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Arlene Calhoun Named JC Raulston Arboretum Assistant Director

"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)