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Jenny Tinklepaugh
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Press Release

Dan Gerlach Accepts Offer as Golden LEAF’s New President
First day at work Oct. 1

(ROCKY MOUNT, N.C.) – Sept. 24, 2008

Dan Gerlach President Email

Golden LEAF today announced that Dan Gerlach has accepted the board of directors’ offer to be the foundation’s new president effective Oct. 1, 2008. Following an extensive search process, the foundation’s board chose Gerlach to succeed retiring President Valeria Lee.

“We are pleased that Dan Gerlach has accepted our offer to be Golden LEAF’s next president. We know that under his leadership, he will continue our good work in North Carolina’s rural and distressed communities,” said Tommy Bunn, chairman of Golden LEAF's board of directors. “Our board is certain that Dan will continue building upon the many successes we’ve achieved.”

“It is an honor and privilege to join Golden LEAF,” said Gerlach, incoming Golden LEAF president. “I look forward to this great opportunity to help create, build on, and sustain the progress toward improving the economy and quality of life in rural and distressed communities. Golden LEAF has an excellent and committed Board and staff, and I am eager to get to work.” Gerlach comes to Golden LEAF from the administration of Governor Mike Easley, where he has served since 2001 as senior policy advisor for fiscal affairs. Since then, Gerlach has played a leading role in crafting and negotiating the state budget and numerous economic development projects.

Gerlach will take the reins of the foundation from Lee, who has served as Golden LEAF’s president since 2000. During Lee’s presidency, Golden LEAF awarded 689 grants totaling more than $354 million to support diverse projects in agriculture, economic development, workforce preparedness and education.

About the Golden LEAF Foundation
The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to help transform North Carolina’s economy. The foundation receives one-half of North Carolina’s funds from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers and places special emphasis on assisting, tobacco-dependent, economically-distressed and/or rural communities across the state. The foundation has awarded 689 grants worth more than $354 million since its inception. For more information, or to learn more about applying for a grant, visit www.goldenleaf.org or call (888) 684-8404.