Advisory Board of Commissioners

Kevin Austin is Vice President and Manufacturing Manager of Austin Electrical Enclosures, a 2nd Generation family owned business which employees around 150 people. Prior to beginning full time work there in 1983, Kevin graduated from North Carolina State University with and BS in Engineering Operations, a degree that combine Industrial Engineering and Business studies. His work there has included just about facet of manufacturing, including serving as CFO and Controller for 8 years.

Kevin was elected as a County Commissioner in Yadkin County in 2008 and has served continuously since then including 11 years as Chairman of the Board. In 2016, he was elected as 2nd Vice President of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioner and served as President of the organization from December 2018 through August of 2020. During this time he formed his Presidential Initiative, the Pathways Initiative, to combat the issue of Disconnected Youth across our State. The resulting task force and report studied and shared best practices across North Carolina that had shown positive results so they could be replicated in all 100 Counties.

Always an advocate for all levels of education, Kevin spearheaded efforts to build a new Early College building and also an Advance Manufacturing Center at the Yadkin Center of Surry Community College. He, along with the other Yadkin County Commissioners, created a tuition program to help build the necessary FTE’s to earn Campus status for the Yadkin Center. He also was instrumental in bringing programs to Yadkin County Schools like Lego Robotics and the Dream It, Do It program which shows available careers to middle school students.

Kevin is a lifelong North Carolinian and is married with 2 children. He is active on many local, regional and statewide boards and committees. He recently completed the latest cohort of the Hunt Institute NC Elevate Forum.

Emma Singletary Battle is President and CEO at Higher Ed Works, a non-partisan public charity that supports North Carolina public higher education. She also serves as President and CEO of MarketVigor, a business services company, and as an independent director at Bassett Furniture Industries and Unifi, Inc.

For the past 30 years Emma has been an innovative leader in business strategy, as well as digital, B2B, B2C, ecommerce, and social media marketing. Her previous work experience includes; President and Chief Operating Officer at Crisp Digital Agency, Vice President of Client Success at Windsor Circle, Vice President of Marketing and Merchandising at Art.com, Vice President of Marketing, Vice President of Strategic Planning, Director of Marketing and Director of Operations and Sourcing, at Hanes Brands, Inc., and various supervisory roles at Pepsico.

Emma is a North Carolina native and first-generation college graduate. She received her B.A. degree in Economics and Spanish from Duke University and her MBA from Harvard School of Business School.

Brenda’s passion for education stems from her own experience as a first-generation college graduate. With two children who attended North Carolina public schools, she is driven by the belief that every child should have access to a great education.

Brenda is the President & CEO of BEST NC (Business for Educational Success and Transformation in North Carolina), a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of over 100 business leaders with a focus on making education in North Carolina the best in the nation.  Through policy and advocacy, BEST NC strives to ensure that every student in North Carolina will graduate with the knowledge, skills and behaviors to succeed in a competitive global economy.

With over twenty-five years of experience as a business owner, public policy professional and education advocate, Brenda leads the overall BEST NC vison, strategy, and operations while leveraging her expertise to be the business-to-education bridge in BEST NC’s work to transform education in North Carolina. In 2002, she founded Scandinavian Child, a baby products manufacturing and importing business. Prior to founding her business, she had almost ten years of public policy experience in both education and transportation policy and programs. She serves on various boards and education organizations, including the Principal Fellows Commission, NC Rural Center, Kenan Fellows Program, myFutureNC, and the NC Community College Foundation. Brenda has a B.A. in Economics and a Master’s degree in Public Policy, both from Georgetown University.

Dr. Valerie Bridges has more than 30 years of experience as a North Carolina educator and school leader. She was the Superintendent of Edgecombe County Public Schools in Tarboro, NC and had served in this role for the past four years. Before her superintendency, she served as Associate and Assistant Superintendent in both Edgecombe and Washington County Schools. Prior to her transition to the eastern region of North

Carolina, she worked in Guilford and Wake County Public Schools as a high school teacher, middle school Assistant Principal, and Elementary Principal.

Dr. Bridges holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Meredith College, teacher certification from St. Augustine’s College, a Master’s degree in School Administration and a Doctorate in Educational Research and Leadership from North Carolina State University.

She has served on numerous state and national boards including: North Carolina Virtual Public Schools, Down East Partnership for Children, North Carolina School Superintendents Association, The Innovation Project and Boys & Girls Club. In 2021, she was featured as EdWeek’s Leaders to Learn From. In addition, she has been honored with being named the Regional Superintendent of the Year (2021), the 2021 recipient of the Dr. Brad Sneeden Leadership Award, named Distinguished Citizen of the Year for the City of Rocky Mount (2020), and awarded the 2021 North Carolina State University Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for the College of Education.

Dr. Bridges and her husband, Ronald, have two children. She loves professional football and college basketball and her hobbies include reading, traveling, and shopping for shoes. Her true passion and joy is for children and helping them to reach their full potential. Her motto is “Whatever it Takes” to help students succeed.

Anita Brown-Graham is the founder and director of the ncIMPACT Initiative at the UNC School of Government, a special initiative that seeks to expand the School’s capacity to work with public officials on complex policy issues including economic mobility, the expansion of prekindergarten, and extending the labor pool. She previously taught at the School from 1994 to 2006, specializing in governmental liability and economic development aimed at revitalizing communities. Anita served as director of the Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) at NC State University from 2007-2016, where she led efforts to build North Carolina’s capacity for economic development and prosperity, working with business, government and higher education leaders from across the state.

Anita began her career as a law clerk in the Eastern District of California. She is a William C. Friday Fellow, an American Marshall Fellow, and an Eisenhower Fellow. The White House named her a 2013 Champion of Change for her work at IEI, and the Triangle Business Journal named her both a 2014 Woman in Business for her policy leadership in the state and a 2017 CEO of the year. Anita serves on the boards of several organizations, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. She earned an undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University and a law degree from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Sherry Carpenter is responsible for the regional workforce development and mission services as well as leading the organizational development strategy for team members in the counties served by Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC, Inc. She has over twenty years of experience with Goodwill and has a background in human services and education. The scope of services provided in her current position includes education and career programs for approximately 25,000 individuals as well as being a member of the executive team that supports over 1,100 employees. Sherry serves on the Piedmont Triad Regional Workforce Development Board, the North Carolina Employment and Training Association Board, the High Country Workforce Development Board, the NCWorks Commission, and the Forsyth Technical Community College Foundation Board.

Sherry has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Virginia Tech and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Psychology from Appalachian State University. She is a graduate of Goodwill’s Executive Leadership Program and a graduate of the 2020 class of Leadership Winston-Salem. She has been honored by the Business Journal as an award winner for Women in Business and was featured in Forsyth Woman magazine. Also, Sherry is a previous recipient of the YWCA’s “Women of Vision” award and she received the Watson Award for Mission Advancement through Goodwill Industries International.

Trey Cash, a native of Greene County, serves as Chief Operating Officer for the North Carolina Global TransPark Economic Development Region, helping lead regional economic development efforts for Greene, Lenoir, and Wayne Counties and the NC Global TransPark. In this role, he supports industrial recruitment, assists existing employers, oversees regional operations, and works with partners at the local, state, and national level to bring jobs and investment to Eastern North Carolina.

Trey has more than 13 years of experience in local and state government and previously served as Director of Economic Development for Greene and Lenoir Counties. He is a North Carolina Certified Economic Developer and a Certified Workforce Developer. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Fayetteville State University, a Master of Science in Leadership from Grand Canyon University, and a Bachelor of Science in Emergency and Disaster Management from Western Carolina University. He is also completing advanced training through the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute.

Trey serves on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Economic Development Association. Trey is a graduate from Leadership North Carolina Class 31.

Mr. Cecil has served as President and CEO of Biltmore Farms, LLC, since 1992. Established in 1897, Biltmore Farms has focused its efforts on community building, through developing an extensive portfolio of real estate projects including a regional shopping mall, a mixed-use urban village, master planned communities, corporate offices, hotels, apartments, medical office buildings and over 1,000 homes.

Mr. Cecil serves as a Trustee of The Duke Endowment; Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, Dogwood Health Trust; Director, N.C. GlaxoSmithKline Foundation; Chair of the National Advisory Board of the Institute for Emerging Issues; Director, The Research Triangle Foundation of N.C.; Member, MyFutureNC Commission; Director, Barron Collier Management, LLC; Chair, WNC Regional Advisory Board of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.; and Governor, Urban Land Institute Foundation.

Mr. Cecil received his M.I.M. from The American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird) and his B.A. from UNC-Chapel Hill.

He has been happily married to Sarah Mettler Cecil since 1993, and they have four wonderful sons, Thomas, Hugh, John, and Owen.

Dr. Chapman has been in the North Carolina Community College System for thirty-seven years. She currently serves as the president of Central Carolina Community College (CCCC), a position she has held since April 2019. She began her career as a biologist at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, but after a few years moved into formal teaching and learning, spending several years at CCCC. Her tenure at the college included serving as a biology instructor, math and sciences department chair, academic dean, and Executive Vice President for Instruction/Chief Academic Officer overseeing instruction as well as recruiting and academic learning support services. Chapman left CCCC in 2014 to serve as the Sr. Vice President/Chief Academic Officer of the North Carolina Community College System, a position she held for 5 years before returning to Central Carolina as president. In addition to her full-time responsibilities, Chapman also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Practice at North Carolina State University Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research and the Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development in the College of Education. She is a 20-21 Aspen New President Fellow, serves on several local boards, and has engaged in leadership roles in several state and national initiatives. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from UNC-Chapel Hill, Master of Science in Physiology from East Tennessee State University, and Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Mark D’Amico is a Professor of Higher Education and former Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership at UNC Charlotte. He has published more than 40 scholarly articles and book chapters largely on community college student success and the community college role in workforce development. Mark has received funding for his work from the U.S. Department of Education, and he currently serves as Past-President of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges and on the editorial boards of leading community college journals. Prior to his faculty role, Mark served for nearly 15 years in administrative positions with the South Carolina Technical College System, Midlands Technical College, Francis Marion University, and UNC Charlotte. Mark also held adjunct faculty positions in English, political science, and education at multiple universities and a community college in the Carolinas. He holds an M.A. from UNC Charlotte and a Ph.D. from UNC Greensboro.

Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer and her family came to Charlotte in 2017, when she began leading Central Piedmont Community College as its fourth president. Dr. Deitemeyer came to Central Piedmont with an extensive and diverse background in community college administration. Her career has spanned 29 years in higher education, serving in community college systems in North Carolina, Kentucky and Florida. Central Piedmont is one of the largest colleges in the Carolinas.

Locally, she serves on the Leading on Opportunity Council and the Novant Health Greater Charlotte Market Board of Trustees. She is an active member of the North Carolina Association of Community College Presidents, having just served as president. As a commitment to future community college leadership, she serves as an advisory board member for the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research at North Carolina State University. Nationally, she served recently as an executive board member of the American Association of Community Colleges.

Dr. Deitemeyer and her husband, Gary, and their daughter, Zoe, are proud to make their home in Charlotte.

Dr. John D. Denning has worked in a variety of roles at the intersection of education policy, philanthropy, and economic development. John currently serves as the Senior Advisor to the John M. Belk Endowment after almost ten years as a Senior Program Officer for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Committed to driving impact in transitions from high school to college and improved outcomes for students and teachers, John also served as North Carolina’s State Director for K-12 and Postsecondary Alignment and the NC Ready for Success initiative. In that capacity and through a joint appointment across the University of North Carolina, the NC Community College System and the NC Department of Public Instruction, John directed communication and policy alignment efforts across all sectors of K-12 and postsecondary education. After attending Elon University as a NC Teaching Fellow, John taught American history and government at Wake Forest Rolesville High School. Since earning an MA in Public Policy from Exeter University in England and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from UNC-Chapel Hill, John has worked in other organizations such as the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future, All Kinds of Minds, the NC New Schools Project and the NC Teaching Fellows Commission. John also currently serves as a member of various boards and organizations such as the Elon University Jo Watts William School of Education Advisory Board, the National Advisory Board of the William and Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, the Advisory Board of the Public School Forum of North Carolina, and the myFutureNC Advisory Board of Commissioners.

Having taught 9th-12th grade English for 18 years, Rhonda Dillingham is a veteran educator who brings a wealth of experience to her role as Executive Director of the NC Association for Public Charter Schools.

Besides being a teacher, Rhonda is a certified dental assistant who chose to answer the call to teach and graduated with honors from Greensboro College in 1996 with a BA in secondary English Education. In addition to earning her National Board Certification in 2005, Rhonda has completed Master’s work in Education Leadership at High Point University. In 2016, Rhonda was honored to receive Greensboro College’s Alumni Excellence Award.

In 2007, she was part of the team that founded the Asheboro High School Zoo School, a satellite location of Asheboro High School at the North Carolina Zoo. The Zoo School serves grades 10-12 in a science-focused small learning community committed to project-based learning and environmental education. In 2013, she co-founded Uwharrie Charter Academy, the only charter school in Randolph County, where she served as Chief Curriculum Officer for three years. Now in its eleventh year, Uwharrie Charter’s mission is to prepare students for post-secondary life through a STEM-focused project-based learning environment. She is also a founding board member of Tillery Charter Academy, the first charter school in Montgomery County, NC.

Now in her seventh year as Executive Director of the NC Association for Public Charter Schools, Rhonda is proud of the progress the organization has made in serving the needs of the state’s public charter schools while she works to advocate, educate, and support the advancement of quality educational opportunities for all North Carolina children by supporting and expanding successful charter schools.

Steve has more than 24 years of community development experience characterized by holistic strategies and grassroots campaigns. He has worked tirelessly to forge opportunities and create a level playing field for individuals facing systemic disadvantages, particularly in agricultural communities, in areas including affordable housing, small business economic development, renewable energy, agricultural empowerment, education and health. In 2021, Forbes named Evans to its inaugural For(bes) The Culture 50 Black and Brown Champions list for modeling business excellence while uplifting Black and Brown communities. Steve was also recognized in 2022 at the World Sustainability Congress as the winner in the Future Leaders category.

Steve resides in Knightdale, North Carolina with his wife Michelle, where he serves as an elected member of the town council and oversees various boards, task forces and committees promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. In addition to many local and national boards, Steve also serves on the National FFA Advisory board, NC Business Committee for Education board and the College of Agriculture and Environmental Science advisory board for his alma mater, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical (A&T) University.

Native of Wilson, NC and a resident of Rocky Mount, NC for over the past 46 years. David is married to the former Marianne Stanley and they have 1 daughter, Kate Farris Tharin, (James) along with 2 granddaughters; Marianne Robin & Frances.

Professional Career: David was a partner along with his brother as owners of Farris Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram for 38 Years before selling the business and retiring.  Afterwards David did some consulting while continuing his community volunteering in addition to working on various local and state wide political campaigns. Later David was encouraged to seek the leadership position with the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce, an organization which he had previously served as chair.

David has served on numerous boards throughout the state and locally. Chaired the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Assn. (NCADA) Currently serving on the board of the North Carolina Center of Teachers. (NCCAT) Chaired the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce. Harrison Family YMCA. Chaired Benvenue Country Club. Chaired Covenant Homes. Chaired the local advisory board of Wachovia Bank, now Wells Fargo. Currently serving on the boards of Carolina Gateway Partnership. Central City Revitalization Committee. Downtown Renaissance, Inc. Nash Travel & Tourism. Served on NCADA’s board/steering committee for the Flight of Honor. We were charged with over a period of 2 years escorting over 800 WWII veterans to Washington DC.

Attends 1^st Presbyterian Church in Rocky Mount and has served as an elder and chaired the administrative committee.

Mr. Mark Garrett joined the Henderson County Public Schools in 2022 after serving as the Superintendent of the McDowell County Schools for nine years where he was named the 2021 N.C. Western Region Superintendent of the Year and the 2015 School Based Health Alliance N.C. Superintendent of the Year. Prior to becoming a superintendent, Mr. Garrett served as the assistant superintendent in McDowell, principal of Avery County High School in Newland, NC, and principal of Valle Crucis School in Watauga County. He has worked as a high school assistant principal and began his educational career as a middle school social studies teacher. Mr. Garrett has worked for school systems in North Carolina and Tennessee.

Since January 2020, Dan Gerlach has owned and managed a public policy firm (Dan Gerlach LLC) where he serves business, philanthropic, governmental, and nonprofit clients. The firm has worked with over 60 clients to date and retains several from the beginning of the practice. Previously, he served the public for 25 years as a budget advisor to Gov. Easley, President of the Golden LEAF Foundation, leader of a public policy research organization, and interim Chancellor of East Carolina University. He earned a B.A. in Economics and English from the University of Notre Dame and a M.P.A. in state and local finance from Syracuse University.

Brianna Goodwin is the Executive Director of the Robeson County Church and Community Center. She has been with the Center for six years including her previous role as Director of Operations. What she loves most about her position is the ability to influence Robeson County’s initiatives to bring its residents out of cycles of poverty and bridge the gap for those who are in a time of desperate need. In 2021 she was named as an honoree of the Fayetteville Observer’s 40 Under 40 Award which highlights professionals throughout the region who excel early in their careers.

She has served in numerous community roles including Chair of Kiwanis Young Professionals of Robeson County, President of the Robeson County Arts Council, President of the Robeson Family Counseling Center, Vice-President/Co-Founder of Ministers for Justice and a member of the Main Street Lumberton Design Committee. Brianna also runs a small business as a visual artist, Brianna Goodwin Art. Her vibrant work can be found in public libraries, offices and homes across the east coast.

Mary N. Hall, MD, FAAFP

Mary Nolan Hall, MD is a family physician and educator who recently retired after 37 years with Atrium Health. Most recently, Dr. Hall served as the Senior Vice President for Medical Education and Chief Academic Officer at Atrium Health and Director of Faculty Affairs for Wake Forest University School of Medicine Charlotte campus. Dr. Hall continues her work as a senior advisor to the dean and professor emeritus at Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Dr. Hall received her undergraduate degree from the State University of New York in Binghamton and her Medical degree from Cornell University Medical College. She completed her residency in family medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, SC, and fellowships in faculty development at MUSC and at the University of NC at Chapel Hill. Dr. Hall is past president of the American Balint Society (ABS), past President of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) and past Chair of the national Council of Academic Family Medicine (CAFM).

Dr. Hall has been an enthusiastic advocate for strengthening the doctor- patient relationship to improve health and the overall wellbeing of patients and their physicians. She is an active member of the American Balint Society – a non-profit to promote the use of Balint group technique, the use of empathy in the doctor patient relationship and the use of the physician as a healing tool – leading Balint groups regionally and nationally and training future leaders.

Dr. Hall’s activity in the community centers on the environment and on improving access to education for all ages. She is the Chair of the Board of TreesCharlotte, is on the executive committee of the Freedom School Partners Board, the Board of the Carolinas College of Health Sciences, and on the Board of Commissioners for MyFutureNC. She is active in Women Executives of Charlotte.

Dr. Hall is married to David H. Hall, MD, also a family physician. Their daughter Katherine is an Occupational Therapist living in Greensboro with her engineer husband and young son. Their son Andrew is a PhD psychologist and a consultant with Korn Ferry living in Chicago with his husband, an academic ophthalmologist. Dr. Hall and her family enjoy traveling, exercising, and eating great food.

The Honorable D. Craig Horn, a former Russian linguist with USAF Security Service and retired food broker, served five terms in the North Carolina General Assembly representing District 68, Western Union County, retiring in January 2021.  Horn was co-chairman of the House Education Appropriations and the House Education K-12 Committees.  He was also the House Chairman of the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee. Horn served on the NC Child Fatality Task Force, was a Commissioner to the Education Commission of the States and an Early Learning Fellow at the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Horn led efforts in the General Assembly to move public education into the digital age. In 2015, he was recognized by the NC Technology Association as the Public Leader of the Year. In 2017 EdScoop selected Representative Horn as one of 25 “Ed Tech Heroes” for his work in promoting a digital education environment to deliver quality education to every student, the only elected official in the USA to make the list.

In addition to his work in education, Rep. Horn authored Kilah’s Law on child abuse which later passed the US Congress and was signed into law in 2016. Horn has done extensive work on drug abuse issues.  He gained passage of various pieces of legislation dealing with artificial cannabinoids, methamphetamine, and opioid abuse.

Rep. Horn is president of the Churchill Society of North Carolina and serves on the Operating Committee of the International Churchill Society. Craig has spoken at the National Conference of State Legislatures International Summit and has been a frequent presenter at NCSL’s Emerging Leaders Conferences.

In 2015, Rep. Horn was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters by Wingate University for his work in education.  In 2020, he was elected a Trustee of Wingate University.  In 2021, Rep. Horn was awarded an Associates of Arts Honoris Causa from South Piedmont Community College.

Craig and his wife Lorraine live in Weddington, North Carolina. They have four grown children and seven grandchildren.

Dr. Jackson served as a school superintendent in three school districts: Edenton-Chowan Public Schools in Northeastern North Carolina; Carteret County Public Schools on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast; and finally in the mountains of North Carolina in Buncombe County Schools, where he retired from service in August 2026. For 34 years, Dr. Jackson served as a School Secretary, Bus Driver, Summer Custodian, After-School Associate, Teacher, Assistant Principal, Elementary School Principal, High School Principal, Chief Communications Officer, and as the Superintendent of a small, medium, and large school system. He is the former North Carolina Principal of the Year and NCHSAA Superintendent of the Year. Dr. Jackson is also a U.S. Navy veteran.

Audrey J. Jaeger, Ph.D., is the W. Dallas Herring Professor of Community College Education at NC State’s College of Education and the founding executive director of the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research. Jaeger’s commitment to the accessibility and attainment of high-quality postsecondary education for each and every student is a natural expansion of her decades of research that explores community colleges, leadership, faculty development, and college transfer in higher education. Contributing to the growing body of research about student outcomes and institutional effectiveness, her work advances student success by bringing actionable data to leaders and policymakers in North Carolina and beyond. In 2022, Jaeger was awarded NC State’s Holladay Medal – the highest honor given by NC State and the Board of Trustees, recognizing outstanding and sustained contributions to the university through achievements in research, teaching, or extension and engagement.

In her 20+ years as a faculty member at NC State, Jaeger has embraced the College of Education’s historic mission to serve North Carolina’s community colleges. Jaeger founded the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research. As executive director, Jaeger works with community college leaders to improve student outcomes and drive institutional change through learner-centered strategies and evidence-based decisions.

Jaeger has delivered more than 220 presentations, authored more than 80 articles and book chapters, and has secured over $43 million dollars in grants. She has received numerous awards for her research, engagement, and service. At NC State, she is a member of the Academy of Outstanding Teachers, the Academy of Outstanding Faculty Engaged in Extension and Engagement, and the Research Leadership Academy. In 2017, her scholarship and academic contributions earned her entrance into The Academy of Community Engagement Scholarship.

Prior to NC State, Jaeger held student and academic affairs administrative positions at New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service and at Bucknell University (PA). She also worked previously as an adjunct faculty member at Baruch College (CUNY). Her Ph.D. is from New York University.

Barbi Jones joined the The Chamber, Leading Business in Cabarrus as executive director in 2016. During her tenure, the Chamber team has worked to increase business-friendly public policy at local, state and national levels to benefit Cabarrus County businesses, offer ongoing educational, marketing and networking opportunities for members, and work with community nonprofits to connect programs to resources. Noting the importance of workforce development, The Chamber became a founding partner of the Cabarrus County Career Technical Education Advisory Board that she currently chairs connecting Cabarrus County Schools and Kannapolis City Schools’ CTE programs to partners to offer students real-life career education and experiences. Convening partners to help eliminate barriers to work such as affordable childcare, housing and transportation are strategic initiatives for The Chamber.

Prior to her work at The Chamber, Barbi was the Chief Communications and Engagement Officer for United Way of Central Carolinas where she oversaw strategic communications, volunteer engagement and public and community relations for the affiliate that raised over $22 million dollars a year, investing in over 150 programs in a five-county region that helped nearly 300,000 people. She additionally worked for United Way of Central Carolinas – Cabarrus County, Craven & Company Realtors and Habitat for Humanity Cabarrus County.

A native of Durham, NC, she holds a B.A. in Journalism/Public Relations from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A longtime resident of Concord, NC, Barbi is married with two grown sons.

Mike LaBrose has been a County Commissioner in Caldwell County for the past 12 years. Prior to serving on the County Commission Board, he served on the Caldwell County School Board for 14 years. Mike has worked as an insurance agent for Farm Bureau Insurance in Lenoir, NC for the past 17 years. Mike is a graduate of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute with a degree in business administration. Mike currently resides in Granite Falls with his wife of 38 years, Ellen LaBrose. Together they have 3 daughters who are all currently working in public education, and 5 grandchildren.

Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood has served since 2017 as the fourth president of Blue Ridge Community College.

Prior to being named president at Blue Ridge Community College, she served for 17 years in various roles at Haywood Community College. Dr. Leatherwood holds a doctorate degree in university and community college leadership, a master’s degree in human resource development, and a bachelor’s degree in business law, all from Western Carolina University.

Leatherwood has spent the last twenty-four years in community college education. She was appointed President of Blue Ridge Community College in 2017, leading three campuses with 11,000 students in Henderson and Transylvania Counties. This work has afforded her the opportunity to work and advocate for higher education at the local, regional, state and national levels with the American Association of Community Colleges. She has served as President of the NC Association of Community College Presidents and was named 2022 President of the Year for the North Carolina Community College System. Her list of awards and accomplishments is extensive, and she was most recently recognized as Business North Carolina’s Top 100 Influential Leaders in North Carolina.
Dr. Leatherwood spends a lot of her time working on behalf of the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, Transylvania County Economic Alliance, Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, UNC Health/Pardee Hospital Board of Trustees, Asheville Regional Airport Authority, WNC Communities Board of Directors, and many other nonprofit agencies.

Dr. Leatherwood and her husband Ron live in Flat Rock.

Dr. Amanda Lee’s career in higher education has spanned over 25 years and a variety of positions in higher education including President, Vice President, Chief Academic Officer, and Chief of Staff. She attended Baylor University in Texas, where she earned her bachelor’s in Telecommunications (Radio, TV, Film) and her master’s degree in Communication Studies. While working on her master’s, she was introduced to teaching, and discovered her passion for education. She also holds a doctorate in Communication Arts from Regent University in Virginia. Throughout her education and career, she has promoted the power of education to change lives and realize dreams. Dr. Lee began her career in higher education as a communications lecturer at Texas A&M University. She later taught communications at Nash Community College, Cape Fear Community College and UNCW.

Her corporate management experience includes working at a national home oxygen company, where she was responsible for training and development, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. Dr. Lee enjoys opportunities to collaborate and promote the mission of the community college. While President at Cape Fear Community College, she focused on growing and developing relationships with multiple community partners including area businesses, non-profit organizations, government entities, and the local public-school systems. In addition, she continually sought to enhance learning outcomes by partnering with four-year universities and other community colleges. As the community and College continued to expand, she oversaw significant fundraising initiatives and construction projects, including the creation and launch of the Wilson Center, which is now the largest performing arts center in southeast North Carolina. She also spearheaded the implementation of many new academic programs, and the reaffirmation of the school’s accreditation.

A native Texan, Lee now considers North Carolina her home and resides in Elizabethtown with her husband. She also has two grown daughters.

Rebecca K McCall was elected to the Henderson County Board of Commissioners in November of 2018 to serve a four-year term.  In her third year on the board, she was elected to the position of Vice Chair.  During her first three years in office, she was actively involved in numerous board-appointed committees as either a Commissioner liaison or voting member including (but not limited to) Agriculture Advisory Board, French Broad River MPO/Transportation Advisory Committee, Henderson County Planning Board, Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, Local Government of Cooperative Action, Joint College Facilities Committee, Library Board of Trustees, and Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee.  In 2020, she was elected by her peers to serve as Director of District 16, which includes Henderson, Buncombe, Transylvania and Madison counties, for North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.  Through the NCACC, she was chosen to participate in the 2019 President’s Initiative project which focused on developing Pathways for Disconnected Youth in NC.  This led to the development of a similar initiative in Henderson County.  She has also been actively involved in bringing the Henderson County Rails-to-Trails dream to reality and led the Henderson County Beautification project in 2021 focused on cleaning up roadside litter.

Rebecca retired in 2017 after forty years of working in the fields of construction and manufacturing.  For the last 25 years, she worked for two major corporations in the lighting industry, GE Lighting and Hubbell Lighting.  She held numerous positions in the areas of Engineering, Application Design (which led to successful sports lighting designs for NBA, NHL/CHL and NFL), Customer Service Management, Product Management for Outdoor and Indoor lighting products (through which she holds a patent in LED product design), Warranty Services Management, and Director of Education and Training (which included training over 1000 customers and sales agents yearly).  While at GE Lighting, she was trained and certified as a Six Sigma Blackbelt, which focuses on customer satisfaction by minimizing defects and improving efficiency.  She has continued to utilize this training throughout her career.  She also received certified training in the areas of Negotiating Skills, Project Management, Leadership and Management, and Effective Presentations (for which she has received numerous awards).  Her industry memberships include:  IESNA (Illuminating Engineering Society), MSSLC Roadway Lighting Committee which developed national standards for municipal lighting, Dark Sky Society and NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) for which she served as Vice Chair for the Luminaire section and met with Washington DC legislators regarding energy regulations.

Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Montreat College, an AA in Mechanical Drafting and Design from Blue Ridge Community College and a Jr College Diploma from Brevard College.  Rebecca is a life-long resident of Henderson County and is an active member of the Hendersonville Lions club where she holds the office of Second Vice President and a 40 year member of Bethel Wesleyan Church.  She is married to Ernest McCall and together they have raised three children who have graced them with six grandchildren.  Of her accomplishments she is most proud of her family, their devotion to each other and to their faith in God.

September 2021

Dr. Patrick C. Miller is the former K-12 superintendent of Greene County Schools, NC.  He was appointed superintendent in January 2008 and retired on June 30, 2022.

After graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1993, Dr. Miller taught choral music/theater arts at Greene Central High School for 10 years before accepting the NC Principal Fellows scholarship.  He graduated twice from ECU – once in 2005 with a Master of School Administration degree and again in 2011 with the Doctor of Education degree.

Dr. Miller is very active in professional organizations at the state and national levels, and he has participated in numerous leadership programs while serving Greene County Schools.  He has served as president of NCASCD, NCASA, NCASLD, and NCSSA.  He is also a frequent presenter at conferences at both the state and national levels.

He serves on numerous Boards of Directors and committees at the local, state, and national levels.  Notably, he is the chair of the NC Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission (PEPSC) and he serves on the Governor’s Commission on Access to Sound Basic Education.

Dr. Miller was named North Carolina’s Central Region Superintendent of the Year for 2014-15 and again in 2018-19.  In November 2018, he was named the 2019 A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year.  He was inducted into the East Carolina University Educator’s Hall of Fame in October 2015.  Dr. Miller was awarded the Friday Medal of Educational Innovation in November 2017.   In October 2019, Dr. Miller received the Alumni Achievement Award from the School of Education at UNC-Chapel Hill.   Dr. Miller was honored by NCMEA with the Music Educator Advocate Award in November 2018 and in June 2019 was the inaugural recipient of Conn Selmer Institute’s Administrator of the Year.

Dr. Miller lives in Snow Hill with his wife, Becky.  They have three children:  Paul, James, and Mary Amantha.

Darryl D. Moss began his career in public service being elected to the Creedmoor Planning Board in  1987. He was elected to Creedmoor’s Board of Commissioners in 1989. In 1999 he was elected as  mayor of Creedmoor, where he served until 2017 after not seeking reelection.

In 2003 and 2004 Mayor Moss served as president of the North Carolina Black Elected Municipal Officials.

In 2007 Mayor Moss was appointed to represent municipal government on the North Carolina  Environmental Management Commission.

Moss served on the North Carolina League of Municipalities Board of Directors. He was elected to the National League of Cities (NLC) Board of Directors, served as chairman of the NLC Advisory  Board and was on the NLC Information Technology Steering Committee.

Mayor Moss was one of the first North Carolina mayors to sign on to Mayors Against Illegal Guns to combat gun violence.

Locally he represented Creedmoor on the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Upper Neuse River Basin Association.

Under his leadership, the city of Creedmoor built a new city hall, celebrated its centennial in 2005  and was recognized as an 11-time “Playful City, USA” highlighted by the construction of new  playgrounds at Lake Rogers and Pecan Hill.

Mayor Moss was invited to the White House multiple times to meet with President Barack Obama  and the administration. Each time he was not shy about talking about the needs of his community.

In 2010 Mayor Moss spearheaded efforts to secure $9.3 million in Stimulus Funds for Creedmoor to  upgrade its water and wastewater system that was built in 1939. He led the way for the city’s effort  to secure a $2.1 million Clean Water Management Trust Fund Grant to purchase 142 acres for a park and $1 million from the Federal Highway Trust Fund to build and expand the city’s sidewalk  infrastructure.

One of his greatest accomplishments was partnering with local elementary schools to create  Government Day. This initiative brought 2nd graders to City Hall to serve as mayor and  commissioners for the day to learn about their local government.

Darryl also served on the Federal Bureau of Prisons Community Relations Board, the Vance Granville Community College Endowment Board, the Families Living Violence Free Board of  Directors, and was an Organizing Director of Union Bank.

In 2017, Governor Roy Cooper recognized Mayor Moss with North Carolina’s highest civilian award,  the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

In 2020, Mayor Moss was named to the Golden Leaf Foundation Board of Directors by Governor  Cooper.

Darryl attended South Granville High School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Darryl is married to Michelle Braswell Moss. They have two daughters, Mary, a North Carolina  public school teacher and Rachel, a Director of Marketing for a restaurant group in Los Angeles, CA.

Jenni is on the faculty of the Duke Sanford School of Public Policy where she focuses on government-research and government-philanthropy partnerships. From 2019-2025, Jenni was Director of the North Carolina Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP). She was appointed by Governor Roy Cooper to this position after serving as Governor Cooper’s first Policy Director, working with cabinet agencies and other state, local, and non-governmental partners to inform and act on the Governor’s policy priorities. In the OSP role, Owen identified and launched strategic partnerships between and among state government, universities/colleges, philanthropy, and other entities. This involved working with state officials and non-governmental partners on priority policy issues, developing and convening public sector and research experts, and providing a range of learning opportunities for stakeholders across sectors. These efforts helped state agencies deepen connections with external research expertise and increase internal agency capacity to conduct and use evidence to improve policy. Prior to joining the Cooper administration, she was the Director of Policy Engagement and on the faculty of the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. She co-directed the Duke University School Research Partnership, was the principal investigator for multiple foundation-funded projects, and served as director of the University-Based Child and Family Policy Consortium. In 2007, Owen was awarded an Eisenhower Fellowship to South Africa and in 2010 launched DukeEngage Durban (South Africa). Owen was a senior policy advisor to Governor James B. Hunt Jr. and the planning director for the Hunt Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy. Among other civic roles, she has been a commissioner on the North Carolina Indigent Defense Services Commission, a board member of El Futuro and the Durham Children’s Initiative, on the Policy Council of the Association of Public Policy Analysis and Management, a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures Evidence-Informed Policymaking work group, and on the Pew Results First Advisory Group. She currently serves on the Duke-NC Central University Clinical and Translational Science Institute Regional Community and Partnership Advisory Committee and on the Advisory Group of the Transforming Evidence Network.

A native of Caldwell County, with 30 years of community college experience, Dr. Mark Poarch has served as president of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute since 2016. Prior to his appointment as president, Dr. Poarch served as Associate Vice President of Student Services, Vice President of Student Services and Executive Vice President at CCC&TI. His career in higher education began as an admissions counselor at Brevard College and later at nearby Catawba Valley Community College, where he served in various roles.

Dr. Poarch’s tenure is highlighted by the addition of new academic programs, several large construction projects and campus improvements, an emphasis on workforce development, the signing of new university and community partnerships, expansion of CCC&TI athletics, and the awarding of millions of dollars in new grant funding. Among the projects he’s most proud of are: construction of a new Student Services Center on the Watauga Campus, offering the only full-service health clinic of its kind on a community college campus, the addition of baseball and softball, and construction of two vital work-force development projects – an Electrical Lineworker indoor training facility and the Paul H. Broyhill Center for Advanced Technologies, both of which were made possible with public and private funding.

Dr. Poarch earned his Doctor of Education and Education Specialist degrees at Appalachian State University, and his Master Degree of Arts in Education and Bachelor Degree of Science in Business Administration at Western Carolina University. He is a graduate of West Caldwell High School. He is actively involved in the NC Community College Presidents Association, the Caldwell County Economic Development Commission, the Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce, Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, Caldwell 20/20, and the CCC&TI Foundation. Dr. Poarch is currently the president of the NC Community College President’s Association and chairman of the Caldwell County Economic Development Commission. Dr. Poarch received the prestigious Caldwell County Economic Development Commission’s Herman Anderson Award in 2019 and was inducted into the Caldwell County Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. He is an active member and serves as Deacon at Meadowbrook Baptist Church in Lenoir.

Dr. Mark Poarch and wife, Tracy, reside in Hudson and have three children and two grandchildren.

Jeanette Proffitt has over 25 years of experience in the Financial Services industry.

Currently she serves as the Finance Executive leading the Strategic Forecasting & Expense Management Function which includes four key areas: Corporate Financial Planning, Reporting and Analysis, Enterprise Cost Management (ECoM), Global Expense Management (GEM), and End-to-End Forecasting.

As the Corporate Financial Planning Executive, Jeanette is responsible for the management of the company’s annual financial plan and forecast. Additionally, she leads the end-to-end forecasting function focused on improving forecasting processes and systems.

As the leader of ECoM and GEM, Jeanette is responsible for designing and delivering an enterprise-wide cost management process that is efficient, accurate, well-controlled, repeatable, and sustainable. The goal is to improve cost transparency and understanding, enabling better decision making that supports improved operating leverage and sustainable growth.

Previously, Jeanette served as the chief financial officer for the Bank’s Support functions and for Global Technology & Operations (GT&O). She joined the company in 2002 as part of the CFO Group, where she held a variety of roles across finance. Before joining Bank of America, she worked as a manager in the financial services audit and business advisory division of PricewaterhouseCoopers and as a Sales Account Manager with Kraft General Foods.

Jeanette is the CFO Global Diversity & Inclusion Council lead and a member of LEAD for Women and the Inter-Generational Employee Networks. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Master of Accounting degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Mebane Rash is the CEO of EducationNC, an industry-leading collection of nonprofits and initiatives chronicling change for our students, our state, and our future. She is the president of the national Governmental Research Association.

Mebane is a public school kid, attending Irwin Elementary, First Ward Elementary, McClintock Middle, and East Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the UNC School of Law.

Mebane was one of 60 women from 25 countries invited to study Women and Power: Leadership in the New World at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and she participated in the Aspen Institute’s executive seminar on Leadership, Values, and the Good Society.

Her work has won national awards for most distinguished research, outstanding policy achievement, and most effective education of the public.

Mebane lives in Deep Gap, and you can find her tweeting about #loveNC @Mebane_Rash.

Dr. Travis L. Reeves is currently the Executive Director of the North Carolina Association of School Administrators and began this position on July 1, 2026 where he will be the 7^th Executive Director to lead this well-respected organization that was established in 1976. He retired as the Superintendent of Surry County Schools on June 30, 2026 after serving since January 1, 2013, following his successful tenure as Superintendent of Ashe County Schools. With over three decades of experience in the field of education, Dr. Reeves’ career has spanned from teaching in the classroom to leading administrative teams and advocating for schools and school districts. His passion for serving the students of North Carolina is evident in his professional background, which extended beyond public education to include serving on the Board of Directors of the Surry Arts Council, The Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce, Surry County Economic Development Partnership, a member of the Surry County Early Childhood Partnership, and Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 556.

As the former Superintendent at Surry County Schools, Dr. Reeves implemented several initiatives to provide opportunities for the holistic development of students and address the needs of families. One such initiative was the Leadership Framework, which aimed to develop leadership skills among students and staff. Dr. Reeves believed in cultivating leaders and providing educational resources that could assist students in their professional growth post-graduation. He has also led the #Promise4ALL and Career and College Promise (CCP) initiatives, which demonstrated a significant positive impact on student achievement.

Dr. Reeves’ goal was that all students leave Surry County Schools with more than a diploma. He wanted students to earn college credits, industry-recognized credentials, and gain real-world experience through paid internships and apprenticeships. Under his leadership, the CCP initiative continued to grow year after year. During the 2024-2025 school year, over 50 percent of high school students were enrolled in classes at Surry Community College. He was instrumental in the planning and placement of graduation coaches in schools to help guide students throughout their high school careers. These efforts have led to increased graduation rates in all high schools, growing from 85.8% to 94.8% over the course of 7 years.

The district has also added more flexible learning options, such as Surry Virtual Academy and Surry Online Magnet School. Dr. Reeves was an advocate for personalized learning opportunities for all students and believed this was a key factor in student success. His guidance has spawned the addition of Surry Virtual Academy, an initiative that allows high school students the option of taking some courses online, and Surry Online Magnet School, an online K-12 magnet school.  Dr. Reeves has been a champion of work-based learning and has expanded opportunities for students to engage in “learn and earn” experiences beyond the traditional classroom setting.  Dr. Reeves has advocated for internships, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships and alternative-work based learning opportunities that equip students for both careers and life.  This vision is to develop pathways for students who are ready to enter the workforce but still need to complete their education, ensuring they do not have to choose between the two.  Through expanded workforce development programs, such as Surry-Yadkin Works and the FLEET initiative, a partnership with Altec, students participate in pre-apprenticeships while continuing their education.  These efforts not only equip students with real-world skills but also allow them to envision a viable and promising future for themselves.

Dr. Reeves’ achievements and contributions to the field of education have been recognized on several occasions. He was named Superintendent of the Year in the Piedmont Triad Educational Consortium in 2018 and 2020 and has served as the past president of the North Carolina Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (NCASCD) and as Region 7 president on the board. Dr. Reeves was recently conferred into the distinguished Order of the Long Leaf Pine in June of 2026.  Dr. Reeves holds a Bachelor of Science in History and Social Science with a Secondary Teaching License from Radford University, a Master of School Administration from Gardner-Webb University, and both a Specialist in Education in School Administration and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Dr. Reeves’ upbringing in Alleghany County, NC, and his commitment to community service and scouting have instilled in him a strong sense of responsibility toward serving the people of North Carolina. He lives in Mount Airy with his wife, Leslie, and their two children, Weatherly, who graduated from NC State University, and Ridge, who attends Surry Community College.

David Rice is the Executive Director of Higher Ed Works, which uses digital messaging to build support for North Carolina’s public colleges and universities. His professional background is in journalism and legislation.

David spent 25 years as a newspaper reporter and editor, the last 12 as Raleigh correspondent for the Winston-Salem Journal, covering statewide politics and the NC General Assembly. In the process, he developed a keen understanding of the sometimes-complex state budget.

He then spent seven years with a Raleigh law firm, representing clients on issues before the General Assembly including higher-education funding and education analytics.

He has been the Executive Director of the Higher Ed Works since its inception. David is responsible for developing the organization’s content, scheduling it, conducting and editing video interviews, writing blog posts and editing the weekly newsletter. He also oversees the organization’s disbursements, tax filings and annual audits.

Dr. Althea Riddick is an esteemed leader in higher education with a distinguished career spanning over several decades. Having previously served as the Chair of the Gates County Board of Commissioners for the Sunbury District, Dr. Riddick is a trailblazer, notably championing the expansion of rural broadband in northeastern North Carolina.

Dr. Riddick has a long career in education. Many of those years were spent in higher education. She had an illustrious career at the College of the Albemarle (COA), where she dedicated 16 years to the institution. She progressed from an instructor to a full professor and eventually ascended to the role of Chief Academic Officer. In 2012, she joined Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) as the Curriculum Coordinator. Her exceptional leadership skills led to her appointment as the Registrar and later as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Continuing Education and Enrollment Management at ECSU.

Throughout her tenure at ECSU, Dr. Riddick has made significant contributions to the university’s growth and success. Under her guidance, ECSU experienced a notable increase in admissions applications and enrollment numbers. Her strategic focus on improving policies and procedures within enrollment management has had a lasting impact, ensuring the university meets the expectations of current and prospective students, as well as community stakeholders.

Dr. Riddick’s educational background is as impressive as her professional achievements. She is an alumna of ECSU, holding a degree in Business Education. She furthered her education with a master’s degree in Vocational Education from East Carolina University and a doctorate in Education from Northcentral University.

Renowned for her effective, no-nonsense leadership style, Dr. Riddick has earned the trust and confidence of her colleagues and the communities she serves. Her dedication to education and community development continues to inspire and drive positive change in Gates County and beyond.

Dr. Todd Roberts was appointed Chancellor at the North Carolina School  of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) in August, 2010. In 1980 when NCSSM opened it was the first school of its kind in the U.S., a public residential high school where  students study a specialized curriculum emphasizing science and mathematics. Annually NCSSM serves  680 11th and 12th grade students from across North Carolina in its residential program and an additional  800 students from across the state through its distance education program. NCSSM also provides science and math enrichment opportunities for K-12 students across the state each year, along with  providing course content and professional development for teachers throughout North Carolina.

Under Dr. Robert’s leadership, NCSSM engaged stakeholders on campus and across the state and nation  in a collaborative planning process to develop a five-year Strategic Plan for the school. The Strategic  Plan expands NCSSM’s mission to provide academically talented students across North Carolina  innovative educational opportunities in science, mathematics, engineering, technology and research  that prepare them to become leaders and innovators in STEM fields. The Strategic Plan also expands the school’s commitment to improve educational opportunities for students and educators from across  North Carolina through distance education and extended programs. Dr. Roberts is currently leading  NCSSM in planning and constructing a second campus in Morganton, NC that will open in August, 2022.

Prior to being named Chancellor at NCSSM, Dr. Roberts served as superintendent of the Ann Arbor  Public Schools in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A Durham native, Dr. Roberts began his career in the Durham  Public Schools as a high school teacher and elementary school principal.

Dr. Roberts holds a BA from Duke University and his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University  of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Roberts is married to Greenville, N.C. native Dr. Arleen Song and they have four children.

Jenna Robinson joined the Martin Center in January 2007 as campus outreach coordinator and later became the center’s director of outreach. She was previously the E.A. Morris Fellowship assistant at the John Locke Foundation, where she had worked since 2001. 

Robinson graduated from N.C. State University in 2003 with a major in political science and French. She has studied at the University of East Anglia School of American Studies in Norwich, United Kingdom. She received her master’s degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2005 and her Ph.D. in political science, with a concentration in American politics and a minor in methods, from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2012. Robinson is also a graduate of the Koch Associate Program sponsored by the Charles G. Koch Foundation.

Robinson’s work has appeared in Investor’s Business Daily, Roll Call, Forbes, American Thinker, Human Events, Carolina Journal, the Lincoln Tribune, the Hickory Daily Record, the Gaston Gazette, the Mountain Express, and the (Raleigh) News & Observer. She has taught courses in American politics at UNC-Chapel Hill, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Wake Technical Community College. In 2013, she testified before Congress on the Federal Pell Grant Program.

She has previously served as a member of the North Carolina Longitudinal Data System Board and the North Carolina Advisory Committee for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. She currently serves on the board of the Classical Liberals in the Carolinas.

Robinson lives in Cary, NC, with her husband and two sons.

Current Memberships and Offices Held in Professional and Civic Organizations

Past President of the NC Association of Community College Presidents; Surry County Economic Development Partnership Board; Yadkin County Investors Council; Surry County Early Childhood Partnership Board; Northern Regional Hospital Board

Work History

President, Surry Community College

Executive Vice President, Caldwell Community College

Vice President, Student Services, Caldwell Community College

Vice President, Technology Services, Caldwell Community College

Awards, Honors, and Recognitions

Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute 2007 Employee of the Year

Yadkin County Chamber of Commerce 2017 Impact Award

Wells Fargo & NC State Board of  NC Community Colleges 2017 President of the Year

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Shirley B. Gordon 2018 Award of Distinction

Patrick Henry Community College, 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award

Education

Doctor of Education, NC State University – Major; Leadership in Adult and Community College Education;

Master’s Degree of Arts in Industrial Technology; Appalachian State University – Major: Physics Electronics

Bachelor Degree of Science in Industrial Technology, Appalachian State University – Major: Electronics Technology;   Minor: Computer Science – Magna Cum Laude

Attended Patrick Henry Community College

Mary Shuping joined NCSEAA on March 1, 2021 as Director of Governmental and External Affairs. Most recently, Ms. Shuping worked for the NC Community College System as Director of Governmental Affairs where she was responsible for representing the System before the NC General Assembly. She is a magna cum laude graduate of the NC Central University School of Law Evening Program where she was Senior Editor of the North Carolina Central Law Journal. Prior to joining the System Office, she was the Education Director for the North Carolina State Ethics Commission teaching the ethics and lobbying laws to elected and appointed public officials. Ms. Shuping was also an assistant district attorney in Catawba County and practiced law with the firm of Allen, Pinnix, and Nichols in Raleigh. Ms. Shuping worked with the North Carolina General Assembly for almost 10 years staffing various legislative committees and commissions and as a policy advisor and counsel in the Speaker’s office.

Former Virginia Secretary of Education Dr. Javaid Siddiqi is the President & CEO of The Hunt Institute. During his tenure The Institute has more than tripled its staff and has expanded its scope of work beyond K-12 to include the entire education continuum from early childhood to postsecondary and the workforce. Javaid works with the leadership team to guide the strategic vision for The Institute and develops The Institute’s relationships with partners and funders across the nation. He works with senior-level elected officials across the political aisle to help design strategy, shape policy, and drive educational improvements on the national and state levels. Prior to serving as President & CEO, he served as the Director of the Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows, which partners with senior-level political leaders who have the knowledge, skill, and will to be effective, reform-minded education policymakers at the state level.

Javaid’s career spans more than 20 years in education and education reform and policy. He began his professional career as a high school teacher, assistant principal, and as a principal in Chesterfield, Virginia, where he led the implementation of Expeditionary Learning – a nationally recognized school reform model. As secretary of education in Governor Bob McDonnell’s Cabinet, Javaid assisted in the development and implementation of the Commonwealth’s education policy; and provided guidance to 16 public universities, the Virginia Community College System, five higher education and research centers, the Department of Education, and state-supported museums. Prior to his appointment, he served as deputy secretary of education where he focused his efforts on teacher quality and improving educational outcomes for all students.

In addition to an extensive history of leadership service, Javaid continues to actively serve his community and state. He is an Aspen Institute Fellow, former Vice-Rector of the Radford University Board of Visitors, and a former member of the Chesterfield County School Board. He currently serves on the Elevate Early Education board and the National Center for Teacher Residencies board. Javaid is a graduate of Richard Bland College, Virginia State University, and Virginia Commonwealth University where he received both his undergraduate degree and doctorate in educational leadership.

Mark Stowers is currently President of Tolle Lege Inc. and owner of The Homeschool Gathering Place, a Raleigh based bookstore focused on K-12 educational materials. The store serves customers from the entire Eastern part of North Carolina, providing both new and consigned curriculum, learning materials and seminars designed to help Homeschool families be successful. The store has been in business for 25 years with Mark, along with his wife Laura, having purchased the store in January, 2020. The number of Homeschools in NC has grown every year for the past 35 years (except one year) with an increase of 21% from 2019-20 to 2020-21. The company provides support for new and experienced homeschool families on their journey.

Prior to forming Tolle Lege, Mark worked for IBM for more than 31 years, having retired in 2020. He spent his entire career in Software, serving in a variety of roles including Development, Product Management, Services and Support. A majority of his IBM career was focused on direct customer facing roles, driven by his desire to help clients be successful. Mark served as Director of Security Product Services his final 6 years, leading a worldwide team of more than 425 professionals in the delivery of product services designed to protect and detect cyber security incidents. In this role, Mark was responsible for all aspects of product deployment for IBM’s Security portfolio, including product services strategy, sales, delivery, investment planning and execution. His team delivered client engagements to hundreds of clients annually around the world as well as providing sales support and developing intellectual capital and service offerings.

Mark earned a Bachelor of Science from Wake Forest University in Mathematics and Economics in 1989. He resides in Raleigh, North Carolina. He enjoys sports, reading, spending time with family and serving in his church. He is married and the father of four.

Margaret Turlington joined the Anonymous Trust in the fall of  2010. The first program started by the Simple Gifts Fund is a scholarship for students who graduate from a school in Sampson County. We currently have over sixty college scholars and alumni. Over the last eleven years, Margaret has learned so much about rural college access, award displacement, and barriers to college success.

She also works with teacher fellowship and grant programs in Sampson County and with the Anonymous Trust Team on other educational opportunities in rural eastern NC.

She is a member of the National Scholarship Providers Association, NACAC Rural-Small Town Special Interest Group, North Carolina Grant Makers Association, and is a CPA. Margaret earned a B.S. in accounting from Wake Forest University.

A proud Peruvian-American, Elaine Townsend Utin is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of LatinxEd, leading the charge to build pathways of opportunity for Latine learners and leaders across North Carolina. Growing up as a 1.75-generation immigrant and first-generation college student in the rural U.S. South, Elaine’s journey fuels her mission to break down barriers for the Latine community, especially for those navigating financial and geographical challenges.

As an award-winning educator and conscious leadership coach, Elaine specializes in cultivating spaces for positive racial-ethnic identity development and advancing the next generation of changemakers. Her dedication to revolutionizing education earned her a spot on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Education, a testament to her impact in creating more equitable opportunities.

Elaine holds a B.A. in Middle Grades Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a Gates Millennium Scholar, and a Master’s in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, specializing in Technology, Innovation, and Education. During her time at Harvard, she was honored with the 2016 HGSE Intellectual Contribution/Faculty Tribute Award. Elaine’s teaching experience spans all ages, from elementary to middle and high school to college, including her role as an adjunct professor at the UNC School of Education. Her journey has also taken her abroad to South Korea as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, where she taught English as a Foreign Language and broadened her global perspective on education.

In her personal life, Elaine is a long-standing Hermana of Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc., and loves spending quality time with her family and friends.

Wendy Walker-Fox has served as Executive Director of the Piedmont Triad Regional Workforce Development Board since Fall 2016. In this role, she manages the fiscal and administrative oversight body for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funded programs. In 2022, regional Economic Development for the Piedmont Triad merged with the existing Workforce Development efforts. Walker-Fox leads these programs as the Workforce and Economic Development Director promoting innovative, responsive, and strategic initiatives to advance economic growth and mobility across the region through developing strong community relationships, convening partners, and coordinating resources to meet the talent and development needs of the Piedmont Triad.

Walker-Fox currently serves as President of the Executive Director’s Council for North Carolina’s 20 Workforce Development Boards, a member of the Community Investment Committee for the Winston Salem Foundation, Board Member of Arbor Acres (a full-service continuing care facility), and is a 2023 graduate of Insight: Winston-Salem. Along with several workforce development related certifications, Walker-Fox holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management and Master’s Degrees in both Human Resources Development and Exercise Science.

As vice president for community affairs, Stelfanie Williams guides Duke’s engagement efforts to advance the well-being of communities through education, health, housing, employment, and other community partnerships. She leads coordination with residents, leaders, local government, anchor institutions, nonprofits, campus members, and other stakeholders. Previously, Williams was president of Vance-Granville Community College (VGCC) and, in 2018, was named President of the Year by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges. She has served in the administration and on faculty at other institutions with a current adjunct assistant professor appointment in the College of Education at NC State University. In addition, Williams has engaged in state and national initiatives, including appointments to the Governor’s Commission on a Sound, Basic Education, the American Association of Community Colleges’ Commission on Structured Pathways, and the myFutureNC Commission focused on educational attainment and has consulted for organizations including The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, the Thomas Lakin Institute, and the American Council on Education. Williams also is a corporate director for the State Employees’ Credit Union, the second- largest credit union in the country, and NC IDEA, a private foundation focused on advancing entrepreneurship in NC. Among other civic commitments, she serves as transit chair for the Regional Transportation Alliance and is a board member for the Durham Public Schools Foundation, Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, Made in Durham, NC State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation, North Carolina State University College of Education, and the Triangle Community Foundation. Williams is a Duke alumna with a baccalaureate degree in public policy and Spanish, and she received a master’s degree in project management from Western Carolina University. She also holds a doctorate in education from North Carolina State University, where she was recognized with the I.E. Ready Distinguished Leadership Award in 2014 and honored as a Distinguished Alumna in 2019.

Wilson is dedicated to improving North Carolina’s health care system, making health care more affordable and helping Blue Cross NC adapt in a changing health care environment.

To address health care issues nationally, Wilson serves as a director of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and BCS Financial Corporation. He is a past chair of the National Institute for Health Care Management.

His work continues in North Carolina, where he chairs the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation — an independent charitable organization that has invested more than $117 million in community-based health and wellness efforts. He is also past chair of the University of North Carolina Board Of Governors. In May 2015 he was appointed by the Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court to co-chair the North Carolina Commission on the Administration of Law and Justice. Wilson, who joined Blue Cross NC in 1995, held a range of senior-level positions before being tapped to lead the organization in 2010. Previously he practiced law and served as general counsel to Gov. Jim Hunt, directing the governor’s legislative strategy and heading his legal department.

A lifelong North Carolinian, Wilson holds a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University, a master’s degree from Duke University and law degree from Wake Forest University.

Tracy is a nationally recognized leader who has made a measurable impact working in and outside of government at the state and national levels. She leverages decades of experience at the intersection of public engagement, strategic communications, and policy on behalf of our clients to make change happen for organizations and the communities and people they serve. She has a rare combination of a diehard optimism, a pragmatic focus to get things done, and the strategy-know how to drive outcomes. Over her career, Tracy has worked for and on behalf of numerous public interest organizations spanning issues from public health, state government, early childhood and elementary education, reproductive health, the first amendment, and many others. As Deputy Secretary for Policy and Communications at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Tracy led North Carolina’s communications and public outreach in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to increasing trust through the COVID pandemic, North Carolina had the highest primary vaccination rate of any southern state and its equitable approach to COVID-19 vaccination closed the primary vaccination gap between White and Hispanic populations and led to only a small gap between White and Black populations. Prior to her work at NCDHHS, Tracy co-founded the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation. While there she built a statewide Pathways to Grade Level Reading framework, facilitating a multi-year effort with people across sectors, disciplines and political parties to develop shared measures and strategies that support children’s optimal development. Her work has won national recognition and been cited in research publications. She is known for creating the First 2000 Days, a public engagement campaign credited with building bipartisan support and shifting the conversation from “Why early childhood?” to “What should we do?” More than a decade later, it is still part of the vernacular.