State Government Vets Penny, Boyette Complete Cooper's Cabinet | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: The author of this post is Dan Way, who is an associate editor for the Carolina Journal, John Hood Publisher.

    Ron Penny's first job after college was in the state Department of Revenue mailroom. On Friday Gov. Roy Cooper named him secretary of revenue, a post in which he will manage state tax collections.

    Cooper also announced that Eric Boyette will lead the Department of Information Technology, which runs state IT services. They were the final two selections needed to complete Cooper's Cabinet.

    Cooper said Penny and Boyette "join a talented team of leaders in my Cabinet who are working with me to move North Carolina forward."

    Penny has been acting revenue secretary since January. He previously served as chairman and associate professor in the Department of Public Administration at North Carolina Central University. He was state personnel director for eight years.

    Penny holds a bachelor of science degree in economics from North Carolina A&T State University, and a law degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. He lives in Clayton.

    Boyette has spent a decade at the N.C. Department of Transportation, including work as the department's chief information officer and acting commissioner for the Division of Motor Vehicles.

    Boyette lives in Kenly, and is a graduate of Barton College, where he received a bachelor of science in business administration.