The Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DANC) - Government Relations Virtual Forum
brief provided by Elaine F. Marshall, Secretary of State
In 1996, Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall became the first woman ever elected to a statewide, executive branch office in North Carolina. Voters re-elected her to a seventh term in 2020. A former teacher, small business owner, and private practice attorney, Secretary Marshall was elected to the NC Senate before rising to statewide office.
Under Secretary Marshall’s administration, more than 1.5 million businesses have been formed, she has pioneered e-commerce in government, protected investors and intellectual property owners, and promoted financial capital formation in North Carolina.
Secretary Marshall has been very active in many civic groups in the areas of child welfare, women's issues, and agriculture and small town economic development. She credits 4-H as an important part of her youth. She is also past president of the National Association of Secretaries of State.
She holds a B.S. in Home Economics from the University of Maryland and a law degree from Campbell University. She has received Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Campbell University, Lees-McRae College, Meredith College and the Republic of Moldova State University of Medicine.
Since becoming Secretary of State, she has received numerous state and national awards for leadership in technology, government innovation, and women's leadership. These awards include:
- The 2020 John A. “Pete” Eberhart Ray of Light award from Boundless Impact for her decades of work advancing North Carolina’s Global Competitiveness;
- The N.C. Bar Association’s 2020 Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake Jr. Public Service Award;
- The 2019 Brand Protection Hero Award from the Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection (A-CAPP);
- The 2018 Person of the Year Award from The Women’s Business Center of North Carolina and was inducted into the North Carolina Women Business Owners Hall of Fame the same year;
- The 2017 International Trade Lifetime Achievement Award from the Charlotte Business Journal;
- A recognized leader in state trademark protection by the US Chamber of Commerce, the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition and Underwriters Laboratories;
- And in 2014 was inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame----just to name a few.
She is married to Jessie Thomas Bunn.
The Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DANC) Goverment Relations Purpose:
- Assist the Executive Director and Senior Director in reviewing issues related to the Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DANC) and provide advice and recommendations to the DANC Executive Board and Management Council regarding same.
- Monitor State and Federal legislative agendas to identify legislation that is relevant to the DANC membership; provide recommendations, if appropriate, to the DANC Executive board and Management Council on policy positions.
- Develop strategies to educate DANC members on relevant government related issues
- Develop strategies to educate and communicate with legislators, organizations and other relevant parties regarding the Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DANC) and our position on any particular legislative issue as directed by the DANC Executive Board and Management Council
- Identify statewide and national associations with similar interests and provide recommendations and advice to the DANC Executive board and Management Council concerning opportunities to align organizations to strengthen advocacy on key issues.
DANC Government Relations Leaders:
David Hayden, DANC Government Relations Chair, Smith Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P. https://www.smithlaw.com/professionals-David-Hayden
Joe Angell, DANC Government Relations Co-Chair, Wiley Wilson https://www.wileywilson.com/
The Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DANC) is mission focused on growing North Carolina's defense economy in a way that creates new long-term investment opportunities.
Our vision is to improve the economy of North Carolina by leading high-impact strategic growth initiatives, provide information and networking opportunities to NC entities with defense sector interests, and positioning key organizations and senior leaders to assist in the expansion of defense-related business opportunities throughout the state.
https://defensealliancenc.org/