Faculty/Contact
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. Among her previous projects was Extension’s Successful Gardener program. She was the founding editor of the award-winning newsletter and program, and served as team leader for 10 years. 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
Annette Dunlap, MBA, Extension Associate, focuses on business management, entrepreneurship and small business operational needs and resources. She currently is developing a beef marketing handbook, a project funded by a grant received from AgMRC. Other projects for 2008 include continued development of materials to assist producers with business decisions related to biofuels production; sustainability and carbon footprinting as marketing opportunities; and virtual marketing and e-commerce. She edits the Value-Added Newsletter. (link this to http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/value-added/bus_man_plans.htm. ) Annette joined the team in 2006 and helped develop the Program in Value-Added & Alternative Agriculture. annette_dunlap@ncsu.edu or (704) 250-5403
Contact Us
The Program Team for Value-Added and Alternative Agriculture relocated to the new North Carolina Research Campus at Kannapolis in January 2008. We’re privileged and pleased to work with Cooperative Extension faculty and farmers across the state.
Program for Value-Added and Alternative Agriculture
NC State University
NC Research Campus, Kannapolis
119 West Avenue
Kannapolis, NC 28081
(704) 250-5400
(704) 250-5409 (fax)
Blake Brown, PhD., Director
blake_brown@ncsu.edu or (704) 250-5404
Gary Bullen, Extension Associate, New Enterprise Evaluation
gary_bullen@ncsu.edu
Leah Chester-Davis, Coordinator of Communications and Community Outreach and Extension Communication Specialist
leah_chester-davis@ncsu.edu or (704) 250-5406
Diane Ducharme, Extension Associate, Horticulture and Food Safety
diane_ducharme@ncsu.edu or (704) 250-5402
Annette Dunlap, MBA, Extension Associate, Business Management
annette_dunlap@ncsu.edu or (704) 250-5403
