Vision Henderson County

A comprehensive leadership program

designed to develop community leaders,

promote networking, teach leadership styles,

explore local issues, enhance critical thinking

and further economic development.

Presented by:

and

     Since its formation in 1996, Vision Henderson County has become one of the most prestigious programs in Henderson County. Each year, a select group of local leaders learn about what is going on in our business community and how they can make a difference. The program builds community leadership through an in-depth view of the cultural, economic, historic, social, educational, environmental and government assets in Henderson County and connects participants with prominent civic, business and government leaders. The result is that hundreds of alumni have made countless contributions to the community and its quality of life.

     The Vision Henderson County leadership program is designed to:

• Develop a leadership pool of informed, involved and committed citizens

• Enhance communication and interaction among participants to form a network for cooperative community trusteeship

• Experience and understand the diversity of leadership decision-making styles and processes

• Explore issues facing Henderson County, to gain insight on how to formulate solutions and to encourage the team approach to solving community problems and visioning the future

     Classes begin with a one day retreat in August, followed by monthly classes from September to April. Graduation is held in May.

Class day topics include:

• History

• Government

• Economic Development

• Law Enforcement/Emergency Services

• Health Care

• Manufacturing

• Education

• Environmental

     For more information call Blue Ridge Community College at 828-694-1779 or the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce at 828-692-1413. 

Registration for the 2024/2025

Deadline for applying for the 2024-2025 Vision Program is March 31, 2024.

Vision Henderson County Class Directories

     Vision Henderson County is led by Executive Director Gary Heisey.
     

Gary has lived in Western North Carolina for 26 years.In addition to his role as the Vision Henderson County Executive Director, he is the Executive Director for the Blue Ridge Community College Mission Acceleration Business Accelerator Program, a comprehensive business innovation program designed to assist for profit, not-for-profit and family owned businesses to take them to the next level of success and sustainability.

Gary is also a Blue Ridge Community College Adjunct Faculty member where he teaches business classes for local entrepreneurs and the business community through the BRCC Small Business Center. Gary has authored four workbooks on Branding and Marketing with his company Brand Door.

Prior to his current roles, Gary spent 11 years as the award-winning Blue Ridge Community College Small Business Director.  During this time, he directed the BRCC Small Business Center, rated number one SBC training center out of 58 North Carolina Colleges across the state. Gary personally taught over 600 business seminars and assisted over 1,000 start-ups, growth and scale-up companies with management advice, branding, marketing, social media, access to capital, and business planning.

VISION HENDERSON COUNTY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ~

Inspiring purposeful leadership by alumni who are passionate

and committed to progress across Henderson County.

      The Vision Henderson County Alumni Association was founded in 2010 to allow networking and educational opportunities to continue for the alumni of Vision Henderson County and the Leadership Henderson classes of the late 1980’s and early 1990’s conducted out of UNCA.
     The Alumni Association hosts quarterly events designed to keep Vision Henderson County Alumni informed on issues affecting Henderson County and available service opportunities. Funds raised from these events support the John L. Boyd Vision Endowment Fund. The fund, established in 2014, helps cover tuition costs for community members who wish to attend the Vision Henderson County Program but do not have finances available. Named for long-time Executive Director, John L. Boyd (pictured), the fund will carry forward his legacy of building community leaders with a fuller sense of critical issues affecting Henderson County, while motivating Vision Alumni to collaboratively resolve them.
     For information on the Vision Alumni Association call the Chamber at 828-692-1413.