Raleigh, N.C. – The North Carolina Association of Workforce Development Boards (NCAWDB) is proud to announce the newly elected officers for the 2025–2026 term, effective July 1, 2025:

• President – Jeff Frederick, Member, Greensboro Workforce Development Board and NCWorks Commission

• Vice President – Jim Flock, Chair, Cape Fear Workforce Development Board

• Second Vice President/Secretary – Graham Fields, Chair, Mountain Area Workforce Development Board

• Treasurer – Dina Simcox, Former Board Chair

These new officers will serve alongside the Executive Directors Council (EDC), whose leadership continues to provide essential guidance and support to the workforce development system across North Carolina. The current EDC officers are:

• President – Wendy Walker-Fox, Executive Director, Workforce and Economic Development, Piedmont Triad Regional Council

• Vice President – Jennie Bowen, Executive Director, Rivers East Workforce Development Board

• Second Vice President/Secretary – Charity Patterson Hamber, Executive Director, Western Piedmont Workforce Development Board

• Immediate Past President – Pat Sturdivant, Executive Director, Capital Area Workforce Development Board

We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Anna London, Executive Director of Charlotte Works, for her dedicated service as EDC Secretary over the past year. Her commitment and leadership have made a lasting impact.

As the new NCAWDB President, Jeff Frederick shared a message of gratitude and vision:

“It is with deep gratitude and renewed purpose that I step into the role of President of the North Carolina Association of Workforce Development Boards. For some of you, this is a reintroduction. For others, it is the beginning of a new chapter together. Either way, I’m honored to serve alongside you.

We are entering a pivotal moment in our workforce ecosystem. The challenges we face—shifting labor markets, technological disruption, equity gaps, and economic uncertainty—are real and pressing. And yet, I believe this is also a time for bold ideas, powerful collaboration, and sustained transformation.

This term, I am committed to fostering an environment that:

• Elevates equity and innovation in workforce programming

• Strengthens partnerships across sectors and regions

• Builds trust and transparency through open communication

• Supports Boards and staff through change, uncertainty, and growth

I believe in the power of collaboration—and I know that together, we can shape an ecosystem that meets the needs of today’s job seekers and tomorrow’s economy.”

Finally, NCAWDB extends its deepest appreciation to Rodney Carson, outgoing President, for his dedicated leadership and impactful service. His tenure—marked by vision, advocacy, and an unwavering commitment to the mission of workforce development—has helped strengthen our statewide network and advance opportunity for communities across North Carolina.

Please join us in welcoming our new officers and thanking all our leaders, past and present, for their continued service and commitment to empowering North Carolina’s workforce.