About Us

The Carolinas Gateway Partnership is a public-private industrial recruitment agency dedicated to the economic development of the Eastern North Carolina, specifically Edgecombe County, the City of Rocky Mount, and the Town of Tarboro. Through a collaborative effort between these counties, cities and towns, the Carolinas Gateway region offers an exceptional opportunity for companies experiencing growth and expansion or desiring relocation. The Carolinas Gateway Partnership works closely with a variety of new and existing industries, as well as educational institutions, to provide resources, programs and initiatives that will create new jobs and long-term investment.

Carolinas Gateway Partnership Staff

Bob Pike
President and CEO
252-955-3139
bpike@econdev.org
Shenita Bethea, MBA
Director of Operations
252-316-2946
sbethea@econdev.org 

 

 

Tracy Crenshaw, MBA
Director of Existing Industries & Workforce Development
252-442-3108
tcrenshaw@econdev.org 
Brenda Daniels
Business Consultant
252-442-0114
bdaniels@econdev.org
Sterling Grimes
Business Consultant
252-813-8216
sgrimes@econdev.org 

Board of Directors

Officers

*Bob Pike, President/CEO, CGP

*Michael Bryant, Chairman

*Jeff Tobias, Private Vice Chairman, Providence Bank

*Eric Evans, Public Vice Chairman, Edgecombe County Manager

*Troy Lewis, Town of Tarboro Manager

*Justin Kurkiewicz, Treasurer, PNC Bank

*Elton Daniels, Public Director, City of Rocky Mount

*Adam Hodges, Private Director, Crown LSP Group

*Denotes Executive Committee Member

Public Directors

*Elton Daniels, City of Rocky Mount

TJ Walker, City of Rocky Mount 

*Eric Evans, Edgecombe County

George Thorne, Edgecombe County Commissioner

*Troy Lewis, Town of Tarboro

Tate Mayo, Town of Tarboro

*Denotes Executive Committee Member

Private Directors

*Michael Bryant, Chairman, Southern Bank

*Jeff Tobias, Private Vice Chairman, Providence Bank

Eddie Stocks, Edgecombe Martin Electric Membership Cooperative

HD Pope, HD Pope Funeral Homes

Richard Anderson, Anderson Farms

Don Williams, Lewis Advertising

Will Wilfong, Barnhill Contracting Company

Sandy Roberson, Mayor, City of Rocky Mount

*Justin Kurkiewicz, PNC Bank

Lee Isley, UNC Nash Health Care

Kevin Jones, BAC

*Adam Hodges, Crown LSP Group

Deborah Sperati, Poyner Spruill

Bill Pruden, Steel Technologies, Inc.

Sonny Foster, Smithson, Inc

Scott Roberts, Rocky Mount Mills

Chris Markelon, Cummins

Mike Hancock, Boddie-Noell Enterprises

Keith Warren, Truist Bank

Gus Tulloss, Gus Tulloss Insurance

Barden Winstead, Stifel & Nicholas

Charles Gilmore, Sara Lee Bakery

Bryan Smith, Dominion Energy

Van Smith, LS Cable & System, USA

Trish Havier, North Carolina Railroad Company

Batt Masterson, Astemo (formerly Hitachi)

*Denotes Executive Committee Member