Brunswick County’s strategic planning process moves forward with appointment of citizen action teams

Brunswick County’s strategic vision and planning process, which kicked off last September, took another step forward Monday when commissioners appointed four citizen action teams. Each team will help focus on a specific set of issues and will formulate mission and vision statements and develop potential goals for consideration by commissioners.

The planning and visioning process, dubbed Brunswick Vision, has included extensive public input, both in the form of nine public meetings and an online citizen survey.

“Brunswick County has experienced rapid growth, undergone tremendous demographic changes and experienced dramatic economic shifts in the eleven years since the county’s most recent visioning process,” said Commissioner Frank Williams, who is chairing the strategic planning committee. “We live in a great county that is well-positioned to be the driving force in southeastern North Carolina over the next 25 years, and we must develop a thoughtful strategic vision to ensure that we capitalize on the opportunities available to us. The citizen input we received last Fall was crucial, and I look forward to hearing the next round of feedback from the diverse group of talented people who have agreed to serve on our citizen action teams.”

“We live in a large, diverse county, and we felt it was important to bring together citizens from throughout the county to offer input as we develop our strategic goals and priorities,” said Commissioner Randy Thompson, co-chair of the strategic planning committee. “I am grateful to everyone who has agreed to participate in this process.”

Those appointed are:

Health & Safety

• Chair: John Grimes, Chief, Leland Volunteer Fire/Rescue Department
• Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office designee(s)
• Copelen Taylor, Chief of Police, City of Northwest
• Rodney Gause, Chief of Police, Town of Shallotte
• David Robinson, Chief, Coastline Volunteer Rescue Squad
• Charles Drew, Chief, Southport Fire Department
• Keith DeVincentis, Retired FBI Agent
• Kathy Lawler, Health & Human Services Advisory Board
• Chris Thomas, Assistant District Attorney
• N.C. Highway Patrol designee
• Judge Jason Disbrow
• Garth Walters
• John Lewis
• Michelle Caulk, Clerk of Court’s Office
• Brian Watts, Brunswick County Emergency Services
• Todd Coring, 911 Center
• Cris Harrelson, Health Department
• Cathy Lytch, DSS
• Dosher designee
• Novant designee

Education & Workforce Development

• Chair: Greg Bland, Dean of Continuing Education & Workforce Development, BCC
• Gordon Corlew, CEO, Lee Linear
• Russell Green, VP, Human Resources, ATMC
• Jonathan Hicks, Manager of Training Programs, Duke Energy
• Michael Norton
• Bobby Davis, Vice President, Technical Services, BEMC
• James Knox
• Suzanne West
• Ed Lemon
• Allen Williams
• Brunswick County Schools designee(s)

Economic Development / Quality of Life / Environment / Planning

• Chair: Mark Blevins
• Susan Cruse, Chair, Small Business Advisory Commission
• Bill Bittenbender, ABCPOA
• Jerry Helms, Economic Development Advisory Commission
• Howie Franklin, Cape Fear Regional Jetport
• Resea Willis, Brunswick Housing Opportunities
• Rich Leary
• Joy Easley, Planning Board
• Chip Carroll
• Milton Coleman
• Carol Dunham
• Ron Medlin, Vice Chair, Small Business Advisory Commission
• Clif Cheek
• Allen Bryant, Economic Development Advisory Commission
• Carrie Moffett
• David Hewett, Town Manager, Town of Holden Beach
• Chris McCall, Village Manager, Bald Head Island
• Clint Berry

Public Information / Citizen Engagement / Communication / Volunteerism

• Chair: David W. Sink, Jr.
• Jayne Mathews
• Fred Stephens
• Tommy Wallace
• Cynthia Tart
• Helen Pannullo
• Lewis Dozier
• Peggy McDonald
• Jay & Diane Merritt
• Forrest King
• Michael Callahan
• Jessica Swencki, PIO, Brunswick County Schools
• London Schmidt, PIO, Brunswick Community College
• Emily Flax, PIO, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office
• Amanda Hutcheson, PIO, Brunswick County Government
• Scott Garner, Brunswick County Emergency Services

Citizens can learn more about the strategic planning process by visiting http://www.brunswickvision.com.

Brunswick County last completed a strategic planning process in 2004, with the publication of Brunswick Tomorrow. A copy of that plan is also available at http://www.brunswickvision.com.