Burke River Trail Association Executive Director Beth Heile has been selected to participate in Leadership North Carolina Class 34, a statewide leadership program that brings together leaders from different professions, communities and regions to better understand the opportunities and challenges facing North Carolina.
Heile will participate in the 2026–2027 program as a representative of Burke River Trail Association. Through sessions focused on areas including government, education, economic development, health, the environment and leadership, participants will learn from experts and from one another while building relationships across the state. “I believe better understanding leads to better solutions,” Heile said. “I am looking forward to learning from people with different experiences and perspectives and bringing those lessons back to Burke County.”
For BRTA, the investment in Leadership North Carolina extends well beyond trail development. The organization works across nine Burke County towns and increasingly uses outdoor recreation as a catalyst for stronger communities, economic opportunity and quality of life. BRTA regularly connects local governments, nonprofits, businesses, developers, elected officials, state agencies and volunteers to move community projects forward. The knowledge and relationships developed through Leadership North Carolina will strengthen that work and help BRTA continue connecting local opportunities with resources and ideas from across the state.
Heile received a $4,000 scholarship through Leadership North Carolina’s 100 County Initiative, making participation possible through a shared investment by the scholarship program, BRTA and Heile personally. She said the application process itself was valuable, challenging her to think more deeply about leadership, the connections between community issues and the role small organizations can play in creating change. “The lessons I learn will not stay with me,” Heile said. “They will travel back into the towns, organizations and partnerships I work with every day.”