Governor's Advisory Committee on WNC Recovery
Mission Statement
The Governor’s Advisory Committee on Western North Carolina Recovery will, with formal and informal public input from a diverse array of affected people, advise the Governor and GROW NC on strategies to address the needs of communities affected by Hurricane Helene. This may include but not be limited to housing; small businesses; roads, bridges, and other infrastructure; near- and long-term relief funding; cross-sector coordination; accountability and transparency; and other issues related to rebuilding western North Carolina.
| Name | Title | County |
|---|---|---|
| Brittany Duncan | Watauga Community Health Coordinator, Western Youth Network | Ashe |
| Ashley Cook | Community activist and organizer | Avery |
| Katie Button | Founder, Cúrate | Buncombe |
| Jack Cecil | President, Biltmore Farms; board chair, Dogwood Health Trust | Buncombe |
| The Hon. Esther Manheimer (Co-Chair) | Mayor of Asheville | Buncombe |
| The Hon. Lindsey Prather | Representative, District 115, NC General Assembly | Buncombe |
| Nathan Ramsey | Executive Director, Land of Sky Regional Council; Director, Mountain Area Workforce Development Board | Buncombe |
| The Hon. Al Whitesides | Commissioner, Buncombe County | Buncombe |
| The Hon. Zeb Smathers | Mayor of Canton | Haywood |
| The Hon. Preston Blakely | Mayor of Fletcher; Manager, Quality Janitorial Group | Henderson |
| Dr. Laura Leatherwood | President, Blue Ridge Community College | Henderson |
| The Hon. Chuck McGrady | Former Representative, District 117, NC General Assembly | Henderson |
| The Hon. Debbie Roundtree | Former City Council Member | Henderson |
| The Hon. Tim Moffitt | Senator, District 48, NC General Assembly | Henderson, Polk, Rutherford |
| The Hon. Kevin Corbin (Co-Chair) | Senator, District 50, NC General Assembly | Macon |
| Will Hoffman | Superintendent, Madison County Schools | Madison |
| Donny Laws | Attorney | Madison |
| The Hon. Ralph Hise | Senator, District 47, NC General Assembly | Mitchell |
| Van Phillips | Business leader | Mitchell |
| Sharon Decker | President, Tryon Equestrian Partners | Polk |
| The Hon. Jake Johnson | Representative, District 113, NC General Assembly | Polk |
| The Hon. Walter Dalton | Former Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina | Rutherford |
| Casey Cooper | Chief Executive Officer, Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority | Swain (+ Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) |
| Dee Dee Perkins | Business owner and community leader | Transylvania |
| Kevin Leonard | Executive Director, NC Association of County Commissioners | Wake |
| Dr. Jim Beeler | Executive Director of College Access Partnerships, Appalachian State University | Watauga |
| John Cooper | Owner, Mast General Store | Watauga |
| The Hon. Charlie Wallin | Commissioner, Watauga County; Director of Retail Dining and External Partners, Appalachian State University | Watauga |
| Larry Leake | Attorney | Yancey |
The Committee will meet monthly and at other times at the call of the Co-Chairs or GROW NC. Meetings will generally alternate between virtual and in-person (a virtual option will be provided for those who cannot attend in-person). Committee staff intend to announce meeting dates two months in advance and to select in-person meeting locations that are convenient, accessible, and representative of the geographic diversity of western North Carolina. Meetings will be noticed through the NC Secretary of State’s Office.
Meeting dates may be subject to change.
| Meetings Dates | Locations | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| February 10, 2025 | Virtual | |
March 14, 2025 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. | In-Person or Virtual Western Carolina University A.K. Hinds University Center, Multipurpose room 210 A.K. Hinds University Center Cullowhee, NC 28723 | |
| April 14, 2025 | Virtual | Blue Ridge Parkway Closures Map NC Small Business Assistance Guide |
| May 12, 2025 | In-Person (Location to be determined) | |
| June 2025 | Virtual | |
| July 2025 | In-Person (Location to be determined) | |
| August 2025 | Virtual |