From the 'Not Me' department

Let me begin by saying these comments are not trashing anyone, they are facts. I have been involved with this agency for years. I know Mr. Mitchell, Mrs. Lippard, and Mr. Van Essen very well. It is obvious that some of the comments on the forums are from people who don’t know any of them in a working environment. This whole mess started because Mr. Mitchell and Mrs. Lippard wanted power over the agency. Why else would important info be held from the director? Mr. Van Essen brought NC State Board to the top of the list in the country. He also arranged for better benefits for the staff. The office had very little structure before Mr. Van Essen became director. Some of the changes he made people did not like but change is what the board needed. Does the cosmetologist know how their tax dollars and salon license fees are being spent? Much of the time you see Mrs. Lippard she has Mrs. Pursley (school inspector) in the car with her. Does Mrs. Pursley not have schools to inspect? Tax payers are paying for a vehicle, gas and salary for these two people. Can Mrs. Lippard not do her job alone? If not, someone else needs to do that job. If a hairdresser has had the misfortune of having a salon inspected by Mrs. Lippard and Mrs. Pursley then the hairdresser knows how rude they can be. Since they are hairdressers they should know how a salon looks during a business time. Then there’s Mr. Mitchell, I have never seen anybody talk out of both sides of their mouth like him. He has the craft down pat. He too, wastes the tax payer’s money. What purpose would Mr. Mitchell, Mrs. Lippard, and Mrs. Pursley have for meeting Shelley Payne (salon inspector) in Charlotte for lunch? I can see Mrs. Lippard, she’s the supervisor, but why Mr. Mitchell and Mrs. Pursley? You guessed it the taxpayers picked up the tab, three salaried people plus three state vehicles, e-x-p-e-n-s-i-v-e. I guess Mr. Mitchell figures he makes up for it “in time spent” making board decisions on his own and not including the board members. Members why do you let this happen? It should be your decision too. Mrs. Wilder you are very capable of making difficult decisions on your own. Mr. Mitchell doesn’t need an office to help you. Are there not phones in the board office? Call Him! See what happened to Rita Harris don’t let the “not me” syndrome get you... As far as Mrs. Lippard going by the book, whose book, the state law book or “You Scratch My Back and I’ll Scratch Yours” by Joyce Lippard. Talkofthetown was right this is political greed and it has destroyed the agency’s standing in the cosmetology world. If this decision isn’t reversed, two people will have all the power over the agency. How scary!