James Littlejohn
President
James Littlejohn is originally from Boone, was a Pioneer, a Mountaineer and is a veteran of the 82d Airborne Division and Illinois National Guard. After graduation from Northern Illinois University with a Major in Sociology and Minor in Music, James moved around with his career in banking, living in many cities including Chicago, Baltimore, Charlotte and Charleston but moved to Lansing in 2014 with his life partner Peggy and dog Shelby. He is the owner of the Treehouse, a space that will promote community, creativity, the arts and celebrate Lansing and his door is always open.
Board of Directors
Jim Parsons
Program Manager
Cookie Parsons
Jim grew up in Lansing, Cookie in College Park, Md. Both are retired from United Chemi-Con, Jim as Specification Eng. Mg’r and product designer and Cookie in Quality Control. They are charter members of Emmanuel Baptist Church; members of We Care Committee (BROC, where Jim is Board VP); He is also on the Board of Hope Through A Vision (homeless ministry); past Board member of Ashe Chamber of Commerce; and also currently serves on BREMCO’s MAC and Foundation Committees. Jim and Cookie owned and operated Lansing Village Shoppe after retiring, until 2018.
Sandy Roten
Secretary
Sandy is a lifelong resident of the Lansing
area. She is a graduate of Northwest High School and Wilkes Community College. She has two children and one grandson.
Sandy looks forward to working with the residents of Lansing and getting to know them all.
Dick Greenwood
Vice President
Dick Greenwood originally hails from Statesville, NC. In 2018, Dick retired as Professor Emeritus at Louisiana Tech University. He and his wife, Anita, dog and two cats have lived very happily in Lansing for the past four years. Dick and Anita became members of GLAD in early 2019 and Dick served as President of GLAD during September 2019-October 2022. When not working on GLAD-related activities, Dick stays busy as a part-time professor of Physics at Appalachian State University.
Sherry Powers
Native of Avery County, NC. Graduate of Avery County High School. Been in Ashe County now for 15 years. Worked as Certified Pharmacy Technician for Warrensville Drug Store when owned by husband Mack Powers.
Worked for H & R Block as Income Tax Preparer and then as Office Manager for 3 offices in Watuaga and Ashe Counties. Former Notary Public in county of Avery. Volunteer as a member of the Beautification Committee through GLAD. Enjoys fly fishing and tying flies, gardening and music. Have a total of 5 daughters with husband, Mack Powers and 3 grandchildren.
Also, is a servant to 2 Kitty Cats.
Larry Blevins
Raised in Silas Creek, Larry Blevins moved to Lansing 12 years ago. Retired from the satellite installation field, Larry did a wide variety of invaluable volunteer work for the town before being hired as our full-time maintenance techniciain three years ago. He and his wife Bert have five children and eleven grandchildren.
René Shuford began her career in Printing and Public Relations and Business Management at the Department of Defense in Washington, DC. Currently and for the last 30 years she has been the owner and director of Blue Ridge Healing Arts Academy. Her work focuses on developing seminars and curriculums that will bring increased quality and high standards to the wellness industry as well as to the community at large. Her first love is teaching with an emphasis on helping other teachers bring quality to the classroom setting. She loves to attend community service functions in her area, travel, and flower/food organic gardening. René maintains a private massage and bodywork practice where her focus is Chakra Healing with an emphasis on Trauma Release, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, LaStone Therapy, Deep Tissue Massage and Rehabilitative Tissue work. René brings 25 plus years of organizational, personal and community development training to the GLAD Board. She currently serves on the Ashe County Chamber of Commerce Business and Community Development Committee. She grew up in the mountains of North Carolina and currently resides in the beautiful historic town of Lansing, North Carolina
Ann Rose
Ann Rose is a retired RN and has been enjoying her second career as an organic farmer. She moved to Ashe county in 1996 with her three daughters and bought a small farm in the Lansing community. She spends her spare time volunteering for GLAD, learning to quilt and is writing poetry and children’s stories.
Lindsey Kulp
Lindsey Kulp is originally from Raleigh, NC and moved to Lansing in April of 2022 where she immediately felt like she was at home. When not working on GLAD's social media or volunteering at events, you can find her pickin' antiques, throwing pottery, or at home with her partner Trevor (and their 5 cats and dog). Lindsey is thrilled to be a part of GLAD and to share her love of Lansing with everyone.