Mr. Cornwell has been with Cleveland County Water since December 2014 as General Manager. Prior to this, he was the City Engineer and Public Utilities Director for the City of Shelby from 2004-2014 and employed by TGS Engineers, Inc. from 1998-2004.
Mr. Cornwell was born and raised in Shelby, NC and graduated from Burns High School in 1994. He went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering and Management from NC State University in 1998. He holds a Professional Land Surveyor license in NC and is an Eagle Scout.
Mr. Cornwell is a member of ICMA, the NC Society of Surveyors, American Water Works Association (AWWA), American Public Works Association (APWA), NC Water Operators Association (NCWOA), and Shelby Rotary Club. He is also a longtime member of the Boy Scouts of America where he served as a Scoutmaster for a local troop from 2001 through 2022 and has received the Battleground District Award of Merit in 2007 and the District Volunteer of the Year award in 2001.
Mr. Cornwell is a lifelong member of Zion Baptist Church where he has served as a Deacon, as well as serving on various committees over the years.
He has been married to his wife Heather since 1999 and they have a son and a daughter.
In his spare time, he enjoys working with Boy Scouts as working on his family farm and “checking on the cows”.
