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WINTON – For the first time in 12 months, Hertford County local government has a manager without the interim title adjacent to their name.

On Monday morning of this week, Oryan Lowry raised his right hand and took the oath of Hertford County Manager. Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Cy Grant administered the oath of office to Lowry during the regularly scheduled meeting of the Hertford County Board of Commissioners.

“I appreciate the opportunity to work for Hertford County,” said Lowy after taking the oath. “I look forward to working for the citizens of this county and working with the county employees.

“I look forward to helping with the continued growth of Hertford County,” he continued. “We have a lot of opportunities coming in the next six months that will be very positive for the county. I’m ready to go to work.”

Lowry joins Hertford County local government after serving as the Town Manager in Grifton, located south of Greenville, since June 1 of last year.

Prior to Grifton, Lowry worked as the Town Administrator in Bladenboro from 2020-2022. He left that job to serve as the executive director for Hope Alive, a 501c nonprofit in Pembroke that was awarded a $10 million grant to build a facility for use as a halfway house for opioid addiction.

He had also served as Pembroke’s City Manager.

Lowry served in the U.S. Army and North Carolina National Guard. After leaving the military he was employed as a consumer safety inspector for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He has also worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Lowry earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

“Oryan is the most easy talking manager we’ve had,” said Hertford County Commissioner John Horton. “The importance of that fact is he seems to be the kind of person that our county employees can feel comfortable in going to him with issues that are in need of resolution. I welcome him to Hertford County.”

“I look forward to working with our new manager and looking forward in seeing what he can do for our county,” noted Commissioner Bill Mitchell.

“Welcome to the county and I wish you much success,” remarked Commissioner Leroy Douglas.

“I’m excited and glad that Mr. Lowry decided to join us,” stated Commissioner Ronald Gatling.

Lowry’s employment contract with Hertford County calls for him to earn an annual salary of $137,500 plus benefits, to include paying his health insurance premiums and the use of a county-owned vehicle. Upon finding a home in Hertford County, Lowry will be given a one-time payment of $3,000 to cover his moving/relocation expenses.

Lowry replaced Kevin Patterson, who served as Hertford County’s Interim Manager since Aug. 1, 2023.

Hertford County’s last full-time manager was David Cotton. Following three and one-half years in Winton, Cotton resigned effective July 31, 2023 to become the manager of Cleveland County.