Blog

Last week, Marion Sullivan, director of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, and I were in Boone to explore local issues and meet with some of the local leadership.

We began at City Hall, where we met with the Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson. Later we met with Richard Sparks, CEO of the Watauga Medical Center, Tony DiSanti, chairman of the NC State Bar, Jim Deal, County Commissioner and member of the UNC Board of Governors and Dan Meyer, CEO/President of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce.

In every office we discussed concerns regarding the upcoming budget and its implications at the local level. We heard thanks to the Governor for her ongoing commitment to education and job growth and support for the Gov. Perdue’s proposal to consolidate and reorganize state government.

Mayor Clawson expressed these accolades and went on to add with her usual infectious enthusiasm, “the Governor is putting her heart and soul into her job.”

Many thanks to these civic leaders for taking time out of their busy wintery day to meet with us. We appreciate their dedication and commitment and look forward to a continuing partnership.

Once upon a time, long long ago, a western prince and princess were spending a summer day on the sparkling waters of Lake James.  In the words of the prince himself, “It all began with the sighting of a bald eagle sailing majestically over our heads, as we set out for a summertime family paddle and picnic on Lake James. My wife and I looked at each other in utter disbelief at this never-before-seen sight – a bald eagle on Lake James! I knew right then something had to be done to protect this beautiful and special place.”

This prince, known locally as Paul Braun, founded “Citizens to Save Lake James”.  He and others worked together to obtain more than 7000 signatures calling for both protection and public access to the undeveloped shoreline of the lake.

Fast forward from 1998 through discussions, meetings, hearings, legislation and appropriations.  Like the Prince, friends, strangers, legislators, towns, cities, non-profits, Foothills Conservancy and Duke Energy/Crescent Resources fell under the spell of Lake James.  Governor Perdue played a pivotal, leading role in putting the spotlight on the project, resulting in collaborative and successful efforts to create the park.  Eventually, all worked together to preserve the beauty of Lake James and then expand a small state park by almost 3,000 acres and 30 miles of public shoreline. 

Recently the Paddy’s Creek portion of Lake James State Park, including a new public beach, was completed, calling for a celebration. I attended on behalf of Governor Perdue.  In the photo, Paul (in the middle) was joined at the ribbon-cutting by Representative Mitch Gillespie, Park Director Sean McElhone, Senator Joe Sam Queen, Judge Bob Hunter, Foothills Conservancy Director Susie Hamrick Jones, Representative Hugh Blackwell, and State Park Director Lewis Ledford.

If you would like to join Prince Paul Braun for a family paddle and picnic, please visit beautiful Lake James State Park in person and at the website, http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/laja/main.php.

Last week I had the privilege of working in western North Carolina with Scott Daugherty, North Carolina’s first Commissioner for Small Business, a position created by Gov. Bev Perdue to serve as an advocate for small business within state government and to coordinate and maximize the state resources available to those businesses.

Scott impressed me immediately with his emphasis on the word for in his title Commissioner for Small Business. Priorities show in that detail.

On Monday, Scott and I met in Morganton and toured the new Foothills Allied Healthcare Facility.  This renovated factory houses a collaborative effort in Burke County, bringing together the teaching efforts of Western Piedmont Community College, Lees-McCrae, Western Carolina University and Appalachian State University. Together they provide higher levels of education and training in allied healthcare at this large site.

On Tuesday, Scott and I began with an early visit to AB Tech Community College in Asheville.  We were  joined by Wendy Cagle, Director of the Western Division of the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC), and met with President Hank Dunn on the college campus.  We focused much of our time on addressing the local small business needs and discussing ways that local and state programs could cooperate to meet those needs.

Next Wendy and I joined the Commissioner in his meeting with Terry Bellamy, the Mayor of Asheville.  We discussed the difficulties that small businesses have had in this economy, both in starting and maintaining success.  The four of us discussed the benefits of Scott’s work to help streamline many of the small business assistance programs.

Later in the morning, we traveled on to Brevard to Transylvania Vocational Services.  TVS provides manufacturing and vocational services.  Many of the workers face challenging disabilities, and at TVO they are able to work and enjoy the fulfillment that work brings. We met with Nancy Stricker, executive director, and Jack Parker, the Board Chair for the non-profit company.  We continued our line of discussion from earlier in the day,  talking about local needs and various services for small businesses.  We also addressed some of the special needs and challenges TVO faces, and we left the meeting with plans to continue working on these issues.  Following the meeting, we were fortunate to take a tour of the remarkable facility.  We were impressed by the level of high-tech equipment on site to assist in the packaging of the dry milk and pancake mix products. As the picture of Wendy shows, the volume is daunting. 

Many thanks to Commissioner Scott Daugherty for his time and hard work on behalf of small businesses,  both in the west and statewide.  If you have questions related to small business assistance, please contact your local SBTDC office at 1.800.258.0862 or go to the website at http://www.sbtdc.org/.

Preparations for the North Carolina Governor’s Conference for Women are well underway. On November 9, 2010, more than 1,500 women from across the state will meet for a day of dialogue on women’s issues.  Prior conferences confirm that the experience will include dynamic speakers, entertainment, networking, and education.  On that day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, each participant chooses a session for passionate conversation that focuses on a particular “track”, such as career, well-being and money.

As a woman living and working in western North Carolina, I particularly encourage others from this region to join me on November 9 in Raleigh.  In this difficult economy, I share with many other women of the west a keen interest in financial matters, and thus the money track attracts my attention.  All but two of the counties in western North Carolina are Track 1 or Track 2 counties, showing high degrees of economic distress.  As Director of the Governor’s Western Office, I see daily the work of Governor Perdue and her administration to address the economic issues across the state, especially in the west.    I look forward to learning and discussing issues raised in the money track session.  Hopefully, we women in the west may take home lessons learned and resolutions inspired by this track and others in order to benefit our state, communities, families and ourselves.

Whether you are from the west, east, Piedmont or just down the street, please join us at the NC Governor’s Conference. For more information, please see the website at http://www.ncwomensconference.com, and don’t forget to register for conference updates on the site.  See you on November 9th.

This Thursday, July 15, western North Carolina has the honor of hosting one of President Obama’s “Great Outdoors Listening Sessions."  In April of this year, the President established the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to develop a conservation and recreation agenda worthy of the 21st century and to reconnect Americans with our great outdoors. The president directed federal agencies to hold listening sessions to hear ideas, success stories and concerns from interested citizens.

Over the years, Governor Perdue has been front and center in leading and participating in conservation and outdoor recreation efforts in order to promote land and water use and protection, while simultaneously promoting economic development and jobs.  She was instrumental during her terms in the state Senate in developing the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, and continues to lead the charge for funding this remarkable entity.

Her leadership in bringing together those with conservation expertise and fiscal management experience will be a model example used during this Thursday’s Listening Session.

Members of the Governor’s Office,  myself included, are working with leaders in the conservation and recreation community and other outdoor organizations in preparation for this event.  We hope you will join us in this day of discussion of land conservation, recreation and reconnecting Americans to the great outdoors. 

When: Thursday, July 15, 1 pm to 4 pm

Where: Asheville-Buncombe County Technical Institute; Asheville Campus, 340 Victoria Road, Asheville, NC 28801

Who: Representatives from the U.S. Interior and Agriculture departments, Environmental Protection Agency and Council on Environmental Quality will participate.

To Register: This event is free and open to the public. You are encouraged to pre-register by sending an e-mail to Teresa Lovelace (Teresa_Lovelace@nps.gov). Include with your email your name, organization, and primary area of interest:

1. Working land, open space, and landscape conservation
2. Outdoor recreation
3. Youth engagement and environmental education
4. General discussion

We hope to see you on Thursday!

Last week, Gov. Perdue recognized “National Volunteer Week" and every week she recognizes the importance of creating jobs in North Carolina.  So last week I welcomed the chance to work on both volunteerism and workforce development.

I had the pleasure of volunteering at Haywood Vocational Opportunities, Inc. (HVO) in Waynesville, Haywood County.  HVO is a remarkable manufacturing facility providing hundreds of quality jobs for a diverse population.  Many of those employed at HVO are workers with disabilities. 

Wendy Cagle, Regional Director of the Small Business and Technology Development Center at Western Carolina University, joined me as George Marshall, president of HVO, gave us a preliminary tour and then put us to work.

I had two work assignments.  First, I assisted Loretta Ewart in tagging the surgical non-woven drapes. Second, I followed Tim Coleman’s lead in processing labels.

The employees, clients and management at HVO work diligently and responsibly.  The company is successful on many levels, and it was a privilege for me to represent the Governor as a volunteer there that day. 

Juleigh Sitton, George Marshall, Wendy Cagle

Juleigh Sitton and Tim Coleman

Loretta Ewart and Juleigh Sitton

On Thursday I attended a search and rescue exercise at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville.  This yearly event is sponsored by the N.C. Emergency Management Division and hosts emergency response agencies from around the Southeast.  The exercise simulates conditions for a missing person in the mountains.

It was fascinating to see the variety of people participating, trained in different areas and from all over the country.  The participants worked in small teams to enhance their search and rescue skills.  It’s obvious how technology today improves rescue times and thus saves lives.

You can read about the exercise in the Asheville Citizen-Times and check out the great photos.