OUR VISION
Our Foothills are clean, beautiful, and inviting with many expressions of our creativity and partnership with nature. Throughout the county, there are beautifully planted places on the roadsides and artful signs welcoming visitors to inform them of the many interesting features in this rural, yet culturally rich area. Opportunities to enjoy nature are preserved and protected. Buildings are appropriately designed and sized with night lighting that is safe and efficient, but not obtrusive to others. Public spaces are free of litter and clutter and often showcase our local artists. Residents and visitors alike experience joy being here.
Commission Members
Don Dicey is:
A man
A father
A grandfather
A pet owner
A college graduate
A friend
A student
A volunteer
A scientist
A farmer
A donor
A Derryite
These cannot be disputed! -Don
Carolyn Ashburn is a retired Speech and Language Specialist that worked in the NC School system.
She currently serves on the boards of the Saluda Historic Depot, the Saluda Community Land Trust, the Polk County Appearance Commission, and the Historic St. Matthews Church. She served as a Saluda City Commissioner from 2013-2017.
She heads the litter control team for the Saluda Business Association, which is part of the county's Adopt-a-Highway program.
Joe Cooper has always been interested in architecture and art. Joe graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Industrial Engineering and did graduate work in Anthropology at Tulane University.
He worked in the welding industry and developed a love of welding metal into art and craft items.
Moving to Polk County in 2003, he appreciates the natural beauty of this area and the rich cultural opportunities. Joe is the original organizer of the Polk County Appearance Commission over a dozen years ago and has helped gain respect and support from our county commissioners for continued beautification projects in Polk County.
Denny Crowe is a native of Richmond, Virginia. After graduating from Virginia Tech, she began her career working for a longstanding, family-owned Virginia tree farm and landscape nursery.
Denny’s passion for design, both landscape and floral, led her to deepen her knowledge through courses from Harvard’s Career Discovery Program with a focus in Landscape Architecture and Longwood Garden’s floral workshops. Denny has spent over three decades across three states working in the horticultural industry that include positions in wholesale nursery sales, garden center management, landscape/garden design and installation, and over a decade as the owner of a garden and floral design business.
Denny has served in numerous volunteer roles including the Junior League, various church altar guilds, and garden clubs. She currently serves as the Membership Engagement Chair of the Tryon Garden Club.
Denny loves living in beautiful Tryon and working in her yard with her husband of 47 years, Skip, and their dog, Henry.
Clyde Younkin is a retired engineer. After receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, Clyde worked as a Consulting Engineer.
With a keen interest in improving the environment, Clyde spent his professional life working primarily on large wastewater projects. These large engineering projects were undertaken with the goal of improving water quality in our nation’s rivers, bays, and harbors.
An avid outdoorsman, horseman, and rider, Clyde and his wife were drawn to the Tryon area of Polk County.
As a member of Engineers Without Borders, Clyde has done volunteer work on international drinking water projects.
Will Kallberg was born in Cleveland, Ohio. After having his own sculpture studio in Winesburg, Ohio for 23 years, in 2013 he “retired” and moved to South Carolina. From there he discovered his love of the mountains and moved to North Carolina in 2018.
His education includes classes at Glendale Community College, Grand Canyon College, and Scottsdale Artists School in Arizona. He most recently studied under world famous bird sculptor, Sandy Scott, at Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina.
His sculptures have mainly been in wood, stone, steel and bronze.
He and his wife, Carol, live in Columbus, NC where he has designed several large sculptures at the Tryon Arts and Crafts School.
Dawn Spinola brings more than 22 years of government and administrative experience to her role in supporting community beautification, environmental stewardship, and public engagement initiatives. Her professional background includes executive and board-level administrative support, public-sector financial coordination, grant compliance, records management, and interdepartmental collaboration, with extensive service in county health and planning departments. Throughout her career, Dawn has specialized in organizing complex projects, improving operational systems, and supporting leadership in achieving strategic goals. With a Bachelor of Arts in Communications earned magna cum laude, she combines strong organizational expertise with effective public communication skills to help advance the Commission’s efforts in preserving and enhancing the natural and visual character of Polk County.