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Easley finally completes his cabinet
with Commerce, Revenue appointments
Gov. Mike Easley
finally completed his Cabinet on Wednesday by naming Jim Fain
(right) as secretary of Commerce and Norris Tolson as secretary of
Revenue. The final picks for Easley’s cabinet came more than
two months after the new governor took office.
Fain, 57, is a Hendersonville native who has been acting
Commerce secretary since mid-February. Prior to that Fain
served as the department’s assistant secretary for economic
development. Before joining Commerce in 1999, Fair worked for
24 years for First Union National Bank, lastly as president of
the bank’s Triangle region.
"Mr. Fain has both the experience and commitment to lead
the Department of Commerce," Easley said.
"Recruitment and retention of viable industry to all
regions of North Carolina will become increasingly important
as we deal with the current budget situation. I want every
segment of the state to have a strong and healthy
economy."
"Mr.
Fain appreciates the need for a long-term strategic plan that
involves the Departments of Transportation, Revenue and
Environment and Natural Resources in economic
development," Easley said. "Our economy can grow
only with strong infrastructure and an educated workforce, but
this must be balanced with a commitment to a clean and healthy
environment."
Fain
graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1971 and
earned a master’s degree in business administration in 1975.
He serves as Treasurer of the Rex Healthcare Board of
Trustees/ He is a director of the N.C. Economic Developers
Association and the Downtown Raleigh Alliance and is vice
chair of the N.C. Museum of Art Foundation. In 1999, Fain
received the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce’s A.E.
Finley Award. He and his wife Peggy have two children.
Tolson, 61, a retired DuPont executive, served in the General
Assembly before being named by Hunt as secretary of Commerce.
Hunt later appointed Tolson as secretary of Transportation
after newspaper reports uncovered alleged improprieties by
some members of the Board of Transportation. He reorganized
both departments.
"With the current budget situation, effective collection
of state revenues will be a top priority," Easley said.
He called Tolson "a strong manager with the ability to
get the job done."
NCCBI
President Phil Kirk said “it’s great to have a person with
a strong business background as the secretary of Revenue.
Norris Tolson has now headed three major departments in state
government. He is a superb administrator and believes in
efficient, effective and courteous service.”
Kirk
said Fain “will not need any on-the-job training. He knows
and understands the issues and the people involved. The next
several years will be challenging ones in the economic
development field and Jim’s experience will be a plus. There
are many players in economic development, and Jim will need to
have them working together for the benefit of the state.”
Names in the News
New Chapel Hill institute to
honor Jim Hunt
The
UNC Board of Governors gave President Molly Broad the go-ahead
to launch the James B. Hunt Jr. Institute for Educational
Leadership and Policy, which will be based in Chapel Hill
after it opens next fall. The institute will focus on
research, policy analysis and the best ways to improve
education. It will offer seminars, conferences and workshops
on specific educational issues, Broad said. Hunt will serve as
founding chairman of the institute's board of directors. The
institute will house existing programs such as the UNC Center
for School Leadership Development and depend on private
donations, corporate gifts and federal funding.
NCCBI figures
honored for leading higher education bonds effort
The
UNC Board of Governors honored several NCCBI leaders for their
leadership in securing passage of the $3.1 billion higher
education bonds last November. The board passed resolutions
thanking NCCBI President Phil Kirk, Chairman Mac
Everett,
former chairman Phil Phillips, Vice President of Governmental
Relations Leslie Bevacqua, and Executive Committee member
George Little. Everett and Phillips coordinated a strategy
task force prior to and during the legislative process and
then served in statewide leadership positions during the
campaign. Phillips also made the first $100,000 contribution
and First Union also was a $100,000 contributor. Little
chaired the fundraising campaign which generated more than $4
million. Bevacqua was campaign manager and took a five-month leave of absence from NCCBI to run the campaign. Kirk chaired
the working committee for the campaign. Meanwhile, the N.C.
Association of Community College Trustees honored some of the
same individuals for their work on the bonds campaign. The
group presented engraved clocks to Community Colleges
President Martin Lancaster, Joe Grimsley,
Bevacqua and Little.
 NCCBI has co-sponsored
sessions with the National Association of Manufacturers
honoring three North Carolina representatives in Congress for
their pro-business, pro-manufacturing voting records in the
last session of the U.S. Congress. President Phil Kirk
attended the Charlotte event honoring Cong. Sue Myrick
(R-9th). Hunt Broyhill, a member of the
NCCBI Board of Directors, represented NCCBI at the event
saluting Cong. Cass Ballenger (R-10th), a
long-time member of NCCBI, in Hickory. Representing NCCBI at
the Greensboro event honoring Cong. Howard Coble (R-6th)
was Mike Fox, a member of the Young Executives Forum.
Other events will be scheduled later.
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