Today Governor Josh Stein inducted a group of outstanding North Carolinians into The Order of the Long Leaf Pine for their contributions to their communities.
“These exceptional North Carolinians have strengthened our state through their leadership, service, and dedication to their communities,”said Governor Josh Stein.“I am proud to honor them today for the lasting impact they have made across the Triad and throughout North Carolina.”
The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Honorees:
Valencia Abbott, Rockingham County –Rockingham Early College High School social studies teacher; 2025 North Carolina History Teacher of the Year; Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History 2025 National History Teacher of the Year
Kevin Baker, Guilford County– Executive director of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority
Bishop Larry Brown, Moore County –Minister at Taylortown’s House of Prayer
Judge Julianna Earp, Guilford County– Former Special Superior Court Judge for Complex Business Cases on the North Carolina Business Court
Lara Gerald, Forsyth County– President of the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust; former North Carolina State Health Director
Deena Hayes-Greene, Guilford County– Guilford County Board of Education member; Co-founder and managing director of the Racial Equity Institute
Allen Joines, Forsyth County– Mayor of Winston-Salem
Stephen Lee, Guilford County– Former Northern Guilford Middle School career and technical education teacher
Kelly A. Moore, Guilford County– Greensboro Police Department Director of Forensic Services
Paula Rakestraw, Rockingham County– Former executive director of the Rockingham County Partnership for Children; Rockingham County Board of Education member
Michael Regan, Wake County– Former Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality for Governor Roy Cooper; former administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Judge Michael L. Robinson, Forsyth County– Former Chief Judge of the North Carolina Business Court; former Special Superior Court Judge for Complex Business Cases
Tim Tsujii, Forsyth County– Forsyth County director of elections; 2026 U.S. Election Assistance Commission Clearinghouse Award recipient
Officer Michael Smith and Sergeant Liam Whelan, Forsyth County –Winston-Salem Police Department