Happy to be with Johnny Lee Chapman, Raleigh’s inaugural poet laureate. As a former Chair of the Raleigh Arts Commission, I’m excited about tomorrow’s awarding of the Medal of Art Raleigh to arts innovators.

A great day at the North Carolina Zoo with dear friends, Helen, Terry, Marcia and Bob, and a few new four-legged friends!

It was great to be in the backseat of a sheriff‘s cruiser on the way to help Camdyn and Lauryn perch on their convertibles for a lovely ride in the Scuppernong River Festival Parade.

I am proud to be a former Board Chair of the Pocosin School of Fine Craft. I’m so pleased that the State Employees Credit Union awarded Pocosin $40,000 to enhance its entrepreneurial programs.

Happy to be with Tyrrell County Sheriff Kevin Sawyer and Rachel Clipston, Director of the Northeastern Workforce Development Board at the Eastern 4H Center in Tyrrell County for the Real World simulation for students from across northeastern North Carolina.

Lauren and Scott’s wedding was a fairytale, including a Villa, the French Riviera and new friends brought together by these two great families

Beautiful ladies, a pool party in Ville Franche Sur Mer, and I get to wear white shoes in October because there is no Labor Day in France, all make for a good time.

Train trip to Saorge and LaBrigue with new friends from China, Australia, Ireland, and Finland to enjoy beautiful villages and opulent antiquities.

I visited Saint Paul de Vence and found myself alone in a small cemetery and had a moment to visit the grave of the modern artist Marc Chagall, who painted the ceiling of the Paris Opera and hangs in the MoMA. He certainly chose a place of remarkable majesty as his final canvas.

On the Rock in Monaco before visiting the Palace and Monte Carlo, and of course, with me as a public policy guy, a fascinating visit to the state department and legislature of Monaco.

A beautiful day in Cannes. And the TFWA was having their prestige and luxury goods conference. Extra posh!

In the 1990s I was an agency representative on the first Governor’s Council on Hispanic and Latino Affairs and served through the Hunt and Easley administrations. Today I have the opportunity to join 28 years worth of council members celebrating Heritage Month.

Happy to be with our new Miss America and have a few words before she heads off on her national press tour.

Regan Hutsell is our new Miss America !

So proud to be with Lauryn Mallard at the American Heart Association Miss America Gala.

Camdyn Lee, Miss North Carolina Teen was awarded a Preliminary Evening Gown Award at Miss America’s Teen!!

Happy to be with other members of the Raleigh Convention and Performing Art Centers Authority and staff as we celebrate the rebranding of the Convention Center to the Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center. Exceptional progress is being made in Raleigh‘s entertainment complex.

Happy to be with chief counsel Amy Bason and executive director Kevin Leonard as Miss North Carolina, addressed the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners convention in Durham.

It was great to be on set as Miss North Carolina was interviewed at WRAL and confirmed once again her abiding commitments to at risk children and elders.

Representative Julia Howard is a dynamo in the North Carolina House and as it happens, she is the legislator that represents Davie County the home of Lauryn Mallard Miss North Carolina. We appreciated her hospitality in the House Chamber yesterday.