After a months-long national search, the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners has unanimously selected John Eller as the county’s next County Manager. The appointment was approved at the June 15 Regular Board Meeting, where Eller was formally introduced to residents and the public. He will officially begin his role on July 27, 2026.

Eller, a lifelong North Carolina resident with more than 26 years of public administration experience, was selected from a field of 99 applicants through a rigorous, multi-stage process overseen by executive search firm Developmental Associates, the same firm the county enlisted earlier this year to gather community input to guide the search.

As County Manager, John Eller will serve as Cabarrus County’s chief administrative officer, responsible for the day-to-day operations of county government. His core responsibilities include:

• Implementing policies set by the Board of Commissioners
• Overseeing a county workforce of more than 1,400 employees across more than 30 departments
• Managing daily county operations
• Administering the county’s budget

Board of Commissioners Chair Laura Lindsey pointed to Eller’s breadth of experience and his approach to problem-solving as the defining factors in his unanimous selection.

“He’s been involved in so many sectors of government for many, many years,” Lindsey said. “That, along with his vision for the future, made him the perfect choice. John has the experience, temperament, and collaborative nature to lead Cabarrus County.”

One moment from the interview process stood out to Lindsey. During his final interview with the Board, Eller presented a 20-plus-page document detailing his thoughts on county processes, budget matters, and more.

“And it wasn’t just critical of things,” she said. “That document had ideas. He came with solutions.”

Lindsey added: “He’s going to bring an energy of innovation and positivity. You really can tell that he truly loves this job.”

Developmental Associates managed the search from start to finish, beginning by gathering input from the Board, county employees, and community stakeholders before reviewing the full applicant pool.

Commissioners then met virtually to narrow 99 applications down to the top 15 candidates. That group participated in role-playing exercises evaluated by third-party government officials from across North Carolina. From there, the pool was narrowed further before finalists were brought in for direct interviews with the Board.

“Once the firm presented all that information to us, we, as a board, met virtually to narrow those down to our top 15,” Lindsey said.

Eller stood out at every stage. His combination of hands-on performance throughout the process and his extensive career in public administration made him the Board’s unanimous top choice.

Eller’s career spans rural and urban social services, county management, and government consulting, a range of experience that Board Chair Lindsey described as precisely what Cabarrus County needs.

Key positions:

• Davie County Manager (2017–2020)
• Director, Mecklenburg County Consolidated Health and Human Services Agency
• Regional Director, Health Management Associates: advising local and state governments on organizational effectiveness and policy development

Education:

• Bachelor of Social Work: Appalachian State University
• Master of Business Administration: McColl School of Business at Queens University

Professional credentials and honors:

• Credentialed Manager: International City & County Management Association (ICMA)
• Graduate: Senior Executive Institute, University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service
• Adjunct instructor for graduate public administration programs at UNC-Greensboro and Appalachian State University
• Presidential Volunteer Award: awarded by President George W. Bush for work in vulnerable communities

Eller’s career began in social services, a foundation that has shaped his philosophy of government ever since.

“The work we do makes a difference in people’s lives,” he said. “We tend to think a lot about what’s happening at the national or state level, but local government is where it’s at every day. We have a significant impact on the lives of the people in our county. I don’t take that lightly.”

He sees Cabarrus County as uniquely positioned to chart its own path.

“Cabarrus County is well-suited to be whoever we want to be,” Eller said. “What drew me here is the balance of maintaining the wonderful rural character with tremendous growth. There’s a way to balance that and be responsible. I want to continue to maintain our heritage of being who we want to be, instead of trying to be something we’re not.”

Eller is a strong believer in community-government collaboration, a conviction rooted in his early social services work.

“I’ve found that people in the community can help the government further our goals,” he said. “We can’t solve everything ourselves, nor should we. I’ve dedicated my career to figuring out how to build those coalitions. Listening to people, taking feedback, and incorporating it always yields better planning and implementation, and ultimately better service.”

“Whether it’s community organizations, local government, faith communities, or businesses, I believe in working alongside people to solve problems. We’re stronger together.”

Eller was direct about what Cabarrus County taxpayers should expect from their county government.

“People pay taxes to receive a service from the county, and they have expectations about that. Our responsibility is to provide the best possible service in the most fiscally responsible way while meeting expectations of trust, transparency, and communication.”

Eller described an approach to managing a large organization that starts with being genuinely available to the people he leads.

“I’m here. I’m available. I’m ready to work alongside them,” he said of county employees. “I want to learn who they are and what they do. I don’t want to make decisions in isolation.”

He also placed strong emphasis on strategic planning that produces measurable results, not just documents.

“I believe in real strategic planning. That means the plan is something more than just words in a report that never gets measured. Our residents deserve continuous improvement, and we need to create an environment of accountability that better serves them.”

At the same time, Eller was clear that numbers alone don’t tell the full story.

“Data tells one side of the story. The lived experience, day to day, of our residents and team members tells another story. Those can be equally important. The qualitative and quantitative review is the lens I want to look through.”

Eller grew up on a rural North Carolina farm where his family raised dairy cattle, grew tobacco, and cultivated Christmas trees. He is a lifelong NC resident, married with three adult children.

He describes himself as a person of faith, a value he says shapes his approach to both life and leadership. His mornings begin early with F3, a peer-led group built around Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith. Outside of work, he’s a self-described film buff, enjoys 1980s and ’90s culture, and searches for antiques with his wife.

Eller said the timing feels right for this chapter of his career.

“The bottom line is this: I believe in the work we do. County government exists to help support our residents. I’m excited to work alongside our team members to reach new heights and make our residents proud.”

Eller officially joins Cabarrus County as County Manager on July 27, 2026. Interim County Manager Kelly Sifford, who has led the office throughout the search process, will return to her position as Deputy County Manager following his start date.

Residents can watch Board of Commissioners meetings, including future meetings where Eller will present, on the Cabarrus County website, YouTube (@CabarrusCounty), and CabCo TV (Spectrum Cable Channel 22).