During his 13 years as city manager, Connet has hired a police chief, fire chief, city attorney, planning director, city engineer, public works director, water-sewer director, communications director and numerous other department heads. “That is something I have focused on for over three decades as a local government employee and city manager. Connet came to the city of Hendersonville from the city of Clinton, near Raleigh. He was city manager in Winterville, outside Greenville, N.C., for three years before leading Clinton for 11. In October 2022, the Hendersonville City Council adopted a proclamation honoring Connet as a "City Manager of Distinction" a month after the International City and County Management Association honored him for 30 years of service in municipal government.