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 12-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.
2008-09 Board of Directors
(* denotes members of the Executive Committee)
Thomas W. Lambeth, Winston-Salem
Chair*
Valeria Lee, Rocky Mount
1st Vice Chair*
Bill Gibson, Sylva
2nd Vice Chair*
Mikki Sager, Chapel Hill
Secretary*
Curtis Wynn, Rich Square
Treasurer*
Alex Alexander, Alexander Insurance and Realty, Red Springs
Ted Alexander, Preservation North Carolina, Shelby
Andy Anderson*, Community Innovations, 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
S. Lewis Ebert, North Carolina Chamber, Raleigh
Patricia Ferguson, Colerain
Loyd Godley, Wachovia Bank, Goldsboro
Grant Godwin, Martin Marietta Composites, Raleigh
Scott T. Hamilton, AdvantageWest, Fletcher
Andrea Harris, Institute of Minority Economic Development, Durham
CeCe Hipps, Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, Waynesville
Lenna Hobson, RagApple Lassie Vineyards, Boonville
Lenora Jarvis-Mackey, River City Community Development Corp., Elizabeth City
Robert B. Jordan III, Jordan Lumber & Supply, Mount Gilead
Alice M. Keeney*, Hyde County Economic Development, Swan Quarter
Wayne McDevitt, Marshall
Patricia Mitchell, Ashe County Economic Development, Jefferson
Keir Morton, N.C. Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh
Allan Oocumma, Cherokee Boys Club, Cherokee
Scott J. Parker, Nash County Sheriff's Office, Rocky Mount
Robert B. Partin, Scotland Neck
Scott Ralls, N.C. Community College System, Raleigh
Alan Rice, RFD Community Development Corp., Yadkinville
Cleveland Simpson, Rocky Point
Charles Smith, Southside Alliance for Neighborhood Empowerment, Edward
Joseph Stanley*, Joe & Moe's Auto Service, Shallotte
Katherine Thomas, Progress Energy, Raleigh
Charles R. Tolley, Marshall
Steve Troxler, Commissioner of Agriculture, Raleigh
Bill Veeder*, Henderson
Jennifer Tolle Whiteside, North Carolina Community Foundation, Raleigh
Charles L. Wilson III, BB&T Corp., Wilson
Frank Alfred Wilson, Town of Bolton, Bolton
Ruth Dial Woods, Ruth's Enterprises, Pembroke
Larry Wooten*, N.C. Farm Bureau, Raleigh
Billy Ray Hall, N.C. Rural Center, Raleigh
President*
Chairmen Emeritus:
Kelly S. King, Winston-Salem
C.E. Bishop, Durham
William Friday, Chapel Hill