Leadership Cashiers

Written By: Stephanie Edwards - Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce | Issue: March 2023

Leadership Cashiers 2021

The latest class of the Leadership Cashiers development program was recognized in December with a graduation ceremony celebrating the 30 participants of the 2022 program. Applications for this year’s program can be submitted at www.LeadershipCashiers.org.

The Cashiers Area Chamber’s community engagement initiative is based on a development model used by many cities across the country to prepare and motivate participants to offer quality community leadership. 

The program’s mission is to inform, connect and engage individuals by intensively studying issues affecting the area and by building strong working relationships for enlightened, dynamic leadership. 

A volunteer task force worked to establish the program which the Cashiers Area Chamber underwrites and manages with the financial support of Program and Session Sponsors: Balsam West, Eric T. Moody CPA, First Citizens Bank, High Hampton, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, Southwestern Community College, Vision Cashiers, Western Carolina University and Zoller Hardware.  Other contributing investors include Albert Carlton Cashiers Community Library, Leadership Cashiers Alumni Network, and Rotary Club of Cashiers Valley.

The participants attended regular sessions on an extended 7-month period. Special guest presenters included Jackson County Board of Commission then-Chair Brian McMahan, County Manager Don Adams and Director of Economic Development Tiffany Henry, Cashiers Planning Council Chair Glenn Ubertino,  Jackson County Tourism Development Authority Director Nick Breedlove, Dr. Gary Wein of the Highlands Cashiers Land Trust, health care executives Tom Neal of the Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Robin Tindall of the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation, Cashiers Glenville Fire Department Chief Randy Dillard, and other subject matter experts on Economic Development, Government, Planning & Infrastructure, and Health & Human Services, Natural & Cultural Resources and more.

One highlight of the program was then-Sheriff Chip Hall’s group welcome and rides in the department’s tactical armored vehicle, the “Bearcat.”

A principle-based decision making model was utilized and a community development case study was reviewed from various constituent perspectives. Personal leadership skills were developed through academic and teambuilding exercises led by Angela Owen of Truventure Enterprises who serves as Program Director. She is also the executive director and course instructor of Vision Transylvania, a similar program in Brevard, NC, and Leadership Highlands.

Graduating 2022 class members were: Hugh Alexander; Shelby Batchelor; Jaret Alan Bessette; Susan Elizabeth Gregory; Peter Charles Hall; Cheryl Hays; T. K. Heatley; Danielle Hernandez-Juarez; Jacquiline Hewett Miller; Melissa Hudson; Tucker Hydrick; Jessica Kenfield; Laura Lamont; Rhonda Lanier; Theresa Lynn Larsen; Laura Moser; Katie Nicholson; Felisha Pritchard; Ashley Stewart; Diane Stone; Jacob Tedder; Tamara Tomczak; Jonah Tuggle; Hilary Ware; and Ann-Marie Nicole Wilcocks.

For more information, to apply, support and/or sponsor, visit LeadershipCashiers.org, email [email protected] or call (828) 743-5191. Applications may be submitted for the 2023 class online and financial sponsorships and support are appreciated.