BalsamWest FiberNet has an active managing board.

The board is made of two members each from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Drake Enterprises. The board has also provided the position of Community Interest Director to Southwestern Community College.

Chairman of the Board: Barbara Palmer Vicknair

Vice Chairman of the Board: Jennifer Dills

Secretary: Don Rose

Treasurer: Terry Breedlove

Barbara Palmer Vicknair – Chairman of the Board – Currently serving on the Community Development Council, a division of the Department of Commerce of NC, Barbara Palmer Vicknair handles the CDGB and Hud Monies for NC.  She serves on the Evergreen Foundation and is the President of the Valley River Human Society in Marble, NC.  Barbara served two terms on the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners and was Chairman for five of the seven years.  She has been instrumental in securing over $25 Million in federal appropriations and grants for infrastructure and schools in Cherokee County.  In the past she has served as a Governor’s appointment to the Rural Prosperity Task Force, Smoky Mountain Mental Health, Cherokee County DSS Board, Rural Economic Development Board and the Cherokee Preservation Foundation.  She has a background in accounting and until recently was a small business owner.  Barbara resides in Murphy, NC with her husband Stephen and has three children and five grandchildren.

Jennifer Dills – Vice Chairman of the Board – Jennifer Dills was appointed Vice President of Finance for Drake Enterprises, Ltd. in 2008.  As the vice president, Jennifer’s responsibilities include reviewing financial statements and preparing income tax returns for Drake Enterprises’ 18 businesses in the sectors of retail, travel & entertainment, restaurant, software development, internet service, manufacturing, and construction.  Jennifer analyzes financial statements, industry trends, investment opportunities, cash positions and company strategies to ensure the businesses are maximizing sales and minimizing costs.  Along with her group of fifteen professionals, primarily accountants and bookkeepers, she manages sales tax, fixed assets, internal auditing, order processing for 30,000+ customers, and insurance risk management. 

Before joining Drake Enterprises in 2002, Jennifer worked for Dixon Odom PLLC in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, (currently Dixon-Hughes PLLC) as an auditor.

She is an active CPA, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and a member of North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (NCACPA).  She also serves as an officer on the Western Carolina University Accounting Advisory Board.

Don Rose – Secretary – Major Donald E. Rose is a retired Air Force officer with twenty five years of military service. After retirement from the Air Force he worked in the Aerospace industry as a system engineer and business manager. In 1988 he founded Command Technologies, Inc. a professional services firm providing system engineering and technical assistance to various government agencies including the Department of Defense, NASA, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency and several aerospace firms. He grew Command Technologies to over 500 employees with offices in several states and revenues in excess of $40 million annually. He sold the company in 2004. Subsequently he devotes his time to a variety of interests including service on several boards of directors and commissions. He represents the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on the BalsamWest FiberNet board of directors.

Terry Breedlove – Treasurer –Terry Breedlove was appointed Vice President of Systems for Drake Enterprises in 1993.  He is directly responsible for departments such as Information Technologies, Telecommunications, Facilities and Grounds, Duplication Services and Shipping.  He is responsible for systems (PBX, security, network, computer asset protection) management for Drake Software and eighteen retail businesses.  Terry also performs project oversight for planning, installation, setup, and maintenance of systems for multiple contact centers and businesses. 

Before joining Drake Enterprises, Terry worked for Macon County as the Land Records Manager for ten years.  He has served on many boards including the Macon County Board of Education, the Nikwasi Land Trust, the Macon County Community Based Alternatives Task Force, the Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce, Region “A” Child & Youth Planning Council, the Franklin Jaycees and the Visions Task Force.

Terry served in the United States Army from 1976 – 1980 as a border guard on the East/West German border.  In 1982 he graduated from Haywood Community College with a dregee in Forest Management.

Terry is a native of and resides in Franklin, NC with his wife, Sandra.  He has three children (triplet sons) and five grandchildren.

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