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ALBANY, GA -- A farewell event was thrown in honor of Albany City Manager Al Lott on Thursday at Thronateeska’s Wetherbee Planetarium.

“I really don't like to have a lot of pomp and ceremony but the people I work with wouldn't have it any other way,” says Lott.

He says it was a great way to say goodbye to all of the people who have played a role in his life in Albany.

“The thing that I’m most grateful for as mayor is no matter where I am or what part of the country I may be in, if anything happens in Albany he calls me and keeps me from being blindsided,” says Mayor Willie Adams.

While people were giving gifts of gratitude to Lott, he says he wanted to thank the original commissioners from November 2005 who have him a lifetime opportunity to be a city manager.

Lott says one of his challenges and accomplishments was building the city’s reserves up from nothing to $14 million. He says making a connection with the community and their concerns via the 311 system was also an accomplishment of his.

“In my own mind I think I’m an expert in the management of public funds and that's something I’ll have to do possibly in my next job,” says Lott.

He also says he was pleased to build skills of mid-level employees while in Albany.

“I think one of the most important things he did establish what we call the PMO system where personnel are given a goal and evaluated along the line of how much they had accomplished that particular goal,” says Adams.

“I'll be frank: the accomplishments in this job helped me get my next job,” says Lott. “In my next job there will be mid level managers who are in their mid 30s and early 40s who will need to be coached and guided toward excellence by somebody senior who's been around the planet and can handle stress and still give out direction.”

While details of Lott’s next job is still a mystery, he says these accomplishments and experiences will help him.

“I’m hoping that my next assignment, things are better off and I believe they are and that they just simply need a strong leader,” says Lott.

Lott says he will begin his new job in Washington D.C. on March 14.