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