UNCA's 20th Leadership Asheville Class Graduates

UNC Asheville's Leadership Programs wrapped up its 20th Leadership Asheville class with a graduation ceremony May 15 for the 42 program participants. More than 750 area residents have completed the program since its inception in 1982.

"Our mission is to inform, prepare, and motivate citizens to help them become more effective decision-makers and leaders in Asheville and Buncombe County," said Mitchell Williams, UNCA's director of Leadership Programs. "Each year in Leadership Asheville, we explore issues affecting the future of our community and topics ranging from local government and education to economic development and the environment. The program also includes team service projects that help participants to improve their collaborative problem-solving skills and refine their leadership styles, while making contributions to the community."

Leadership Asheville 20 graduates are: Ruth Anderson, Givens Estates; Mike Barker, Gold Star Coatings; Sharon Bell, G & S Inc.; Becky Brown, Mission St. Joseph's; Jamye Davis, Big Brothers Big Sisters; Margaret Edwards, North Buncombe Elementary School; Cynthia Eller, Van Winkle, Buck, Wall, Starnes & Davis; Joe Franklin, Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College; Georgia Gantt, Gantt Investment Services; Ellen Garrison, Thoms Rehabilitation Hospital; Paul Grass, Valley Springs Middle School; Greg Grayson, Asheville City Fire & Rescue; Wanda Hawthorne, Asheville City Parks & Recreation; Christopher Hemmings, Biltmore Farms; Margaret Hurt, Mountain Area Child and Family Center; Roger James Jr., Strauss & Associates; Allison Jordan, Children First; Karen Kiehna, Affordable Housing Coalition; Tracy Kunkler, Land-of-Sky Regional Council; Mark Lewis, Boys, Arnold & Company; Jim Long , American Red Cross; DeAnn Lyda, Asheville City Parks & Recreation; Ashly Maag, Junior League of Asheville; Kim MacQueen, Gold Hill Associates; John McMahon, Family & Children's Resource Program; Mike Rangel, Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company; Fredrick Reese, Western Carolina Industries; Randall Richardson, Mission St. Joseph's; Scott Riviere , Environment and Conservation Management; Elizabeth Russell, Eagle Market Street Development Corporation; Julie Sargent, United Way 2-1-1 Program; Kitty Schaller, MANNA Food Bank; Patricia Sells, Mountain Area Child and Family Center; LaVoy Spooner, Bell South; Steve Steinert, Asheville Area Arts Council; Renee Taylor , French Broad Food Cooperative; David Turner, Verizon Wireless; Deborah Turner, Samsel Architects; Valerie Tuttle, Yellow Book USA; Bob Vassian, Mission St. Joseph's; Mike Willett, BB&T; and Andy Williford, Blue Ridge Paper.

For information about Leadership Asheville, call UNCA's Leadership Programs Office at 828/251-6125.

Media Contacts:

• Mitchell Williams, UNCA Leadership Programs Director, 828/251-6125
• Jill Yarnall, UNCA Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526