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PHOTO PROVIDED BY: HEROESHOMECOMING.COM
Left: Heroes Homecoming celebrates 10 years of honoring veterans and active military members across all branches. Right: The 10th anniversary of Heroes Homecoming will celebrate not only service members, but also their families who sacrifice and support them back home.
For the first several years that the event took place, the theme for Heroes Homecoming revolved around different conflicts. One year was dedicated to honoring those who served in Iraq, another honored those who served in Afghanistan. Then 2018 happened to mark both 100 years of Fort Bragg and 100 years of Armistice Day or Veterans Day, and that inspired the theme of a centennial of service.
Following 2018, the theme for the event was more flexible and tended to reflect something relevant to the events of the year. An example of this is when they honored the medical military in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fort Bragg is the home of the 44th Medical Brigade, which is the largest medical unit in the army.
This year's theme is “Heroes at Home.” The events will be honoring the military families, the children, the spouses, the extended family and the community who also make sacrifices when someone in their household serves.
Heroes Homecoming is happy to have 35 partners this year and they have organized about 12 events from Nov. 5 to Nov. 12. Heroes Homecoming works hand in hand with the Cumberland County Veterans Council, the organization that plans the annual Veterans Day Parade which typically serves as the kickoff event for Heroes Homecoming’s variety of events.
Another annual event that will take place during Heroes Homecoming is the Chili Cookoff. Hope Mills Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Dirtbag Ales, will host the 4th Annual Hope Mills Chili Cookoff as part of Heroes Homecoming on Nov. 12 starting at 12 p.m. For $10 attendees can sample five different chilis and vote for their favorite. For $30, guests can sample every concoction entered in the contest. Then, at the end of the day, the top three chilis will be given a special award.
President of the Hope Mills Chamber Casey Ferris shared that a portion of the proceeds earned during the Chili Cookoff will be donated to the Cumberland County VAC, Veterans Affairs Council, to be earmarked to be used when families at home are struggling while their breadwinner is deployed or has been injured in the line of duty.
Heroes Homecoming’s organizers said their partners have a lot of creative liberty when planning their events. “We give them a theme, and it's up to them as to what the event is. It's within their bandwidth, what they can withstand doing and then we do all the marketing. So, we don't dictate, you know, what the event looks like. Only that it follows the theme and it's in a set, kind of parameter of dates,” shared Brady.
Brady also shared that FACVB does not typically do an event, but with it being the 10th anniversary of Heroes Homecoming, they decided to undertake the extra challenge. FACVB planned Family Fun Day which will take place at Sweet Valley Ranch after the Veteran’s Day Parade. The event is free admission and will feature food trucks, live music, and inflatables for the children to play on.
“... because our theme is honoring our heroes at home; we wanted to make sure that there was an event that did just that,” commented Brady.
Other events on the schedule include a wreath laying ceremony, a family fishing workshop, a Veterans Day Ceremony hosted by FTCC, and that is only a few of the many events planned to honor the brave individuals serving our country and their families as well.
Though it is a lot of work, Brady is grateful to be in charge of such a valuable event.
“I've been intimately involved in Heroes Homecoming since 2016, and I came to this community with no military affiliation and I say it every year with the partners around the table, but this by far, is my most favorite project that I get to work on every year. Because you know, our neighbors, the spouses of our co-workers, you know, just the guy sitting next to you at the restaurant, somehow, some way, someone that you come in contact with is somehow affiliated with Fort Bragg. And to make that sacrifice and to say, you're going to go and fight for our freedom and defend our home, it is, it's humbling, to say the least. I just absolutely am honored that I have been given the responsibility to chair this initiative. And for me, it's the right thing to do in this community…” said Brady.
When Brady took over chairing the initiative in 2016, it was expanded from just Fayetteville to all of Cumberland County. Brady and the other dedicated individuals and organizations working to organize Heroes Homecoming hope to continue to grow the annual event and to bring in more guests from outside of the county to enjoy these events honoring our members in service.
To view a complete list of events for this year’s Heroes Homecoming visit: www.heroeshomecoming.com
Cumberland County now has its first chief diversity officer after hiring NIKEISHA WARING in early October.
Waring assumed the role on Oct. 10, and shared her excitement for the job. “I’m looking forward to working with the DEI Advisory Committee and other stakeholders to help further Cumberland County’s goals of being a more
PHOTO PROVIDED BY: CUMBERLAND COUNTY diverse, equitable and inclusive place for our employees,” said Waring in a
Waring press release. “It is important to me that every County employee knows that ‘This person believes in you.’”
Waring retired from the military in November 2020 after 22 years at Fort Bragg. She served in numerous capacities throughout her time in the military. During her last four years with the military, she served as an Equal Opportunity Advisor, planning, directing, implementing and monitoring EEO programs, and advising senior leadership on issues affecting the workforce, including the effectiveness and status of EEO program goals, efficiency and legal compliance.
Following her military career, Waring served as an Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist at the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command in Norfolk, VA. She received her Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Excelsior University in Albany, NY, and holds a number of certifications related to EEO Training, Leadership and Mediation.
“I am excited about the experience Mrs. Waring brings from her career in the military and education, and I believe her addition will allow us to continue the momentum that has been building over the past several years in the area of DEI,” said County Manager Amy Cannon in a press release. “Mrs. Waring will be tasked with advancing the County’s priorities of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion through coordination with the DEI Advisory Committee, County department heads, the Management Team and Board of Commissioners, employees and other stakeholders. Among her first priorities will be working to continue implementation of the County’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategic Plan, which was adopted earlier this year.”
What are you and your peers achieving? Have you reached a new goal? Have you acquired another business? Maybe your business has a new hire you would like to highlight. Greater Fayetteville Business Journal wants to hear from you and your business to shine a spotlight on your accomplishments.
To nominate someone for GFBJ’s Achievers section, email editor@bizfayetteville.com with the subject line “Achiever.”
Harnett County welcomes Natalie Pusser as Regional Jetport Director
Harnett Regional Jetport is under new leadership following the announcement that NATALIE PUSSER has been named the new Harnett Regional Jetport Director.
Pusser has nearly a decade of aviation management experience under her belt and has held a number of positions at the Jetport since 2003. Included on her resume are Office Manager, FBO Manager, and most recently, the Operations Manager, with responsibilities including coordination of airport projects and airfield use for military training, monitoring, and reporting security regulations, and overseeing compliance with local, state, and federal airport rules and regulations.
Pusser said she is looking forward to her new role with the County in a press release.
Her new job duties include being responsible for directing the County’s airport operations, monitoring, and implementing safety procedures, serving as the liaison for airport projects and grant funding opportunities, promoting economic development and business expansion at the airport, and ensuring Harnett Regional Jetport adheres to county, state, and federal guidelines.
“Harnett Regional Jetport is an important piece of our county’s viability in economic development, and we are fortunate to have this hidden jewel in our community,” said Pusser in a press release. Pusser graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management. “I am excited to have Natalie Pusser join our team as Jetport Director,” stated County Manager Brent Trout in a press release. “She works hard at providing great customer service to our pilots and visitors at our Jetport and has performed well as the Manager of Operations during the interim period since the County took over airport operations. Natalie has the passion to take the necessary steps to
PHOTO PROVIDED see this airport continue to improve BY: HARNETT COUNTY and grow in the future for Harnett
Pusser County.”
Fayetteville Academy names new Head of School
Fayetteville Academy’s Board of Trustees have selected a new hire to serve as the next Head of School starting July 1, 2023.
NORMAN “BLAIR” FISHER will be taking over the role, relocating from Mobile, Alabama where he previously served as the Head of School for St. Paul’s Episcopal
Fisher School. While at St. Paul’s, Fisher led 1,250 students and 185 faculty and staff members, more than doubled the school’s endowment and created a highly successful planned giving program. Additionally, he oversaw over $10 million of campus improvements and increased school diversity by over 50 percent.
With nearly three decades of experience, Fisher has worked in independent school education as a teacher, Middle School Dean of Students, and as Head of School at Charlotte Preparatory School. Fisher also has a record of military service, serving in the U.S. Army and also being the son of a Veteran, he said he is excited about the future of Fayetteville Academy and leading the school in a shared vision.
“During my six years in the military and 28 years as an educator, I have learned that the success of any organization or community depends on two foundational factors: having talented people in key leadership positions and the creation and maintenance of a culture where stakeholders – whatever their background, identity, or worldview – coalesce around a shared vision and common set of values,” Fisher shared in a press release.
Fisher was selected following a three month national search conducted by an 11- member search committee supported by the Southern Teachers Agency. He received his bachelor’s degree in history from George Mason University before receiving two Master’s of Education degrees from George Mason University and Kennesaw State University.
Dr. Joshua Barkman, chairman of FA’s Board of Trustees expressed gratitude for the work of the Search Committee and Southern Teachers.“We laud all who were involved for their commitment and dedication to the integrity of the search process,” Barkman said in a press release.
Fisher will be taking over for the current Head of School Ray Quesnel, who has held the position for the last 11 years.
“The Board of Trustees wishes to communicate their continuing support of Ray Quesnel, our current head of school, and to thank Ray, along with his wife Wendy, for their service to Fayetteville Academy,” Barkman said.
Fayetteville realtor announced as “Rookie of the Year” finalist
Fayetteville realtor ALEX MCFADYEN is receiving national recognition by being named as one of the Top 10 finalists for RISMedia’s Real Estate Rookie of the Year.
McFadyen, who works for Cold-
