Will serve on the Board of Directors
CRAVEN COUNTY – The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) held its first Board of Directors meeting under the leadership of President Wallace Nelson on Oct. 10-11, 2025, at the Beaufort Hotel in Carteret County.
Nelson, a Perquimans County commissioner and the Association’s 109th president, officially began his term with his installation at the NCACC Annual Conference in August 2025. The October meeting marked the first convening of the 2025-26 Board of Directors and included the swearing-in of new board members. Over two days, the board focused on aligning priorities, providing strategic direction and reinforcing NCACC’s commitment to serving North Carolina’s 100 counties.
The meeting started with the swearing in of board members to represent counties from across the state, affirming the leadership and dedication of the NCACC to serve North Carolina’s counties. As part of this new board, Chairman Bob Kirby of Chowan County was sworn in as a director to guide the NCACC.
“I am very honored to be appointed to the NCACC Board of Directors,” Kirby said. “I look forward to working with President Wallace Nelson and the entire Board in the coming year.”
A session featuring remarks from Josh Dobson, president and CEO of the North Carolina
Healthcare Association (NCHA), aligned closely with President Nelson’s newly launched
initiative, NC Counties Care: Access Within Reach. Dobson addressed the rising cost of
healthcare and the ongoing challenges related to rural access to care. The discussion
highlighted opportunities for future collaboration between counties and the NCHA to expand their collective impact across underserved communities.
The board held a business session that included strategic planning discussions, financial and policy briefings, and updates from NCACC Executive Director Kevin Leonard, senior leadership, and executive officers — President Wallace Nelson; President-Elect and Hoke County Commissioner Allen Thomas; First Vice President and Ashe County Commissioner Todd McNeill; Second Vice President and Wake County Commissioner Shinica Thomas; and Past President and Warren County Commissioner Tare Davis. Members also approved minutes from the previous meeting and reviewed key advocacy priorities, Association initiatives, and committee reports.
The meeting concluded with Nelson outlining his presidential initiative and
encouraging continued collaboration among county leaders to address shared challenges and opportunities. For more information about the NCACC, the 2025-26 board members and its initiatives, visit ncacc.org.