The Valdese Town Council announced that William “Todd” Herms will serve as the next town manager. The Council voted to appoint Mr. Herms as the town manager at their special called meeting on April 25, 2025, and he is slated to begin in the position on May 1, 2025. Herms was selected from a competitive pool of applicants across the region and state. In the end, the Council chose Herms due to a combination of his education, experience, and personal characteristics.
Herms recently served as County Manager for Alexander County, where he oversaw a $56.6 million budget and most county operations with supervision of more than 500 employees. Prior to Alexander County, he served as the Maiden Town Manager for 16 years. He is a graduate of Western Carolina University with a Master’s in Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science.
Mayor Charlie Watts stated, “We are excited about Todd joining the Town of Valdese as our next town manager. He is a manager with a great reputation among his peers in the state. His experience and knowledge will directly contribute to the projects and opportunities for the town. His successful track record of economic development, as well as his utility and construction management experience, stood out as examples of how he will help the town.”
Mr. Herms said, “I’m truly honored for the opportunity to serve Valdese. This is a special place, and I feel incredibly fortunate to join a dedicated group of elected officials and committed staff members. It’s a great community with an amazing story to tell.”
Some highlights and accomplishments include:
Mr. Herms has over 18 years of town management experience, with 16 of those years as town manager with the Town of Maiden.
-Herms assisted with major economic development projects for the Town of Maiden including, billion-dollar projects with Apple, Inc. and Microsoft’s Data Center.
-Recruiting 2,350 jobs across various industries including, automotive, high-tech manufacturing, and data centers.
-Overseeing the design and construction of Maiden’s Town Hall, Police Department, and Fire Station.
The Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG) assisted the Town of Valdese with the manager search process. The WPCOG is a regional planning, service, and economic development agency owned by and serves the 28 local governments in Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba Counties.
