2020 Hometown Spirit Award Recipient

From Nominators:

Brent Miller is the superlative nominee for Cary’s 2020 Hometown Spirit Award. His long-term and varied involvement in the civic life of Cary over more than 25 years embodies the vibrancy that characterizes Cary’s culture of community and is the essence of hometown spirit. As with all past Hometown Spirit Award recipients Brent has dedicated himself to helping shape its growth as the best place to live, work, and play for all - both current residents and those yet to call Cary home. We are truly fortunate that Brent Miller calls it home too! 

Professionally, Brent is a Senior Technical Staff Member at IBM where he has worked for over 37 years. While at IBM Brent has received patents for his work, served on IBM’s Smarter Cities Challenge, and has served on the leadership team for IBM’s Academy of Technology, from which he received the Honorary Award in 2016 and twice received the President Award in 2013 and 2020. 

Philanthropically, Brent has shown the same life-long commitment and dedicated service to Cary, where he has lived for nearly 30 years. As with everything, Brent steps forward to help when called on. His concern for others and belief in civic responsibility encouraged him to become deeply engaged in Cary’s civic life and to look for opportunities to apply his knowledge.

His record of service cannot easily be listed but it started when Brent graduated from the Town of Cary School of Government’s inaugural class of 2004; he has been a Member of the Friends of the Page Walker since 2006, served on the Board of Directors from 2006 - Present and as President from 2012 - 2014, he developed the comprehensive photo presentation of historic structures titled “What Have We Got to Lose?”, and is the editor for the award winning newsletter The Innkeeper, which publicizes the Page-Walker’s cultural events and Town’s history; he served two terms on Cary's Planning & Zoning Board from 2008 - 2014 and as vice-Chair in 2014 where provided meaningful input on land development showing a respect for how land use decisions impact citizens; he served on the Board of Directors for Cary Emergency Medical Services (EMS) from 2009 - 2012 and as Chair from 2011 - 2012; for his zoning expertise and historical knowledge he was appointed to the Town of Cary’s Historic Preservation Commission in 2014 - Present, chaired it in 2014 and 2016, led a comprehensive study of Cary’s historic resources that recommend four new local historic landmarks, and assisted developing the 2010 Historic Preservation Master Plan; and, last but not least, he is the consummate volunteer at Cary's Koka Booth Amphitheater, is a tour guide on the educational Cary Trolley, and can be found warmly greeting residents, dressed in period clothes, during the Town’s holiday celebrations.

Furthermore, Brent has demonstrated his patriotism through participating in the NC Institute of Political Leadership, which promotes democracy through nonpartisan leadership training, as well as his two-year involvement with the Citizen Police Academy. He was also an Assistant Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America from 1994 - 2009, preparing young boys to become responsible citizens, and guided them with their Eagle projects and organizing US Flag retirement ceremonies. 

Most recently, for his long service on the Historical Preservation Commission, Brent was appointed to Cary’s Sesquicentennial Planning Committee (150th Anniversary), on which he heads the Historical sub-committee that will share lessons of Cary’s past to help guide residents to a prosperous future. 

Personally, Brent promotes a sense of community for all Cary residents, the majority of whom are not native Caryites but all of whom he can make feel like Cary is their hometown. His efforts have helped preserve the small-town atmosphere that is so loved in our town. It is not just for all that he has done for Cary so far that we nominate Brent Miller for the Hometown Spirit Award, but for everything that he will continue to do for Cary for years to come.