FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 26, 2003
Progress Energy's Thomas Named to
Research Triangle Regional Partnership Board
RESEARCH TRIANGLE REGION, N.C. - Katherine Thomas, Progress Energy's manager of economic development North Carolina, has been named to the Research Triangle Regional Partnership's (RTRP) 54-member board as a Wake County representative.
"Katherine brings extensive personal experience to the task of identifying and meeting local, regional and state economic development needs as well as the resources of one of the state's strongest economic development partners," said RTRP President and CEO Charles A. Hayes. "She is in an ideal position to understand the competitive challenges facing this region and provide counsel and support as we mobilize to create jobs and opportunity for our 13 counties."
A Gastonia native and 24-year-veteran with Progress Energy, Thomas has held numerous management and marketing positions, including manager of community relations for the Triangle Region, business development manager, district manager (Henderson), western region sales manager (Asheville) and area manager (Hartsville/Darlington, S.C.). She led the company's community relations integration effort during the Florida Progress Corp. acquisition.
Thomas is a graduate of the 1999-2000 Leadership North Carolina class and a 1998 Leadership Raleigh graduate. She helped lead the Raleigh Road Bond effort to a successful vote in 1998, and also the Raleigh Road, Parks & Affordable Housing Bond in 2000. In 2002, Thomas chaired RTRP's Triangle Technology Work Force Initiative, which explored and recommended strategies to attract and retain a high-tech work force to meet the needs of the region's key industries. Thomas was honored at the Triangle Business Journals' 1999 Women in Business Awards as one of 25 women who've made a distinctive impact on the Triangle business community.
Since moving to Raleigh in 1997, Thomas has been active in the community and throughout the state, accepting leadership positions in a number of community and economic development organizations. She serves on the Communities in Schools-North Carolina Board of Directors, Meredith College Business Advisory Board, Wachovia Community Advisory Board, Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Executive Committee (where she will chair the 2003 Chamber Campaign) and Raleigh Community Hospital's Board of Trustees. She is treasurer for the North Carolina Commerce Trade and Development Fund Inc. and member of the North Carolina Economic Developers Association, Triangle CREW, the Rotary Club of Raleigh and White Memorial Presbyterian Church.
RTRP is a public/private partnership that promotes economic development for the 13-county region of North Carolina comprising Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake and Warren counties.
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