Staff
President's Office
Patrick Woodie
President & CEO
Patrick is the president and chief executive officer 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… Read more 
Devoted Son. Alleghany County native. Passionate Rural Advocate. Double Demon Deacon. Avid Reader.
Andrea Breazeale
Director of Human Resources
As the director of human resources, Andrea Breazeale brings 25+ years of HR experience to the Rural Center. She is a proven HR leader having held positions in various employment sectors both public and private, she served as the VP… Read more 
Fun loving. Quick-witted. Optimistic thinker. Mountain girl. Fit(ish) -one who loves the idea of fitness. Dog mom. Hopeless romantic.
Carolyn Rhodes
Chief Operations Officer
Carolyn Rhodes is an accomplished and visionary leader with an unwavering commitment to fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and championing progressive change. With a remarkable 20-plus year journey across diverse sectors, Carolyn’s passion lies in cultivating inclusive leadership; instituting comprehensive diversity,… Read more 
Philosopher, Optimist, Exercise Enthusiast
Joy Stewart
Director of Compliance & Internal Audit
Joy Stewart is the director of compliance and internal audit at NC Rural Center, and leads the Center’s adherence to requirements governing non-profit financial institutions. In addition to compliance and audit, she has a background in risk management, operational excellence,… Read more 
Balance seeker. Cautious adventurer. Bookworm.
Laura Carlson
Executive Assistant
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 
Programs
Misty Herget
Chief Program Officer
Misty is the chief program officer at the Rural Center, and prior to her current role, she served 16 years in various programs across the Center. Currently, she oversees the Center’s leadership and engagement, research, policy and advocacy, strategic partnerships,… Read more 
Wanna-be world traveler. Avid reader. Devoted Wolfpack fan. Aspiring super mom. Always looking for my next favorite restaurant.
Adrienne Decker
Senior Administrative Assistant
Adrienne Decker is the Senior Administrative Assistant for the Programs Team at the NC Rural Center. She is a rural southwest Virginia native who spent a decade in the western United States, receiving training in nonprofit management and arts administration… Read more 
Crystal Hersey
Social Media and Communications Specialist
Majoring in Graphic Design while minoring in Studio Art and Business Marketing at Meredith College has shaped me into the creative, friendly, and confident person I am today.
I love to take on challenges. I also spend my free time… Read more 
Bill Holmes
Senior Director of Communications
Bill Holmes is our senior director of communications. He grew up in Mount Airy, but his father’s family has lived in the same part of northern Iredell County for more than 150 years.
Bill graduated from NC State University and… Read more 
Sandy Cyr
Communications Manager
Sandy is the Communication Manager at the Rural Center. In this role, she serves as a storyteller and strategist to help us share our work through the successes of our partners and communities.
Sandy is the former Editor-in-Chief for the… Read more 
Artist, Farmer, Animal Lover, Storyteller, Social Justice Warrior for the Nonprofit Sector
Sydney Franklin
Social Media and Communications Specialist
Sydney Franklin is a social media and communications specialist at the NC Rural Center. In this role, she is responsible for building social media content and strategy.
She grew up ‘On the Edge of America’ at Folly Beach, just outside… Read more 
Animal Rescue Enthusiast. Professional Napper. Bon Vivant.
Leadership & Engagement
Angella Dunston
Network Engagement Manager
Angella is the network engagement manager for the NC Rural Center’s Leadership and Engagement team. In this role, she leads efforts to galvanize the Rural Center’s robust statewide network of alumni and rural advocates. Angella has years of experience in… Read more 
Social Justice Change Agent, Clean Energy/Environmental Advocate, Classic Car Enthusiast, Foodie.
Andrew Hudgins
Faith in Rural Communities Program Associate
Andrew is the program associate for the Faith in Rural Communities team. He is a native of Altavista, a small town in southern Virginia where his grandfather was the mayor for 24 years. Andrew holds a Bachelor’s in Social Work… Read more 
Dr. Darren Crotts
Faith in Rural Communities Program Manager
After 12 years of full time, pastoral ministry, Darren has most recently transitioned to the NC Rural Center as the program manager of Faith in Rural Communities (FIRC). A graduate of REDI 29 and a participant in FIRC in 2018,… Read more 
Emily Holder
Program Manager for Leadership Training
Emily is the program manager for the NC Rural Center’s leadership training team. In this role, Emily provides supports leadership training programs such as the Rural Economic Development Institute and Homegrown Leaders. Emily also supports efforts to engage the Leadership… Read more 
Honey bee advocate. Plan maker. Empathic relationship builder.
Dr. Heather Kilbourne
Director of Faith in Rural Communities
Dr. Heather Kilbourne is the director of Faith in Rural Communities. 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, Morganton, and… Read more 
Stubborn Optimist. Walking Dead Theologian. Open-hearted Christian. World Changer.
Olaunda Green
Director of Leadership Training
Olaunda is the director of leadership training for the NC Rural Center. In this role, Olaunda oversees the Rural Economic Development Institute (REDI) and Homegrown Leaders programs. With nearly 20 years of professional experience, Olaunda has worked with local communities,… Read more 
Woman of Faith. Wife. Girl Mom. Extrovert. Foodie. Traveler.
Policy, Research, & Innovation
Michael Kelly
Director of Collaborative Broadband & Innovation
Michael serves as the Director of Collaborative Broadband & Innovation with the North Carolina Rural Center, where he works with local governments and the Rural Center’s many partners on Broadband deployment. He was previously the Director of Regional Planning and… Read more 
Dalton Bailey
Research and Data Manager
Dalton Bailey is the research and data manager for the NC Rural Center. He conducts research and data analysis for the Rural Center. Dalton was born and raised in a small rural town in Northern Indiana. He completed his bachelor’s… Read more 
Northern transplant. Introverted extrovert. Lifelong learner. Sci-fi connoisseur.
Hannah Williamson
Program Coordinator
Hannah is the program coordinator for the Policy, Research, and Innovation team at the NC Rural Center. She provides administrative support for the team as well as event planning, research, and coordination for the Rural Counts program. Hannah is originally… Read more 
Miles Kirksey
Advocacy Engagement Manager
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 manager, Miles is responsible for… Read more 
Nature explorer. Perpetual smiler. Mediocre dancer. Chocoholic.
Torie Keeton
Director of Policy and Government Affairs
Torie Keeton is the director of policy and government affairs at the NC Rural Center. In this role she works with state and federal lawmakers to advance the Rural Counts advocacy agenda, a set of innovative nonpartisan policy solutions to… Read more 
Policy wonk. Devoted dog mom. Shoe enthusiast. Alto/Mezzo. Can be counted on to have a question.
Strategic Partnerships
Jenal Austin
Director of Strategic Partnerships
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 
NC Transplant. Partnership Builder. Wannabe Tiny House Owner. Life-Long Learner. Pup Mom.
Finance & Operations
Franklin T. Roberts, CPA
Chief Finance Officer
Franklin is the chief finance officer at the NC Rural Center, overseeing the Center’s finances, operations and information technology.
He retired from Batchelor, Tillery & Roberts, LLP (BTR) in 2021, where he was a founding and audit partner. Prior to… Read more 
Avid Tarheel. Loves trying new restaurants in the Triangle. Treasures the Raleigh greenways. Will watch anything Ken Burns
Daniel Michael, CPA
Controller
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 
Eastern North Carolina native. Optimist. Fan of singers that can’t sing.
Jenny Grant
Director of Operations
Jenny is the director of operations 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 
Mountain native. Tree hugger. Hockey lover. Wife and mother.
Justin Garber
Financial Analyst
Justin serves as the Financial analyst at the Rural Center. He works with many vendors to make sure the bills are paid and handles payments that the center receives as well.
Justin has lived in North Carolina the majority of… Read more 
Devoted Pirate. Dog dad. Amateur Excel artist. Always looking for new food to try.
Sheridan Longest, CPA
Senior Financial Analyst
Sheridan serves as the Senior Financial Analyst at the Rural Center. In her role, she assists with a variety of financial and accounting tasks and stays up to date on the latest accounting standards and guidance affecting the Center.
Sheridan… Read more 
National Park enthusiast. Problem solver. Dog lover. Wannabe mountaineer. Great British Baking Show fan.
Taylor Gay
Business Operations Specialist
Taylor is a business operations specialist at the NC Rural Center, where she oversees conference center services, rates, contracts, marketing, and promotions. She also provides support for building operations and IT and the Rural Summit. Prior to the Rural Center,… Read more 
Caffeine enthusiast. Halloween lover. Dog aunt. Plant mom. Eco-minimalist.
Small Business Capital
Armeer Kenchen
Executive Vice President of Small Business Capital, Executive Director of the Small Business Credit Initiative & CornerSquare Community Capital
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 
Volunteered at 17 for the U.S. Army so now avoids bad coffee. Long runs. Long hikes. Camping. All forms of volunteerism.
Juan Canal
Finance & Impact Manager
Juan is responsible for financial and impact reporting for the NC Rural Center’s small business capital division and CornerSquare Community Capital. Some of his responsibilities include preparing and submitting financial reports to stakeholders, making financial projections and analysis and helping… Read more 
Dreamer of ending climate change. Former expert in soccer's offside rule. Lover of music and silence.
Juvon LeGare-Rivers
Product Manager
Juvon is the product manager with the Small Business Capital Division of the Rural Center. She has a strong command of business processes, change management, and project management. Juvon has over 15 years of managing large-scale projects, applying project management… Read more 
Rachael Klayman
Administration & Compliance Manager
Rachael Klayman serves as Small Business Capital’s Administration and Compliance Manager. In this capacity, she supports the Small Business Capital team in creating compliance standards, sustainable procedures, and practices to uphold our desire to address systemic economic exclusion throughout North… Read more 
Mother. Recreational Hiker. Voracious Reader. Truth Seeker. Ice Cream Connoisseur.
CornerSquare & Small Business Credit Initiative
A subsidiary of the NC Rural Center.
Armeer Kenchen
Executive Vice President of Small Business Capital, Executive Director of the Small Business Credit Initiative & CornerSquare Community Capital
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
Volunteered at 17 for the U.S. Army so now avoids bad coffee. Long runs. Long hikes. Camping. All forms of volunteerism.
J Farrar
Loan Operations Manager
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 
Jasper Jones
Relationship Manager
Jasper joined the NC Rural Center in July 2021 and currently holds the position of relationship manager for the Small Business Capital team. In his role, he provides critical support to the NC Rural Center and its small business capital… Read more 
Poet. Dreamer. Doer.
Kristin Perkins
Loan Production Manager
Kristin joined the Rural Center in June 2022, as the loan production manager. She is responsible for managing the application portals for CornerSquare and the Loan Participation Program (LPP), from loan intake to underwriting. She has a background in lending/banking… Read more 
Outgoing Gemini. Girl mom. Small business owner/supporter. Foodie.
Norma Wesson
Director of Operations & Servicing
Norma serves as director of operations and servicing for the NC Rural Center. She previously worked at Self Help Credit Union as Branch Manager of the Windsor Branch. She began her career at St. Luke Credit Union in June 2003… Read more 
Racine Casper
Loan Operations Coordinator
Racine serves as the loan operations coordinator for the NC Rural Center. She is a Virginia native and relocated to North Carolina to complete all schooling in the public school sector. She has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. With… Read more 
Faith walker. Christ Believer. Wife. Mother of 3 amazing children.
Saquoia Spain
Loan Operations Manager
Saquoia is a lifelong resident of Charlotte. She graduated from Winston-Salem State University with a bachelor’s in psychology and went on to get a master’s degree in industrial organizational psychology from Southern New Hampshire University.
Saquoia has over 16 years… Read more 
Terri Powell
Sr. Director Intermediary Lending
Terri Powell is the Senior Director of Intermediary Lending with a focus on the operational side of the Rural Center’s small business credit programs. Prior to joining the Rural Center, she was the Director of Mortgage Credit Administration for over… Read more 
Thread Capital
A subsidiary of the NC Rural Center.
Ayden Reed
Loan Associate
Ayden joined the Thread Capital team in 2023. In her role as a Loan Associate, she works with clients in all stages of the lending process as they seek to further their small business dreams. Ayden loves to connect with… Read more
Passionate, Caring, Reliable
Blair Varnado
Loan Associate
Blair joins Thread Capital as a Loan Associate working with clients in all stages of the lending process.
Prior to joining Thread, he spent about 12 years in real estate/mortgage lending. He started his career in the file room at… Read more 
Father. Husband. Chef. Jack of all, Master of none
Camila Molina
Latino Entrepreneurship Manager
Camila is the Latino Entrepreneurship Manager on the Thread Capital team. In that role, Camila works directly with clients who are seeking capital, coaching, and connections. Additionally, she works closely with the rest of the lending and operations teams to… Read more 
Wife. Writer. Coffee-lover. Tar Heel. Arepa-aficionada.
Chris Lovegreen
Lending Team Manager
Chris Lovegreen serves as Thread Capital’s Lending Team Manager. In that role, Chris works directly with clients who are seeking capital and works with the lending team to enhance Thread’s mission of building a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Chris has… Read more 
Husband. Proud Father. Master Multi-tasker. #1 Patriots Fan. Office Fanatic. Outdoors Lover.
Crystal McLean
Loan Officer
In her role as a Loan Officer, Crystal ensures capital is given to territories that are limited in resources to help empower small businesses.
Crystal is a Fayetteville, North Carolina, native and an alumnus of Fayetteville State University where she… Read more 
Believer of Christ. Wife. Mother. Financial Literacy Community Advocate.
Courtney Williams
Coaching & Connections VISTA
Courtney serves as an AmeriCorps VISTA member with the coaching and connections program at Thread Capital. She loves connecting with her community and helping entrepreneurs find resources to help their businesses succeed. She finds her passion in collaborative community work. … Read more 
Sunglasses Lover. Travel Addict. Mental Health Advocate.
JaLisha Richmond
Director of Lending & Client Support
JaLisha is Thread Capital’s director of lending and client support. She leads Thread Capital’s loan origination, coaching, connections, and customer service efforts, with the goal of executing Thread Capital’s mission of strengthening entrepreneurship and expanding access to capital for small… Read more 
Urban Yogi. Lifelong learner. Trapped nomadic soul. Lover of food.
Jesse Harris
Loan Officer
Jesse Harris joined the Thread Capital team in 2022. In her role as a Loan Officer, she works with clients in all stages of the lending process as they seek to further their small business dreams. Jesse’s passion for collaborative… Read more 
Writer. Thinker. Baker without recipes. Amateur naturalist. Herbal tea lover. Cat mom.
Marco Rosa
Marketing & Communications Manager
As Thread Capital’s marketing and communications manager, Marco is charged with elevating the Thread Capital Brand and raising its public profile to increase the amount of capital, coaching and connections available to small businesses throughout the state who have faced… Read more 
Music lover. Amateur chef. Trivia wiz. World explorer.
Myra Belgreat
Loan Officer
Myra Belgreat helps clients in pursuit of capital, coaching, and valuable connections as a loan officer at Thread Capital. With a strong commitment to people achieve their financial goals, Myra works closely with the Thread Capital team to provide comprehensive… Read more 
Shannon O’Shea
Director of Operations
Shannon serves as Thread Capital’s director of operations. She leads Thread’s processes and systems, continuously evaluating performance and seeking opportunities to improve and grow Thread’s mission to strengthen entrepreneurship and expand access to capital for small businesses in North Carolina.… Read more 
Career Learner. Environmentalist. Petting Zookeeper. Weight Lifter. Proud Parent.
Tosh Comer
Coaching & Connections Manager
Tosh Comer is the coaching and connections manager for Thread Capital. She is responsible for executing Thread Capital’s mission of strengthening small businesses through coaching and connecting them to reliable resources within North Carolina.
She graduated from North Carolina Central… Read more 
Ambivert, Trekkie, travel enthusiast, and Goofball
Yamileth Narvaez
Loan Associate
Yami joined the Thread Capital team in 2023 as a Loan Associate. Yami loves connecting with clients and helping them succeed throughout the process, and her passion for collaborative work makes her an excellent fit for Thread Capital’s mission.
Before… Read more
Cocker spaniel mom, tech-savvy girl. True Crime Junkie. Matcha