Earlier this month, Becky Anderson, Economic Development Director for Mitchell County and formerly the founder and director of HandMade in America, received one of N.C.'s top awards — the Order of the Long Leaf Pine — for her "long career as an advocate of arts, heritage and community." The Order was created in the mid 1960s and given to residents in recognition of a proven record of service or some other special achievement. Past recipients include poet Maya Angelou, evangelist Billy Graham, actor Andy Griffith, basketball star Michael Jordan and more.
The order of the Long Leaf Pine, named for North Carolina’s official state tree, has been awarded by governors to more than 15,000 people since its creation in 1965. Anderson joins her brother Fred Chappell, the former N.C. Poet Laureate, who was inducted in 1993. In 2000, U.S. News & World Report named Anderson as one of the nation’s top 20 visionaries for her work in crafts advocacy and community development.
Before founding HandMade, Anderson had served in economic development for the city of Asheville, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and Land of Sky Regional Council. She retired in 2010 as HandMade’s executive director and formed her own consulting company. She currently serves as economic development director for Mitchell County.
The order of the Long Leaf Pine, named for North Carolina’s official state tree, has been awarded by governors to more than 15,000 people since its creation in 1965. Anderson joins her brother Fred Chappell, the former N.C. Poet Laureate, who was inducted in 1993. In 2000, U.S. News & World Report named Anderson as one of the nation’s top 20 visionaries for her work in crafts advocacy and community development.
Before founding HandMade, Anderson had served in economic development for the city of Asheville, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and Land of Sky Regional Council. She retired in 2010 as HandMade’s executive director and formed her own consulting company. She currently serves as economic development director for Mitchell County.
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