Faculty
Our Team Members
Blake Brown, PhD, Director of the Value-Added Program Team, is the Hugh C. Kiger Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at NC State University. An economist and policy analyst, he earned a national reputation for structuring the federal tobacco buyout. He started the Program for Value-Added and Alternative Agriculture in 2006 with support from the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. blake_brown@ncsu.edu or (704) 250-5404
Gary Bullen, Extension Associate, specializes in new enterprise evaluation, business skills development, direct marketing and financial management. He provides in-service training, programs and supporting resources for Cooperative Extension and community and governmental agencies. He will join the team in May 2008. gary_bullen@ncsu.edu
Leah Chester-Davis, Coordinator of Communications and Community Outreach, is also an Extension Communication Specialist in the Department of Communication Services. She works with faculty to develop, package, market and deliver educational programs. She works with a Cooperative Extension team to develop consumer education and awareness materials and campaigns about local foods. Her previous projects include the award-winning Extension’s Successful Gardener program and Extension’s Successful Family newsletter, and the electronic Hot Topics. She was the founding editor of both newsletters. She edited both publications for 10 years as well as served as Extension’s Successful Gardener program team leader during that period. leah_chester-davis@ncsu.edu or (704) 250-5406
Diane Ducharme, Extension Associate, horticulture and food safety, serves as a member of a multidisciplinary team from horticulture, plant pathology, family and consumer sciences, food science, economics and communications to address fresh produce production, harvest and marketing issues. She shares leadership of developing and delivering comprehensive and coordinated educational programs focused on fresh produce food safety production and marketing. She joined the team in January 2008. Prior to her current position, Diane was a Cooperative Extension agent in commercial horticulture in western North Carolina. diane_ducharme@ncsu.edu or (704) 250-5402
Rod Gurganus, Extension Associate, entrepreneurial horticulture, represents the team in eastern North Carolina. He works with agribusinesses, economic development officials and farmers to identify and develop opportunities for value-added and innovative agriculture. He joined the team in June 2008. Prior to his current position, Rod was a Cooperative Extension agent in Beaufort County, with commercial and consumer horticulture responsibilities. During that time he established an Extension Master Gardener program, a regional pesticide container recycling program and served as pesticide coordinator for the county while finishing a graduate degree in crop science. rod_gurganus@ncsu.edu or (252) 793-4428 ext. 129
