Ben Willis

Ben Willis serves as the Community and Economic Development Director for the Western Piedmont Council of Governments since February 2022. Previous roles include Director at The Education Foundation Inc. of Caldwell County, where efforts focused on securing resources for local public schools, and City Council Member for the City of Lenoir, NC, contributing to community governance. With extensive experience at Caldwell Community College, Ben held multiple positions, including Director of the Small Business Center, where support for small businesses was emphasized, and Director of Technology Education, overseeing various training programs. A business owner of HogWaller Outfitters Inc. and co-host at Foothills Radio Group, Ben also worked as a Middle Grades Instructor in the Caldwell County School System. Ben earned an MBA in Technology and Innovation from North Carolina State University and holds bachelor's degrees in Philosophy and Education from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and Appalachian State University, respectively.