Staff

Armeer Kenchen

Armeer Kenchen leads the Rural Center’s small business credit initiatives, which includes Corner Square Community Capital. Prior to joining the Rural Center, he was a member of Self-Help’s executive team where he was responsible for developing strategic partnerships and leading… Read more

Brandon Rosas

Brandon serves as the vice president of finance and administration at the NC Rural Center, where he leads finance, HR, facilities, and IT operations. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Brandon experienced firsthand the difficulties of growing up as a… Read more

Brandy Bynum Dawson

Brandy Bynum Dawson is the senior director of policy and advocacy at the NC Rural Center, leading the Center’s Rural Counts advocacy program. She previously worked for five years as the associate director of Rural Forward NC at the Foundation… Read more

Bronwyn Lucas

Bronwyn Lucas is the senior director of leadership and engagement at the NC Rural Center. In this role, she is responsible for designing and implementing trainings and projects that promote leadership that is inclusive, connected, informed and creative. She is… Read more

Misty Herget

Misty is the vice president of programs and strategic partnerships at the Rural Center. During her 14-year tenure at the Center, Misty has worked in small business and entrepreneurship support, community engagement, and leadership development. Currently, she oversees the Center’s… Read more

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

Todd Brantley

Todd is the vice president of public affairs at the NC Rural Center, overseeing and coordinating the work of the Center’s advocacy/policy, communications, events, and research teams. He previously worked as the director of policy and research at EducationNC, an… Read more

Betty Bynum

Betty is the loan operations 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 years… Read more

Cheryl Cherry

Cheryl is the managing director for both the NC Rural Center’s Small Business Credit Initiatives and CornerSquare Community Capital. Prior to joining the Rural Center’s team, she worked as a regional director for assistive technology and business development at Self-Help… 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

Emily Blevins

Emily joined the NC Rural Center in July 2019 and serves as its communications manager.  Emily is a native of rural southwestern Virginia, but was transplanted to Charlotte, North Carolina at a young age. Emily traded Charlotte’s humidity for the… Read more

Emily Holder

Emily is the Program Associate for the NC Rural Center’s Leadership and Engagement team. In this role, Emily provides support to various leadership training programs such as REDI and Homegrown Leaders. Emily also leads efforts to engage the Leadership Alumni… 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

J Farrar

J serves as a loan operations manager for the Rural Center’s Small Business Credit Initiatives. He has more than 10 years of operations experience, holding various positions throughout his career. He has also co-created with various community groups and nonprofit… Read more

Jaenine Galido

Jaenine Galido is a staff accountant at the NC Rural Center. She joined the Rural Center in July 2020 and helps with finance and administrative work for the Rural Center.  Born and raised in Wilson, North Carolina, Jaenine understands the… Read more

Jasper Jones

Jasper joined the NC Rural Center in July 2021 and currently holds the position of Relationship Manager, Small Business Capital. In his role, he provides critical support to the NC Rural Center and its small business capital programs. At the… Read more

Jenal Austin

Jenal joined the Rural Center in April 2020 and oversees the Center’s funding partnerships with governments, corporations, foundations, and individuals. Born and raised in a small rural town in Southern California, Jenal grew up enjoying the many animals on her… Read more

Jenny Grant

Jenny is the senior events manager at the NC Rural Center, where she coordinates and manages all major virtual and in-person events for the Rural Center, as well as events for the Center’s two nonprofit subsidiaries, Thread Capital and CornerSquare… Read more

Jessica Man

Jessica joined the Rural Center and Thread Capital in January 2020, and currently holds the position of Manager of Strategic Initiatives. In her role, she oversees and advances special projects and key institutional priorities for both organizations. At the core… Read more

John Coggin

John serves as a senior advisor for the NC Rural Center, where he consults on organization-wide development, policy, communications initiatives. He joined the Rural Center team in 2016 as the Center’s first director of the Rural Counts advocacy program. Prior… Read more

Julia Malinowski

Julia Malinowski serves as the director of strategic initiatives for the Center’s Small Business Credit Initiatives.  She previously worked as the rural economic development program director at Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a national Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). There… Read more

Kayla Daffron

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

Laura Carlson

Laura Carlson joined the NC Rural Center in October 2020 as the executive assistant to the president. In this role, she also supports the management team and the Board of Directors. Growing up in Readlyn, Iowa (a town of 857… Read more

Marley Braun

Marley is the Administrative Coordinator for the Advocacy Team where she supports overall planning and logistics for the Rural Counts program, with a special focus on the organization and coordination of essential program areas.  She previously worked for Rural Forward… Read more

Meg Farrell Buckingham

Meg is the director of communications at the NC Rural Center, and is responsible for developing, coordinating, implementing, and directing the comprehensive external communications products of the Center. She previously worked as the director of marketing and communications at Triangle… Read more

Miles Kirksey

Since joining the NC Rural Center in 2018, Miles has been tasked with deepening the Center’s engagement with our leadership alumni network, small business community, and rural constituents across the state. As an advocacy engagement coordinator, Miles is responsible for… Read more

Olaunda Green

Olaunda is the NC Rural Center’s Community Engagement Manager.  In this role, Olaunda provides coaching and training to project teams seeking funding to promote sustained, positive economic impact in their local communities. With nearly 18 years of professional experience, Olaunda… 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