Cathy Bessant, chief operations and technology officer for Bank of America and a member of the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees, recently received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Former Gov. Pat McCrory presented the award to Bessant and Ned Curran, president/chief executive officer, The Bissell Companies.
The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is among the most prestigious awards conferred by the governor of North Carolina. Created in 1963, this honor is awarded to individuals for exemplary service to the state of North Carolina and their communities that is above and beyond the call of duty, and their efforts will have made a significant impact and strengthened North Carolina.
“Cathy Bessant has served in exemplary fashion in a number of ways through her work with one of the largest employers in our state as well as through her personal involvement with a number of community organizations and institutions, including UNC Charlotte,” said Chancellor Philip L. Dubois. “Her service as chair of the Board of Trustees Committee on Audit, Compliance and Risk Management, has been significant, and her deep understanding of the subject matter has been invaluable to us.”
In addition to her role as a UNC Charlotte trustee, she is a strong advocate for women’s athletics. Bessant chaired the University’s “Let me Play” campaign in 2012, supporting the role of athletic participation in the development of young women.
Bessant is a longstanding board member of the Foundation For The Carolinas, serves as chair for the North Tryon Vision Plan Advisory Board and is a board member for North Carolina’s Council for Commerce, Business and Industry. She received the Charlotte Business Journal’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Women in Business Awards program, held March 16.
Other friends of UNC Charlotte who have been awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine include Gene Johnson, Smoky Bissell, Jerry Richardson, Ruth Shaw and Bonnie Cone.