Michael F. Easley
Governor
State of North Carolina
Office of the Governor
For Release: Immediate
Date: October 25, 2001
Contact: Cari Hepp/Fred Hartman
Phone: (919)733-5612
GOV. EASLEY APPOINTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD
Sets Timeline for Developing a Comprehensive Strategic Development Plan for North Carolina
RALEIGH - Gov. Mike Easley today made his appointments to the Economic Development Board. Additionally,
Easley established a new mission statement for the Board that includes a charge of establishing an aggressive,
future-oriented economic development plan by spring of 2002.
“North Carolina’s economy is in rapid transition,” said Easley. “It is critical that we have a strategic plan in place
to guide our economic development investments. We need more than a vision of how we want our economy to
grow; we must also have implementation steps to ensure its success. I want the Economic Development Board to
serve as a Board of Directors for economic development in the State.”
The board will develop a comprehensive economic development plan for the entire state covering the following:
recruitment strategies, including incentives; prioritization and coordination of economic development investments;
workforce development; collaboration with education and research institutions; coordination of agencies,
foundations and boards involved in economic development; and development of future technologies. The Board
will also have a key role in the implementation of the plan through advocacy and ongoing accountability reviews
with the state’s economic development agencies.
The members appointed by the Governor include one representative of a non-profit economic development
organization, Gordon Myers of Asheville, Chair of Advantage West Partnership, and two county economic
development representatives, Bill Forsythe of Murphy and John Chaffee of Greenville.
The Governor's at-large appointments are Mike Fulenwider of Morganton, an Owner/President of Fulenwider
Enterprise; Kelly King of Winston-Salem, President of BB & T Corporation and the Rural Center; Watts Carr of
Greensboro, vice chairman of Piedmont Triad Partnership; Randall Kaplan of Greensboro, Capsule Group;
Robert Stolz of Charlotte, president of The Hardwood Group; Bill Coley of Charlotte, president of Duke Energy;
Mac Everett of Charlotte, Director of Corporation and Communication Affairs for Wachovia and past chair of
NCCBI; Margaret Dardess of Durham, vice president of corporate affairs at Glaxo-SmithKline; John Crumpler
of Raleigh, founder and General partner of Catalysta Partners; Pat Corso of Southern Pines, CEO of Pinehurst
Corporation; Bill Batchelor of Rocky Mount, Executive Vice President of Tuscarora Corp. and former Rocky
Mount City Manager; Jordy Whichard of Greenville, publisher of the Greenville Daily Reflector and Group
Publisher of Cox, NC Publications Inc.; Phil Kirk of Salisbury, chair of the State Board of Education and
president of NCCBI; Roger Crowe of Beaufort, attorney; Michael Wray of Gaston, Part Owner, Secretary and
Governor's Press Office
State Capitol. Raleigh, NC 27603-8001
(919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005
FAX (919) 733-5166
