Bladen County welcomes new county manager

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Bladen County has a new leader at the helm.

The Bladen County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously during its July 21 meeting to hire Sam Croom as the county’s new manager. His first day was Monday.

According to a news release, Croom comes to Bladen County with more than 20 years of public service experience. Most recently, he served as Pitt County’s Deputy County Manager and Chief Financial Officer. He also previously worked as Pitt County’s Assistant County Manager overseeing revenue and growth, as well as Tax Administrator. His background includes auditing, budgeting, capital planning, project management, and tax administration for the North Carolina Department of Revenue, Jones County, and Wayne County.

Croom is a graduate of East Carolina University, North Carolina Wesleyan College, Liberty University, and UNC-Chapel Hill, holding degrees in political science, accounting, and public administration. He also completed the UNC School of Government’s Municipal and County Administration course and the National Association of Counties’ High-Performance Leadership Academy.

In a statement, Croom said he is honored to take on the role.

“I want to thank the Bladen County Board of Commissioners for placing their trust in me,” Croom said. “I am excited to start work and look forward to the opportunities ahead. In addition, I am eager to start collaborating with the Board, meeting County Staff and Community Leaders, and working together to achieve great things for the Citizens of Bladen County.”