About The Executive Director

Joe C. McKinney

Executive Director
Land-of-Sky Regional Council

Joe McKinney has fifteen years experience in local government, having served in city, county, and regional government management since 1991.  He holds a Bachelors Degree in Public Policy Analysis from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a candidate for a Masters Degree in Public Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Mr. McKinney was appointed to serve as Executive Director of Land-of-Sky Regional Council (LOSRC) in January 2003.  The agency serves a four-county area including the counties of Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania.  LOSRC’s programs include planning and economic development, aging services, volunteer services, and geographic information systems. 

Mr. McKinney has served as a County Manager for Mitchell County, North Carolina, Town Manager for the Town of Spruce Pine, North Carolina and County Administrator for Chesterfield County, South Carolina.  Prior to his appointment at Land-of-Sky Regional Council, he served as Executive Director of Eastern Carolina Council (ECC) of Governments from October 1998.

While serving as Director of ECC, Mr. McKinney planned and implemented a major agency reorganization which is recognized statewide.  In 1999, Mr. McKinney was asked to provide testimony to the North Carolina Board of Transportation regarding his experience in transportation planning in South Carolina.  In 2000, the North Carolina General Assembly adopted legislation creating Rural Transportation Planning Organizations which included suggestions offered by Mr. McKinney during the policy development stages.

In December 2004, he was appointed by the North Carolina General Assembly to staff the Joint Select Committee on Hurricane Relief.  While serving in this capacity, his primary task was to determine the statewide economic impact of Hurricanes Frances and Ivan and to assist the General Assembly in developing a state relief package to guide the recovery of the region’s economy.  His efforts led to the adoption of legislation totaling $361 million in disaster assistance, the second largest relief bill ever adopted by the State of North Carolina.

Mr. McKinney has served on the UNC-Wilmington Board of Visitors, the Southeast Regional Directors Institute (SERDI) Board of Directors, the National Association of Development Organizations Board of Directors, the Buncombe County Economic Development Coalition , and the North Carolina Geographic Information Coordinating Council. 

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