The Johnston County Economic Development Office actively works to encourage and promote development opportunities throughout the County, including in all incorporated and unincorporated communities. One of our primary and most important roles is that of facilitator between government and the private sector.
Whatever your needs may be, the Johnston County Economic Development Office is prepared to assist you in a highly professional and confidential manner. Resources available to your company include custom digitized maps, labor and wage analysis, site selection assistance, and incentive packaging.
For more information, to schedule an existing industry visit, or to request assistance with a relocation or expansion project, please contact us at:
For further information, please contact:
Johnston County Economic Development
Post Office Box 1179
Smithfield, NC 27577
919-205-1232 (voice)
E-Mail: econdev@johnstonnc.gov
Chris Johnson has been Director of the Johnston County Economic Development Office since 2013. He leads JoCo’s business recruitment, retention and expansion strategies, working closely with municipal, regional and state partners, as well as private allies, location advisors and real estate professionals, in bringing diversification, growth and sustainability to the county’s economy. During his tenure, Chris has supported plans by Grifols, Novo Nordisk, Berry Global Group, Ashley Furniture, Amazon and other major companies investing significantly in Johnston County. He also chairs the Economic Development Advisory Committee at the Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP). Chris previously led the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation for nearly 14 years. In 2025, Consultant Connect named Chris to its annual list of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers, and Business North Carolina magazine has recognized his leadership on its “Power List” in each of the past three years. A native of Jackson, NC, Chris earned a bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University. He and his wife, Kim, owned Jewel’s Formals in Smithfield for over 30 years. The couple have two children – both ECU grads.
Janel Parker has served as Economic Development Operations Coordinator for Johnston County since 2007. She supports all aspects of JoCo’s job creation, corporate recruitment, and business retention and expansion programs and strategies. Janel’s long career in County administration spans responsibilities in both the Tax Office and Planning Department. A native of Tazewell, Virginia, she holds a A.A.S. degree from Johnston Community College. Janel and her husband, David, live in Benson. The couple has two children and four grandchildren. Their household also includes three horses, eight dogs and three Vietnamese pot-belly pigs. In her free time, Janel enjoys gardening and riding her Harley-Davidson.
Chairman Ed Aldridge is Vice President of Business Development for Riverwild in Clayton. The fast-growing company has expertise in land development, home building, real estate and Wagyu beef production. Ed’s career includes nearly 26 years as a strategic account manager at Gregory Poole Equipment Company. He and his wife, Missy, are parents to a son and two daughters. A native of Tarboro, Ed is a member and former Deacon at White Oak Baptist Church in Archer Lodge and is an engaged member of the Clayton Chamber of Commerce. He holds a degree in business management from NC State University and enjoys attending Wolfpack sporting events. Ed has served as an at-large member of the Johnston County Economic Development Advisory Board since 2019 and was elected Chairman in 2023.
Vice Chair Steve Hargis is president of Hargis Construction, a general contracting company engaged in commercial and industrial construction. He established the Smithfield-based company in 1977. A retired Brigadier General, Steve built a distinguished career as a highly decorated officer in the North Carolina Army National Guard, beginning with his enlistment in 1967 and culminating with his appointment as Deputy Adjutant General, the NCNG’s second highest command, two years prior to retiring in 2011. He is a recipient of The Legion of Merit and was awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Steve holds a BS from Liberty University and completed studies at the Army War College. Steve has served as an at-large member of the Johnston County Economic Development Advisory Board since 2015.
Secretary/Treasurer Dale Moore owns and operates Independent Management Company (IMC), a holding company with businesses ranging from commercial foods and janitorial services to rental housing and commercial real estate development. A resident of Kenly from age 18, Dale is a licensed private pilot. He and his wife, Hope, enjoy flying to various coastal and mountain destinations in North Carolina and beyond. He also enjoys boating. Dale and Hope have a son, Ryan, who works in the family business. Dale chairs the Kenly Tourism Authority and has been active across his career in the Kenly Chamber of Commerce, serving as its president for four terms. He has represented Kenly on the Johnston County Economic Development Advisory Board since 2016 and was elected Secretary/Treasurer in 2023.
Randy Jones is a commercial real estate broker in Smithfield. He is also general managing partner of RJS Limited and owner of JonRae LLC. For 30 years, Randy operated Jones Brothers Furniture, a family-owned retailer with customers across the eastern U.S. He currently chairs the Pine Level Planning Board and is currently a commissioner of the North Carolina Education Lottery since 2017. Randy also is former president of the Pine Level Lions Club. He holds an Associate of Applied Science in business data processing from Johnston Community College. Randy and his wife, Renee, live in Pine Level. They have a son, a daughter, and four grandchildren. Randy has represented Pine Level on the Johnston County Economic Development Board since 2007 and has chaired the board since 2019.
Clyde Castleberry has spent much of his career in service to the Town of Archer Lodge – as a Town Council Member from 2009 to 2018 and Mayor Pro Tem since 2018. He is a native and lifelong resident of Johnston County. Clyde works in the Selma office of Petroleum Carriers, LLC, a Richmond, Va.-based transportation company serving the mid-Atlantic. He has four decades of experience in the petroleum business. Clyde has served Archer Lodge as a volunteer firefighter, Little League coach and Christian education teacher. He and his wife Rhonda have four children: Seth, Pricilla, Dan, and Natalie. Clyde has represented Archer Lodge on the Johnston County Economic Development Advisory Board since 2011.
Kevin Dougherty is founder and president of AdVenture Development, a multifaceted real estate company providing development, acquisition, property management and other services across the mid-Atlantic. The firm’s holdings include Eastfield Crossing, a 435-acre mixed-use community in Selma. Kevin’s 40-year career has included mortgage lending, consulting and development in Pittsburgh and Charlotte. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from John Carroll University. Kevin is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and the Urban Land Institute. He serves on the board of the YMCA and Triangle East Chamber of Commerce and is past chairman of the Princeton Veterans Committee. Kevin also is a member of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership Executive Board. He has represented the Town of Princeton on the Johnston County Economic Development Advisory Board since 2017.
Mike Fleming is CEO of MagicMurals.com, a manufacturer and leading provider of premium, custom printed wall murals and wall art for homes and businesses. The Smithfield company serves a customer base that includes homeowners, small business owners, Fortune 500 companies, medical facilities, museums, restaurants, churches, educational institutions, and other buyers. Prior to founding Magic Murals, Mike worked for Carolina Pottery, his family’s retail business. He holds a B.A. degree from UNC Chapel Hill, where he majored in political science. Mike’s civic engagement includes service on local Advisory Board of First Citizens Bank since 1996, as well as the advisory boards of the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce and the Johnston County Tourism Authority. He has represented Smithfield on the Johnston County Economic Development Advisory Board since 2014.
Donnie Lassiter co-founded the fintech company Credit Card Software Systems in 1987. The business ultimately became Heartland Payment Systems, Inc., where Donnie held senior executive positions before retiring in 2006. He currently chairs the Board of Trustees at the University of Mount Olive and is Board Chairman and President of the North Carolina Foundation of Christian Ministries. His numerous community roles include engagement with Johnston County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and Selma Original Free Will Baptist Church. Donnie earned a B.S. from Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College). He and his late wife established the Donnie E. and Linda Vann Lassiter Scholarship at East Carolina University, which assists promising Hospitality Management students. The couple also have provided scholarships at North Johnston High School, Johnston Community College, Barton College, the University of Mount Olive and the College of Education at ECU. Donnie has represented the Town of Micro on the Johnston County Economic Development Advisory Board since 2020.
Hampton Whittington is an attorney in the Benson office of Narron Wenzel, P.A.(formerly Narron, O’Hale & Whittington, P.A.). Founded in 1979, Narron Wenzel also has offices in Raleigh and Smithfield. Prior to joining the firm in 1981, Hampton practiced law in Durham and was an Assistant District Attorney for the Eleventh District. He has long been active in the Benson Area Chamber of Commerce, serving as its president in 1984 and 2003. Hampton, who was named Benson Citizen of the Year in 1994, also served as a captain in the US Army Reserves. He earned a BA in history from Davidson College and a JD with honors from the UNC School of Law. Hampton has represented Benson on the Johnston County Economic Development Advisory Board since 2003.
Adam Caldwell is a business development representative for WithersRavenel, a multidisciplinary civil engineering firm with offices across North Carolina. He works closely with municipal clients east of I-95. For nearly eight years, Adam served as a regional representative for U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC). He gained valuable experience on issues related to economic development, transportation, military/veteran affairs, agriculture, disaster recovery, and local government. Adam double-majored in political science and history at East Carolina University and earned an MPA from the UNC School of Government. He also serves on the board for Preservation Johnston County and the State Annual Singing Convention. He enjoys being active with the Benson Area Chamber of Commerce and his church, Elevation Methodist. Adam lives in Benson with his wife, Sarah, two young sons, and double doodle, Maggie. Adam has served as an at-large member of the Johnston County Economic Development Advisory Board since 2022.
Carolyn Dobbin was elected Councilmember of the Town of Wilson’s Mills in 2019 and is currently serving her second four-year term. She was previously a member of the Town Planning Board, serving as Liaison to the Council. Carolyn worked for many years with the Johnston County Board of Elections and Johnston County Guardian ad Litem volunteer program. Born and raised in Wilson’s Mills, Carolyn is a graduate of Smithfield-Selma Senior High School and attended Johnston Community College. In 2014, she retired from the North Carolina Office of State Personnel in Raleigh after nearly three decades of service. Carolyn has represented the Town of Wilson’s Mills on the Johnston County Economic Development Advisory Board since 2024.
Joe Scarboro has served as Mayor Pro-Tem for the Town of Selma since 2023. He was first elected to the Selma Town Council in 2018. Joe is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served as a military policeman. Now retired, he spends his free time attending auto shows and actively serving as a volunteer leader at the Selma Baptist Church. Joe earned a AAS degree in Business Administration, Industrial Management and Accounting from Johnston Technical Institute (now Johnston Community College). He and his wife Nora have been married nearly 50 years. Joe is the father of two sons, Joel and Jeremy (now deceased). In the wake of Jeremy’s death, Nora and Joe created the Jeremy LaShawn Scarboro Memorial Scholarship to provide educational assistance to worthy graduates of Smithfield-Selma Senior High School.
Joe Stallings has been Economic Development Director for the Town of Clayton since early 2025. He leads the town’s efforts to attract and retain businesses, support workforce development, and collaborate with local, regional and state partners. Joe’s lengthy experience in economic development includes service as Economic Development Director in Granville County, N.C., and the North Carolina Railroad Company, owner of one of the state’s most important transportation corridors. From 2015 to 2022, Joe headed the economic development program at the Town of Garner, N.C., where his leadership helped attract more than $300 million in capital investment and create over 4,000 jobs. He began his career at the Town of Benson, serving there as Economic Development and Media Coordinator for nearly four years. Joe earned BS and MPA degrees from Appalachian State University. He also is a graduate of the UNC-Chapel Hill Municipal and County Administration program and holds certifications from the Economic Development Institute at Oklahoma University.