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Lanier M. Cansler serves the citizens of North Carolina as the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Governor Bev Perdue appointed Cansler to this position in January 2009, to ensure the health, safety, and well being of all North Carolinians in almost every phase of life.
Under Cansler’s leadership, the Department of Health and Human Services is establishing a renewed commitment to enhance public confidence in the agency’s ability to successfully meet the challenges and address the needs of North Carolina’s citizens. Through strengthened and more open management, DHHS is focused on achieving greater effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of vital services.
Lanier Cansler is a certified public accountant who began his career in public accounting in 1973 in Lenoir, North Carolina. He moved to Asheville in 1978 and established his own CPA firm in 1981. The Asheville firm built a substantial clientele and reputation among the health care provider industry.
In 1994, Lanier was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives for the 51st House district. Successful in reelection efforts in 1996, 1998, and 2000, he served on numerous health care committees including co-chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, co-chair of the Joint House/Senate Legislative Health Care Oversight Committee, and vice-chair of the Public Health Committee. Lanier also served on the Mental Health Committee and the Select Committee on Health Care Delivery. In 1999, Lanier was appointed to the North Carolina Institute of Medicine by Governor Hunt, and was reappointed to the Institute by Governor Easley in 2004 and now serves on the Institute’s board of directors.
During the 2001 Legislative Session, Lanier left the General Assembly to become the Deputy Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, a position he held for four years. As Deputy Secretary, Lanier had management and oversight responsibility for the budget and business functions and planning of the State’s largest agency.
Lanier has been the recipient of numerous awards for his efforts in the health and human services arena. Among them are Legislator of the Year awards from the NC Low Income Housing Coalition, The ARC of NC, the NC Council of Community Programs, and Autism Society of NC. He received the Valand Award from the NC Mental Health Association and the Excellence in Public Service for Children Award from the NC Pediatric Society and NC Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In addition, he received the Red Spoon Award from NC’s Second Harvest Food Banks and the Children’s Hope Award from the Eblen Children’s Charities.
In the spring of 2005, Lanier made the decision to leave his responsibilities at DHHS to return to the private sector. From 2005 until 2009, Lanier served as a consultant and advisor to health care providers, care provider and advocacy organizations, information technology companies, insurers, quality assurance organizations, and a list of others.
In January of 2009, Governor Beverly Perdue asked Lanier to join her Cabinet as the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
The Secretary