Our History
Our Mission
In 1991, a small group began discussing their mutual interest in initiating a continuing education program in the area. The group organized in 1992 and offered its first series of courses in the summer of 1993. Since then, the organization's audience has grown from a small group to a membership base of over 500 enthusiastic supporters.
Our mission is to provide life enriching opportunities through educational lectures and to stimulate curiosity and creativity by offering art workshops and culinary/nature programs to residents and visitors to the Highlands-Cashiers plateau.
CLE Welcomes You in 2024!
2023 was an outstanding year for CLE. Our membership reached a record level, our diversity of programs attracted the largest number of attendees in our history, and our third annual Porchfest music festival was a rousing success. All of these accomplishments were made possible by the generosity of our members and the Highlands community.
Membership dollars are the key to CLE’s success. Without your generous support of CLE through your membership, CLE could not exist and provide over 100 outstanding programs to the residents and visitors of the Highlands-Cashiers communities each year.
Lee Garrett, President
Our Board of Directors and Staff
Lee Garrett
President
Al Pearson
Vice President
Bill McMillan
Treasurer
Martha Pearson
Director/Curriculum Committee Chair
Terry Adamson
Director
Rick Shackelford
Director
Jill Nelson Granger
Director
Bill Hoffman
Director
Clif Pannell
Director
Mary Cavaioli
Director
Scott Bendzlowicz
Director
Stephanie Reeves
Director
Sharon Cranwell
Director
Claudia Barnett
Director
Staff
Fallon Hovis
Executive Director
Audra Bullard
Program & Communications Director