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Meet Our Staff

County Extension Director

Photo of Molly Sandfoss, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionMolly SandfossCounty Extension Director (828) 652-8104 (Office) Molly_Sandfoss@ncsu.eduMcDowell County Center

4-H Youth Development

Photo of Janet Bryan, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionJanet BryanProgram Assistant, Family and Consumer Sciences (828) 652-8104 (Office) jlbryan6@ncsu.eduMcDowell County CenterPhoto of Chad Ray, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionChad RayExtension Agent, 4-H Youth Development (828) 652-8104 (Office) chad_ray@ncsu.eduMcDowell County Center

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Photo of Matt Burneisen, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionMatt BurneisenProgram Assistant, Agriculture and Natural Resources - Keep McDowell Beautiful (828) 652-8104 (Office) mrburnei@ncsu.eduMcDowell County Center

Family and Consumer Sciences

Photo of Juliet Eirikis, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionJuliet EirikisExtension Asst (828) 255-5522 (Office) jmeiriki@ncsu.eduAgricultural & Human SciencesPhoto of Cathy Hohenstein, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionCathy Hohenstein, R.D.Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences (828) 255-5522 (Office) cathy_hohenstein@ncsu.eduBuncombe County Center

Support

Photo of Heather Peek, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionHeather PeekCounty Extension Administrative Assistant (828) 652-8104 (Office) heather_peek@ncsu.eduMcDowell County Center

Regional Positions

Area Specialized Agents specialize in specific areas of agriculture and natural resource management and serve many counties. Area 4-H Agents provide support to county based 4-H programs. While their knowledge and expertise is available to residents of McDowell County Center, they may not be present in the McDowell County Center. Please contact the McDowell County Center for assistance and initial consultation.

Photo of April Dillon, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionApril DillonArea Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development Serves 30 Counties and EBCIBased out of Cleveland(704) 482-4365 (Office) april_dillon@ncsu.eduCleveland County Center Photo of Lauren Greene, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionLauren GreeneArea Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Poultry Serves 31 Counties and EBCIBased out of Wilkes(336) 651-7347 lauren_greene@ncsu.eduWilkes County Center Photo of Marissa Herchler, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionMarissa HerchlerArea Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Animal Food Safety (FSMA Programs) Serves 100 Counties and EBCIBased out of Poultry Science(919) 515-5396 marissa_herchler@ncsu.eduPoultry Science Photo of Bill Lord, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionBill LordArea Specialized Agent, Water Resources Serves 100 Counties and EBCIBased out of Franklin(919) 496-3344 (Office) william_lord@ncsu.eduFranklin County Center Photo of Craig Mauney, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionCraig MauneyArea Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Commercial Vegetables and Fruits Serves 39 CountiesBased out of Mountain Hort Crops Research & Extension Center(828) 684-3562 craig_mauney@ncsu.eduMountain Hort Crops Research & Extension Center Photo of Currey Nobles, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionCurrey NoblesArea Specialized Agent, Food Safety Serves 49 Counties and EBCIBased out of Food, Bioprocessing & Nutrition Sciences(919) 515-9520 canobles@ncsu.eduFood, Bioprocessing & Nutrition Sciences Photo of Elena Rogers, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionElena RogersArea Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Food Safety - Fresh Produce Western NC Serves 49 Counties and EBCIBased out of Horticultural Science(828) 352-2519 elena_rogers@ncsu.eduHorticultural Science Photo of Debbie Stroud, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionDebbie StroudArea Specialized Agent, Consumer and Retail Food Safety Serves 33 Counties and EBCIBased out of Agricultural & Human Sciences(919) 515-9149 dlstroud@ncsu.eduAgricultural & Human Sciences Photo of Amanda Taylor, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionAmanda TaylorArea Specialized Agent, Nursery and Greenhouse, Western Region Serves 28 CountiesBased out of Burke(828) 475-2915 amanda_jo_taylor@ncsu.eduBurke County Center Photo of Mitch Woodward, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionMitch WoodwardArea Specialized Agent, Watersheds and Water Quality Serves 100 Counties and EBCIBased out of Wake(919) 414-3873 mdwoodwa@ncsu.eduWake County Center