Johnston County Register of Deeds Recognized as a Shining Star in North Carolina
Johnston County Register of Deeds Craig Olive, center, accepts the Shining Star Award from the N.C. Association of Registers of Deeds. With him are Randolph County Register of Deeds Krista Lowe, chairman of the association’s Special Recognition Awards Committee, and Lincoln County Register of Deeds Danny Hester, the committee’s vice chair.
Smithfield, N.C. – Johnston County Register of Deeds Craig Olive has received the Shining Star Award from the N.C. Association of Registers of Deeds.
The association presents the award annually to a member whose work goes beyond the call of duty. “I am truly humbled to receive this award from my colleagues,” said Olive, the County’s longtime register of deeds. “It is an honor to serve the great citizens of Johnston County and everyone who utilizes our office."
Krista Lowe, the Randolph County Register of Deeds, presented the award to Olive noting, "Craig always goes above and beyond the call of duty and he is a member that works hard on behalf of the North Carolina Register of Deeds Association. He is very deserving of the award. The citizens of Johnston County should be very proud to have Mr. Olive representing them in our association."
Robin Phillips, the Northampton County Register of Deeds, nominated Olive for the award. He has been a steward of taxpayer dollars, she said, noting that early in his tenure, Olive streamlined services to reduce his office’s budget by 30%. “He has returned $4.8 million in unused funds back to the County during the past 24 years,” Phillips wrote in her nomination. “He will always strive to be a good steward with the taxpayer’s money.”
Olive has embraced technology to improve efficiency and better serve customers, Phillips said. “Under Craig’s leadership, Johnston County was the first in the nation to accept a plat map electronically and one of the first in the state to follow the guidelines put forth by the N.C. Secretary of State for accepting land records electronically,” she noted. “With Olive’s visionary outlook, roughly 88% of all documents recorded in his office are recorded electronically.”
As a keeper of public records, Olive has been a champion of protecting Johnston County residents against identity theft, Phillips said. “In 2009, Craig worked with then N.C. Sen. David Rouzer to draft and pass Senate Bill 1017," she said. "This bill enhanced protections against identity theft. Currently, Craig is working with N.C. Sen. Benton Sawrey on … the Title Fraud Prevention Act.”
Olive strongly believes in being proactive in the fight against identity theft, Phillips said, noting that his office has sponsored an annual community shred event for the past 17 years.
Craig Olive pictured with Northampton County Register of Deeds Robin Phillips, who nominated him for the honor.
Phillips said Olive is well known for his emphasis on customer service. He was instrumental in making the deeds office a U.S. passport acceptance agency. He also created Johnston County’s “Thank A Vet” program to honor the service and sacrifice of local veterans. “Craig always goes above and beyond to assist all customers in his office and to make them feel welcome and valued when they interact with him,” Phillips said.
Olive echoed Phillips’ words. “I strive to go above and beyond to assist anyone who needs help,” he said, adding, “I want to emphasize that my door is always open to all.”
Outside of the deeds office, Olive has served on the Johnston Community College Board of Trustees, the Johnston County Tourism Authority, the Johnston Soil and Water Conservation Advisory Board, and the Clayton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Olive created and continues to take part in Candlelight Reflections, an annual event to promote support for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients and their caregivers. He is a lifelong member of Little Creek Primitive Baptist Church, where he has served as clerk, deacon and trustee.
Olive has received numerous awards, including the Order of the Longleaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest civilian honor. He has also received the Ralph Ketner Award for innovation and efficiency in government services.
Olive has served the N.C. Association of Registers of Deeds on the district and state levels.
“I believe Craig is the perfect candidate for this distinguished award,” Phillips said. “As evidenced above, Craig Olive has been a dedicated public servant to the County of Johnston, the state of North Carolina and NCARD. I am honored to nominate Craig Olive.”
