Staff

Jenal joined the Rural Center in April 2020 and manages the Center’s funding partnerships, oversees grants management, and led the strategic planning process for the organization’s current strategic plan. She has 15 years of experience in the fields of economic development, community health, and education and is highly skilled in project management, partnership building, and strategic planning. Jenal is a graduate of Boston University’s Questrom School of Business and holds an MBA in Social Impact. She also has extensive international experience including teaching in Buenos Aires, Argentina and studying in Geneva, Switzerland.

Born and raised in a small rural town in Southern California, Jenal grew up enjoying the many animals on her family’s pet resort-style farm and exploring the mountains nearby. Her parents each had their own very successful small businesses. Her mom ran a local accounting firm and her dad installed and maintained water wells for rural people who were not connected to urban water systems. Jenal attended high school and college in San Diego and then, to satisfy her itch for travel, she studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and ended up staying for 18 months to volunteer and teach English. She then moved to Boston, where she worked for various public and nonprofit organizations, including a community college, a large university, and a health and human services agency. She moved in 2016 to the great state of North Carolina, where she worked and served as a consultant for several youth-serving nonprofits before joining the Rural Center.

Jenal is passionate about strategic collaborations, collective impact, and social entrepreneurship. Outside of work, she loves to spend time with family and friends, hike with her sweet black Lab, cycle the back roads of Orange County, grow fruits and veggies in her backyard garden, and do front porch yoga in the sunshine.

Dalton Bailey is the data manager for the NC Rural Center and conducts its research and data analysis. He was born and raised in a small rural town in Northern Indiana. He completed his bachelor’s degree in psychology and criminal justice at Manchester University, a small college in rural Indiana, in 2020. He graduated cum laude and won several research conference awards while enrolled. During this time, Dalton participated in a handful of research and data projects at Manchester and in the surrounding rural counties. These projects included evaluating a local county’s drug court program, general community development, and programs at Manchester. He also served as a student board member for the peace studies program, played collegiate tennis, and worked in the university’s first-year student experience department.

Dalton then attended Western Kentucky University and completed his master’s degree in psychology with a concentration in psychological science in 2022. This research focused program allowed him to continue to develop his research skills and provided several opportunities to use them in applied contexts. While enrolled, Dalton completed his thesis on political information evaluation and selective political memory. He also managed the program’s social cognition research lab and taught a research methods lab. Dalton also worked as an intern and subcontracted consultant for Elevate Consulting, an evaluation and consulting firm based in Nashville that predominantly serves local nonprofit organizations.

Coming from a rural background, Dalton is passionate about using his knowledge to benefit rural communities. He believes these communities are often underserved and wants to do what he can to improve this in his chosen home of North Carolina. In his free time, Dalton enjoys playing with his dog, staying active, and trying new food.

Michael Barton is an award-winning information technology leader with over 30 years of experience. From his first exposure to computers in 1976, he was hooked on a lifelong career in information technology. Mike graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and an MBA in marketing. Since then, he has cultivated a broad background in IT ranging from application development, architecture, implementation, and support to IT strategy/direction. Mike has held IT leadership positions across a variety of industries, including manufacturing, consulting, healthcare, and finance.

In his free time, Mike has spent over 25 years volunteering at Habitat for Humanity strengthening families, neighborhoods, and communities through affordable housing. He is also an avid NFL fan with a goal of going to every NFL stadium.

Elizabeth joined the Rural Center in January 2024 as the data administrator.

In her role, she collects data to facilitate the financial and impact reporting. Before joining the Rural Center, she worked as a financial analyst and accountant in various industries, including banking, radio, veterinary medicine, and new home construction.

Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a minor in history. She is a New Jersey native and relocated to North Carolina in 2019. She is an avid reader and baker, and also crochets. She loves to spend time with her family, specifically her husband and daughter. She has a dog named Freya, who she rescued from Wake County SPCA.

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 people and one old grump), Laura understands the importance of providing valuable resources to rural community leaders and small business owners.

Laura graduated from Hawkeye Community College in 1990 with an associate degree as an executive secretary. She began working full-time the day after she graduated. She has worked in an array of business settings supporting top executives from insurance, banking, medical information technology, retail, education, and now economic development.

Laura and her family moved to Wake Forest in 2004 and stayed until November 2005. In 2008, her husband was transferred back to North Carolina and they chose Raleigh as their new home. She and her husband, John, have two daughters, Alicia and Alayna.

In her spare time, Laura serves as a Stephen’s Minister. She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends either on the golf course, by the fire or just taking walks. You might also find her by the pool cheering on her swimmers.

After 12 years of full-time, pastoral ministry, Darren has most recently transitioned to the NC Rural Center as the senior program manager of Faith in Rural Communities. A graduate of REDI 29 and a participant in FIRC in 2018, his passion is found in community building in the name of Christ.

He has a wonderful wife and four beautiful children. His oldest, Lyndsay, is a registered ICU nurse. His second-youngest daughter, Payton, is currently enrolled at Western Carolina University and is seeking her elementary education degree so she can one day become a kindergarten teacher. His son, Nathan, is in 11th grade at Davie County High School. His youngest, 2-year-old Sophie, has recently started preschool. 

Darren has been a full-time clergy member of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church since 2010 and was ordained as an elder in full connection in 2016. He has a degree in manufacturing engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a master’s of divinity from Hood Theological Seminary, and a doctorate of ministry from Duke Divinity School with an emphasis on rural church ministries. He is so thankful for the opportunities to serve God in rural North Carolina.

Justin serves as the financial analyst for the Rural Center, working with many vendors to make sure the bills are paid and that the Center receives its payments as well.

Justin has lived in North Carolina the majority of his life and enjoys exploring the hidden wonders and relaxing environment that the rural counties in the state offer. He obtained a B.S. in business administration with a concentration in finance from East Carolina University. He previously worked for Carolina Family Health Centers, LLC, a nonprofit rural health center, in accounts payable and also worked previously for several small businesses in the state.

Justin and his wife live with their five dogs, three cats and many fish in Spring Hope, where there is never a boring day. In their free time, they enjoy making trips to Raleigh to enjoy the many restaurants and activities that are available as well as shopping at local businesses and spending time with friends and family on the weekend.

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 over 20 years of professional experience, Olaunda has worked with local communities, nonprofit organizations, and state government entities by providing training, facilitation, and technical assistance.

Olaunda was born and raised in Bunnlevel, a small township in rural Harnett County, about 20 miles north of Fayetteville.  She received her bachelor’s degree in health education at North Carolina Central University and her master’s degree in human services counseling with a life coaching cognate from Liberty University.

In her spare time, Olaunda enjoys volunteering at her church, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Betsy joined the Rural Center in June 2025 and is a member of the Communications team. With experience in publishing, editing, writing, and brand marketing, she believes in the power of stories to strengthen and create mission-aligned communications.

Professionally, she’s worked with stories and websites across a variety of sectors, including the labor industry, higher education, the creative economy, and e-commerce. Amplifying people’s voices and histories through content, workshops, and talks has allowed her to connect with creatives from six continents, travel, and write about a lot of amazing work.  She’s always on the lookout for meeting people who are doing good things for their communities, elevating history, and creating new opportunities for themselves and others.

She grew up in Charlotte and spent time in both big cities (New York City, London, Washington, D.C.) and much smaller towns in the U.S. and U.K. before returning to Durham in 2015. She enjoys having adventures in North Carolina and farther afield with her family and two dogs.

Hamid, a native of Eden, is an accomplished academic and community leader. He holds a bachelor of arts in chemistry from Fayetteville State University and a master’s in curriculum
and instruction with a minor in STEM from Concordia University. Currently, he is pursuing a doctorate of ministry degree at Virginia University of Lynchburg. Hamid also serves as the senior pastor of Bluestone Missionary Baptist Church in Pelham.

With a decade of experience in education, Hamid has now joined the NC Rural Center as the program manager for Faith in Rural Communities. He is also a proud member of Omega Psi Phi
Fraternity, Inc.

Hamid is married to LaToya R. Bost, and together they have four children: Ayden, Amelia, Aaron (deceased), and Asher.

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 economic development for 6 1/2 years at the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments, a five-county region, where he oversaw the administration of various federal and state grants, transportation initiatives, infrastructure improvements, drafted local zoning ordinances, and addressed food insecurity needs. Prior to working at Kerr-Tar, he worked as a planner in Orange County helping residents comply with the county’s newly adopted development ordinance, with a particular emphasis on land use and environmental regulations. He also served in an administrative capacity with the State of North Carolina.

Michael is a graduate of North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Wake Forest University. He is a certified planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners and a certified zoning official through the North Carolina Association of Zoning Officials. He remains active in the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association and Association of Zoning Officials.

Michael is proud to call North Carolina home, enjoying experiencing the state’s Southern charm and great bar-b-que. When not in the office, he enjoys taking scenic photos of our state in the Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and mountain regions.

Armeer Kenchen leads the Rural Center’s small business credit initiatives, including Corner Square Community Capital. Prior to joining the Rural Center, he was a member of the executive team at Self-Help, where he was responsible for developing strategic partnerships and leading implementation of strategic priorities that drove growth and expansion. He has significant experience working with community development financial institutions (CDFIs), having previously served as executive vice president at Self-Help, chief executive officer of Generations Community Credit Union, and board chair at the Carolina Small Business Development Fund.      

Armeer has more than 25 years of experience working with CDFIs, nonprofit, and community development organizations. Some additional highlights of his career include experience as a public school teacher, business consultant, child-care center operator, and affordable housing developer.  

Armeer is active in the community, serving on several boards throughout North Carolina. He is currently vice-chair of the Durham City/County Planning Commission and treasurer of Durham Community Land Trustees.

Dr. Heather Kilbourne is the director of Faith in Rural Communities. She grew up surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Marion. She previously pastored United Methodist churches in rural towns and communities including Hamptonville, Morganton, and Statesville. Prior to becoming a minister, she worked as a nonprofit administrator for Family Services Center and Teach For America.

Dr. Kilbourne has always felt a calling to serve marginalized families and communities. She assisted in starting three Circles communities, a program to help families out of poverty by building relationships across class barriers and increasing individual social capital.  She is a former Bridges Out of Poverty trainer.

She holds her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina-Asheville, a master’s of divinity, and a doctorate in ministry from Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

In her free time she enjoys hiking, reading, and walking her dog, Hanna.

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 grew up in North Carolina and joined the Rural Center with a passion to give back to the state she has been proud to call home since she was born. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from North Carolina State University. Prior to joining the Center, she worked at an international public accounting firm for four years and subsequently spent a year at a lending institution.

In her free time, Sheridan enjoys spending as much time as she can outside, serving at her church, and playing board games with family and friends. Although not near as fast as she was when she ran track in high school and college, she is still an avid runner and lets out her competitive side by running in obstacle course races.

Susannah started at the NC Rural Center in 2025 as the program associate with our leadership training programs and the Faith in Rural Communities program. Prior to joining the Rural Center, Susannah worked at Episcopal Migration Ministries building capacity for highly vulnerable refugees and newcomers. She worked with agencies across the country on their volunteer and mentorship programs, oversaw the development of a comprehensive e-learning platform, and submitted required data and reports to the federal government. Before that, she worked at the Hispanic Alliance in Greenville, S.C., managing the Student DREAMers Alliance and collaborating across the Upstate of South Carolina to build a vibrant and thriving community for all.

Susannah studied psychology and Spanish at Furman University. She loves books and movies, cooking and walking with her husband and dog, and would always rather be exploring a trout stream in Western North Carolina.

Daniel serves as the controller for the Rural Center. He is from Elizabeth City and graduated from North Carolina State University’s master’s of accounting program. He worked previously with the North Carolina Office of State Auditor. Prior to obtaining his degree in accounting and his CPA license, Daniel worked a variety of jobs at grocery stores, coffee shops, and restaurants in Raleigh and Austin, Texas.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Becca, and daughter, Hattie, tinkering on old cars, trucks, campers, listening to real country music, and exploring new places.

Seasoned commercial loan closer and compliance officer with over a decade of experience in both nonprofit and banking sectors. Experienced in SBA lending, commercial real estate, and affordable housing loans with a strong track record managing end-to-end loan closing and compliance processes. Fluent in Spanish.

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 from loan intake to underwriting. She has a background in lending/banking, which allows her to efficiently serve as the liaison between our lending partners and the Rural Center.

Kristin was born in a small town that borders West Virginia and Virginia. She is very community oriented, and has served on the board of directors and on numerous committees for her hometown chamber of commerce.  She enjoys spending time with family and friends, but most importantly making memories with her husband and daughter. She and her family are new to North Carolina and she looks forward to learning more about the Raleigh area and getting involved in the community.

Detrice is the business loan portfolio associate with the Small Business Capital Division of the Rural Center, where she supports the management and servicing of the Rapid Recovery oan portfolio. Before joining the Rural Center, she worked as a business analyst for Wells Fargo and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

A graduate of Wake Technical Community College with an associate degree in database development and administration, she enjoys watching movies, vegetable gardening, and spending time with her family.

Kailey brings over a decade of nonprofit leadership experience to her role as office manager at the NC Rural Center. Prior to joining the Rural Center, she served as director of operations at a North Carolina children’s museum. Under her leadership, she earned the organization recognition as an inclusive employer and made strides in workplace diversity and accessibility. With a passion for sharing industry knowledge, Kailey participated as a session presenter at the annual Children’s Museum Interactivity Conference for two consecutive years, focusing on topics related to managing data and volunteer programs. She also recently earned a certificate from the Nonprofit Management Institute hosted by the NC Center for Nonprofits.

Kailey’s professional journey is deeply rooted in her early experiences as a vocational specialist and job coach for adults with disabilities. This background reflects her commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and strengthening community connections. She is a creative problem solver who is passionate about fostering community and collaboration, thrives on helping others succeed, and brings a solution-oriented mindset to every challenge she encounters.

Beyond her professional life, Kailey enjoys expressing her creativity as a macrame artist and regularly participates in local pop-up markets. She is also an active community volunteer and enjoys spending time with her family and friends during game nights. When not volunteering or crafting, Kailey can be found listening to comedy podcasts, caring for her growing collection of houseplants, and enjoying time with her cat.

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 of experience financing and processing loans. She began working with mortgage loans during the 2007 mortgage crisis. This was her introduction to the lending and finance industry. Saquoia processed loans for a notable nonprofit company with the goal of eliminating predatory lending. Through this company, Saquoia protested and traveled to various cities to help homeowners modify their loans to affordable interest rates and payments, combining her love for helping people and processing loans as a home save counselor.

In 2012, Saquoia took time to focus on being a mother. She also opened and operated a behavior outpatient company for four years, which gave her a perspective of a small business owner.

Saquoia is a Christian and loves being in a peaceful atmosphere. She enjoys challenging herself to learn new information.

The Rev. Elizabeth Styron is our Virtual Connect program manager for the Faith in Rural Communities team. In this role, she works to expand the reach of FIRC’s successful, in-person Connect Church program by developing and piloting a new virtual version. She’ll be leading the nationwide initiative, helping partners create mission-driven engagement strategies by tapping into and leveraging their local strengths and community assets.

Elizabeth has spent over 10 years curating spaces and experiences that spark transformative growth that can lead to lasting impact.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from North Carolina State University, along with dual graduate degrees — a master’s of divinity from from Duke University and a master’s in social work from UNC-Chapel Hill. She’s also an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. A proud daughter of two military veterans, Elizabeth grew up traveling the world and now calls Durham home.

Morgan is the church engagement specialist for the Faith in Rural Communities team. She holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and religion from Winthrop University and a master’s of divinity degree from Duke University.

She is passionate about community engagement and empowering people to share their stories as a means of connection. She is sure life’s mundane ins and outs are inherently meaningful. Pulling weeds in a garden, washing dirty dishes after a meal, and other ordinary tasks are all opportunities for us to grow closer to one another.

Morgan grew up along the South Carolina coast and is now grateful to call North Carolina her home.

In her spare time, Morgan enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants, playing with her Golden Retriever, and spending time with family and friends.

Norma serves as director of operations and servicing for the NC Rural Center’s lending programs. 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 as a member service representative and then collections manager. Other positions throughout her career included regional director through merger at Generations Community Credit Union.