EMFS Project Team
EMFS has resources to support businesses, students, supply chain intermediaries, educators, and others in a variety of food system settings. Our project team is excited to hear from you and to work with you to support the food & farm economy in WNC!
Chumper Walker
Jessica Mrugala
Regional Extension Agent for Local Foods
EBCI Cooperative Extension
Jesse Rosenblum (they/she)
EMFS Program Assistant
Land Access
Stephen Bishop
NC Farmlink Director – Western Region
NC State University Department of Horticultural Science
sabishop@ncsu.edu
EMFS Advisory Partners
Craig Mauney
Area Specialized Agent, Agriculture – Commercial Vegetables and Fruits
Henderson County Center
craig_mauney@ncsu.edu
Russ Harris
Director of Community and Economic Development
828.586.1962 ext. 214
russ@regiona.org
Ann Bass
ARC Community Economic Development Planner
828-508-0107
ann.bass@nccommerce.com
Rob Hawk
County Extension Director
Jackson & Swain County Cooperative Extension Offices
rjhawk@ncsu.edu
Marne Harris
Director of Small Business Center,
Southwestern Community College
m_harris@southwesterncc.edu
Vicky Ashley
Director of Small Business Center, Haywood Community College
Vlashley@haywood.edu // 828-627-4512
Jill M. Sparks
Director of Small Business Center, AB Tech
jillmsparks@abtech.edu // 828-398-7900
Carmela Tomlinson
Director of Small Business Center, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
ctomlinson@cccti.edu // 828-726-3065
Faye Bishop
Director of Small Business Center, Isothermal Community College
fbishop@isothermal.edu // 828-286-3636
Morgan Wood
Director of Small Business Center, Mayland Community College
mwood@mayland.edu // 828-766-1295
Teresa (Terry) Valentino
Director of Small Business Center, McDowell Tech
tnvalentino08@go.mcdowelltech.edu // 828-652-0634
Lily Laramie
Director of Small Business Center, Western Piedmont Community College
llaramie@wpcc.edu // 828-448-6719
Steve Padgett
Director of Small Business Center, Cleveland Community College
padgetts@clevelandcc.edu // 704-669-4146
Other Project Co-Principal Investigators
Dr. Michelle Schroeder-Moreno
Robyn Stout
Sarah Blacklin