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