News

Laurel Park hires manager with connection to Jump Off

Christopher Todd starts on July 15.

By Bill Moss, Published: May 21, 2019

LAUREL PARK — Laurel Park has a new town manager, one with a meaningful connection to the Town on a Mountain. The Laurel Park Town Council on Tuesday officially hired Christopher Todd, a former Henderson County planner who is now administrator for the town of Sawmills, near Lenoir.

During an interview with town council members, Todd disclosed that he had proposed to his wife, Victoria, on Jump Off Rock.
“After an extensive interview process, Mr. Todd rose above 29 other applicants and all of these closed sessions and special meetings had to do with interviews,” Mayor Carey O’Cain said. “It was a lengthy process. … We are glad to have you here.”
O’Cain thanked interim town manager Mike Morgan, who took over town’s administrative duties after Alison Alexander left to take a county government job in Lancaster, South Carolina. Todd, who will make an annual salary of $82,000, starts on July 15.
A Florida native, Todd earned a bachelor’s degree in geography from Appalachian State University in 2012 and dual master’s degrees in geography and public administration, also from ASU, in 2017. He was employed as a land planner with Henderson County until 2015. He has also received professional growth training at the UNC School of Government and is pursuing a budget officer certification through the N.C. Local Government Budget Association.
“I believe that Christopher will be a strong leader for our community and will be comfortable working with all the citizens of Laurel Park,” O’Cain said in a statement.