have not experienced teamwork, you cannot effectively lead others.”  

Her interest in city government also began while working for temp agencies as a college student. She filled in as a receptionist for one day for a local law firm, and they offered her the job before she left that day.  

“I performed basic receptionist and secretarial duties and took the initiative to learn everything I could while I was there,” she says.  

A few years later, Camilla ran into one of her former North Greenville classmates: Jeff Pitman (’83). They married in 1998 and welcomed their son, Drew, in 1999. As a new mom, Camilla started searching for job openings closer to their home in Greer, SC. She accepted a legal assistant position at the Duggan, Reese, and McKinney Law Firm.  

“I worked directly for Ron McKinney, handling governmental matters for the cities of Greer and Travelers Rest and insurance litigation,” Camilla says.  

When McKinney joined the City of Greenville as city attorney in 1995, he offered Camilla a position as a legal office coordinator.  

Camilla left the City Attorney’s Office in 2007 to become the clerk of court for Greenville Municipal Court. Six months later, the city clerk passed away, and the city manager asked Camilla to serve as interim city clerk. She was officially appointed as city clerk in June 2008.  

In her role as Greenville’s city clerk, Camilla serves as a liaison between City Council and its constituents. Over the years, she’s maintained her legal certifications as a professional legal secretary, as well as her certification as a master municipal clerk with the IIMC.  

Camilla is thrilled that her new position on the IIMC board of directors opens the door for her to connect with other believers in her field. Through her involvement in IIMC, she has learned about Clerks for Christ, a group of prayer warriors that consists of more than 200 municipal clerks from around the world. She assists in maintaining the group through social media.  

In addition to volunteering with her church music program, Tim Tebow’s Night to Shine, and the Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization, Camilla has remained involved at NGU long after graduation. She has previously volunteered with NGU’s women’s mission organization, Auxilio; the Music Alumni and Friends Association; and NGU’s Alumni Association Board of Directors, where she served as president. 

 “God is everywhere. Don’t forget that. And you never know what ministry He will bless you with,” she says. “Isn’t it amazing what God can do if you allow Him to use you for His will?”