Western Regional Program 2023
Forum Info 2021-2022
December 13th, 2021 — Henderson County | Fletcher, NC
February 14th, 2022 — Haywood County| Waynesville, NC
March 14th, 2022 — Transylvania County | Brevard, NC
April 11th, 2022 — Madison County | Mars Hill, NC
May 9th, 2022 — Buncombe County | Asheville, NC
Western Regional Report
Although North Carolinians have always had significant political differences,
they have historically exhibited a practical, problem-solving mindset to
politics. However, the tenor of the times has become highly partisan, and like
many other states, North Carolina finds itself sharply divided. Progressive
and conservative leaders often depend on different media and social media
outlets, operate with different facts and beliefs, don’t engage substantively on
a regular basis with people with whom they disagree, and all too often assume
the worst about the motives of others. For these reasons, our leaders are less
willing and able to work together to create widely embraced solutions and
opportunities for our state and its people. Our aim is to help bridge this divide.
Participants
Kenny Barnwell, Kenny Barnwell Orchards
Preston Blakely, Mayor of Fletcher
Vivian Bolanos, Business Development Officer, First Bank
Greg Borom, Children First/Communities in Schools Buncombe County
Maureen Copelof, Mayor of Brevard
Kit Cramer, Asheville Chamber of Commerce
Clark Duncan, Economic Development Coalition for Asheville and Buncombe
Kevin Ensley, Chair, Haywood County Board of Commissioners
Tony Floyd, President of Mars Hill College
Lori Garcia-McCammon, True Ridge Ministries and Foundation
Sarah Grymes, VP of Impact for Housing, Dogwood Health Trust
Neal Hanks, President, Beverly-Hanks Realtors
Mike Hawkins, Pisgah Enterprises; Former Transylvania County Commissioner
Kevin Hefner, First Horizon Bank
Jennifer Hensley, Hendersonville Town Council
Holly Jones, NC Department of Justice
William Lapsley, Chair, Henderson County Board of Commissioners
Melinda Lowrance, Chair Henderson NAACP
Julie Mayfield, NC Senate
Robin Merrell, Pisgah Legal Services; Chair, NC Housing Coalition
Andy Nadeau, President, Bank of America Asheville and East Region Market Executive
Angela Owen, TBL Leadership Partners; VISION Transylvania
Robin Ramsey, Office of Senator Richard Burr
Jay Richardson, New Belgium Brewing
April Riddle, Western Director, NC Department of Insurance
Jeremiah Robinson, Mountain BizWorks
Michele Rogers, Select Homes
O’Neal Shelton, Wolf Mountain Realty; Madison County Chamber of Commerce
Anthony Sutton, Alderman, City of Waynesville; Information Systems Director, Biltmore Farms
Hilton Swing, Chair, Board Chair, Henderson County Housing Assistance Corporation
Sage Turner, Asheville City Council
Stephanie Swepson-Twitty, Eagle Street Markets Development Corporation
Gregory Wheeler, Business Leader Haywood County
Angelica Wind, NC Counts Coalition, Healthier Together Regional Director, Region 1
