City of Concord Mayor Bill Dusch received the prestigious Smith Family Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 Celebrate Cabarrus & Golden Helmet Awards, presented by the Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). The award recognizes an individual whose lifelong dedication and passion have elevated Cabarrus County as a premier visitor destination.
A lifelong resident of Concord, Mayor Dusch has dedicated more than 30 years to passionately serving our community as a business owner, volunteer, mentor, and public servant. He served on the City’s Planning & Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment, and Historic Preservation Commission before being elected Mayor in 2017.
As Mayor, he helped lead the City through historic growth and development, establishing Concord as a premier destination for innovation and opportunity. Since 2017, Concord’s population has grown 25% and over the last five years alone, the City has welcomed billions in new investments from household names like Hendrick Motorsports, Red Bull, and Eli Lilly. These projects are generating thousands of new high-paying job opportunities for residents and will shape the region for generations to come.
“Mayor Dusch’s legacy is one of vision, resilience, and deep commitment to Concord,” said Donna Carpenter, President & CEO of the Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “His thoughtful leadership guided the intentional growth that helped make Concord the city it is today.”
Concord is proud to be nationally recognized as one of the best places to live for families, one of the safest and most affordable places to live in the south, a top city for small businesses, and America’s most budget-friendly tourist destination. These accolades are a testament to the leadership of Mayor Dusch and his genuine love and care for our community.
His deep commitment to serving others and enhancing residents’ quality of life extends beyond his role as Mayor. He is also a supporter of organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Rotary, the Cabarrus Arts Council, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Atrium Health, United Way, and many more. Mayor Dusch also leads a local run club and is lovingly known as the “Marathon Mayor.” He has completed 113 marathons in every U.S. state and five continents, with only marathons in Australia and Africa remaining – something he hopes to achieve in his upcoming retirement.
After serving two terms, Mayor Dusch announced his retirement last summer. Later this month he will pass the gavel to newly elected Mayor, Steve Morris, to carry on the City’s rich traditions and continue Concord’s legacy of service and excellence.
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Mayor Bill Dusch (center) receiving the Smith Family Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 Celebrate Cabarrus & Golden Helmet Awards
Photo Courtesy of Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau