As the Greenville ENC Alliance works to support Greenville – Pitt County through economic development, two new staff members have joined the team to fill new roles. The organization welcomes Narges Lahiji as a senior research analyst and Baylee Fox as a business development manager.
“As identified and outlined in our five-year strategic plan, these new positions are vital to the future success of our organization in terms of economic development efforts,” said Josh Lewis, CEcD, president and CEO of the Greenville ENC Alliance. “As part of this, we determined that it was critical for the Alliance to serve as a primary resource for data and analysis in support various projects as well as to track our economic progress across multiple factors. We are extremely excited to welcome Narges to the team to fill this role. She brings a vast amount of skill and knowledge to the analyst position.”
Lahiji has an extensive professional and educational background in industry research and manufacturing. In her role at the Alliance, she will research and track community metrics and data as well as support special projects and reports.
“This position offers a perfect blend of analytical challenges, strategic contributions, collaboration, and the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the community,” explained Lahiji. “I'm eager to dive into this role with enthusiasm and dedication.”
She most recently led economic and industry-related research projects for the Center for Automotive Research and previously held manufacturing and engineering roles at Hyster-Yale Group, Bosch Siemens Home Appliances, and Ames Industries. Lahiji holds a Master of Science degree in Technology Management from East Carolina University and a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Niederrhein University in Germany.
“Her ability to be responsive to project needs as they arise will be a great resource for us and our partners,” added Lewis. “We are also very excited to welcome Baylee to our team to help support our business development efforts.”
As an economic development professional with experience at state and regional levels, Fox will focus on our existing industry support activities as well as assist with small business efforts in the community.
“I am looking forward to meeting with local businesses that have a presence in this community and offering as much assistance as I can to help them thrive,” shared Fox. “Each company, no matter the size, plays a huge role in advancing the ecosystem here, and being able to work with these leaders to help them be successful here is such an exciting opportunity.”
Most recently, Fox worked at the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) where she developed and maintained relationships with foreign and domestic clients.
“Baylee is familiar with client engagement, working on confidential projects, and hosting trade show meetings. Her experience will prove invaluable as we work to continue to create new opportunities for our community and the businesses that we serve,” said Uconda Dunn, Greenville ENC Alliance vice president of business development.
Fox earned a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business Management from North Carolina State University as well as a Certificate in Professional Development from the Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics. She is currently working on a Master of Business Administration as well as a Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain from Auburn University.
To learn more about Lahiji and Fox, visit their full biographies on the Greenville ENC Alliance website.