Chief of Staff Ben Canada provides leadership to many of the Manager’s Office core functions, including agenda development, strategic planning, communications, and legislative affairs and advocacy. He coordinates the Board of Commissioners' agenda development process, helping the County’s Leadership Team and the Board conduct informed, transparent, decision-making processes. Ben serves as the County liaison to С»ÆѼÊÓƵ Tech, Board of Elections, and other County offices.
Ben joined the Manager’s Office in 2018 after eight years working with the City of Raleigh’s Budget team, where he served as an analyst, manager and the acting director. Prior to that, he worked several years in С»ÆѼÊÓƵ County’s budget office, leading the operating budget process. Ben began his public service career as a policy analyst with Congressional Research Service in Washington, D.C., focusing on homeland security issues.
Originally from Roanoke, Virginia, Ben has a Masters in Public Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill and a bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary. He has been a licensed Certified Public Accountant since 2014. In June 2024, he completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.