Testimonials
“My decision to run for public office was significantly influenced by my experience in Leadership Asheville 17. As you aspire to higher levels of community service, you can take no better step than participating in this program.”
Terry Bellamy (LA 17)
Mayor, City of Asheville
“LA’s committed leadership is focused on improving our community by providing exciting, innovative, and practical community leadership education opportunities.”
Leslie Anderson (LA 2)
Owner, Leslie Anderson Consulting
“Community development is ultimately about taking action in the areas of education, healthcare, economic development, arts & craft/culture and the environment/quality of life. Fortunately no one has all the answers nor all the authority to act. At any given moment, multiple agendas representing a broad and diverse community are being creatively expressed. Leadership Asheville plays a vital role in bringing residents of and newcomers to our community together.”
Jack Cecil (LA 3)
President, Biltmore Farms
“I have never felt more connected to our region or more mindful of the responsibility and reward of remaining engaged to build a better tomorrow.”
Jon Corbin (LA 26)
President, The Buyer’s Agent of Asheville
“Involvement in Leadership Asheville is an honor, not only for the participants, but also for the organizations that sponsor them.”
Sandra Byrd (LA 5)
Director, The Asheville Graduate Center, UNC Asheville
“From the beginning of my communication about applying for inclusion in the program, I have been so impressed with my experiences with the staff and the curriculum. I have left program sessions seeing things in a completely different way than I had the day before.”
Travis Childs (LA 23)
Senior Vice President, First Citizens Bank
“This program was a great balance of community orientation and leadership development content. The structure fostered a highly supportive, interactive and inspirational learning environment.”
Maria Roloff (LA 25)
Vice President, Human Resources, Mission Hospitals
“For companies, Leadership Asheville is a great way of ensuring that their future leaders are well rounded and fully aware of the importance of firms viewing themselves as part of a larger community.”
Ron Storto (LA 19)
Vice President, Hospitality Development, Biltmore Farms
“The value of Leadership Asheville is the civic education that is not replicated in other training or development programs. Also, LA brings together people from all sectors to focus on the issues facing our city and region.”
Hunter Goosmann (LA 25)
General Manager, Education & Research Consortium
“My Leadership Asheville experience was an eye-opening opportunity to learn more about the wealth of passionate and brilliant people who exist in our own backyard.”
Jes Garner Williams (LA 25)
Business Development Professional, Find Great People, LLC
“This program was a great balance of community orientation and leadership development content. The structure fostered a highly supportive, interactive and inspirational learning environment.”
La’Zendra Bossard (LA 25)
Owner, Signature Enterprise
“Even when I’ve got too much going on and don’t think I have the time to give up a whole day, I always come away glad I was there.”
Ann Goosmann (LA 23)
Past President, Junior League of Asheville
“The Leadership Learning Team project provided an effective collaborative leadership development experience. The project is ultimately about dealing directly and effectively with members of your group so that you can produce results. It’s also a realistic simulation of the benefits and challenges of leading collaborative initiatives in the community.”
Kelly Maglaughlin (LA 26)
Program Manager, NC Outward Bound School
“Leadership Asheville was a great opportunity for me to step back and reflect on the questions of being an effective leader in our church and in our community. It reinforced my belief that the participation of faith-based organizations in community life is important for both those organizations and our civic life as well.”
Porter Taylor (LA 25)
Bishop of Episcopal Diocese of WNC
