The EDPNC proudly serves as North Carolina’s statewide economic development organization, led by a team of executives who are some of the most talented and experienced in their sectors, and governed by an 18-member board of business and industry leaders representative of the entire state.

Leadership

The EDPNC executive team oversees economic development, business recruitment and services, tourism and more.

Christopher Chung

Christopher Chung

Chief Executive Officer
Michael Ebert

Michael Ebert

Chief Operating Officer
Denise Desatnick

Denise Desatnick

Vice President, Marketing & Research
Melissa Smith

Melissa Smith

Vice President, Business Recruitment & Development
Wit Tuttell

Wit Tuttell

Vice President, Tourism
Alyssa Brown Moseley

Alyssa Brown Moseley

Director of Research
Austin Rouse

Austin Rouse

Director of Business Recruitment
Bill Slagle

Bill Slagle

Director of Statewide and Northwest Existing Industry Expansions
Guy Gaster

Guy Gaster

Film Commissioner
Heidi Walters

Heidi Walters

Director of Tourism Partners and Industry Relations
Katy Parker

Katy Parker

Director of Project Management
Kelly Dawson

Kelly Dawson

Director of Partnerships and Events
Korey Howard

Korey Howard

Director of Business Development
Larry Price

Larry Price

Director of Finance
Laurel Rupe

Laurel Rupe

Director of Small Business Advisors
Liz Scruggs

Liz Scruggs

Director of Investor Relations
Marlise Taylor

Marlise Taylor

Director of Tourism Research
Mike Hubbard

Mike Hubbard

Director of International Trade
Scott Peacock

Scott Peacock

Director of Tourism Marketing
Shanta Morton

Shanta Morton

Director of Marketing

Executive Board

The EDPNC board of directors is comprised of corporate executives, family-owned business operators, entrepreneurs, and hospitality and economic development professionals.

Gene McLaurin

Chairman, EDPNC Board of Directors
President
Quality Oil Company

Rolf Blizzard

Managing Director
Turnpike Properties

Sam Bowles

Managing Director
New Republic Capital

Spence Broadhurst

President - Eastern North Carolina
First National Bank

Pam Cundiff

Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Travel Consultants, Inc.

Keith Holtsclaw

Consultant and Retired President/CEO
Blue Ridge Hospital

James R. Jordan

Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Hornets Sports & Entertainment

John Kane

Founder and CEO
Kane Realty Corporation

Vimal Kolappa

Entrepreneur and Founder
East Coast Hospitality

Sheila Knight, CCIM

Consultant
SK Strategies, LLC

Karen LeVert

CEO and Co-Founder
Ag TechInventures Inc.

Michelle Logan

Vice President and General Manager, Drug Product Division North America
Thermo Fisher Scientific

William P. Morgan, Jr., RFC

CEO
Capital Management Group, Inc.

Lee Nettles

Executive Director
Outer Banks Visitors Bureau

Machelle Baker Sanders

Secretary of Commerce
N.C. Department of Commerce

Aaron Thomas

President & CEO
Metcon, Inc.

Richard C. Reich, Ph.D.

Retired Assistant Commissioner
North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

Bhaskar Venepalli, Ph.D.

Founder & CEO
CiVentiChem