David Williams is a graduate of Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, where he received both Bachelor of Science, and Master of Public Administration Degrees. Currently, Mr. Williams is the Community Affairs and Development Administrator in the Gaston County Manager’s Office. He has nearly 28 years of local government service. He is formerly the Director of Planning and Development Services for Gaston County, NC, where he served for 15 years.
He directed the County Land Use Planning Program, which includes Land Use Planning, Long Range Planning, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Environmental Planning and Administration, Ordinance Amendments, and Historic Preservation Planning. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), and certified as an Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP). Mr. Williams was one of the key organizers to help jumpstart G-CaMP (Gaston and Municipal Planners Group). Mr. Williams has been involved with the Gaston County Census program for over 20 years serving as Chair of the Complete Count Committee as well as Project Manager since 1998. As result of Gaston County efforts with the Census he had to testify in front of a U.S. Congress House Sub-Committee in 2009 on the county-wide 2010 Census promotional and technical activities.