Land of Sky Regional Council Leadership Awards 2022

Land of Sky Regional Council’s Annual Awards were conferred during the December Board of Delegates Meeting on November 30, 2022. The Robert G. Parrish, Sr. Intergovernmental Relations Award, The Charles H. Campbell Regional Leadership Award and The Robert E. Shepherd Excellence in Local Government Award were presented by the Council. In addition, there were six Extraordinary Public Leadership Awards and four Extraordinary Legislative Service Awards conferred this year.

The Robert G. Parrish, Sr. Intergovernmental Relations Award is given in honor of the late Council Chairman and first Mayor of Fletcher. It is presented at the discretion of the Council’s Executive Committee to an elected or appointed official who has made significant contributions to improving intergovernmental relations. This year the award was presented to former Land of Sky Regional Council Board of Delegates member, George Morosani, for his contributions to the Land of Sky Region, and the State of North Carolina. Mr. Morosani stepped down from the board this year after 30 years of service as a board member. He is the longest serving board member of Land of Sky Regional Council in the Council’s 56-year history.

The Charles H. Campbell Regional Leadership Award was named for four-time Council Chairman and long-time Brevard Mayor who himself received a national award for regional leadership in 1977. The award was dedicated in 1983 to annually honor an outstanding contributor to the betterment of Western North Carolina and the Land of Sky Region. The Council’s Executive Committee awards it to another Council Member who has made a major long-term contribution to the Council and its governance. This year the award was presented to Mayor of Hendersonville and Past Chair, Land of Sky Regional Council Board of Delegates, Barbara Volk, for her dedication and leadership on behalf of Land of Sky Regional Council and Western North Carolina.

The Robert E. Shepherd Excellence in Local Government Excellence Award is presented at the Council’s discretion to a local government professional who has shown great leadership in improving governance and service delivery, especially in the areas of regional cooperation and collaboration. Dedicated in 2016, this awardhonors Land of Sky Regional Council’s first Executive Director of 30 years. This year’s award was presented to Town of Black Mountain Manager, Josh Harrold, for his dedication and service to greatly enhance the quality of life for the citizens of the Town of Black Mountain and our region.

Extraordinary Public Service Award
This year, the Council bestowed this award on 4 outstanding Emergency Management Directors in the region as well as two county commissioners. Caleb Dispenza, Madison County Emergency Management Director, Van Taylor Jones, Buncombe County Emergency Management Director, Jimmy Brissie, Henderson County Emergency Management Director, and Kevin Shook, Transylvania County Emergency Management Director were given this award in appreciation for their devotion, commitment and exemplary service as Emergency Management Directors in our region. Their unwavering dedication to our citizens has helped our region respond to the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Land of Sky Regional Council is grateful for their exemplary leadership and dedication to public service. Buncombe County Commissioner Al Whitesides has been a trailblazer for most of his life. He helped lead desegregation efforts in Asheville as part of Asheville Student Commission on Racial Equality (ASCORE) while he was a student. Later in life he was a banker, Chair of the Asheville City Schools board, Chair of the UNC Asheville Board of Trustees among numerous other public service roles. Commissioner Whitesides made history as the first African-American to serve as a commissioner in Buncombe County. He has received numerous awards and recognitions over the years and a classroom building on the UNC Asheville campus is named in his honor. Madison County Commissioner and Interim County ManagerNorris Gentry has served Madison County for most of his life as an educator, workforce development leader and most recently as a County Commissioner and Interim County Manager. Commissioner Gentry led the county through the pandemic with professionalism and dedication. He also served on the Land of Sky Regional Council Board of Delegates and most recently he has served as the Board Vice Chair. Commissioner Whitesides and Commissioner Gentry exemplify the best of public service and Land of Sky Regional Council recognizes their exemplary leadership and heart for service.

Extraordinary Legislative Service Award
NC Senator and Congressman-Elect Chuck Edwards, NC Representative John Ager, NC Representative Susan Fisher, and NC Representative Brian Turner were awarded the Extraordinary Legislative Service Award in appreciation for their devotion, commitment and exemplary service as members of the North Carolina General Assembly. Senator Edwards represented Senate District 48 from 2016-2022. Representative Susan Fisher represented House District 114 from 2004 – 2022. Representative John Ager represented House District 114 from 2015-2022. Representative Brian Turner represented House District 116 from 2015 – 2022. Each of these legislators chose not to run for re-election to the NC General Assembly. Their unwavering dedication to the citizens of Western North Carolina and our state has earned the respect of both the community and their colleagues. Land of Sky Regional Council is grateful for their exemplary leadership and dedication to public service.