Brunswick County Commissioner J. Martin Cooke Jr. was recognized recently by the N.C. Association of County Commissioners for meeting the requirements for the Mentor level in the Local Elected Leaders Academy, and Brunswick County commissioners Pat Sykes (top left) and Frank Williams (bottom) were recognized by NCACC for meeting the requirements for the academy's Master level.
 
A Master has completed a minimum of 66 credits of continuing education since becoming a county commissioner. The highest level of recognition, a Mentor has completed a minimum of 82 credits of continuing education since becoming a county commissioner.
 
The Local Elected Leaders Academy, a partnership of the UNC School of Government, the NCACC and the N.C. League of Municipalities, offers local elected officials the knowledge and skills needed to lead and govern their communities, according to a news release.
 
"The Academy is designed to help our commissioners by improving their knowledge of the issues and their leadership skills," said NCACC Executive Director Kevin Leonard in the release. "A commissioner who achieves recognition through LELA has shown a true commitment to their personal development and to their constituents back home."