Board of Directors, Advisors and Staff

NC STRAWBERRY ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

December 2025-December 2026

Board Members (year term expires in December)

The NC Strawberry Association is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization. It is funded primarily by membership dues and by the North Carolina Strawberry Assessment. The association is governed by a board of directors elected by the members. The nine members of the board are elected for three-year terms. Officers must be strawberry growers. 

Board Members

JR Odom, President (2027)
1426 Claridge Nursery Road
Goldsboro, NC 27530
919-738-2928 (cell)

Walt Webb, Vice President (2028)
3500 NC Hwy. 133
Rocky Point, NC 28457
336-847-1784 (cell)

Christina Wrenn, Treasurer (2026)
5035 Brantley Road
Zebulon, NC 27597
828-734-0488 (cell)

Todd Stacy (2026)
135 BF Goodrich Rd.
Marietta, OH 45750
740-525-0725 (cell)

Chris Thompson (2028)
6003 Ward Blvd.
Wilson, NC 27893
252-237-0539 (office)
252-230-1376 (cell)

Justin Page (2028)
6100 Mount Herman Rd
Raleigh, NC 27617
919-724-1932 (cell)

Sue Leggett (2026)
5384 S. NC Hwy. 58
Nashville, NC 27856
252-904-5594 (cell)

Jason Graham (2027)
2310 NC Hwy 801 N
Mocksville, NC 27028
336-998-3232 (cell)

Ken Rudd, Jr. (2027)
4021 Hicone Road
Greensboro, NC 27405
336-362-5891 (cell)

Staff

Kristy Phillips, Executive Secretary
PO Box 543
Siler City, NC 27344
919-537-2287 (office)

Advisors

Heather Lifsey, Marketing Specialist, NCDA&CS
1020 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1020
919-749-3337 (cell)

David Dycus
250 Dycus Rd
Sanford, NC 27330
919-776-9338
910-904-3709 (cell)

Ashley Thomas
NC Farm Bureau
PO Box 27766
Raleigh NC 27611
919-334-2977
336-504-0083 (cell)

Matthew Vann
NCSU (Commodity Liaison)
Campus Box 7602
Raleigh, NC 27695-7653
919-622-7989 (cell)

Mark Hoffmann
NCSU, Small Fruits Extension Specialist, Assistant Professor
Campus Box 7609
Raleigh, NC 27695
919-352-8006 (cell)

Gina Fernandez
NCSU, Professor &
Extension Specialists
Box 7609
Raleigh, NC 27695
919-218-7238 (cell)

 

Christie Almeyda, Ph.D.
NCSU, Director, Micropropagation and Repository Unit (MPRU)
NC Clean Plant Center for Sweet Potato, Berries & Muscadine Grapes
Dept. of Entomology & Plant Pathology
Campus Box 7903
Raleigh, NC 27695
509-879-4297 (cell)

Colby Griffin
NC Cooperative Extension,
Extension Agent – Horticulture
Nash County Center
1006 Eastern Avenue
Nashville, NC 27856
252-459-9810 (cell)

M. Austin Wrenn
5035 Brantley Road
Zebulon, NC 27597
919-630-0631