Leadership Class XXVII Duke Energy Economic Development Session March 3 – 5, 2020 New Bern

Speaker Directory

Mr. John Wilson Head of HR Operations BSH Home Appliances Corporation 100 Bosch Boulevard New Bern, NC 28562 (252) 636-4211 [email protected]

John is from East Tennessee, where he attended college at Lincoln Memorial University and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management.

John joined BSH in 2008 as Human Resources Manager at the Tennessee factory. In mid-2010, BSH had John relocate to New Bern as the Human Resources Manager. Today, John is Director of HR Operations for BSH Home Appliances.

Prior to BSH, John was in Human Resources for Interstate Brands Corporation and also an operations manager for a large retail grocery chain.

Mr. Eddie Foster Executive Director, VOLT Training Center and Customized Training Craven Community College 800 College Court New Bern, NC 28562 (252) 638-3919 [email protected]

Eddie Foster is from Lynchburg, VA, where he still has a home and family. He graduated from Lynchburg College with a BA in business management. He worked for Babcock & Wilcox Naval Nuclear Fuels Division and retired there as a part of the exempt management team of a 700-acre site with 2,500 employees. His primary responsibility was environmental compliance. While there, he started two companies: Central VA Labs and Consultants and EnviroSafety group. Both companies are still in operation today under new names created when the companies were sold.

In 2006, Eddie started with the NC Community College System at Coastal Carolina Community College as a director. In 2010, he joined Craven Community College. He is now the Executive Director of the VOLT Training Center and Customized Training. He directed the safety programs for the three campuses in New Bern until January 2020, when he assumed responsibility for the VOLT Training Center. He retired from the 23rd Reserve Naval Mobile Construction Battalion in December of 2004.

Dr. Jonathan Q. Morgan Associate Professor of Public Administration and Government UNC School of Government Campus Box 3330 Chapel Hill, NC 27599 (919) 843-0972 [email protected]

Jonathan Q. Morgan is an Associate Professor of Public Administration in the School Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he teaches, advises public officials, and conducts applied research on economic development. Jonathan’s research has focused on industry cluster-based development, the role of local government in economic development, business incentives, development impact analysis, and innovative, homegrown approaches to job creation. His research has been published in leading journals such as Economic Development Quarterly, Policy Studies Journal, and Community Development. Jonathan directs the Basic Economic Development Course at UNC, which is accredited by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Prior to joining the School of Government in 2003, he worked for Regional Technology Strategies, Inc., an economic and workforce development consulting firm located in Carrboro, NC. He has also served as Director of Economic Policy and Research for the NC Department of Commerce, and Research and Policy Director for the NC Institute of Minority Economic Development. He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia, an MPA from Clark Atlanta University, and a Ph.D. in Public Administration from North Carolina State University.

Mr. Danny Batten Owner Surf, Wind, and Fire 230 Middle Street New Bern, NC 28560 (252) 288-5823 [email protected] @SurfWindFire

Danny Batten is from eastern NC, and he spent his childhood in Hope Mills, NC. He is a product of the NC public school system, attending a small town elementary and middle school and a large, county high school. He completed his undergraduate studies at Western Carolina University and did his graduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Following college, he received a commission in the United States Navy after completing the entry program at the United States Naval Officer Candidate School. Assignment to a ship followed his graduation from the Surface Warfare School and Division Officer School. He served one tour active duty on the USS Detroit and then several years as a Naval Reserve Officer on the USS Stump. He become interested in outdoor education while at Western Carolina University and was able to practice recreation management while in the Navy as a Morale, Welfare and Recreation officer. After his short military career, he jumped into outdoor recreation and education feet first. This passion would eventually lead him into the outdoor equipment business. He has worked on the design team for a kayak manufacturer, for a national retail buying group, as a recreation equipment buyer for one of the nation’s largest independently owned retail companies, and on the advisory board for the Professional Paddlesports Association.

Eventually Danny decided to open his own business promoting an active, outdoor lifestyle. This started with a retail store 13 years ago and about 7 years ago they decided to start designing clothing and accessories that were outdoor lifestyle oriented. The retail store is located in downtown New Bern and serves as an outlet to purchase active lifestyle clothing and gear and also as a place to gather for yoga, ukulele lessons, music sessions, outdoor/travel education. With the recent addition of a craft beer and wine bar, it is also a place to grab a cold, local brew.

Their clothing design company and custom print shop is located in the Five Points area of New Bern, housed in a recently renovated gas station. They design and manufacture outdoor lifestyle clothing and accessories and sell directly to consumers and wholesale through a retail network of about 100+ retail partners. Because they are also a screen print house, they can react to market demands quickly. Years ago, they started designing fundraising shirts and hats to raise awareness and for natural disasters around the world. Within the past five years, they have launched campaigns for hurricane relief in the southeast, flooding in Texas, and most recently the Australian bush fires.

Danny has been very passionate about community involvement and investment and for the past several years he has served on the board for the New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce and the executive board for Swiss Bear Economic Development Corp., as well as chairing the Downtown Business Council.

Ms. Amanda Ohlensehlen Community and Economic Development Manager City of New Bern 300 Pollock Street New Bern, NC 28560 (252) 639-7580 [email protected]

Amanda Ohlensehlen has been the Community & Economic Development Manager for the City of New Bern since May 2018. Her work focuses on managing the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, working with the New Bern Redevelopment Commission, and carrying out the City’s economic and workforce development goals. Since Hurricane Florence in September 2018, Amanda has worked tirelessly on recovery and resiliency initiatives for the City of New Bern. The goal is to build community capacity to prepare for, withstand, recover, and “build back better” after hazard events to help New Bern maintain its unique cultural identity and environmental assets and allow for economic continuity and quick recovery in the future. Prior to her employment with the City of New Bern, Amanda worked for the City of Havelock as Manager of the Havelock Tourist & Event Center and as Economic Development Coordinator.

Amanda has a BS in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing from the University of Missouri and a MS in Sustainable Tourism from the College of Business at East Carolina University. Amanda was recognized as the 2017 Outstanding Graduate Student for the College of Business for her mentorship and academic pursuits, while remaining employed full-time. In her free time, Amanda enjoys the outdoors, coaching youth athletics, and spending time with her husband, Jacob, and young son, Henry.

Ms. Lovay Wallace Singleton Executive Director and Founder Veterans Employment Base Camp and Organic Garden 419 Conner Grant Road New Bern, NC 28562 (252) 637-9350 [email protected]

Lovay Wallace-Singleton, a twenty-year Navy veteran, comes from a family that is dedicated to military service. Her father served as a tank driver in World War II, her husband spent 5 years in the Navy, and her two sons are Air Force veterans, serving multiple tours in the Middle East. Lovay holds a degree in Business Administration and is a certified Master Gardener, but she attributes much of her agricultural knowledge to the sixteen years she spent growing up on a farm in Mississippi.

In February of 2012, Lovay founded Veterans Employment Base Camp and Organic Garden in New Bern, NC. VEBCOG provides temporary employment for post-war veterans transitioning back to civilian life and teaches urban farming and entrepreneurial skills. Lovay received the Veteran Lifetime Achievement Award for her successes with employing veterans and their dependents and spouses, along with transitioning them to permanent employment while growing fruits and vegetables as a peaceful means of rehabilitation. One of their many projects is providing produce to the Disabled American Veteran Van for distribution to veterans who ride to and from their medical appointments.

Mr. Mark Stephens City Manager City of New Bern 300 Pollock Street New Bern, NC 28560 (252) 639-2700 [email protected] @markstephenspe

Mark Stephens is the City Manager for the City of New Bern. He is responsible to the Mayor and Board for implementing policies and ensuring high-level service to the residents and customers of the City. In addition to recommending programs of work that the employees of the City implement into their responsibilities, Mark also prepares and recommends to the Board the annual budget and advises the Board on policy and legislative matters.

Mark served six months as the Interim City Manager and was appointed City Manager in June 2014. Prior to that, he served as the Director of Public Works for the City of New Bern for three years. Mark first joined the City of New Bern in January 2011 after serving almost three years as the Assistant Director of Public Works for the City of Statesville.

Before his career in public management, Mark worked for several regional engineering consulting firms in Morganton, Charlotte, and Hickory, where he served as Project Manager and Project Engineer specializing in residential and commercial development design and water and sewer infrastructure design. He was also the Senior Vice President for a local residential building firm in Hickory, NC, before beginning his work in municipal government in Statesville. Mark has also served as an Adjunct Professor at two community colleges, where he taught various topics in engineering, construction management, and political science.

Mark holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master of Public Administration degree from Appalachian State University. He is licensed as a Professional Engineer in both North Carolina and Virginia. Mark is a member of the International City/County Manager’s Association (ICMA), the North Carolina City/County Manager’s Association (NCCMA), the American Public Works Association (APWA), and American Water Works Association (AWWA). He also serves on various local boards such as Swiss Bear Inc., New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce, Craven 100 Alliance, Tourism Development Authority, and the North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency (NCEMPA).

Mr. Christopher Chung Chief Executive Officer Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina 150 Fayetteville Street, Suite 1200 Raleigh, NC 27601 (919) 447-7788 [email protected] @edpnc

In 2015, Christopher Chung joined the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) as Chief Executive Officer. Chris brings nearly 23 years of state-level economic development experience to his role. As a public-private partnership, the EDPNC is responsible for a number of economic development functions on behalf of the State of North Carolina, including new business recruitment, existing business support, international trade and export assistance, small business start-up counseling, and tourism, sports, and film promotion. With a staff of more than 65 professionals and an annual operating budget of more than $24 million, the EDPNC is focused on improving the economic well-being and quality of life for North Carolina’s $10 million residents. Since 2015, the EDPNC has helped North Carolina win more than 700 recruitment and expansion projects, resulting in 89,000 announced new jobs and $19 billion in announced new investments across the state.

Chris previously held various executive and management responsibilities at the Missouri Partnership (2007-2014) and the Ohio Department of Development, now known as Jobs Ohio (1997-2007). Chris attended The Ohio State University (OSU), graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a double-major in Japanese and economics. He also completed significant coursework towards a Master’s in Public Policy and Management. Chris and his wife Emily reside with their daughter, Elizabeth, in Raleigh.

Mr. Randall Johnson LNC Class XV Alumnus Executive Director, Southeastern Office North Carolina Biotechnology Center 4006 Oleander Drive, Suite 203 Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 763-5747 [email protected] @ncbiotech

Randall Johnson has extensive experience in local, regional, and state economic development, with a focus on entrepreneurship and knowledge sector development. His work in the Southeastern Office focuses on strengthening the regional economy and improving quality of life across North Carolina through economic development action related to marine biotech, clinical research, agricultural biotech, renewable bioproducts/energy, and industrial biotech.

Johnson serves on volunteer boards in the region and state, including the NC Economic Development Association, NC Sustainable Energy Association, Board Chair of the Southeastern Economic Development Commission, and the Advisory Committee for Biotechnology in Southeastern North Carolina, which he helped found. His work with statewide partners led to the creation of NC’s Marine Bio-Technologies Center of Innovation and the NC Coast Clinical Research Initiative.

Johnson is a graduate of Leadership North Carolina Class XV and was awarded the US President’s Volunteer Service Award, a national award recognizing individuals who have answered the call to make a lifelong commitment to volunteer service.

Johnson graduated cum laude from Wake Forest University with an undergraduate concentration in psychology and holds an MBA from the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University, where he concentrated in Operations Management, IT, and E-business Management and Entrepreneurship.

He has completed several International Economic Development Council courses, including Basic Economic Development, Technology-led Economic Development, Entrepreneurial and Small Business Development Strategies, Real Estate Development and Reuse, Economic Development Strategic Planning, and Business Retention and Expansion.

Lt. Colonel Patrick S. Lindstrom Executive Officer Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

Lieutenant Colonel Patrick S. Lindstrom graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Anthropology. He attended the Marine Corps Officer Candidate Course in Quantico, VA, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in December 1998. He then attended the Basic School in January of the following year and earned his Naval Aviator wings in June 2001 after attending flight school in Pensacola, FL.

In August 2001, First Lieutenant Lindstrom reported to HMT-302 for Replacement Aircrew Training in the CH-53E Super Stallion. After completing training, he checked in to HMH-361 for his first Operational Tour in the summer of 2002. In January 2003, he deployed with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit attached to the CH-53E detachment aboard the USS Tarawa. Upon return from that deployment, Captain Lindstrom reported to HMH-466 and deployed twice more with the “Wolfpack” to in 2004 and 2005.

In the summer of 2006, Captain Lindstrom reported to Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, VA. Following school, Captain Lindstrom reported to Twenty-Nine Palms, CA, for duty with Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group as an Air Coyote in the summer of 2007, where he trained deploying Battalions in CASEVAC response and Forward Air Control.

After two years with TTECG, Major Lindstrom reported back to the Wolfpack in the summer of 2009 for duty as the Assistant Operations Officer, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, and Executive Officer over the course of the next three years. During that time, Major Lindstrom deployed to Afghanistan for OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and to Okinawa as the 31st MEU Detachment OIC.

In July 2012, Major Lindstrom reported to Tampa for Duty with United States Central Command. There, he served as the Strategy and Policy Levant Branch head in the Strategy, Plans and Policy directorate and, for the last year, as the Executive Officer for the USCENTCOM J5, Major General Busby.

Major Lindstrom reported for duty in June 2015 to Stuttgart, Germany, with the Operations Section in Marine Forces Europe and Africa. On October 1, 2015, Major Lindstrom was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Lieutenant Colonel Lindstrom reported aboard MCAS Cherry Point on July 26, 2018 for duty as the Air Station XO.

Lieutenant Colonel Lindstrom has accumulated more than 2,000 flight hours in the CH-53E. His awards include the Air Medal with 13 Strike/Flight awards and combat V, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with gold star in lieu of second award), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with gold star) and various unit awards and campaign medals.

Ms. Ginger Krieg Dosier Chief Executive Officer bioMASON Post Office Box 110345 Durham, NC 27709 (919) 410-3286 [email protected] @bioMASON

Ginger Krieg Dosier is the co-founder and CEO of bioMASON Inc. bioMASON uses microorganisms to “grow” bricks as a market viable, green alternative to traditional masonry. Ginger holds a Master of Architecture from the Cranbrook Academy of Art and a Bachelor of Interior Architecture from the Auburn University College of Architecture, Design and Construction. She has devoted concentration in novel research for new material development for the AEC (Architecture Engineering and Construction) sector with environmental focus. Formally trained as an architect, she has additional experience in material science and microbiologically based materials for market viable commercialization.

Krieg Dosier has over 7 years of business experience managing millions of funds with a diverse team of scientists, engineers, architects, builders, investors, granting agencies, and strategic partners. Her background includes sustainable material development from prototype to commercialization and environmental architecture. Prior to founding bioMASON she served as a teaching fellow of Architecture at North Carolina State University and an assistant professor of Architecture at the American University of Sharjah in the . She co- founded the architecture research office, VergeLabs, with her partner Michael Dosier. VergeLabs research topics address topics of net-positive sustainability, performative material architectures, and rapid manufacturing.

Mr. Tom Butler Owner Manager Butler Bio Solar Farm 235 Powell Farm Road Lillington, NC 27546 (910) 818-1170 [email protected]

Tom Butler is owner and manager of Butler Bio Solar Farm. He is an advocate for clean energy and a clean environment. He partnered with NCEMCS and SREMC to establish the first Farm Microgrid in North Carolina.

Tom was born and raised on a traditional row crop/livestock farm in Harnett County, NC. He graduated from Anderson Creek High School in 1959 and attended East Carolina University from 1959 to 1963, majoring in General Science with a Minor in Biology. He worked for the NC Job Service, Rural Manpower Division from 1964 – 1977. Following that he was employed at the United States Postal Service 1978 –1981 and was self-employed at Butler Contractors 1981 – 1994. He has been a self-employed swine waste to energy system innovator at Butler Farms since 1995.

Ms. Shelley Blake Curran LNC Class XXVI Alumna Interim Chief Executive Officer and President GoTriangle 4600 Emperor Boulevard, Suite 100 Durham, NC 27703 (919) 418-1380 [email protected]

Shelley Blake Curran became GoTriangle’s interim chief executive officer and president on August 1, 2019, after serving more than three years as the agency’s general counsel. Before joining GoTriangle, she served three years as a deputy secretary and general counsel at the North Carolina Department of Transportation, overseeing the legal efforts of one of the state's largest agencies.

Shelley built her career in private practice with several law firms based in the Triangle region and was an adjunct professor in legal writing and analysis at NC Central University's School of Law. She is currently the Triangle alumni chapter president for UNC-Wilmington, a graduate of Leadership North Carolina XXVI and also the LNC alumni chair. Shelley earned a bachelor of arts from UNC-Wilmington and a JD from the NC Central University School of Law, graduating magna cum laude.

Mr. Danya Perry Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity, Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Director of Equitable Economic Development, Wake County Economic Development 800 South Salisbury Street Raleigh, NC 27601 (919) 664-7066 [email protected] @danyaperry

Danya leads and oversees WCED’s equity and inclusion efforts in Wake County. In his role, Danya is charged with mobilizing the community and building partnerships to galvanize efforts to ensure opportunities for inclusive economic growth for all Wake County residents.

Prior to joining WCED, Danya served for 12 years as the Vice President of Youth Development for Communities in Schools of North Carolina. In this role, Danya supported schools and communities in building their capacity to surround youth with the necessary support to be successful in life.

Danya is native to North Carolina, hailing from New Bern before earning a BA in Political Science and MA in Public Administration from North Carolina State University. From attending festivals to frequenting museums, he and his family are fully immersed in all that Wake County has to offer. He is also a passionate youth advocate and community activist, capitalizing on any opportunity to volunteer and facilitate positive change in the community. Danya moved to Raleigh in 1994 and has no plans to leave. Wake County and North Carolina is a special place to raise a family and build a spectacular life. He looks forward to making this a reality for all of its residents.

Ms. Laura Blair LNC Class XIX Alumna Vice President of Administration and External Affairs North Carolina State Ports Authority 2202 Burnett Boulevard Wilmington, NC 28401 (910) 251-7072 [email protected]

Laura G. Blair was appointed as Vice President of Administration and External Affairs for the North Carolina State Ports Authority in March of 2016 after joining the Ports in March 2008.

In this role she works closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors and is an integral part of the Authority’s planning and development team. Ms. Blair oversees human resources, communications, and public affairs functions for the Authority, managing administration as well as strategic internal and external communications. She also leads the Authority’s work with members of local governments as well as the State of North Carolina and the Federal government. She is the current project manager for the Wilmington Harbor Navigation Improvement Project.

Prior to joining the Authority, Ms. Blair spent nearly a decade serving in various staff capacities in the North Carolina Congressional delegation. She served as the district director for policy and economic development in the office of US Rep. Mike McIntyre. She also served as a legislative assistant in the US Senate, specializing in federal appropriations, agriculture policy, rural economy, and hurricane redevelopment.

Ms. Blair holds a master’s degree from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a member of the American Society for Public Administration, the North Carolina Chamber Infrastructure Economic Development Committee, and the North Carolina Water Resources Congress Executive Committee. She is a graduate of Leadership North Carolina.

Mr. Marc Finlayson Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Finlayson Consulting Executive Director, Highway 17/64 Association 406 Broad Street New Bern, NC 28560 (252) 617-0757 [email protected]

Marc Finlayson founded Finlayson Consulting, LLC at the beginning of 2003 to take advantage of his decades of experience in various disciplines of public affairs work including public relations, legislative and regulatory affairs, news media relations, community relations, association management, advertising and marketing, and philanthropy. He works with clients in the private sector, as well as not-for-profit community and regional organizations, including his principal clients the Highway 17/64 Association, Allies for Cherry Point’s Tomorrow (ACT), and the Carolinas Concrete Pipe & Products Association. Finlayson Consulting contracts with these organizations to provide management and financial services and government affairs coordination, overseeing staff and subcontractor resources.

Prior to launching his company, Finlayson served as Weyerhaeuser’s North Carolina Communications Manager. In this role he was responsible for news media relations, crisis management, and corporate image advertising for all of Weyerhaeuser’s forestry and manufacturing operations in the state. Working with regional advertising agency partners, he earned recognition for the company for outstanding corporate advertising, including three Clio awards. He also administered the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation in North Carolina as part of an overall community relations responsibility.

Before moving to New Bern with Weyerhaeuser, Finlayson was Government Affairs Manager for the North Carolina Textile Manufacturers Association in Raleigh. In that capacity, he represented the interests of the association’s member companies on legislative and regulatory affairs. During 1989-90, his final legislative session representing NCTMA, Finlayson was recognized as one of North Carolina’s 40 most influential lobbyists by the NC Center for Public Policy Research.

Through his work with the Highway 17/64 Association, Finlayson was asked to chair NC Go!, the statewide transportation advocacy coalition. In this role, Finlayson speaks for improvements to all transportation modes in the state, including highways, public transit, and ports. He has addressed many groups interested in transportation policy and funding including the NC Board of Transportation, the NC Logistics Task Force, the House Select Committee on Long-range Transportation Funding, and the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, among others.

Finlayson has been active with many other educational, civic, and charitable groups across the region and state. He served on the Board of Visitors of the Carolina Environmental Program and the Advisory Board of the Center for Sustainable Enterprise, both at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was a founding Director of the Partnership for the Sounds, an organization promoting sustainable economic development and environmental education for Northeastern North Carolina. He is an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of New Bern and supports many other civic organizations in Craven County.

Finlayson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in News/Editorial Journalism from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He began his career as a broadcast journalist with small commercial television stations in Virginia and North Carolina before joining UNC Public Television as reporter, producer, and host of Stateline and Legislative Report. He covered government, politics, and public policy during four years with UNC-TV.

He lives in New Bern with his wife Lydia. They have three children.

Dr. Raymond Staats President Craven Community College 800 College Court New Bern, NC 28562 (252) 638-7201 [email protected]

Dr. Staats has served as Craven Community College’s 5th President since July 20, 2015. The College has campuses in New Bern and Havelock, NC.

He began his professional career as a commissioned officer in the . Initially he served as a Space & Missile Operations officer, with positions in satellite command and control, space launch, and missile test and evaluation. His military career transitioned to positions in higher education upon obtaining his doctorate at Virginia Tech in 2003. Dr. Staats then served as a graduate faculty member at the Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, OH. He joined the Community College of the Air Force in Montgomery, AL, in 2006, first as Vice Commandant and later as Commandant. He concluded his military career in 2009, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel with more than 20 years of Air Force active duty service. He has continued to pursue his passion for higher education leadership, previously serving in college executive positions in Illinois and Alabama.

Dr. Staats is an active community leader. He currently serves on the non-profit boards of the New Bern and Havelock Chambers of Commerce, Swiss Bear Corporation, Craven 100 Alliance, Craven Community College Foundation, and the Public Radio East Foundation. He also serves on the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s Presidential Advisory Board.

Dr. Staats holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from Syracuse University, a Master of Science degree in Space Operations from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech. He also is a graduate of Air War College and Harvard University’s Institute for Management and Leadership in Education.

He and his wife, Dawn, celebrated their 31st anniversary during 2019. They have two adult sons and a granddaughter.

Ms. Tammy Thurman LNC Class XXV Alumna Community Relations Manager Piedmont Natural Gas 4740 Corporation Drive Fayetteville, NC 28306 (910) 321-2982 [email protected]

Tammy S. Thurman began her career in the natural gas industry in 2003 in Fayetteville, NC. During her 17-year tenure in the industry, she has held numerous positions and is currently responsible for the community relations and local government for all of eastern North Carolina for Piedmont Natural Gas. Tammy develops partnerships with key community stakeholders, manages key relationships with elected and appointed community groups to provide effective communication enhancing the company’s ability to achieve its strategic goals, and manages all philanthropic contributions for eastern North Carolina. She also supports operations within the eastern region, major accounts services, sales and delivery services, and communications. Tammy also functions as a company spokesperson to news media.

Currently she holds several advisory board seats, including North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, Military Affairs Council for the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, and USO of North Carolina at Ft. Bragg. She is a current Board member of United Way of Cumberland County, Greater Fayetteville Chamber, and the Board of Trustee’s at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. She is a founding member of the Sandhills Military Council and previous Co-Chair for Go Red for Women under the American Heart Association. She has been recognized for outstanding business partnership with Cumberland County Schools, support with the Armed Services YMCA, USO of NC at Ft. Bragg, and as an ambassador for Leadership Ft. Bragg.

Just recently Tammy was honored for outstanding leadership experience and dedicated service to the State of North Carolina, the Leadership North Carolina Board of Directors, and the Office of the Governor.

Tammy is a two-time Athena Award nominee, an alumna of Leadership North Carolina, a recipient of the prestigious 45 under 45 of St. Augustine’s University, and the prestigious Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from St. Augustine’s University and is a licensed minister.

Class XXVI ECD Session Planning Committee Members

Christian Overton, Program Chair Camden Wendy John Durham Agronomist Senior Vice President, Managing Director Perdue Agribusiness Fidelity Investments [email protected] [email protected]

Robert Doreauk, Session Co-Chair Wake Michelle Neal Wake Regional Director, External Affairs Director AT&T - North Carolina Citrix [email protected] [email protected]

Emily Williamson Gangi, Session Co-Chair Durham Anne Marie Robertson New Hanover Policy Engagement Director, ncIMPACT Initiative Controller UNC School of Government Red Door Homes [email protected] [email protected]

Ricky Brown Alleghany Jinky Rosselli Durham Retired Executive Vice President, Global Business Analysis and Operations BB&T BioCryst Pharmaceuticals [email protected] [email protected]

Tara Campbell Wake Ryan Schwiebert Wake Manager, Lending Vice President for Information Technology Services CAHEC Wake Technical Community College [email protected] [email protected]

Joe Deehan Wake Carol Shields Halifax Director, Financial Compliance Executive Director Martin Marietta Roanoke River Partners [email protected] [email protected]