A 14-year county employee has been named Edgecombe Countyâs new assistant county manager.
Michael Matthews, who has been serving as the countyâs utilities director, fills a position that became vacant when William Johnson was named as the city manager in Randleman.
In his new position, Matthews will work closely with County Manager Eric Evans in directing special projects, implementing strategic organizational improvements and directly supervising some departments.
As the utilities director, he led the expansion of the countyâs water and sewer system from just a few hundred customers to more than 5,200 customers, with infrastructure in all six of the countyâs water and sewer districts.
Natalie Bess, who has served as administrator for the Town of Pinetops for the past two years, has been named as Edgecombe Countyâs first-ever deputy county manager by County Manager Eric Evans.
Evans said that in her new role, Bess will work closely with him in directing special projects, implementing strategic organizational improvements and directly supervising some departments.
Bess previously served as the countyâs disaster recovery director before leaving to become the town administrator for Pinetops. Bess holds a bachelorâs degree in political science from UNC-Greensboro and a law degree from N.C. Central University.
âAfter having the pleasure of working with Natalie in our disaster recovery programs and then seeing her lead the town of Pinetops, I knew she would make a great addition to my executive team,â Evans said. âShe brings a unique skill set and experience base which is already making her an asset to our organization.â