Wake County, N.C. – The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) is pleased to announce Joy Anderson Hicks will join the NCACC as its new Director of Advocacy and Policy, effective Monday, February 10, 2025. In this role, Hicks will lead the organization’s efforts to represent the interests of counties in legislative matters, working closely with lawmakers, government officials, and community stakeholders.
“We’re excited to have Joy Hicks lead our Advocacy and Policy team,” said NCACC Executive Director Kevin Leonard. “With extensive knowledge of state and federal legislative processes, she is uniquely positioned to advocate on behalf of North Carolina’s counties and build strong relationships with lawmakers and public officials.”
Most recently, Hicks served as Senior Policy Advisor for the Office of the Speaker in the North Carolina House of Representatives, where she guided the development of the state’s biennial budget and advised on critical policy areas such as agriculture, environment, disaster recovery, and health. She has also played an integral role in coordinating state grants for water/sewer infrastructure and flood mitigation projects, in addition to advising on regulatory reform.
Through her work at several state agencies, Hicks has led legislative efforts, managed stakeholder relations, and negotiated policies across environmental, transportation, agriculture, and economic development sectors. She has held senior leadership roles at the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, North Carolina Department of Transportation, and North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and has experience in policy research and legislative operations with the North Carolina General Assembly and the Arizona House of Representatives.
A native North Carolinian, she holds a Master of Economics and Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business Management from North Carolina State University. Her extensive career and commitment to public service position her well to continue the work of her predecessor, Amber Harris, who recently transitioned to serve as Deputy Legislative Director in Governor Josh Stein’s office.
For more information about the NCACC, visit www.ncacc.org.
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