Staff

Deborah Johnson - Chief Executive Officer, joined the NC Pork Council in November of 2005. She has worked in the livestock and poultry industries since 1980. Her pork industry experience began at Prestage Farms as its public relations coordinator. During her time at Prestage Farms, Deborah was elected to the NCPC board of directors and served as president of the Council in 1999. She later worked for Premium Standard Farms as manager of communications and public affairs for its North Carolina operations and eventually assumed the role of director of communications and public affairs for the Kansas City-based organization. At the national level, Deborah was appointed twice by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to serve on the National Pork Board. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she holds degrees in journalism and speech communication.

Amy Cave - Administrative Officer, joined the NC Pork Council in September 2003. Amy began working on the Pork Council's annual audit in 1997. At the time, she was an audit supervisor for Williams, Overman, Pierce & Company, LLP where she performed audits and prepared tax returns for eight years. Amy received her bachelor of science in business administration in accounting from Appalachian State University. She is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the NC Association of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Ann Edmondson – Director of Communications & Marketing, joined the NC Pork Council in May 2007. Ann previously worked for the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association for nine years as their director of government relations then as the in-house lobbyist. During that time, she also took on the role as the executive director of another statewide association for whom she drafted and published an annual directory and newsletters, planned and hosted an annual convention, tradeshow and educational seminar as well as other general association management responsibilities. She has also worked at NCDENR and the NC House of Representatives. She is a graduate of Meredith College with bachelor of arts degrees in English and political science.

Tommy Stevens - Director of Environmental Services, joined the NC Pork Council in August 2001 after retiring from State Government. Tommy is the former director of the NC Division of Water Quality and has 30 years experience with the State Water Quality program. A native of Hoke County, Tommy grew up in a farming environment and graduated from North Carolina State University in 1971 with a degree in agricultural engineering technology.

Angie Whitener – Director of Policy Development & Communications, joined the NC Pork Council in May 2007. She brings to the Council a strong background from the NC General Assembly, most recently serving as member relations and policy analyst in the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Angie also has worked as legislative assistant to two state senators and has demonstrated successful campaign management on many state legislative races. Angie has both a bachelors and masters degree in political science from North Carolina State University.

Other Support

Jerry Hardesty - Coordinator of Education and Development for NCPC, monitors educational programs sponsored by NC State University and NC A&T State University. He also monitors national industry programs as well as research efforts related to pork production. Jerry started working on a contractual basis with the NC Pork Council in 1994, after retiring from the NC Cooperative Extension Service where he served as extension director in Currituck County for 23 years and in Forsyth County for seven years. A graduate of North Carolina State University with a BS degree in animal science and a master's in education, Jerry was first chairman of the Coastal Resources Advisory Council and a member of the Coastal Resources Commission for six years. He also served 11 years as a member of the NC Marine Fisheries Commission.