Event Recap
The Centralina Regional Council hosted the annual celebration featuring the Region of Excellence Awards on October 8, 2025. This year’s theme, Thoughtfully Woven: The Fabric of Strategic Leadership, highlighted the way Centralina’s communities work together to navigate change, maintain direction, and plan for the future. The event recognized both the individual and collective leadership that shapes growth and innovation across the region.
U.S. Representative Tim Moore helped kick off the event, emphasizing the power of regional cooperation. In his remarks, Representative Moore noted that individually we are each represented by a single Member of Congress but as a region we are represented by five Members of Congress. This overlap creates opportunities for collaboration and underscores the importance of unified advocacy when advancing the Centralina region’s federal priorities.
Representative Moore’s comments underscore the importance of regionalism. Acting regionally expands our reach and strengthens every community’s voice and influence. Centralina’s five Members of Congress span both political parties and together serve on nine Congressional committees, ensuring the Centralina region has access to key decision-makers on a wide range of federal issues.
As the federal government continues to pursue budget reductions, local governments are more effective by collaborating on federal priorities and by ensuring that requests submitted to Members of Congress reflect unified support for regional priorities. Continuing to cultivate positive relationships with your individual Members of Congress is essential. When regional partners align behind a unified message, it not only strengthens advocacy efforts but also demonstrates local accountability and shared purpose.
Effective partnerships with the congressional delegation depend on consistent engagement. Local leaders are encouraged to proactively engage with their Members of Congress throughout the year and to extend invitations for participation in local events and community discussions. These connections build trust, foster understanding, and help ensure that federal decision-making reflects the priorities of the Centralina region.
About the author:
Shirley Speidell is a Government Relations Director for Strategics Consulting, Centralina’s federal government relations consulting firm. For more information, visit www.strategics.consulting.
