Since 1982, Leadership Asheville has been working with people who want to play a role in making Asheville and Buncombe County a better place to live and work. One of the leadership programs of the University of North Carolina at Asheville, Leadership Asheville is a nine-month program of study, discussion, and service which brings together people who care

about issues affecting the community and who share a concern for the region’s future.

The members of Leadership Asheville 20 completed an Opening Retreat recently at UNC

Asheville’s Kellogg Center. Participants in this year’s program will explore topics ranging from economic development and governance to education and natural resources in Buncombe County. They will also develop leadership skills such as consensus-building and collaborative problem solving, and will work on service projects related to the Asheville-Buncombe Vision Statement.

"Over the past 19 years, Leadership Asheville has worked with more than 700 men and women who live, work, and volunteer in Buncombe County. The program has given them a better understanding of the history and potential of Asheville and Buncombe County and has helped them to define their personal role in the community’s leadership," said Mitchell Williams, UNC Asheville Leadership Program director.

Leadership Asheville 20 participants are: Ruth Anderson, Givens Estates United Methodist Retirement Community; Mike Barker, Gold Star Coatings, Sharon Bell, G&S Inc.; Becky Brown, Mission St. Joseph’s Health System; Jayme Davis, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Buncombe/Henderson Counties Inc.; Margaret Edwards, North Buncombe Elementary School; Cindy Eller, Van Winkle, Buck, Wall, Starnes, & Davis, PA; Joe Franklin, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College; La-Verna Fountain, Save the Children International; Georgia Gantt, Gantt Investment Services Inc.; Ellen Garrison, Thoms Rehabilitation Hospital; Paul Grass, Valley Springs Middle School; Greg Grayson, Asheville City Fire/Rescue Department; Wanda Hawthorne, Asheville City Parks, Recreation, and Public Facility Department; Chris Hemmings, Biltmore Farms Inc.; Margaret Hurt, Mountain Area Child & Family Center; Roger James Jr., Strauss & Associates, PA; Allison Jordan, Children First; Karen Kiehna, Affordable Housing Coalition; Tracy Kunkler, Land-of-Sky Regional Council; Mark Lewis, Boys Arnold & Co.; Jim Long, American Red Cross; DeAnn Lyda, Asheville City Parks, Recreation, and Public Facility Department; Ashly Maag, Junior League of Asheville Inc.; Kim MacQueen, Gold Hill Associates; John McMahon, Family and Children’s Resource Program; Mike Rangel, Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. Fredrick Reese, Western Carolina Industries, Inc.; Randall Richardson, Mission St. Joseph’s Health System; Scott Riviere, Environment and Conservation Management; Shearon Roberts, Fullerton Genetics Center of Mission St. Joseph’s Health System; Elisa Rudd, University of North Carolina at Asheville Career Center; Elizabeth Russell, Eagle/Market Streets Development Corp.; Julie Sargent, The United Way of Asheville & Buncombe County Inc.; Kitty Schaller, Manna Food Bank; Pat Sells, Mountain Area Child & Family Center; LaVoy Spooner, Jr., BellSouth; Steve Steinert, Asheville Area Arts Council; Renee Taylor, French Broad Food Co-op; David Turner, Verizon Wireless; Deborah Turner, Samsel Architects, PA; Valerie Tuttle, Yellow Book USA; Bob Vassian, Mission St. Joseph’s Health System; Mike Willett, BB&T; Andy Williford, Blue Ridge Paper Products.

For further information on Leadership Asheville or other leadership programs of the UNC Asheville, contact Mitchell Williams by phone at 828-251-6125 or by e-mail here.

• Mitchell Williams, UNCA Leadership Programs Director, 828/251-6125
• Merianne Epstein, UNCA Public Information Director, 828/251-6676