President of Fayetteville Technical Community College Dr. J. Larry Keen and Cumberland County Manager Amy Cannon were recognized for their long-term support of the Institute for Community Leadership during the first meeting of ICL’s 19th class, held at FTCC on Sept. 20.
Keen and Cannon represent two of the entities that sponsor the community leadership development program. Both Keen and Cannon have announced plans to retire – Cannon as of Dec. 1 this year and Keen as of January 1, 2023.
Formed in 2004, ICL is designed to provide local citizens with information and opportunities to participate in activities that lead to community leadership, volunteer service and membership on local boards and commissions. Classes are held annually with participants chosen from a pool of applicants from Cumberland County.
Keen has supported FTCC’s sponsorship of ICL since joining the college as its president in 2007. Cannon, who has been with Cumberland County for 32 years and has occupied the role of County Manager since 2014, has also been a longtime supporter of the program.
Six more meetings will be held over the next several months, and the class will work to complete one or more service projects.
At center, Chancellor Darrell T. Allison and Juanette Council, Ed.D., vice chancellor for student affairs, cut the ribbon to celebrate the grand reopening of Fayetteville State University's newly renovated Spaulding Building, joined by campus leaders
FCEDC has officially moved its staff and operations to 611 W. Russell St. The 35,800- square-foot center was previously home to Homemakers Furniture and Interiors. Renovations began in the fall of 2025 and are expected to be completed in the next six to eight months. Currently, FCEDC staff are working within an open 7,500-square-foot floor plan as initial improvements progress.
Inset: Systel’s first corporate headquarters was a small rental house turned office on Fort Bragg Road in Fayetteville in 1981. Large photo: The company’s new corporate headquarters reflects years of growth into a multi-million dollar company that pr
