BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina’s Board of Directors is an 18-member board consisting of business, industry, and economic development leaders from across the state, bringing diverse private- and public-sector experience to their oversight of the EDPNC. Members are appointed by the speaker of the House, the president pro tempore of the Senate, and the Governor of North Carolina.
Former state senator and mayor of Rockingham Gene McLaurin was appointed chairman of the board in 2021 by Governor Roy Cooper. McLaurin has served on the board since 2017, including a term serving as vice-chairman.
The EDPNC is grateful to its board members for their service and dedication to the EDPNC and its mission to improve the economic well-being of all North Carolinians.
Gene McLaurin (Chair)
President
Swink-Quality Oil & Gas Co.
The Honorable Machelle Baker Sanders
Secretary
North Carolina Department of Commerce
Rolf Blizzard
Managing Director
Turnpike Properties
Sam B. Bowles
Managing Director
New Republic Capital
Spencer Broadhurst
President
Eastern NC Region of First National Bank
Pam Cundiff
VP/COO
Travel Consultants, Inc.
Keith Holtsclaw
Retired CEO
Blue Ridge Regional Hospital
James Jordan
Executive VP & COO
Hornets Sports & Entertainment
John Kane
Founder & CEO
Kane Realty Corporation
Secretary & Treasurer
EDPNC Board
Sheila Knight
Economic Development Consultant
SK Strategies
Vimal Kolappa
Founder
East Coast Hospitality
Karen LeVert
Co-founder & CEO
Ag TechInventures Inc.
Michelle P. Logan
VP & GM
Drug Product Division, Thermo Fisher Scientific
William P. Morgan
CEO
Capital Management Group of the Carolinas, Inc.
Lee Nettles
Executive Director
Outer Banks Visitors Bureau
Richard C. Reich, Ph.D.
Assistant Commissioner (Retired)
North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Sciences
Aaron Thomas
President & CEO
Metcon Construction
Bhaskar Venepalli
Founder & CEO
CiVentiChem