North Carolina Global TransPark Economic Development Region has named Trey Cash its chief operating officer. Cash had been the economic development director for Greene County since 2022, and added Lenoir County’s efforts to his duties in July 2023.
Three counties — Greene, Lenoir and Wayne — helped start North Carolina Global TransPark more than five years ago to promote a region that includes about 193,000 residents and a workforce of more than 86,000. In his new role, Cash will help lead the region’s operations while continuing his work in economic development across Greene, Lenoir and Wayne counties.
“Under the new structure, economic development for all member counties will now be administered through the region instead of as separate county departments,” says Cash. The economic development office for Greene and Lenoir counties had been staffed by only Cash before the change, which took effect on Nov. 1. The work has always been done within the framework of the regional organization, Cash added.
North Carolina Global TransPark expects to have five, full-time staff members. The regional agency is currently hiring a marketing and communications manager and a new existing industry director for Greene and Lenoir counties. Julie Graham is the existing industry director for Wayne County, which has a population of about 119,400, compared to 54,500 in Lenoir and 20,350 in Greene.
Lenoir County native Mark Pope has been president of North Carolina Global TransPark since August 2020.