On Thursday, July 17, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to name Assistant County Manager Victor Isler as the new county manager – a decision that Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Skip Alston said would bring widespread excitement immediately to county employees.
Isler steps into the top job following the abrupt resignation of former County Manager Mike Halford last month.
Alston said the board considered whether to do a national search but quickly realized it already had the right person in-house.
“We talked about doing a search in the back room,” Alston told The Rhino Times after a two-hour closed session Thursday night in which the board made the decision. “But we said, what are we searching for? Do we really think we’re going to find somebody better than Victor? Someone who already knows the employees, already has their respect, already has a working relationship with every commissioner?”
Alston added that Isler knows where the buildings and bathrooms are in Guilford County government.
The decision was unanimous – with commissioners from both parties and across racial lines all giving their full backing to Isler.
Commissioner Pat Tillman wasn’t at the meeting because he is a member of the National Guard and he was in another part of the country helping people during his two-week stint of service this summer.
Alston, who has worked with Isler closely over the past several years, had no shortage of praise for Isler.
“He’s a professional’s professional,” Alston said. “Very articulate, very engaged, and smart as hell. I’m surprised we kept him this long to be honest with you.”
Isler has served as assistant county manager over the “Successful People” portfolio, overseeing a wide swath of departments including Public Health, Social Services, Behavioral Health, the Family Justice Center, Child Support, Court Services, and Veterans Services.
In that role, he supervised more employees than any other assistant county manager – and by all accounts did it well.
“You know how I know he’s doing a good job?” Alston said. “Because I don’t get any complaints. And believe me, I get complaints when people are unhappy. But with Victor, nothing. Not one bad remark.”
Alston said one thing that stood out was how Isler handled a recent transition at the Family Justice Center after a fire closed the downtown Greensboro building where the center is housed.
“He kept us up to date every step of the way,” Alston said. “Not just once a day – two or three times a day. That’s something we hadn’t had before.”
Alston was also impressed by Isler’s early outreach to county staff after becoming interim county manager last month.
“On his first day, he got on Zoom with just about every department head in the county,” Alston said. “That was the largest gathering like that we’ve had in a long time. It tells me he’s connected with the employees – and they’re connected with him.”
Even more telling, Alston said, has been the consistent feedback from employees – or rather, the lack of complaints.
“I’ve been around a long time,” Alston said. “I hear it when people aren’t happy. But in all this time, I haven’t heard anything bad about Victor. That tells me everything I need to know.”
One thing that really struck the chairman was that Isler had participated directly in the county’s annual count of the homeless – hitting the streets himself as part of a team.
“That’s the kind of hands-on leadership we need,” Alston said. “He’s been leading on our homeless task force, helping get the Continuum of Care back on track. That’s been a mess for years, and now we’re really making progress.”
In recent years, Isler has played a central role in helping the county bring in new funds and organize its fragmented homelessness response system. As the collaborative applicant for the Continuum of Care – the federal funding mechanism for homelessness programs – Guilford County had long struggled with gaps in accountability and cooperation among local agencies.
Alston said Isler helped change that.
“We’re finally in a position where things are clicking,” he said. “He got in there and straightened it out. That’s leadership.”
Before joining Guilford County, Isler served as the director of social services in Forsyth County – the largest department there – and brought a strong reputation for collaboration and innovation. His resume includes everything from creating a foster care clinic with Duke Health to leading efforts to secure federal workforce development funds for food and nutrition recipients.
He holds three degrees – a bachelor’s in sociology from Winston-Salem State, a master’s in social work from a joint N.C. A&T/UNC-Greensboro program, and a master’s in health administration from Pfeiffer University.
He also earned public leadership credentials from Georgetown and UNC-Chapel Hill.
While in Guilford County, Isler helped the county win national recognition from the National Association of Counties (NACo), receiving back-to-back awards in 2023 and 2024 for best in health and human services.
Alston said Isler’s experience, passion, and leadership were impossible to ignore.
“He’s got enthusiasm and vision,” Alston said. “He’s got the respect of the people who work for him and the people he works with. And that’s what we need in a county manager.”
Isler will earn $315,000 per year in his new role.
He and his wife, Dr. Malika Roman Isler, assistant vice president at Wake Forest University, are the parents of three children.
“He’s rooted in the community,” Alston added. “His family’s here, his work is here, and his heart is clearly in Guilford County.”
The chairman also noted that this was the first time he could recall such a seamless and unified decision for a county leadership role of this magnitude. He said black and white commissioners, male and female, and Democratic and Republican commissioners all agreed on this one.
“I’ve been through a lot of searches,” Alston said. “And I’ve never seen a decision this easy – or this unanimous. We didn’t need to spend $75,000 to find somebody else who’s not going to know the county, not going to know the employees, and not going to have that instant trust.”
“It’s a good day for Guilford County,” Alston added. “We’re lucky to have him.”
Don’t know enough about any of this to comment. Except for one thing.
“He’s rooted in the community,” Alston added. “His family’s here, his work is here, and his heart is clearly in Guilford County.”
That is a false statement. He lives in Clemmons in Forsyth County.
Notaclue, skips MO as usual, he never lets the truth get in his way
Thats funny. His salary is more than $40K than the previous 30 year experienced Manager who actually lives in Guilford County. Shouldn’t he be paid what that the previous manager was making? Good job Skip spreading more falsehoods. I am sure he knows the employes. I bet he can’t name 12 by name. People remember the next election cycles vote, vote, vote and get these Democrats out and maybe our taxes will drop instead of being higher than Mecklenburg and Wake Counties. How did that happen??
It’s called the Skippy Tax.
Skippy, race baiter extraordinare, approves? NO.
Did anyone doubt that Emperor Skippy would promote his minion to do his bidding?
I don’t know about his abilities. But, I have thought for years Greensboro City, Guilford County and the school system are all large enough that they should be developing talent from within and avoid national searches. I think every national search resulting in bringing in someone who left after a few years for a larger job. Home grown talent is more likely to have family, friends, etc and stick around. I hope this works out.
Widespread excitement and he knows where the bathrooms are. Wow , no surprises here. 315k/yr and not even a resident of the county? I feel certain he has the best interest of all the citizens of Guilford County. Try to sleep well tonight. Another bobblehead for Skip.
Actually the entire board is high on him, not just Skip. I am not sure where he lives. I will find out. Usually, when someone becomes manager of Guilford County, they move to the county if they are not a resident already.
Thank you John or Scott. I remember a comment that was made re a system issue where John’s name was published and not your name. Still love the Rhino! Keep up the good work.
Need to write another article when you find out if he is really moving to Guilford County and also explain how the Commissioners justified the huge increase in salary for him. Our tax dollars at work…..
I doubt he will move, as his wife works at Wake Forest, that’s why they live in Clemmons, plus the taxes are less than Guilford County hahahahahahaha
Are Victor Isler and Skip Alston responsible for the former county manager’s abrupt retirement? Did Isler bad-mouth and undermine Michael Halford to Skippy and since Skippy was not a fan of Halford, did Skippy use the timing to force Halford’s retirement? All the positives that Alston reported about Isler are no more than someone vying for a promotion. The fact that Alston has not received any complaints about Isler is not on its face a positive indication that Isler will be a solid county manager. Maybe there have been no complaints because Isler is lazy and does not expect a lot of his underlings and leaves them alone to be lazy too or they fear him. Other than his three years as Guilford County Assistant Manager, he has been a contracted Licensed Clinical Social Worker and for three years, Director of the Department of Social Services in Forsyth County. Please help me understand how a social worker is educated in the financial planning of a municipal budget. Contrast Halford’s background with Isler’s background. Next, the Greensboro Police Department will start hiring social workers to answer 911 calls.
Alston told the Rhino Times that the new manager had nothing to do with the former manager leaving.
And you believe him? Of course, Alston would say that. Surely you don’t believe him. Alston thinks he can’t be touched. That’s what Chuck Watts thought too.
Big Daddy Alston… add a cigar, bowler hat and some spats, then the picture is perfect.
All due respect Scott, of course Skip is going to say that. Question is do you believe him? Mike was the yes man after Marty, and after 4 years Mike probably quit being the yes man to a certain extent.
Then Mike “retired” abruptly (sure didn’t seem like he was slowing down or bowing out anytime soon). Add to that the fact Isler is making 10s of thousands more than Halford made last year with 30+ years of experience I think we have our answer.
The only thing about this bunch that would “excite” me is if they were all voted out.
Way back on June 28, TermLimits hit the nail on the head in this comment section. Evidently the price for a “Yes Man” to Skip is now $315,000 a year… Which is what Mr Isler’s starting salary is… Which means the GC manager pay has increased from $226,000 to $315,000 in 4 years.
How many others can say their pay increased 40% in 4 years? Shameful
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There is no limit to the greed of the Public Sector. It’s obscene.
Isler – you first and most important job will be to lower property taxes.
For that salary, he should live in our county. How is he even eligible for any position without living in this county? Just asking!
Property taxpayers, please recognize that Isler’s salary is paid by YOU. The mean salary for county manager is
$115,293 per year as of June 2025. That equates to 1/2 of county managers make below that figure and 1/2 make above that figure. As of June 2025, the average annual pay for a county manager in North Carolina was $140,004. Isler’s annual salary is 2 1/4 times the average annual county manager’s salary in NC. Isler’s experience is in social work, not finance, not administration, and he is certainly not a budget expert. So, what qualifications does Isler possess that would qualify him for this ridiculously inflated salary? Skip Alston is a menace to Guilford County.
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Am I the only one who figures that a senior bureaucrat in a small Southern city like ours should be paid around $100,000 a year?
Alston, Alston, Alston ,16 times. Is there reason for concern?
Property taxpayers, please recognize that Isler’s salary is paid by YOU. The mean salary for county managers is $115,293 per year as of June 2025. That equates to 1/2 of all county managers make below that figure and 1/2 make above that figure. As of June 2025, the average annual pay for a county manager in North Carolina was $140,004. Isler’s annual salary is 2 1/4 times the average annual county manager’s salary in NC. Isler’s experience is in social work, not finance, not administration, and he is certainly not a budget expert. So, what qualifications does Isler possess that would qualify him for this ridiculously inflated salary?
His #1 qualification is knowing how not to disagree with skip. And then there’s Skip way of reparations and how big of a donation will the money pit museum receive from the new director
i lie always lie lying now i AM a spammer & eating it now ! & tell my doctor i never eat it !