Rowan County on Wednesday announced Randy J. Cress had been hired as the county’s new chief information officer.

Cress is a certified government chief information officer and has worked for Rowan County in Information Systems for more than a decade. He succeeds David Boling who retired September 30, 2015. As chief information officer, Cress will oversee ongoing development and management of the county’s information systems and technology needs, providing support for more than 750 employees across the county.

As chief information officer, Cress will make approximately $100,000 annually, which is less than what Boling made before retirement.

Cress earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Catawba College in 2006 and a master’s of public administration from Appalachian State University in 2012. In 2007, he graduated from the certified government chief information officer’s course at the University of North Carolina’s School of Government in Chapel Hill.

Cress currently serves as chair of the professional development committee of the North Carolina Local Government Information Systems Association, which fosters collaboration and sharing of technical knowledge among North Carolina local governments and school systems. He received the association’s James S. Cooper Award in November 2013.

Cress enjoys road cycling and trail running throughout Rowan County. He and his wife, Dacia, have been married for 19 years and have one daughter.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.