Barbara Volk

Title: Mayor

Municipality: City of Hendersonville

Position Interested In: District Representative - District 12

Tell us why you would like to serve in a leadership position at the League. In particular, specify goals you would like to accomplish as an officer or board member and indicate how, if attained, they will help to achieve Vision 2030 – the League’s future vision of how cities and towns will operate in 2030.

I have been active with the NCLM for many years and would like to support our municipalities through the NCLM in a broader fashion. Our municipalities, large and small, face many challenges today, not the least of which is erosion of local autonomy. We each have our own concerns, but cities and towns are the heartbeat of the community. We need to work together to strengthen our voice and share ideas. The NCLM is the avenue to do this and I want to ensure we continue to have outstanding, dedicated staff as a resource for us. There may be a change in how our municipalities can grow and develop, so we need to be prepared for these possible changes. I would like to be part of that planning process.

Tell us about your experience as a municipal official. You may want to include information on your service on the municipal governing body, other related boards and special areas of interest.

In 1989 I was the first woman elected to the Hendersonville City Council and became the first woman mayor in 2009. Over that period we have more than doubled our population and for the last ten or more years been listed as a top tourism/retirement community in many publications. Over half my time as a Council member I served as Mayor Pro Tem. I was a long-term member of the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium and am a member of the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development. I am a past chair of Land of Sky Regional Council, am currently on the executive committee, and am chair of the Friends of Land of Sky. I have been on a variety of regional committees, mostly related to clean air and water.

Tell us about your educational background, professional experience, and/or community or civic activities.

I have a BS in mathematics, with minors in biology and education, from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana. I was also certified in Medical Record Administration and am a Professional Registered Parliamentarian. I am retired from my business of providing computer services to small business and nonprofits, where I designed databases and did accounts payable and payroll , among other services. I have served on the boards of many organizations, local, state, regional, and national, a few of which are: Hendersonville Rotary Club President, GFWC N.C. Federation of Woman's Club President, Henderson County Mediation Center, the Rape Crisis Center (now Safelight), Hendersonville City Schools PTO, Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church Council President.

Have You Participated in Any NCLM Events or Committees?

CityVision Annual Conference
Town & State Dinner or Town Hall Days
Legislative Goals Planning Events or Process
Regional Meetings
Legislative Lobby Days
Legislative Policy Committee

Please provide any other information you would like the Nominations Committee to consider.

Through my involvement with Land of Sky I feel I have developed an understanding of the needs and concerns of our area and look forward to representing this Western region on the NCLM board.