UPPER MARLBORO, Md. – John Hoatson, a result-driven professional with more than 20 years’ experience in a wide range of diverse positions, has been appointed Town Clerk for the Town of Upper Marlboro in Prince George’s County.

Hoatson was formally sworn in by Town Mayor Linda Pennoyer during the regular July 13 meeting of the Town’s Board of Commissioners, following unanimous approval by the three-member policy-making body.

Hoatson succeeds David Williams, who retired on June 30 following 14 years of dedicated service as Town Clerk. Hoatson was most recently City Clerk in the City of Mount Rainier, a position he held for approximately two-and-a-half years.

“We are very lucky to have John as our new Town Clerk,” Mayor Pennoyer said in making the announcement. “When I talked with people whose opinions I respect about who we were considering hiring, I heard nothing but positive feedback. Besides his experience with handling administrative matters, John is also a history buff, which also makes him a perfect fit in our town.”

Hoatson graduated Virginia Wesleyan College with a Bachelor of Arts in History in 1996. He said he is eager to roll up his sleeves and get started in his new role.

“I am excited and honored,” Hoatson said following his swearing-in. “When I first heard about the position being open, I felt it provided tremendous opportunity for advancement and growth. I love the fact that Upper Marlboro is a small town with lots of green space.”

“I have always felt the Town of Upper Marlboro sets itself apart from the other municipalities in Prince George’s County and is a true hidden gem,” he added.

Hoatson said he began working for the City of Mount Rainier in January 2019 as a temporary administrative assistant, but within a month was promoted to City Clerk when that position unexpectedly became available.

Prior to working for Mount Rainier, Hoatson served as Alumni Director and Associate Director of Student Services for Keiser University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida between 2014 and 2018. Among his other varied professional career experiences was his position as Curator and Supervisor for “Diana, the People’s Princess Exhibit” in 2010 and 2011.

For him, the position was literally a dream come true.

“I had been fascinated with Princess Diana since I was eight years old,” Hoatson said. “When I served as Curator of the Diana exhibit, it contained artifacts from my private collection on Diana and the British Royal Family, totaling more than 13,000 individual pieces.

“When she died in 1997,” he added, “I was devastated. It was just like losing a family member.”

A Towson, Maryland native, Hoatson said he sometimes thinks people don’t always understand how complex the role of a Town Clerk can be in a municipal government.

“It’s very time-consuming work,” Hoatson said, “that requires strong organizational and writing skills, along with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and be a team player. That’s exactly what I enjoy doing more than anything.”

In addition to his new role as Upper Marlboro’s Town Clerk, Hoatson is also vice president of the Maryland Municipal Clerks Association.