With extensive expertise in technology, finance and news management, three new members have recently joined the board of directors of the award-winning journalism organization Carolina Public Press, the region’s only 501(c)(3) nonprofit news service providing Western North Carolina with unbiased, in-depth and investigative reporting as well as educational opportunities to journalists, students and others.

Scott Barnwell serves as the business and public technology manager for the city of Asheville, where he promotes greater government transparency and access to public data resources. As a technology professional, Barnwell manages the city’s enterprise business applications (e.g. GIS, permitting, etc.) and oversees the city’s nascent open data program. As a volunteer, he serves as co-captain of the Code for Asheville Brigade of Code for America, a national nonprofit organization that strives to encourage the use of technology to improve the experience between citizens and local governments.

Mary Hall is a freelance senior finance professional serving clients in the greater Asheville area. Her 27 years of experience include long term stints in various areas of finance and commercial real estate – Big 4 public accounting, commercial real estate asset management and mortgage lending, consulting, training and commercial banking (BB&T, Asheville Savings Bank). Her most recent position was the CFO of Mountain BizWorks, a 30-year-old nonprofit institution. Her areas of expertise are diagnostic analysis and complex problem solving, strategic planning, process improvement, financial and cash flow forecasting, risk management and contract negotiations.

Diane Norman, the managing editor of the (Hendersonville) Times-News, has more than 25 years of employment with the New York Times Regional Media Group and Halifax Media Group. Since becoming the daily newspaper’s managing editor in March 2011, the newspaper has won 17 awards from the North Carolina Press Association, including first place in general excellence in its circulation category in 2012. In 2013, the Associated Press awarded the Times-News the North Carolina Outstanding Cooperation Award. Prior to being with the Times-News, Norman served as news editor at the Spartanburg Herald-Journal for four years, where she was also the newspaper’s city editor for three years, directing daily news coverage with a team of 12 reporters.
Barnwell, Hall and Norman join the following members of the Western North Carolina-based board of directors, who have combined expertise in First Amendment law, marketing, academic journalism programs, nonprofit management and development and news and media management:
Eleanor Ashton, Secretary
Lydia Carrington, Treasurer
Frank Goldsmith
Mark Goldstein
Calvin Hall
David Hurand, Vice President
Janet Moore
Angie Newsome, Executive Director
Allen Shaklan, President
Per the organization’s editorial policy, the board of directors does not influence Carolina Public Press’s news reporting beyond approving the nonprofit organization’s overall and long-term program goals. The board of director’s responsibilities include ensuring the organization is meeting its mission, overseeing its financial health and long-term sustainability and participating in strategic planning — all with an eye toward growing Carolina Public Press’s impact in Western North Carolina.