NCGrowth welcomed a new group of dynamic Economic Development Analysts this summer from universities throughout North Carolina. Analysts typically are graduate students hired for their previous experience and skills they can bring to bear on economic development projects with local government or technical assistance to growing businesses in North Carolina. Their work experience and interests varies, but they all share a passion for sustainable economic development and entrepreneurship.
Michael Baker is an MBA student at UNC Pembroke where he also got his BS in Business Administration in Economics and Management. As an undergraduate and graduate student, Michael has worked with Student Government on several initiatives including a Sexual Assault Awareness Campaign and he played a vital role in several teams at UNC Pembroke to revitalize meal plans for students, change learning management systems, and bring vendors like Chick-Fil-A to campus. He has an interest in data processing in an array of applications, such as economic growth studies and consumer behavior studies.
James Carter is a Master of City and Regional Planning student at UNC Chapel Hill, specializing in Economic Development. He is passionate about economic development recruitment and community capacity building to create economic equity across North Carolina. Prior to enrolling at UNC, he served as an Economic Development Project Manager for the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. A graduate of Elon University, James has gained experience with economic development by interning with the International Economic Development Council and serving as a Golden LEAF Youth Leadership Scholar. In his free time, he enjoys Netflix binging, greenway walks, writing, and cooking “experiments”.
Lucia Constantine is a master’’’s student in the UNC Department of City & Regional Planning. Her interests include gentrification, creative placemaking, and urban immigration. Previously, Lucia worked in higher education at the Duke Office of Civic Engagement and Haas Center for Public Service. She also gained experience as an AmeriCorps member with Silicon Valley Health Corps and as an intern with Student Action with Farmworkers. She earned her bachelor’’’s degree in human biology from Stanford University.
Keiley Gaston is a first year Masters in Public Policy student at Duke Sanford School of Public Policy. She graduated from Duke University in 2018 with a degree in economics and public policy. An internship in Detroit, MI, sparked her interest in corporate social responsibility and urban revitalization. She explored the intersection of environmental policy and public health at the Natural Resources Defense Council during a summer in Washington, D.C. She hopes to combine these experiences and further her education in social policy and nonprofit management while in graduate school. Keiley is passionate about social impact and enjoys competing on the Duke Club Running team, exploring local coffee shops, and traveling to new cities.
Juliana de Groot is a small-business owner, professional cook, and public health professional. She is extremely devoted to transforming systems of injustice to systems of resilience. For five years she co-owned a small worker-cooperative that brought affordable, local, and ethical food to farmers’’’ markets, groceries, and plates around Seattle. Juliana is a skilled logistics and systems thinker; she designed her own undergraduate degree, Political, Systemic and Cultural Constructs of Health. It focuses on the systems of injustice that stratify health along race, class, sexual orientation, and ability. She is currently in her first year of a masters’’’ in public at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, where she is focusing on health equity and food security.
Jarvis Harris is an undergraduate student at North Carolina Central University studying Business Management with a concentration in Entrepreneurship. Born and raised in one of the most economic distressed cities in North Carolina, his main objective is to assist businesses create jobs and help poverty-stricken communities create sustainable and equitable opportunities for less fortunate citizens. He possesses strong marketing and technological skills, and welcomes any opportunity that will enhance the aforementioned skill sets and his general business proficiency. In his leisure time, Jarvis enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family.
Vy Huynh is a joint Masters in Public Policy and Masters in Business Administration student at Duke University. She graduated from London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. After college, she spent more than 2 years working for Citibank before moving back to Vietnam, her home country, for the last 5 years. In Vietnam, she worked for Authentique Home, a local 20-year-old crafts business which focuses on upholding the traditional artisanship of Vietnam, while training and creating sustainable jobs for the poor neighborhood where the production facilities are located. Vy is passionate about making positive impacts in local communities via economic channels and business opportunities.
Satvik Kompella As an engineer, Satvik enjoys the process of creating sustainable solutions to difficult problems. He studied Mechanical Engineering in Osmania University in India and proceeded to work in a fast paced, high risk energy services company. He is now pursuing his Masters degree in Industrial Engineering at NC State University. His expertise and interests are in continuous improvement and lean manufacturing.
Satvik is involved in sports and referees for college sport clubs as a past-time. He enjoys watching soccer or cooking traditional Indian cuisines. He is also a proud member of ‘;Street Cause’, an NGO helping street kids in India to gain access to primary education.
Joseph-Emery Kouaho is a Master of Public Policy student at Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy. He earned his BA in Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2016. Upon graduating, Joseph lived in Austin, Texas where he worked as a Business Development Consultant for Oracle Corporation. Joseph hopes to earn his degree in Social Policy and positively impact the lives of low income Americans by advocating for policies and programs that improve their health, wealth, and education. In his spare time, Joseph enjoys listening to music, dancing, and engaging with his friends.
Charlie Mize is a dual Master of Forestry and Master of Environmental Management student at Duke University’’’s Nicholas School of the Environment. A North Carolina native, he earned his bachelor’’’s degree from Appalachian State University. There he studied Sustainable Development, concentrating on Sustainable Agriculture. Charlie is interested in ways that businesses, economies, and communities can thrive in harmony with natural systems and how economic forces can be harnessed to the benefit of nature. He is skilled in GIS analysis and is an avid hiker, paddler, fisherman, gardener, and woodworker.
Swapnil Pillai is an Operations Research graduate student at North Carolina State University. Prior to this, he was working as a Decision Scientist at Mu Sigma Business Solutions Pvt Ltd. He has 4+ years of experience, consulting one of the largest retailer of the world in areas related to Logistics, Inventory Planning and Website Analytics. He is a certified Decision Scientist and desires to leverage data to build solutions that will help business grow exponentially. In his free time, Swapnil enjoys watching movies and cooking new Indian dishes.
