"JC Raulston Arboretum members. volunteers, and stakeholders are very pleased to announce that Arlene Calhoun has been named Assistant Director of the JC Raulston Arboretum at NCSU.

Arlene has a background as an executive with experience in direct marketing, business operations, and communications with a focus on building revenue streams. After 15 years in the business world, Arlene was ready for new challenges.  She began as a volunteer with the JCRA, helping to gather needed data to analyze our rental program and was subsequently hired as the JCRA Volunteer & Membership Coordinator.

In the 18 months she has been at the Arboretum, she has increased memberships by nearly 20%, forged relationships and partnerships with allied groups and business neighbors, and increased the efficiency and effectiveness of the volunteer program.

Traditionally, the Assistant Director at the JCRA has had a plant-focused role, charged in part with developing and curating the collections and gardens. As we move into a new era of funding realities, JCRA staff and the Board of Advisors made the decision that the JCRA would be best served by adding a different skill set than we have had in the past…"

(This excerpt was pulled from the North Carolina State University Hort Science News website, October 22, 2015)