Commissioners Name Edward Welch New Procurement Officer
The Worcester County Commissioners appointed Edward Welch to serve as the procurement officer with Worcester County Government (WCG). Welch, a military veteran, brings more than three decades of experience from his 32-year career with Perdue.
“Ed will be a tremendous asset to the County,” Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young said. “This role is central to our responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars, and Ed brings the professionalism, discipline, and real-world experience needed to ensure the County consistently receives the best value—from routine operational purchases to complex, multi-million-dollar capital projects. His background, leadership, and private-sector mindset will strengthen our procurement practices and support smart, efficient government for our residents.”
Prior to joining Worcester County, Welch served for 11 years as Perdue’s sourcing manager-CapEx, where he managed company-wide sourcing for all capital expenditure projects, totaling roughly $200 million per year. His role included spend analysis, strategic sourcing, and relationship management for bids that included paving, industrial refrigeration, construction, new equipment, fleet equipment, maintenance repair, overhead items, pallets, and rental equipment. From 2006 to 2011, he served as the director of purchasing (Procure-to-Pay), where he managed $200 million of indirect procurement and capital projects valued at over $31 million annually.
His procurement experience includes writing specifications with internal customers, RFPs, company background, insurance requirements, evaluating bids with customers, and collaborating with risk, legal, and finance.
Welch moved to the Eastern Shore as a teenager. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Salisbury University and an MBA from Wilmington University, and he served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army from 1987 to 1993, where he led logistics units of over 300 soldiers both nationally and internationally.
“It is an honor and privilege to serve the residents of Worcester County,” Welch said. “I look forward to using my prior work experience to help bring value to the procurement operations of this great team.”
Welch will work closely with the County Commissioners and staff, as well as other local, state, and regional purchasing cooperatives and associations to leverage spending and utilize economies of scale. He will represent WCG in sourcing, procurement, contract administration, inventory management, vendor management, and other related duties.