Board of Directors

The Rural Center is governed by a 50-member board of directors representing state and local leadership in business, agriculture, education, government, and numerous other areas of public service. Nine members (three each) are appointed by the Governor; Lieutenant Governor; and Speaker of the House. The other members are elected by the board for two-year terms.

The business arm of the board is its 13-member executive committee. Programmatic oversight is provided by four committees: Business Development Committee, Workforce Development Committee, Physical Infrastructure Committee, and Civic Infrastructure Committee. Board members also serve on a number of standing and special-issue committees.

The full board meets three times each year, generally in October, February and July. Meetings of other committees are held as needed.

2007-08 Board of Directors

(* denotes members of the Executive Committee)

Thomas W. Lambeth
Chair*

Valeria Lee, The Golden LEAF Foundation, Rocky Mount
1st Vice Chair*

William Veeder, Henderson
2nd Vice Chair*

Sandra D. Gambill, Mooresville
Secretary*

Curtis Wynn, Rich Square
Treasurer*

E.H. (Alex) Alexander, Alexander Insurance and Realty, Red Springs

Andy Anderson*, Community Innovations, Inc., Whiteville

Rex L. Baker, King

Charles P. Brown, Albemarle

Anita R. Brown-Graham*, Institute for Emerging Issues, Raleigh

Janice Brumit, Asheville

James S. Bryan, First Citizens Bank, Wilmington

Kent Chavis, Lumbee Guaranty Bank, Red Springs

Brian Crutchfield*, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corp., Lenoir

Robin G. Cummings, M.D., Pinehurst

Ilana Dubester, Pittsboro

Patricia Ferguson, Colerain

Bill Gibson*, Southwestern Commission, Bryson City

Grant Godwin, Martin Marietta Composites, Raleigh

Scott T. Hamilton, AdvantageWest, Fletcher

Andrea Harris, Institute of Minority Economic Development, Durham

Lenna Hobson, RagApple Lassie Vineyards, Booneville

Samuel P. Hunter, T.A. Loving Company, Goldsboro

Lenora Jarvis-Mackey, River City Community Development Corporation, Elizabeth City

Richard Jones II, Eastern N.C. Community Banking, Greenville

Robert B. Jordan III, Jordan Lumber & Supply, Inc., Mount Gilead

Alice M. Keeney, Hyde County Economic Development, Swan Quarter

Dr. James R. Leutze, The University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington

Wayne McDevitt, Marshall

Dr. Patricia Mitchell, Ashe County Government, Jefferson

Keir Morton, N.C. Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh

Allan Oocumma, Cherokee Boys Club, Inc., Cherokee

Robert B. Partin, Town of Scotland Neck, Scotland Neck

Dr. Anne Ponder, University of North Carolina at Asheville, Asheville

Rev. Dr. Alan Rice, The United Methodist Church, Yadkinville

Mikki Sager*, The Conservation Fund, Chapel Hill

Cleveland Simpson, N.C. Department of Commerce, Raleigh

Bishop Charles Smith, Southside Alliance for Neighborhood Empowerment, Edward

Joseph Stanley*, Joe & Moe's Auto Service, Shallotte

Katherine Thomas, Progess Energy, Raleigh

Charles R. Tolley, Marshall

Steve Troxler, Commissioner of Agriculture, Raleigh

Barbara P. Vicknair, Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, Murphy

Rep. William Wainwright, N.C. House of Representatives, Havelock

Rep. R. Tracy Walker, N.C. House of Representatives, Wilkesboro

Charles L. Wilson III, BB&T Corporation, Wilson

Mayor Frank Alfred Wilson, Town of Bolton, Bolton

Ruth Dial Woods, Ruth's Enterprises, Pembroke

Larry Wooten*, N.C. Farm Bureau, Raleigh

R. Lee Youngblood, BB&T, Winston-Salem

Billy Ray Hall, N.C. Rural Center, Raleigh
President*

Chairmen Emeritus:
Kelly S. King, Winston Salem
C.E. Bishop, Durham
William Friday, Chapel Hill