GREENVILLE, North Carolina – North Carolina Department of Commerce leaders toured assets in Greenville and Pitt County during a special visit on Friday, July 30. Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders and Chief Deputy Secretary Jordan Whichard, along with their team and other government leaders, were hosted by the Greenville Eastern North Carolina (ENC) Alliance and the office of District 9 State Representative Brian Farkas.
The Guests of Honor included:
North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders
North Carolina Department of Commerce Chief Deputy Secretary Jordan Whichard
North Carolina State Representative Brian Farkas, District 9 (Pitt County)
North Carolina State Senator Don Davis, District 5 (Pitt and Greene Counties)
“It was a wonderful opportunity to host Secretary Sanders and Chief Deputy Secretary Whichard from the North Carolina Department of Commerce,” said Uconda Dunn, vice president of business development at the Greenville ENC Alliance. “We used this visit to give them a tour of Greenville and engage in conversation with Pitt County community and government leaders about economic development.”
The day started with an exclusive tour of Thermo Fisher Scientific as the company continues with its major expansion project that will bring approximately 500 new jobs in the pharmaceutical manufacturing and life sciences industry.
Team members of Thermo Fisher Scientific, Greenville ENC Alliance, Pitt County, and state lawmakers gather to welcome N.C. Department of Commerce leaders.
At more than one million square feet, Thermo Fisher’s plant in Greenville is among the company’s largest manufacturing facilities. Michelle Logan, vice president drug product North America and general manager of the Greenville, North Carolina facility for Thermo Fisher Scientific, led the group on this behind-the-scenes tour.
“It was a great honor and privilege to welcome Secretary Sanders, Chief Deputy Secretary Whichard, State Senator Davis and State Representative Farkas and their teams at our Greenville site today as part of her tour of Eastern NC. We also want to extend our gratitude to the ENC Alliance for their continued partnership and in organizing this visit,” said Michelle Logan, vice president, drug product North America, at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “We had a very engaging discussion about Thermo Fisher and the important work we are doing in Greenville to enable our customers to make the world healthier. We are proud to contribute to the job creation and economic development in region and look forward to working with Secretary Sanders and her office.”
Uconda Dunn, Sen. Don Davis, Brad Hufford, Michelle Logan, and Rep. Brian Farkas (left to right) took part in a tour of Thermo Fisher Scientific
The Guests of Honor then toured other parts of Greenville including East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, Indigreen Corporate Park, and the future site of Intersect East. Sec. Sanders, a native of Belhaven, and Chief Deputy Sec. Whichard, a native of Greenville, spoke to dozens of Pitt County community members, business leaders, and elected officials during a lunch discussion at the Greenville Museum of Art.
“Having grown up in Pitt County myself, it is always a special honor to welcome other leaders with Eastern North Carolina ties back home,” said District 9 State Representative Brian Farkas. "This event was a great opportunity to bring together the people who understand the unique characteristics of our area because they've lived it, and work with them to remove obstacles to regional growth and broad-based prosperity."
Sec. Sanders shared information about her priorities for the Department of Commerce including job creation; building a world class workforce; resiliency and adaptability; advancing smart public policies like infrastructure, health care, and education; and cultural transformation. In addition, she explained how she hopes to establish reliable broadband access and attract new business while retaining current industry. Sec. Sanders concluded by sharing that she looks forward to assisting with economic prosperity projects in rural eastern North Carolina.
Sec. Machelle Baker Sanders speaks to dozens during a lunch discussion about economic development in Greenville and Pitt County.
“This visit provided us with an opportunity to highlight the many benefits of doing business in Greenville as the city serves as the thriving hub and economic engine of eastern North Carolina,” added Dunn. “We look forward to working with the Department of Commerce in the future as we continue to grow Greenville and eastern North Carolina.”
To view more photos of the day’s events, click here to view the album on Facebook.
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Media Relations Contact:
Maria Satira Director of Marketing and Communications Greenville - Eastern North Carolina Alliance satira@encalliance.com 252-414-2875
