New Ross Township Manager is North Hills, Pitt Grad, Current Director of Administrative Services in Bellevue

The Ross Township Board of Commissioners did not have to go far to find their next township manager. Douglas Sample, 37, grew up in Ross Township, graduated from North Hills High School, and currently works at director of administrative services in neighboring Bellevue.

Prior to his job in Bellevue, he served for six years as borough manager in Crafton.

He holds a masters of public administration degree from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate school of Public and International Affairs. Also at Pitt, he earned a bachelor's degree in political science and history.

"At first I thought I would go into public policy, perhaps work for a think tank," Sample said. "But then I got an internship at Neville Island, and that really got my juices flowing for municipal management."

Sample considers the Ross Township manager his dream job.

"Those are my tax dollars being spent, now I really have a stake in the game," he said. "I think we can make Ross one of the ideal communities for living and working in Western Pennsylvania."

Unlike his predessor, , Sample will not serve a dual role as township manager and finance director.

"I firmly believe that in an area the size of Ross, you need a dedicated finance director," he said. "That will be one of my first orders of business when I sit down with the commissioners on Jan. 21."

Sample said he will wrap up his duties in Bellevue sometime in early to mid January.

"This is very exciting for me," he said. "I can't wait to get started."

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