After retiring from a rewarding and successful technology focused career, Barbara Bleiweis relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina. Chairing the HOA in her new neighbourhood became a springboard for a second career in public service. In 2018, she was elected Supervisor for the Mecklenburg Soil and Water Conservation District.

6040 Carbonizer: A Win-Win Solution

Barbara Bleiweis relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina.

6040 Carbonizer: Win-Win Solution - Tigercat

Barbara Bleiweis retired after a career in technology.

Barbara retired after a career in technology.

Barbara Bleiweis is the Chair of the Soil and Water Conservation Commission, the Chair of the Mecklenburg Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), and the Past President of the North Carolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. She has served on the Mecklenburg SWCD Board of Supervisors since 2017 and is in her second elected term.

Ms. Bleiweis's term ends in January 2027.

Soil & Water - About the Commission

Barbara serves on the Mecklenburg Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors and is in her second elected term.

Soil & Water - About the Commission - NC Department of Agriculture

2026 North Carolina General Election

Excess wood debris is a problem facing municipalities throughout the United States. Even after all the mulch and compost production, there are still over 250 million tons of clean wood and vegetative debris entering landfills. Up until now, it was a problem with no real solution. Barbara was one of the first people in civil service to understand and articulate this. Her goal is to facilitate funding to each conservation district to purchase a carbonizer, turning municipal wood debris into a useful product.

“They may not see the connection between the forest, agriculture and urban agriculture, and we can educate them,” she said. “Conservation can co-exist – we know that – you just have to be blunt about it. Tell the developers what you want and use their talents in beneficial ways.”

In order to do tree canopy and urban agriculture projects, the SWCD received an NACD technical assistance grant this past summer. The funds are being used to develop tree stewardship and education programs, as well as a conservation program that connects trees to other aspects of conservation, including urban food forests and stream care.

SWCD Helping Charlotte, N.C. Achieve Tree Canopy Mission

Barbara Bleiweis of Mecklenburg County as Chair. Barbara has served as the supervisor for the Mecklenburg Soil and Water Conservation district since 2017. She has focused on increasing community education and awareness of soil health and water quality. Bleiweis serves on the Executive Board for the North Carolina Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the North Carolina Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation, and the Water and Climate Committee for the National Association of Conservation Districts.

Governor Stein Announces Boards and Commissions Appointments

Launched a public-private initiative to develop biochar production, markets, and supply networks in western North Carolina.

The solution is biochar and Hurricane Helene acted as the catalyst. Always one to turn a challenge into opportunity, Barbara responded to the storm impact by launching an initiative to revitalize western North Carolina's wood products industry through public-private partnerships to develop production of biochar, along with a downstream market and supply network.

Advocated for farmers and facilitated county support for farmland preservation.

In 2018, she was elected Supervisor for the Mecklenburg Soil and Water Conservation District. In this role, Barbara became involved in stream maintenance and bank stabilization, critical elements for flood mitigation. She advocated for farmers and facilitated county support for farmland preservation.

Plans to secure funding for conservation districts to purchase carbonizers that convert municipal wood debris into a useful product.

Advocates for development compatible with conservation by telling developers which conservation outcomes are needed and using their expertise constructively.

Focused on increasing community education and awareness of soil health and water quality.

- Plans to secure funding for conservation districts to purchase carbonizers that convert municipal wood debris into a useful product.
- Advocates for development compatible with conservation by telling developers which conservation outcomes are needed and using their expertise constructively.
- Focused on increasing community education and awareness of soil health and water quality.

Energy & the Environment

Leadership philosophy
Bleiweis leads by leaning all the way in. “If I’m joining, I’m in, I’m going to be all the way in” she says. Bleiweis believes board service should be active and accountable, not advisory in name only.

From HOA to Governor Appointee: How NGLI Equipped Bleiweis to Deliver for North Carolina

Believes board service should be active and accountable rather than advisory in name only.

- Believes board service should be active and accountable rather than advisory in name only.

Administration

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Barbara Bleiweis

- Advocates for development compatible with conservation by telling developers which conservation outcomes are needed and using their expertise constructively.
- Focused on increasing community education and awareness of soil health and water quality.

Isaac Brickman

Walter Ley

Jillian King

Long Tran

Makenzie Pearce

Michael Betterly

- A soil and water conservation district supervisor is 1 member of a board of 5 supervisors that works to improve the soil and water quality in the county through education. 
- The board of supervisors provide technical and financial assistance to help land users maintain their land and surrounding ecosystems. 
- The board of supervisors design long term conservation programs that teach environmental care, pollution reduction, and provide incentives for using these practices, especially for agricultural workers. 
- The board of supervisors provide short term educational services like competitions, field days, and workshops to educate the public on conservation. 
- Soil and water conservation district supervisors are elected to 4 year terms in non-partisan races. However, 2 of the board members are appointed by the state soil and water commission. 

Member of board of supervisors that creates aid programs and educates people on environmental conservation. 