Raleigh, NC – The North Carolina Global TransPark Economic Development Region received significant statewide recognition during the North Carolina Economic Development Association’s (NCEDA) 2026 Fall Conference in Asheville on Tuesday, October 20, with its president receiving a prestigious lifetime achievement honor and three team members earning professional development scholarships.
Mark Pope, President of the North Carolina Global TransPark Economic Development Region, was among four economic development leaders honored with NCEDA’s 2026 Lifetime Service Award, recognizing his decades of leadership and commitment to bringing jobs and investment to eastern North Carolina.
Pope oversees economic development initiatives across Greene, Lenoir, and Wayne counties, working to attract new businesses, encourage investment, and create employment opportunities throughout the region.
A member of NCEDA for more than 20 years, Pope has held numerous leadership positions within the organization, including serving on its Board of Directors and holding every position on the Executive Committee. He served as NCEDA President in 2018–2019 and has chaired numerous committees.
In 2011, Pope was named NCEDA’s Economic Developer of the Year in recognition of his contributions to economic growth in North Carolina.
Beyond his work recruiting businesses and supporting economic development projects, Pope has been recognized for mentoring emerging professionals and helping develop the next generation of economic development leaders.
The Lifetime Service Award recognizes NCEDA members who have made significant contributions to the association and the economic development profession through leadership, service, and a commitment to others.
Three Global TransPark Team Members Receive Scholarships
In addition to Pope’s recognition, three members of the North Carolina Global TransPark Economic Development Region were selected to receive professional development scholarships through the NCEDA Foundation.
Lauren Ellis received a North Carolina Economic Development Academy Scholarship, which provides funding to attend a course in the North Carolina Certified Economic Developer program at East Carolina University. The scholarship covers tuition and reimburses travel, lodging, meals, and other related expenses.
Julie Graham was awarded the Governor James E. Holshouser Professional Development Scholarship. The award provides funding for registration fees for up to three years, along with tuition and related expenses, to attend the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma or three annual courses offered by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).
Trey Cash received the IEDC Certification Scholarship, which covers examination registration fees associated with earning the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation.
The three scholarships reflect an investment in the continued professional development of the team responsible for helping attract businesses, jobs, and investment to Greene, Lenoir, and Wayne counties.
Wayne County’s Economic Development History Recognized
Another recipient of NCEDA’s Lifetime Service Award, Joanna Helms, has strong ties to Wayne County.
Helms spent 21 years leading economic development efforts in Wayne County before becoming the Town of Apex’s first Economic Development Director in 2014.
With more than 25 years of involvement in NCEDA, Helms has served three terms on the association’s Board of Directors, chaired numerous committees, and served as NCEDA President in 2023–2024.
She was named NCEDA Economic Developer of the Year in 2008 and most recently helped secure the NC Children’s Hospital project, which received NCEDA’s 2026 Large Market Deal of the Year Award.
Other Lifetime Service Award recipients included Raul Peralta, Senior Vice President with ECS Southeast, and Melanie O’Connell Underwood of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.
Investing in Eastern North Carolina’s Economic Future
NCEDA President André Lennon praised the lifetime award recipients for their dedication to strengthening communities and creating opportunities across North Carolina.
“Economic development is ultimately about people, partnerships, and a shared commitment to creating opportunity for others,” Lennon said.
“Their leadership, collaboration, and willingness to invest in others represent the very best of economic development.”
The NCEDA Foundation also awarded 11 professional development scholarships totaling more than $25,000 during the conference.
Crystal Morphis, chair of the NCEDA Foundation, emphasized the importance of providing economic development professionals with opportunities to strengthen their skills and advance their careers.
“Investing in professional development strengthens not only individual careers but also economic development organizations, the communities our members serve, and the profession in general,” Morphis said.
For the North Carolina Global TransPark Economic Development Region, the recognition of Pope and the scholarship awards to Ellis, Graham, and Cash highlight both the organization’s established leadership and its investment in developing future economic development professionals.
The honors also place a statewide spotlight on the economic development efforts serving Greene, Lenoir, and Wayne counties.
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