Media Contact: Cris Charbonneau, Director of Advocacy and Engagement, cris@myfuturenc.org
Raleigh, N.C. – The statewide nonprofit myFutureNC, which is leading the state’s efforts to close the educational attainment gap, recently welcomed 30 new members to its Advisory Board of Commissioners. The new members represent a cross-section of state-wide local leaders in education, business, government officials, and philanthropy.
“Our new members bring expanded voices and community representation to our ongoing efforts to close the educational attainment gap that is critical to our state’s economic growth,” said Cecilia Holden, myFutureNC’s president & CEO. “Together, we will continue to advocate, identify, and implement innovative ways to meet the state’s attainment goal of 2 million adults between the ages of 24 and 44 with a postsecondary education or high-quality certificate by 2030.”
The new members represent counties and communities from across the state. Below is a list of the new members of myFutureNC’s Advisory Board of Commissioners.
Bladen County
Dr. Amanda Lee, President, Bladen Community College
Buncombe County
Dr. Tony Baldwin, Superintendent, Buncombe County Schools
Burke County
Jeff Toner, President, James Tool Machine & Engineering
Cabarrus County
Barbi Jones, Executive Director, Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce
Caldwell County
Dr. Mark Poarch, President, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
Carteret County
Dr. Rob Jackson, Carteret County Public Schools
Chatham County
Dr. Tony Jackson, Superintendent, Chatham County Schools
Karen Howard, Commissioner, Chatham County
Cleveland County
Dr. Jason Hurst, President, Cleveland Community College
Columbus County
Dr. Deanna Meadows, Superintendent, Columbus County Schools
Edgecombe County
Dr. Valerie Bridges, Superintendent, Edgecombe County Public Schools
David Farris, President & CEO, Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce
Forsyth County
Sherry Carpenter, VP of Organizational Development & Mission Advancement, Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC, Inc.
Greene County
Dr. Patrick Miller, Superintendent, Green County Schools
Henderson County
Rebecca McCall, Commissioner, Henderson County
Dr. Laura Leatherwood, President, Blue Ridge Community College
Lenoir County
Dr. Brent Williams, Superintendent, Lenoir County Public Schools
McDowell County
Mark Garrett, Superintendent, McDowell County School District
Mecklenburg County
Mark Jerrell, Commissioner, Mecklenburg County
Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, President, Central Piedmont Community College
New Hanover County
Natalie Haskins English, President & CEO, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
Hannah Gage, former member, UNC Board of Governors
Pasquotank County
Jan King Robinson, Board of Trustees Chair, Elizabeth City State University
Pitt County
Dr. Lawrence Rouse, President, Pitt Community College
Surry County
Dr. David Shockley, President, Surry Community College
Swain County
Mark Sale, Superintendent, Swain County Schools
Transylvania County
Dr. Jeff McDaris, Superintendent, Transylvania County Schools
Union County
The Honorable D. Craig Horn, Retired, NCGA
Warren County
Tare Davis, Commissioner, Warren County
Yadkin County
Kevin Austin, VP of Manufacturing, Austin Electrical Enclosures, Past President, NCACC
About myFutureNC
myFutureNC is a statewide nonprofit organization focused on educational attainment, which is led by some of North Carolina’s most influential education, business and civic leaders. The organization was formed with the goal to create a stronger, more competitive North Carolina. myFutureNC is working across sectors and in communities throughout the state to close gaps in the education pathway, to promote alignment between educational programming and business/industry needs and, ultimately, to improve educational opportunities for all North Carolinians.
Visit www.myfuturenc.org.