10 Questions with Anetia Wright - Candidate Ward 4 2013 Hickory City Council Election

 
Anetia Wright is a Candidate in the upcoming 4th Ward City Council race. First she will face an October 8th primary against incumbent Hank Guess and challenger Crystal Killian. If she succeeds in being one of the top two vote getters, then she will move on to the November 5th at large election. The questions posed to her are available for all candidates to answer. I have agreed to post them without critique and there will be no critical comments allowed in this article. There will be a "Candidates" Hickory Municipal Elections tab to the Right of this article. It will show anything related top these candidates as we move forward in this process.

1) Can you give us some background and a history of yourself? (Where were you born? What is your educational background? Why did you come to or stay in Hickory? Tell us about your professional accomplishments.)
Born in Hickory N.C., attended Hickory Public Schools, graduated from Hickory High and Lenoir Rhyne University. U.S. Army Veteran.

2) Tell us about the accomplishments you are proudest of achieving in your life? Something besides having a family or raising children. We all recognize that those are common goals that we all aspire to. What’s the most exciting thing you saw/did/experienced/were a part of in your personal life? In your professional life?
I am proud to be the first college graduate in my family and becoming a Minister. The most exciting times in my life was time served in the U.S. Army.

3) If I were to ask people that know you to describe you what would they say?  
 I think people would describe me as one who strives to improve myself and my surroundings .

4) How much bearing do the opinions of the people around you have on your decisions?
 I value the opinions of the people around me but ultimately I must make a decision that is in the best of interest of all involved.

5) Can you tell us of a professional mistake that you have made that may have had an impact on who you are today? Does it still bother you? Can you share with us how you came to grips with that error?
I wish I had become a career soldier as I believe I could have furthered and completed my education and professional life. It still bothers me to think that I could be retired now and still able to serve in many areas, especially my community. I came to grips with that error by accepting it, moving on, and making the best of my life which has been very rewarding.

6) If you were given enough money to tackle one project (think nearly unlimited) that you felt was important to the Hickory Area, what would that issue be?
If money were no object, I would find sustainable jobs for the working class that they may be able to support themselves and their families which will strengthen our community and city.

7 ) Let’s say there is no money available for the foreseeable future. What one project (priority) would you push as part of your agenda that can be done with little or no money?
I would push to strengthen our city through continued education of city government .

8) What is your overall philosophy of the development of this area? Where would you like to see us in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? 
Growing up in the City of Hickory surrounded by giants like Broyhill, Thomasville, Shuford Mills, Hickory Manufacturing and "of course the list goes on and on" I personally had a sense of security and pride in this city. People of all walks of life were able to rise up each day and go to work with that same sense of security and pride. I have the audacity to believe that with the right opportunities and decisions we will become a strong successful city again.

9) If you could define your Personal Legacy what would you like it to be? What would you like to be remembered for? 
I would like to be remembered as one who always honored the past, lived to the fullest in the present, and maintained hope for the future.

10) How do you define Leadership?
I define leadership as willingness to get the job done to the best of ones ability. Leadership requires committment and compassion toward the goal and toward the people helping to obtain that goal.

10 questions with Cliff Moone - Candidate NC 96th District House Seat

Cliff Moone is a candidate for the North Carolina 96th District House Seat. Cliff is one of the original founding members of the Citizen's for Equity in Government and he is one of the original eight people who met at the coffee shop in Viewmont with the goal  of reaching across political and cultural lines to form an alliance to work towards making local government more responsive towards all of Hickory's Citizens. He is the leading Diplomatic member of the CEG. I first became aware of Cliff at a Hickory City Council meeting when he attended a Hickory City Council meeting in 2010 and participated in a Proclamation celebrating the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  Cliff continues to play a vital role in moving forward with the CEG's concerns, issues, and message for the interest of all of Hickory's citizenry and the people of the Hickory metro. In the beginning of the Hickory Hound I attempted to get local leaders to participate in this 10 Questions series so that we could get to know them better, but I met resistance, because most people are reticent to go on the record about issues in a constructive and thorough manner. I believe that they deem it risky. These questions are the same for everyone who participates in this series and there is no critique of the answers. I am very grateful to Mr. Moone for participating in this series. I believe that it helps us to get to know local leadership better. Anyone who wants to participate is free to do so. Please feel free to contact me at hickoryhound@gmail.com

1) Can you give us some background and a history of yourself? (Where were you born? What is your educational background? Why did you come to or stay in Hickory? Tell us about your professional accomplishments?   I was born in 1949 and grew up in Durham, NC, attending Charles E. Jordan HS where I was Senior Class President and President of my HS Band. I also ran track in HS was in the National Honor Society, the Student Council and Key Club. After HS, I attended UNC-CH from 1967-1971, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Education. In 1975, I earned a Masters in Education Administration, also from UNC. In 1972 I married Gaye Sawyer of Lenoir, my wife of 40 years. We have 3 grown children, David, Amy, and Sarah. After the birth of our son in 1976, I left teaching for awhile to work as an insurance agent and small businessman. I returned to teaching in 1980 after we moved to Lenoir due to my wife’s father’s failing health. I directed Hibriten High School’s In-School-Suspension Program for 3 years. 

In 1983, I responded to the call to the Christian ministry and entered seminary. I graduated from Southeastern Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1986 with a M.Div. After pastoring for 2 years in Virginia, I accepted a call to Church of the Master UCC in Hickory in 1988. I pastored there for 7 years, then decided to plant a non-denominational church here in 1995. In 2003, we merged that church New Gate Covenant with Shekinah Glory Fellowship, led by Pastor Kathy Johnson. This was, I believe, the first merger between a predominately Caucasian and predominately African-American church in Hickory. I retired from the pastoral ministry in 2005.

Prior to this, from 1996-2001, I served as the first Headmaster at Hickory Christian Academy. From 2001-2007, I also taught as an adjunct instructor in English and religion at CVCC. From 2005-2010, I was employed as the Director of Education for Sylvan Learning Center here in Hickory. After retiring in 2010, I have returned to teach part-time again at CVCC.

Hickory and Catawba County have now been our home for almost 25 years. After retiring, I decided to renew my involvement in politics and civic affairs from before entering the ministry out of a desire to give back to this community which has blessed me and my family in so many ways.


2) Tell us about the accomplishments you are proudest of achieving in your life?   What’s the most exciting thing you saw/did/experienced/were a part of in your personal life? In your professional life?   Of my accomplishments, certainly being blessed to serve as a Christian pastor and lead a sizeable number of people to faith in Christ over the years stands out the most. My marriage and raising our children are also accomplishments that are significant. Additionally, getting to use my school administration credentials and to serve almost 5 years at Hickory Christian Academy during its formative years was especially gratifying. In politics, I am proud to have served as the Chair of two County Young Democrats Clubs in my younger years and particularly to be elected as the 10th Congressional District Democratic Chair in 2011. Running for the NC House has been one of the most exciting and interesting things I have ever done. I have enjoyed every minute of being involved in the campaign, meeting so many fantastic people, and discussing how we can improve the quality of life here in Catawba County for all our citizens.


3) If I were to ask people that know you to describe you what would they say?  That I am an energetic, passionate and sincere person who enjoys collaborating with as well as leading people to solve problems and accomplish mutual goals in the groups and organizations with which I have been involved. I am very loyal, a hard worker, who loves people, learning, and talking. I am a very verbal individual, sometimes too wordy and detail oriented, but I also tend to see the larger picture and am a good listener/learner. My biggest fault in leadership roles is sometimes getting too far out in front of those I am attempting to lead.


4) How much bearing do the opinions of the people around you have on your decisions?  I am old enough(63) and comfortable enough in “my own skin” at this point in my life that I almost always seek the advice of others in making important decisions, but I do not think that I allow those opinions or views influence me unduly, particularly where a principle is at stake. I have always tended to be somewhat too trusting of other people, although I think as I have grown older, I have become more discerning in this regard.


5) Can you tell us of a professional mistake that you have made that may have had an impact on who you are today? In 2001, at HCA, the school board changed personnel and leadership. I believe I misread the style and operating philosophy of the chair of that board. This ultimately led to a series of misunderstandings and to my “clinging” stubbornly to what I then viewed as “principled” positions. While this is not the whole story, my responses to this situation were unproductive and eventually led to my termination at HCA. I actually believe that my responses, in this and several other employer-employee situations over my early career, were conditioned from my elementary school years and a willingness to rarely but definitely” stand up to those in authority” if I believed their actions were either wrong or unjust to others. I believe I have learned over the years to better judge the difference between a principled stand and a stubborn recalcitrance. Today, I know that in most of these situations, I would have been better served by not creating a “win-lose” scenario and by seeking real reconciliation and understanding with those with whom I was in conflict at the time.


6) If you were given enough money to tackle one project (think nearly unlimited) that you felt was important to the Hickory Area, what would that issue be?   Hickory and Catawba County are strategically located between Charlotte, Winston Salem Asheville and Boone. Hickory is the last city of some size on I-40 before Asheville, and with the expansions of Hwy 16 and 321, within less than 45 minutes to Charlotte. We need to find ways to utilize this strategic location to develop even greater cooperative and collaborative business, educational, and cultural relationships in this greater Charlotte metropolitan area. With the right investments in education and emerging technologies, as well as transportation corridors and means of transportation, this area is well situated to link vital industries, educational opportunities, and entrepreneurial enterprises in a way that will encourage managed growth while maintaining a small-city quality of life. This could potentially enable us to quench the “youth drain” from our area while allowing us to continue development as a “non-mountain,” more moderate climate retirement haven.


7) Let’s say there is no money available for the foreseeable future. What one project (priority) would you push as part of your agenda that can be done with little or no money? As a candidate for the legislature, the first thing that comes to mind is my proposal that the Legislature, with input from all State agencies and departments, put true “sunset” provisions in place for all governmental regulations. This would require an ongoing evaluations and necessitate that every regulation be “justified” on a recurring basis. This will hopefully avoid politicizing deregulation, re-regulation, or the establishment of new regulations and put in place standards and time-frames by which regulatory effectiveness can be appropriately assessed. I am aware there is some cost associated with implementing this proposal, but everything else I can think of will probably cost more.


8) What is your overall philosophy of the development of this area? Where would you like to see us in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years?  I think I answered this question in number 6. That is probably a 10 year and 20 year vision.


9) If you could define your Personal Legacy what would you like it to be? What would you like to be remembered for? To be remembered as a person who loved God and his neighbor, who lived a life of integrity, with passion and commitment to making the world and the lives of others better because I was here. That I was loyal and trustworthy to both my family and my friends; that I was respected by those who disagreed with me; that I had the courage of my convictions and the wisdom to not have taken myself too seriously.


10) How do you define Leadership? Leadership is that quality of character which comes from the willingness of a person to take personal responsibility: for one’s beliefs, one’s words, and one’s actions. Thus, leadership requires decision and action in concert with others or at times over against them and the prevailing view of the moment. Leaders may lead from in front or from behind, but the defining feature of leadership is that if one is leading, others choose to follow.

10 questions with Dr. Joseph Inglefield - Candidate NC 42nd District Senate Seat 2012 - Candidate for Hickory Mayor 2013

Dr. Joseph (Jody) Inglefield is a candidate for the North Carolina 42nd District Senate Seat. He has become a friend over the last 4 years and is one of the original mailing list members of the Hickory Hound. He sent me letters of support and encouragement from the beginning. Dr. Inglefield took a leading role in bringing attention to the loss of the Public Swimming Pools here in Hickory that we believe are important parts of the fabric of the lower socio-economic communities. He and his wife Rebecca are fellow participants in the Citizens for Equity in Government. In the beginning of the Hickory Hound I attempted to get local leaders to participate in this 10 Questions series so that we could get to know them better, but I met resistance, because most people are reticent to go on the record about issues in a constructive and thorough manner. I believe that they deem it risky. These questions are the same for everyone who participates in this series and there is no critique of the answers. I am very grateful to Dr. Inglefield for participating in this series. Anyone who wants to participate is free to do so. Please feel free to contact me at hickoryhound@gmail.com
  
1) Can you give us some background and a history of yourself? (Where were you born? What is your educational background? Why did you come to or stay in Hickory? Tell us about your professional accomplishments?  My family came from England, Germany, and Wales to Pittsburg, Pa. where both my parents were born in Duquesne, Pa. My paternal grandfather was a bricklayer and maternal grandfather a machinist. My paternal grandmother was a pianist, organist and kindergarten teacher. My parents were high school sweethearts, married before my father went to medical school, the first male college graduate in our family.

I was born in Rochester, NY. where my father was in school, and subsequently he served in the US Army, taking us all over the country: Texas, Hawaii, New Mexico. We ended up in Danville, Pa., where my father was a pediatrician at Geisinger Medical Center, for most of my elementary and junior high school years. As the oldest brother of six, we moved to Arlington, Va. where I began high school. I was a competitive swimmer from age eight onward, state champion in several events in Pennsylvania YMCA swimming. Swimming and then water polo were big parts of my life and still are important to me. 

I attended Washington-Lee high school in Arlington, then Langley High School (yes, right next to the CIA) in McLean, finishing my high school years at St. Albans School on the National Cathedral grounds in Washington, DC. St. Albans was an incredible experience for me, changing my life and leading me in directions I would only later realize were so important. I was surrounded by politics, watching the Watergate hearings, having classes with sons and daughters of Congress members. Chapel every morning, football and swim practices in the afternoon all shaped my discipline and work ethic. The academic challenges and competition prepared me for the future. I thrived in that place, was elected Senior class president, despite starting as a junior, leading to a nomination for the Morehead-Cain scholarship to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Before classes started freshman year I met my future wife Rebecca thanks to a water polo friend who had met her roommate. I fell in love with her and North Carolina. 

At UNC, I swam for the varsity team and was an NCAA championship qualifier. I started the UNC water polo club, which is still active. Now my son Thacher plays as a junior. As a Morehead-Cain Scholar I spent a summer with the police department in Charlotte, getting an inside look at the criminal justice system. I was a history major with a special interest in European and American history. My pre-medical studies helped me receive early admission to Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, part of Virginia Commonwealth University. It was a great place to be a medical student and I decided to head to San Antonio Texas for my Pediatric and Allergy training. 

In Texas, I felt at home with the Arneson family; Rebecca's mother had grown up in San Antonio, with relatives at hand, the hard work whisked by for 5 years. The Riverwalk was a reminder of the Works Projects Administration, and its importance to our nation with projects like this and the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC. The Arneson River Theatre is named for Rebecca's grandfather. Rebecca switched from writing code for computers to law school where she excelled at St. Mary's University, making law review, and being offered a clerkship with a federal judge in Norfolk, Va. I was then able to pass the tests and verbal exam to be double boarded in Pediatrics and Allergy and Immunology. 

Soon after we moved to Virginia, Dr. Millie Hancock called with an offer to take over her practice. Shortly after my visit with her in Hickory, Dr. Hancock called to see if I could work the next day for her because her husband had suffered a heart attack. I drove through the night to arrive and see patients the next morning. It is rare to get to "test drive" a medical practice, which is what happened, and I was convinced this was the right place to move. Rebecca was offered a position in Statesville so we moved to her home town to begin our work. After ten years commuting to Hickory, we decided to move and built our home in Hickory. Son Thacher started first grade at Viewmont elementary; daughter Park preschool at the new YMCA child care center. 

My practice has grown from three employees to twenty which has allowed the Hickory Allergy Asthma Sinus Clinic and Cough Center to be one of the best known practices in the area. We do our best to offer the personalized care our patients and their families deserve. 

2) Tell us about the accomplishments you are proudest of achieving in your life? The development of my practice into one that is respected and one of the most influential in the Southeast USA. The use and development of "Rush Immunotherapy" in our practice makes us unique and far ahead in terms of patient satisfaction. "Rush" allows a patient to reach a safe and effective level of treatment for their allergies faster than traditional methods. We are able to innovate and be quick to change our approaches as newer medications and technology become available. We have an in-office CT scanner for sinuses that is fully credentialed, and I believe we are the only allergy practice in NC that has this to offer. 

What’s the most exciting thing you saw/did/experienced/were a part of in your personal life?
Playing water polo in the FINA World Championships in 2004, 2006, 2010(Silver medal) and 2012. Beating the UNC club team at their own tournament in 2011. Winning Master's national championship in our age-group in 2011 and 2008, with KAOS our club team made up of players from all over the country and world. Getting to swim at Greensboro's Master's swimming national championship this year with friends and a teammate from college on two relays that placed 6th in the country. Learning to ski two years ago, great challenge and exercise.

In your professional life?
Presenting papers on the use of "Rush Immunotherapy" at national meetings and being elected as governor of the South East region, for the state and local allergy societies(RSLs). Serving as President of the NC Allergy society for many years. 

Being called and elected to Session at my church, Northminster Presbyterian Church, and as the Clerk of Session. It was a very important opportunity that I will value in many ways both spiritually and in all the decisions I make as time moves forward. Attending bible study weekly, worshipping at church and Sunday school have helped me strengthen my beliefs and direction in life.

3) If I were to ask people that know you to describe you what would they say?
"He's a fun guy"

4) How much bearing do the opinions of the people around you have on your decisions?
I am a listener, so what other people say and think are very important to me and are part of my decision making process. I value opinions and look for guidance from others. I like to think carefully throughout the process of making a decision, by gathering data, brainstorming with others , and then I try to make the best decision with the information that is available.

5) Can you tell us of a professional mistake that you have made that may have had an impact on who you are today?  I have been fortunate and have not had any major devastating error. It is a constant worry and takes vigilance on a minute to minute basis to avoid. Minor errors have happened but by grace only, nothing became a terrible outcome. 

Does it still bother you? Yes, but I don't let this stop me or paralyze me. I come to grips with all errors by looking for the reasons, so the problem won't happen again. Most errors or irritations are completely my own fault, and I can spend time to make things better or more precisely change the system that resulted in the error. Being flexible and learning from mistakes helps prevent future problems. Questioning why we do things and the impact of changing those old habits or processes is how I try to improve and guard against errors.

6) If you were given enough money to tackle one project (think nearly unlimited) that you felt was important to the Hickory Area, what would that issue be? Make things more fun! Obesity, and all the reasons it happens, and the way a community with the right approach could make a difference for most people through good public health initiatives, healthy eating, education, and recreation. For me a big part of this would be swimming and aquatics which can be a lifetime activity. I want to prevent all drowning, and give everyone the pleasure of swimming and playing safely in water. Sustainable programming for the prevention of disease and maintenance of health is important to the local economy and will attract jobs. Public transportation, wide sidewalks, safe cycling, light rail to Charlotte, Raleigh and Asheville would be a part of the plan to get out and walk more. It has to be fun to be sustainable.

7) Let’s say there is no money available for the foreseeable future. What one project (priority) would you push as part of your agenda that can be done with little or no money?
Provide fun and better programming for the facilities we already possess. Collaborate with the resources we have to make the most of what is here like the Recreation department, YMCA, CVCC, and LRU.

8) What is your overall philosophy of the development of this area? Where would you like to see us in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years?
(5 years) - More jobs! due to a resurgence of manufacturing in the area. July 2012 we had only 65,621 employed people in Catawba county, 2005 we had 72,470 after the dot com recovery, 2000 we had 78514 at our boom peak, and 1990 we had 68829. We have fewer jobs now than 22 years ago!! Who has been in office from our area? This is a disgrace and lack of leadership. I don't think this a Republican or Democratic issue, this is a lack of leadership on behalf of the citizens of Catawba county. 

(10 years) - Better paying high skill jobs that require less manual, repetitive, mind-dulling labor but involve technical skills and thinking to solve problems and make things work. Regional airlines at our airport. Why not Southwest, it would draw everyone here from Charlotte. 

(20 years) - Mature community with a wealth of life-supporting jobs, spectacular recreation facilities, and equality with level playing field for all the kids and families. Young people wanting to stay and raise their families here.

9) If you could define your Personal Legacy what would you like it to be?
To leave things better than I found them.
What would you like to be remembered for?
That I was a good doctor, I had good friends and family, that I cared and stood up for all people.

10) How do you define Leadership?
Leadership is like respect, it needs to be earned. You need to listen, get the best information you can, surround yourself with smart, talented people and with their help, show up and make a difference. Be willing to be courageous, and expect to be attacked, but be willing to be persistent and uncompromising of your true values. Questioning and speaking up when it is hard to do is a necessity of good leadership. Being ready to admit your own mistakes and not blaming others will engender loyalty and respect of those who follow you.

10 Questions with Catawba County Chief Information Officer Terry Bledsoe

Terry is a Participant on the Catawba County Future Economic Council with 30+ other talented people and myself. He had an excellent presentation about Broadband during our last meeting (Look to the Broadband Connectivity Heading in this report). I would like to thank him for his participation in answering these questions and I hope you enjoy getting to know what Mr. Bledsoe is all about. Here is a link to Terry's Catawba County Technology Department Blog. (#4 in the series)

1) Can you give us some background and a history of yourself? (Where were you born? What is your educational background? Why did you come to or stay in Hickory? Tell us about your professional accomplishments.) - I was born in Catawba County and lived here all my life with the exception of some time I spent away in college. My family roots to Catawba County are very deep and can be traced back to land grants from the King of England. One side of my family comes from the Baker's for whom Baker's Mountain was named. I attended Appalachian State University and majored in Mathematics. I later received a Masters degree and an EDS degree from there. I started my career as a teacher at St. Stephens High School and after that moved to the technology field with Catawba County Schools. After 30 years with the school system, I retired as their Chief Technology Officer. From there I spent a year at IBM working on a statewide computer project. When the CIO position opened up for Catawba County, I applied for that job and was fortunate enough to get it.

Why have I stayed here? This is truly my home. The people are friendly and look out for each other. It is a good place to raise a family. The scenery is beautiful, especially my view of Baker's Mountain. And the climate changes just enough to be interesting. While I love to travel and visit other places, it is always good to come back home.

2) Tell us about the accomplishments you are proudest of achieving in your life? Something besides having a family or raising children. We all recognize that those are common goals that we all aspire to. What’s the most exciting thing you saw/did/experienced/were a part of in your personal life? In your professional life? Hopefully during my career, I have had an impact on the technology in our schools and in our county. Catawba County has always been viewed as a leader and a progressive county and I have been given the opportunity to implement many innovative technology programs in our schools that are considered common place today. In my current role I have also been given the same opportunity to make innovative changes. These changes provide better services for our citizens and that is what it is all about.

In my personal life I will have to divert back to family and grandkids. Anyone who has grandkids will know that they are a blessing that keeps you in constant amazement. In addition to the grandkids, my daughter and her husband own Court Street Grille in Lincolnton. They give me a chance to cook and entertain which is a real enjoyable change from my normal technical world. We are also working to preserve and bring back the family farm. While this is really hard work, the results are very rewarding.

The most exciting thing in my professional life is the constantly changing technology. Some people complain about how fast it is changing. I can't wait to get my hands on the next innovation and figure out how we can take advantage of it.

3) If I were to ask people that know you to describe you what would they say? Hopefully they would say honest, creative, innovative and someone with integrity.

4) How much bearing do the opinions of the people around you have on your decisions? I listen to people and value their opinions but all decisions have to come down to one question, "Is it the best solution for all involved?"

5) Can you tell us of a professional mistake that you have made that may have had an impact on who you are today? Does it still bother you? Can you share with us how you came to grips with that error? There has not been a professional mistake that is still impacting me today. My philosophy has always been while everyone makes mistakes, we need to study them and learn from them and emerge with a better product or solutions. In every project, successful or not, little or small, we need to study what we did right and what we did wrong and ask the question, "How can I do it better next time?"

6) If you were given enough money to tackle one project (think nearly unlimited) that you felt was important to the Hickory Area, what would that issue be? As a lot of you know, I am passionate about bringing better broadband connectivity to Catawba County. I would love to see fiber to the home across the county, especially to my home in Vale. However, if I had money to tackle one problem, I would use it to concentrate on the homeless, hungry and unemployed in our area. With all the empty building and excess food we have in this county, there is really no reason for anyone to be on the street and hungry.

7) Let’s say there is no money available for the foreseeable future. What one project (priority) would you push as part of your agenda that can be done with little or no money? I am involved with the County's Green Team. It is amazing how much impact each and every one of us can have on the environment if we just reduce, recycle, and reuse. Together, that impact increases exponentially. America must reduce our consumption of goods and oil. "Going Green" is the popular term that is a start in that direction. We can start this minute with no money invested at all.

8) What is your overall philosophy of the development of this area? Where would you like to see us in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? I think Catawba County needs to look very hard at the lessons that we have learned in the past 10 years and begin to create an economy that is more resilient and able to adapt quickly to the constant world of change that we live in. This will not be easy but it must be done. We need to rethink literally everything, from education to government, from services to infrastructure. We should be able to support a creative society that could work or provide services anywhere in the world while still living here. We need to educate our children so that they have the skills to constantly learn and adapt. We need to provide our citizens with opportunities to acquire skills for the workforce that will continually change throughout their lifetime. We need to realize that the economy and the jobs of the 90's will not return and concentrate on the opportunities of the future.

9) If you could define your Personal Legacy what would you like it to be? What would you like to be remembered for? As I stated earlier, I love technology and the constantly changing opportunities that it offers us. I hope that I have used that passion to improve our schools and our county. I hope that I have made things a little better for everyone that lives here.

10) How do you define Leadership? I believe that leadership is defined by one's ability to help the ones around you achieve to their highest level. I believe that people should be constantly learning, creating, and seeking to improve. It is my job as a leader to encourage and support them.

10 questions with Harry Hipps

Harry has been a good friend of mine for nearly 25 years and he is the person that inspired me to start this site. We have come a long way in a short time with the Hound. This weekend we will hit the 10,000 unique visitor mark. Harry has a great philosophical mind and I highly value his opinion. I can assure you that this Q&A is the real Harry Hipps. (#3 in the series)

1) Can you give us some background and a history of yourself? (Where were you born? What is your educational background? Why did you come to or stay in Hickory? Tell us about your professional accomplishments.) - I was born in Newton and was a graduate of Newton-Conover High School. I was elected Secretary/Treasurer of my class by write in vote, one of few to do so. I am a graduate of ECU with a degree in Music Education, a life long musician, currently doing some Church music and a member of the Newton/Conover Community Band. I am a volunteer for Rescue America Ministries, which was spun off from Charles Colson's ministries. Its focus is prison ministry and has focused on the Alexander County Juvenile Detention Facility. My home church is Gateway Baptist Church. I'm a baker by trade, formerly of Stone Hearth Bakery, now Pretzeltime at Valley Hills Mall.

2) Tell us about the accomplishments you are proudest of achieving in your life? Something besides having a family or raising children. We all recognize that those are common goals that we all aspire to. What’s the most exciting thing you saw/did/experienced/were a part of in your personal life? In your professional life? I have shown sales growth every year in the high single digits to double digits in good economies and bad. I've had the opportunity to employ and befriend numerous younger people and help mentor them. My relationship with God is paramount and Spiritual growth is a joy and a challenge. Engaging people on the greatest and deepest issues of life is a passion of mine.

3) If I were to ask people that know you to describe you what would they say? Well, if they were from my younger years they would say I'm a real jokester and should have been a comedian! Those who know me now would, hopefully, say that I am well read and have a passion for education, intelligent discussion on the issues we face in the world today and have a number of creative ideas.

4) How much bearing do the opinions of the people around you have on your decisions? They have a great deal of impact on how I view what is happening in the world today and what I need to be aware of, but I also have to bounce them off my core values and ideas, beliefs, and practices that have proven to have lasting value. I am not too influenced by the buzzwords, trendy attitudes, and the "herd" mentality except to be aware of the influence it has on the people around me. I am comfortable in my own skin and have a solid framework for viewing the world.

5) Can you tell us of a professional mistake that you have made that may have had an impact on who you are today? Does it still bother you? Can you share with us how you came to grips with that error? In my early days of managing people I was somewhat of a perfectionist and wanted the same in others. I frustrated some good people by not knowing what is enough and when to leave well enough alone. Now I can better gauge what is possible and find different avenues to reach what is needed.

6) If you were given enough money to tackle one project (think nearly unlimited) that you felt was important to the Hickory Area, what would that issue be? To conserve land and open spaces, while using the already developed areas in Hickory to better effect. You could write a book on this topic, but it involves public transportation, densifying Hickory's residential, office and institutional buildings, and other structures, to allow for fewer car miles and easier access to the goods and services we want and keeping as much of the woods, farmland and fields as possible.

7) Let’s say there is no money available for the foreseeable future. What one project (priority) would you push as part of your agenda that can be done with little or no money? The democratization of City and State government. We can and should engage more people. With the internet we can give out public notices and save advertising costs. E-mailing links to interested citizens to the council and committee meetings could inform them what is coming up and they could respond to representatives with their concerns or suggestions. There are other ways we can include more people more often. To just hear from the population once every two, four, or six years at election time is simply not a vibrant or healthy way to run a democracy in the fast paced world of today.

8) What is your overall philosophy of the development of this area? Where would you like to see us in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? The overall theme would be transformation and revitalization. The globalization of the economy, leading to the loss of furniture and textiles, has fundamentally changed our future. I would like to take the great land, climate, cultural community, proximity to beaches, larger cities, mountains, lakes, and the other great assets and attract creative, productive people that can work in the global economy from Hickory and bring their distinctive talents to the area. We need to stop looking back, lamenting the loss of the things we can't control anyway and look to what is desirable and possible. Now is the time to recognize that we have to rebuild and we have opportunities to rebrand Hickory as a unique blend of the friendly hometown culture of Americana and the limitless possibilities of the high tech, molecular economy we are moving into.

9) If you could define your Personal Legacy what would you like it to be? What would you like to be remembered for? My hope is that I would be remembered as a person that came through turbulent times in my personal life and as a member of our society in times of transformation and finished the race well. I strive to serve God by being faithful to Him and to serve others. Jesus said the greatest gift was Love and I would hope to show it by living as purely as possible and serving others.

10) How do you define Leadership? There was a god of ancient mythology named Janus. Janus had a head that was looking in two directions at one time. I think a leader has to be somewhat like this. A leader has to be a really good listener and be able to understand the situations, ethos, and stivings of people and work on the modalities to see people achieve what they want. At the same time, a leader can't just see which way the wind is blowing and jump out in front of it. Sometimes a leader has to be an innovator or a person who sees what the crowd doesn't see and take the initiative when it may cause personal stress and unpopularity in the short term. How someone balances these disparate impulses is a critical feature of leadership.

10 Questions with Assistant Catawba County Manager Dewey Harris

Dewey is a Participant on the Catawba County Future Economic Council with 30+ other talented people and myself. I would like to thank him for his participation in answering these questions and I hope you enjoy getting to know what Mr. Harris is all about.

1) Can you give us some background and a history of yourself? (Where were you born? What is your educational background? Why did you come to or stay in Hickory? Tell us about your professional accomplishments.)
The article below was in the Hickory Daily record last summer. It responds to the question above with the exception of where I was born which is New Haven Connecticut.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROFESSIONAL, EXPERIENCED IN USING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO ACHIEVE GOALS, NAMED ASSISTANT COUNTY MANAGER

One of Dewey Harris’s strengths is in project management and community leadership. In an eighteen year career in local and state government, he has been a leader in virtually the entire range of governmental services, from administration to budget and finance to emergency services, human services, and technology. He will soon be bringing that experience to Catawba County Government as one of its two Assistant County Managers.

Harris, who is presently serving as Interim Assistant City Manager in Wilmington, North Carolina, and has served as Director of Wilmington’s Community Services Department since 2002, has been named one of two Assistant County Managers in Catawba County. He will begin his new duties on August 25, 2008. Harris will succeed Joellen Daley, who left Catawba County in 2007 and is current serving as Human Resources Director in Evanston, Illinois.

“We’re very pleased to have Dewey join the County’s management team,” said Catawba County Manager, Tom Lundy. “He emerged from a rigorous process involving eleven department heads over two separate interviews. Dewey has significant experience in North Carolina local government. During his nine years with the City of Wilmington he has had responsibility for administrative services such as budget, technology, finance, emergency preparedness, community development, economic development, code enforcement, working with the film industry and the media. He brings a strong commitment to public service and experience in community engagement, having responsibility for implementing Wilmington’s strategic plan. We look forward to having Dewey, Sandy and their family as part of the Catawba County community.”

Harris will work as part of Catawba County's management team, with Lundy and Assistant County Manager Lee Worsley. Each member of the management team works on a day-to-day basis with specific County departments under Lundy’s direction. The entire team works closely with the Catawba County Board of Commissioners to carry out the goals and directives of the board.

"It was evident to me, during the interview process for the Assistant County Manager position, that Catawba County government is a leader in service delivery because of its dedicated employees,” Harris said. “I have been impressed with the commitment of County staff, and look forward to joining their ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of life for citizens".

Harris earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Rutgers University and later earned a Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. In the years since, he has continued his education in matters directly relating to government, including studies in international economics at Harvard University, a Municipal Administration Course provided through the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and, in 2006, studies at the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia. During those sessions, Harris met Catawba County Assistant County Manager Lee Worsley.

“I first met Dewey during our time at the Senior Executive Institute in 2006”, Worsley said. “I immediately was impressed with his character and commitment to public service – values that are important to Catawba County employees. Dewey’s vast experience in administrative areas and community services will be a great fit for our organization. I am excited about the addition of Dewey to the management team and welcome him and his family to Catawba County.”

Following his initial university education, Harris worked for the City of Pacific, Washington, and with the state governments in Oregon and Washington from 1989 until 1999. He was employed as a Senior Budget Analyst for the State of Oregon’s Department of Administrative Services from November 1989 to 1994 and then served as Assistant Director of the Accounting and Administrative Services Division of the Office of Financial Management of the State of Washington through March 1998, directly involved in financial management and policy in both of those agencies. As City Administrator in Pacific, Washington, from March 1998 through December 1999, he was responsible for providing direction and supervision to all departments and functions including administration and finance, human resources, public works, community development, municipal court services and operations, parks, community services, police, fire, and risk management. He also directed the enforcement of ordinances and policies; helped resolve complaints; established positive working relationships with the press; and represented the organization in intergovernmental relations, contract negotiations, collective bargaining, and major capital project development.

Harris moved to the City of Wilmington in December 1999 when he was named Director of Wilmington’s Administrative Services Department. His duties included many which touch on services provided by Catawba County, including direction and supervision of the budget, information technology, purchasing, fleet, and mail services staff supporting more than 1100 employees. In this role, Harris developed and implemented administrative policies; and coordinated emergency preparedness activities.

In May 2002, Harris was selected to establish a new department, with a staff of 100, for the City of Wilmington as Director of the Community Services Department. This department is charged with addressing strategic plan objectives to improve the quality of life in Wilmington. His responsibilities include working in economic development and redevelopment, including technical assistance to small businesses; improving the operating climate for businesses through enhanced understanding of City requirements; code enforcement (regulation of zoning ordinances, minimum housing codes, and public nuisance ordinances); enrichment programs for adults, seniors, and youth; and several parks and recreation facilities.

“I have represented the City of Wilmington in intergovernmental and community relations endeavors,” Harris added. “We have established positive working relationships with the media; helped increase the number of volunteers engaged in delivering services; and helped establish collaborative partnerships with private sector organizations, non-profit agencies, leaders in the faith community, and governmental agencies at the local, state, and federal levels.”
In addition to these duties, Harris has been serving as Interim Assistant City Manager since February 2008 and as Interim Human Resources Director since May 2008, assisting Wilmington’s City Manager in coordinating interdepartmental goals; establishing organizational policies and procedures; assessing City departments for performance; coordinating interdepartmental activities; meeting with civic and professional leaders; and representing the City Manager before groups on City plans, events, and activities.

Dewey Harris has also been very active in the Wilmington community. He has served as President of the New Hanover County Partnership for Children, which has a mission to develop, sustain and enhance health, family support, and early education services for children ages birth to five. He was 2005 Campaign Chair of the Cape Fear Area United Way, working with staff and volunteers to refocus fundraising strategy which resulted in new business development in a three-county area. He served as co-chair of a University of North Carolina at Wilmington Community Relations Task Force, establishing a standing committee consisting of state and local agencies, as well as students and residents, to identify and resolve ongoing quality of life problems in the University of North Carolina at Wilmington area; and is a member of the New Hanover County Cooperative Extension Advisory Council, through which he works with community leaders to develop and promote nutrition; 4-H; coastal management; urban forestry; and natural resource and environmental education programs to enhance economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and improved quality of life in the community.

Harris said he has no firm goals as he gets ready to move to Catawba County, saying he will work to make a smooth transition to the area for his family and learn about the community issues in which he will be involved.

“My wife, Sandy, and I feel that Catawba County will be an excellent place to work, worship, and raise our 15 year old son and 11 year old daughter,” Harris said. “We love the outdoors. Catawba County is a beautiful area that we are excited about calling home".

2) Tell us about the accomplishments you are proudest of achieving in your life? Something besides having a family or raising children. We all recognize that those are common goals that we all aspire to. What’s the most exciting thing you saw/did/experienced/were a part of in your personal life? In your professional life?
Personal life: Living in different parts of the United States including relocating from the East Coast to the West Coast and back to the East Coast again. In doing so, I had an opportunity to appreciate the regional uniqueness of various communities in our country.

Professional Life: Establishing the Community Services Department in the City of Wilmington (North Carolina) which focused on “community building” through a myriad of programs which improved quality of life for residents. This was a challenge for me in that I had to figure out a way to work with staff to create a shared mission so that we could work with citizens to address issues of neighborhood crime, downtown improvements, affordable housing, support for groups engaged in visual and performing arts, town and university relations, and an aggressive program to create more parks.

3) If I were to ask people that know you to describe you what would they say? Knowledgeable and experienced with the ability to tactfully engage and share my thoughts in a positive way to build relationships and partnerships.

4) How much bearing do the opinions of the people around you have on your decisions? A lot of bearing, but I try to take a 360 degree view because over the years I have learned that there are several sides to an issue and by getting various perspectives I have made better decisions.

5) Can you tell us of a professional mistake that you have made that may have had an impact on who you are today? Does it still bother you? Can you share with us how you came to grips with that error? Early in my career, particularly as a manager, I made immediate decisions on personnel issues, but as I have matured, I find that I make better personnel decisions if I sleep on them.

6) If you were given enough money to tackle one project (think nearly unlimited) that you felt was important to the Hickory Area, what would that issue be? A program to engage teen youth in after school or summer employment that benefits our community while giving youth tools to be successful in work and/or college life after high school.

7) Let’s say there is no money available for the foreseeable future. What one project (priority) would you push as part of your agenda that can be done with little or no money? I think the Future Economy Council sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce would be my priority. I believe if successful, the benefits to this community would be significant.


8) What is your overall philosophy of the development of this area? Where would you like to see us in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? Compared to other places I have lived around the country, this area has done a very good job of planning in terms of water, sewer, and road infrastructure. I would like to see progress towards “infill development” of vacant residential lots and abandoned manufacturing with mixed use (increased housing density and retail style space) in urban areas of the County.

9) If you could define your Personal Legacy what would you like it to be? What would you like to be remembered for? Using the time, talent, and treasures the Lord has given me to help others.

10) How do you define Leadership? There are different kinds of leadership. My style is to serve the people who I lead by caring about their lives and creating an environment for them to lead as well by getting their input into decision making. I also like to deflect credit from myself and give it to others.

10 Questions with James Thomas Shell

This is a new feature that I hope will grow into something special. The questions will be the same for everyone and they are the ones I have answered below. I would like for the Movers and Shakers in this community to get to know one another. I believe that "10 Questions" will help facilitate that endeavor.

1) Can you give us some background and a history of yourself? (Where were you born? What is your educational background? Why did you come to or stay in Hickory? Tell us about your professional accomplishments.) I was born on July 15, 1966 at the former Hickory Memorial Hospital. I was raised in Hickory went to St Stephens Elemenatry, then Webb Murray, before moving to Conover in 1978. I graduated from Newton-Conover in 1984. I then started out a Lees-McRae College before attending UNC-Wilmington where I received a B.S. in Finance in 1989.

I graduated from UNCW while the Savings and Loan Crisis was going on. Banks weren't hiring so I went to work for my Aunt Jane Moore at 1859 Cafe and that is how I learned the ropes in the restaurant business from the bottom up. After a while I realized that I needed to legitimize myself in the restaurant business, so I went to Central Piedmont Community College where I studied Foodservice Management - Culinary Arts. It was probably the happiest period of my life, because I was around people that loved food and strived to do it in a professional way. I graduated from that program in July 1997.

I then moved to Southport to work at Bald Head Island. That was a great experience, although the compensation wasn't great for the amount of work put in, but I did learn a lot about life. In the 15 months I was there, I probably did a legitimate 2 years worth of work.

My Grandfather was diagnosed with terminal cancer in November 1998 and I wanted to be near my family, so I moved back home and have been here since. I have worked at 1859 Cafe, Rock Barn, Adult Life Programs, and Backstreets in the years since.


2) Tell us about the accomplishments you are proudest of achieving in your life? Something besides having a family or raising children. We all recognize that those are common goals that we all aspire to. What’s the most exciting thing you saw/did/experienced/were a part of in your personal life? In your professional life? I can't think of any personal awards or accolades that I have received during my professional career, but 1859 did receive restaurant awards that I feel I contrubuted work towards while I was there and the same can be said about Rock Barn.

I served many of America's Who's Who when I worked at Bald Head Island. I won't drop names on this forum. I have had exciting moments when people have personally enjoyed my culinary creations and it has always given me great personal satisfaction, when I can please someone, see their body language, and they have personally thanked me. I really do appreciate people that appreciate people.

3) If I were to ask people that know you to describe you what would they say? Eccentric. Can be the nicest person in the world and can be a mean SOB. Loyal, trustworthy, determined, nervous, dourer, pessimistic, intelligent.... But, if a task needs to be accomplished go get Tommy.

4) How much bearing do the opinions of the people around you have on your decisions? It depends on whose opinions they are. I am willing to listen to anyone, but some people's opinions carry more weight than others. I am trying to change this and not prejudge what others say before (or while) they are saying it. My public speaking professor said that the most important facet of communication is the ability to listen and comprehend... That had a profound effect on me, because before that I would shut people out if I disagreed with them. I'm still not perfect, but I am halfway there.

5) Can you tell us of a professional mistake that you have made that may have had an impact on who you are today? Does it still bother you? Can you share with us how you came to grips with that error? I can live with the many mistakes that I have made, because they are part of my being. I will readily admit that I have made several by chasing after personal dreams instead of taking the steady path. Every mistake I have made has bothered me, but I can't go back and change them.

I wish that I would have been wise enough to start out in a teller position at a bank when I graduated from UNCW. I wanted to work in a loan department and those jobs just weren't available during the S&L crisis or the recession of 1991. After that it was too late. But, I don't mind the restaurant business. I just hope that one day that I can do my own thing. I will leave it at that.

6) If you were given enough money to tackle one project (think nearly unlimited) that you felt was important to the Hickory Area, what would that issue be? People tell me that I am a dreamer about this, but I truly would like to see a light rail system connect Hickory to Charlotte -- Light Rail to Charlotte: One Investment Worth Making. That would make us more connected literally and figuratively to Charlotte's modern economy. Throw in with that the possible reopening of the rail line between Asheville and Salisbury and you might really see an upsurge in alternative transportation in this area.

I just know that part of our future growth, development, and economic circumstances are going to rely on alternative transportation. It won't be tomorrow, but it is time to start thinking about those alternatives.

7) Let’s say there is no money available for the foreseeable future. What one project (priority) would you push as part of your agenda that can be done with little or no money? To make accessibilty to sources of knowledge user friendly. The resources are already there. It is just leading the person to them and getting their curiosity piqued . Those resources include books, computers, the arts, and/or mentors.

We should have zero-tolerance towards illiteracy; be it composition, literature, math, or finance. These are the building blocks of successful societies. Many of the problems that our community faces today are due to functional illiteracy.

8) What is your overall philosophy of the development of this area? Where would you like to see us in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? I hope that we get Hickory By Choice right. I hope that we don't have people become entrenched over personal philosophies. I believe in personal liberty. I don't believe in the "Greater Good," but I am not going to shut someone out because they bring that type of mindset to the table.

In 5 years, we should be looking at the development of the Hickory Metro Area. I would like to see an awakening of the entrepreneurial spirit in this community. I would love to see some cutting edge technical manufacturing brought in here -- not home runs, just building blocks. I would really like to see our community take the lead in new routes of education and see an emphasis towards cultivating some bright young people that want to help develop Hickory. I hope that we will start seeing some growth from the Appalachian State relationship and a true expansion of Lenoir-Rhyne into a premiere private University. I would like to see some "outside the box' degrees to be offered from our educational institutions.

In 10 years, we should have moved on to thinking along the lines of the region (all of Western North Carolina). I would like to see the investments we have made in knowledge and education begin to bear fruit. I think this would begin to cement our community as the geocenter and hub of western North Carolina. I would like to see that light rail line started by then. I would like to see a primitive physical transportation connection (and accessibilty) to areas within Hickory, the Hickory Metro, and nearby Metro Areas. This "Transportation Web" is important to the synergistic development of this region.

In 20 years, I would like to see this area be a vital cog and core of a retooled and respirited America. I would like to see the light rail systems well on their way to completion. I would like to see a modern city enjoying the fruits of forward thinking development. I know that we will have grown more urban by then and I am hoping that it is done in an efficient, consistent, systematic, and relevant way. I think Hickory with 60,000 people can still have a non-urbanized feel, if developers are given the proper tools to work with.

9) If you could define your Personal Legacy what would you like it to be? What would you like to be remembered for? I would like for people to think that I contributed to pulling us out of this malaise that we have been in for nearly 10 years.

I would like for people to say that my biggest asset and my biggest liability was my loyalty. "He would stick it out even when everyone else had abandoned ship -- He drowned doing that (Bwahaha)." I think people will realize that patience turns into procrastination. At some point in time you have to take action. Sometimes you have to prod people along to that action. Just because something is against the odds, doesn't mean that it mustn't be tried. Sometimes there is no alternative.

I wasted many a year waiting on the "Leaders" of this community to get it together. It was time to speak up, not for the connected, not for the socialites, not for the intellectuals, or inheritors. It was time to speak up for the forgotten people. I think the well to do in this community lost touch with reality. Sure they weren't doing "as-well," but relatively speaking they didn't have to worry about ending up out on the streets.

I would like to be remembered for bringing the conscious back to this community.

10) How do you define Leadership? Leadership is 50-50 mind and heart. It's a lot easier telling you what it isn't. It certainly isn't polling a focus group, trying to be all things to all people, or doing what is politically expedient. I just sense when someone has leadership skills. I will never be one to blindly follow, but I certainly can be inspired.

Here is a link to my Alphabet of Leadership. The Alphabet of Leadership.