Person County Announces New Planning Director

Person County is pleased to announce the appointment of Nishith Trivedi as the new Planning Director, effective October 2, 2025.

Trivedi was most recently the Transportation Director for Orange County. In that role, he led the Multimodal Transportation Department, managed a team of more than 20 people, oversaw a $2 million budget, and directed transportation investments at the state, federal, and local levels. With 26 years of experience in planning and transportation, he has demonstrated strong leadership in delivering projects, working with stakeholders, following regulations, developing policies, and managing teams.

As Planning Director, Trivedi will oversee planning activities and programs, including zoning, subdivision regulations, watershed protection, flood control, hazard mitigation, transportation, and related matters. He will recommend policies and regulations to advisory boards and Commissioners, review and make recommendations on land use requests, enforce rules, interpret ordinances and regulations related to the department's responsibilities, issue permits, and record violations.

“Nish comes to us with a wealth of experience in the planning field, particularly in the areas of administration, long-range planning, transportation, and local and regional collaboration,” said County Manager Katherine Cathey. “He brings leadership and vision to our Planning Department, prioritizing teamwork and responsiveness.”

Trivedi earned his Bachelor of Professional Studies in Architecture and Philosophy, as well as his Master of City and Regional Planning, from the University of Memphis.