Cabarrus names John Eller as next county manager
Published on June 15, 2026
After a months-long national search, the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved John Eller as the next county manager.
Eller’s appointment begins on July 27, following approval by Cabarrus commissioners at the June 15 Regular Meeting. Interim County Manager Kelly Sifford will resume her role as deputy county manager.
Eller will serve as the County’s chief administrative officer, responsible for implementing board policies, overseeing the County’s workforce, managing daily operations and administering the County’s budget.
He has more than 26 years of experience in public administration and government consulting. That extensive background, along with proven leadership and commitment to providing innovative services, led to his selection, according to Board of Commissioners Chair Laura Lindsey.
“He’s been involved in so many sectors of government for many, many years,” Lindsey says. “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.”
Eller’s most recent public-sector role was county manager of Davie County.
Before accepting the Cabarrus County role, he served as a regional director for a consulting firm working with local and state governments and organizations across the country. That job tasked him with assessing program effectiveness and helping to create stronger policies and practices.
His love for the work led him to consider the Cabarrus role, which marks a return to his county government roots.
“The work we do makes a difference in people’s lives,” Eller says. “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 huge impact on the lives of the people who live in our county. I don’t take that lightly.”
The selection process
Eller was one of 99 original applicants vetted by Developmental Associates, the executive search firm hired to oversee the selection process. Developmental started the process by gathering input from the board, County employees and community stakeholders before working through the first batch of applications.
“Once the firm presented all that information to us, we as a board met virtually to narrow those down to our top 15,” Lindsey says.
That group then participated in role-playing exercises assessed by third-party government officials from around the state. Cabarrus commissioners heard results from those sessions and the process continued.
The pool was narrowed to a handful of candidates before finalists were interviewed by the board.
At that interview, Lindsey recalls, Eller presented a 20-plus-page document that detailed his thoughts on County processes, budget matters and more.
“And it wasn’t just critical of things,” she says. “That document had ideas. He came with solutions.”
Throughout the search, Eller excelled in each scenario, Lindsey says. That, coupled with his extensive experience, made him the board’s unanimous top choice.
“He’s going to bring an energy of innovation and positivity,” she says. “You really can tell that he truly loves this job.”
Focusing on the power of partnerships
Eller’s career began in social services. That experience set the course for his belief in the power of community partnerships.
“I’ve found that people in the community can help the government further our goals,” he says. “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.”
He later worked in social services director roles in rural and large counties before being recruited into county management. Those experiences reinforced the belief that partnerships are powerful tools for navigating community challenges.
“Whether it’s community organizations, local government, faith communities or businesses, I believe in working alongside people to solve problems,” he says. “We’re stronger together.”
Setting sights on the future
Eller believes Cabarrus is in a unique position to shape its future with purpose.
“Cabarrus County is well-suited to be whoever we want to be,” he says. “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 about it. I want to continue to maintain our heritage of being who we want to be, instead of trying to be something we’re not.”
That progress must be tempered with fiscal responsibility, he adds.
“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.”
‘Ready to work alongside them’
As County Manager, Eller will oversee more than 1,400 employees across more than 30 departments.
Collaboration is a focus of his leadership style, he says. Job shadowing has helped him better understand the diverse occupations operating in county government.
Shadowing “shows me what employees love about their jobs and what challenges they have,” he says. “I learn so much from them. If they love their work, it shows up in the services provided to our residents. When we invest in our county team members, they invest in our community.”
He also puts strong emphasis on continuous improvement through strategic planning and data analysis.
“I believe in real strategic planning,” he says. “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.”
However, “data tells one side of the story,” he adds. “The lived experience day-to-day of our residents and team members tells another. Those can be equally important. The qualitative and quantitative review is the lens I want to look through.”
When asked what he’d want employees to know about his leadership style, he says: “I’m here. I’m available. I’m ready to work alongside them. I want to learn who they are and what they do. I don’t want to make decisions in isolation.”
The right time to return
Eller is a lifelong North Carolina resident. He grew up on a rural farm where his family worked in dairy, tobacco and Christmas trees.
He and his wife have three adult children.
“I’m a person of faith,” he says. “That drives the way I look at the world and the way I live.”
These days, his mornings start early with the peer-led workout group F3 (Fitness, Fellowship and Faith). That daily grind keeps him centered physically and mentally, he says.
He’s a self-proclaimed film buff. Watching movies has been one of his favorite pastimes since childhood. He also enjoys 80s and 90s culture and searching for antiques with his wife. These activities help him decompress, he says.
Eller received the Presidential Volunteer Award from President George W. Bush for his work in vulnerable communities. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the McColl School of Business at Queens University and a Bachelor of Social Work from Appalachian State University.
He has also served as an adjunct instructor for graduate students in public administration programs at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Appalachian State University.
Eller is also a credentialed manager with the International City & County Management Association and a graduate of the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.
He believes that he’s at the right stage of life to return to county government and tackle the opportunities and challenges ahead.
“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.”
Stay connected to Cabarrus County
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