Rich Cappola was officially named Town Manager on Oct. 3, 2022. Before that he served the town in a variety of roles including the town’s first director of engineering and inspections, director of public services, deputy town manager, and as interim town manager. In his role as town manager, Cappola said he will focus on managing growth and streamlining processes involving master planning, design, permitting, and construction. He plans to continue to prioritize the operations and management of the town's services and infrastructure. He also hopes to further cultivate and expand community relationships and partnerships.
Cappola has 20 years of civil engineering, design and land-use planning experience, working in both municipal government and the private sector as a professional engineer (PE). He recently earned a Master of Public Administration degree from NC State, where he also earned a master's degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineering. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Clemson University as well. A Connecticut native, Cappola has lived in the triangle region of North Carolina since 2006. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the North Carolina City and County Managers Association (NCCCMA), and the American Public Works Association (APWA).