President
NC Rural Economic Development Center

Patrick Woodie serves as the president of the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center. From 2006 to 2013, Patrick served as the center’s Vice President of Rural Programs, overseeing the standing programs of the center relating to Physical Infrastructure, Business Development, Civic & Social Infrastructure and Workforce Development.

Prior to his work at the Rural Center, Patrick was Executive Director of New River Community Partners and the Blue Ridge Business Development Center in Sparta, both nonprofits engaged in community and economic development. He helped found New River Community Partners when the New River was designated one of 14 American Heritage Rivers in 1998. He served one term as Alleghany County commissioner and is a former Executive Director of the Alleghany County Chamber of Commerce. He was a founding member of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area; and in 2005, received the Rural Center’s annual award for Outstanding Rural Leadership. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University and the Wake Forest University School of Law.