Staff

Patrick Woodie

Patrick is the president of the NC Rural Center. He is a product of our state’s public schools, including Piney Creek Elementary School in Piney Creek and Alleghany High School in Sparta. He graduated from Wake Forest University in 1987… Read more

Barry Ryan

Barry serves as vice president of the Rural Center. He joined the staff in 2007 and has led initiatives in rural entrepreneurship, small-business lending, workforce development, community engagement, leadership development, and disaster recovery. He also serves as a member of… Read more

Helen Ruth Almond

Helen Ruth is the director of philanthropy for the NC Rural Center. In this capacity, she works closely to set the strategic direction of the Center’s fundraising efforts and to build strategic funding relationships with individuals, corporations and foundations across… Read more

Emily Blevins

Emily is the Rural Center’s communications manager. She joined the Rural Center in July 2019 after finishing her master’s degree in communication from North Carolina State University. While at NC State, Emily conducted academic and proprietary research in the fields… Read more

Todd Brantley

Todd is the senior director of public affairs at the NC Rural Center, overseeing the Center’s branding and external communications efforts. He previously worked as the director of policy and research at EducationNC, an organization providing nonpartisan education research, data,… Read more

Betty Bynum

Betty is administrative assistant and technology manager at the NC Rural Center. Betty attended Northwood High School in Pittsboro and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1978 with a degree in journalism. Prior to joining the Rural Center, she spent nineteen… Read more

Mary K. Clifford

Mary Kay moved to North Carolina from Warren, Ohio, the day she graduated from Youngstown State University. She had just received her bachelor’s in business administration and left her entire family in search of excitement and employment. She worked for… Read more

John Coggin

John is the director of advocacy at the NC Rural Center, where he leads statewide grassroots engagement and state and federal government relations to advance the Rural Center’s Rural Counts strategies for rural economic development. Prior to the Rural Center,… Read more

Kayla Dobyns

Kayla is the Rural Center’s digital media manager. She came to the NC Rural Center in July 2016 as an AmeriCorps VISTA and became a permanent member of the team in August 2017. A Raleigh native, Kayla has spent most… Read more

Patty Eller

Patty has called North Carolina home since 1971. She is a graduate of Cary High School and the Office Administrative Course at Wake Technical Community College. Patty came to work at the Rural Center thanks to a desire to give… Read more

Alfred Garshong, Jr.

Alfred has worked as a research/GIS associate at the Rural Center since 2015. He grew up in Accra, Ghana, attending elementary, middle, and high school. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in geography and resource development from the University of Ghana… Read more

Tiffany Gladney

Tiffany Gladney is a communications and advocacy professional with nearly 10 years of experience.  Dedicated to leaving North Carolina a little better than she found it, Gladney has effectively advocated for several pieces of legislation which have led to improved… Read more

Jenny Grant

Jenny is the executive team manager at the NC Rural Center, where she implements and manages operations and procedures to support the president, senior management team, and board of directors. She also serves a project manager for the Center’s two… Read more

Jason Gray

Jason’s career has been dedicated to raising up and advancing the interests of rural communities. As senior fellow at the Rural Center, he brings his experience linking research and over-the-horizon policy and program development to assist Center initiatives. This is… Read more

Jamilla Hawkins

Jamilla joined the NC Rural Center in July 2017 as the senior program manager for Food and Community Development. In this role, Jamilla works with regional and organizational networks to provide resources to food business entrepreneurs and local farmers that… Read more

Misty Herget

Misty is the Senior Director of Programs at the NC Rural Center. She implements the annual Rural Economic Development Institute (REDI), provides continuing education and networking opportunities for REDI alumni, and leads regional leadership training opportunities across the state. Misty… Read more

Heather Kilbourne

Heather Kilbourne is the Project Manager for the Faith in Rural Communities initiative.  She grew up surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Marion, North Carolina.  She previously pastored United Methodist Churches in rural towns and communities including Hamptonville,… Read more

Miles Kirksey

Miles joined the NC Rural Center as an engagement coordinator in December 2018. Since joining the team, he has been tasked with deepening the Center’s engagement with our leadership alumni, small business community, and rural constituents across the state.   Miles… Read more

Bronwyn Lucas

Bronwyn Lucas is the co-founder and former Executive Director of Youth Empowered Solutions (YES!), a national nonprofit that empowers youth, in partnership with adults, to create community change.  She has a deep passion for adolescent health issues, health equity and… Read more

Nora Mayo

Nora is the front-desk receptionist at the NC Rural Center. Nora began her career with the Rural Center in February 2001. Over that time, she has witnessed the ongoing commitment of the Center’s staff to lead and advocate for North… Read more

Daniel Michael, CPA

Daniel serves as the controller for the Rural Center. He is from Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and graduated from North Carolina State University’s masters of accounting program. He worked previously with the N.C. Office of State Auditor. Prior to obtaining… Read more

Damion Smokes

Damion is the loan manager for the Loan Participation Program. He has more than a decade of experience in the banking field, holding various positions throughout his career. His degree in business administration and management helps him streamline the loan… Read more

Tom Wall

Tom is the director of the Small Business Credit Initiative. Born and raised in Ohio (Go Bucks!), Tom is a graduate of Miami University and has a master’s in business administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School. Tom has a background… Read more