About Our Staff

Steve Yost, CEcD
Director

Steve has been engaged in economic development in North Carolina since 1994. Since that time, he has helped more than 100 companies locate or expand in southeastern North Carolina. He is Director of North Carolina’s Southeast (NCSE), and served as Marketing Manager for NCSE for four years. From 2000-2005, Steve served as Senior Developer and Regional Manager for the North Carolina Department of Commerce in southeastern North Carolina, and from 1994-2000 as Executive Director for the Columbus County Economic Development Commission. He has a Masters degree in Public Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill and a B.S. degree in Political Science from Appalachian State University. He is a certified economic and community developer, a graduate of the NC Rural Institute, and a graduate of Leadership North Carolina. He lives in Whiteville with his wife, Deborah Albritton.

Joe Melvin

Marketing Manager

Joe serves as a Marketing Manager for North Carolina’s Southeast through development of marketing activities, promoting the region to national and global markets, and interaction with other economic development professionals.  Prior to the Marketing Manager position, Joe served as the NCSE Assistant Marketing Manager and as a senior transportation Consultant with the North Carolina Department of Transportation.  Hehas 14 years experience working with regional and statewide programs in North Carolina.  Joe received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1992 and his Master of Artsin Education Administration from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 1994.

Tammy McPherson

Office/Finance Manager

Tammy has been on staff with North Carolina’s Southeast since February of 2009.  She has previous experience as a loan officer and manager in banking, manager of a call center, and was a Director of a Community Health Center.  Tammy’s primary responsibility as Office Manager for North Carolina’s   Southeast is to manage financial activities. 

Marie A. McKoy

Technology Specialist

Marie has been employed with North Carolina’s Southeast as Technology Specialist since April  of 1998.  Prior to joining the staff at North Carolina’s Southeast she worked in sales and marketing in the hotel industry and as a manager in the accounting department of an emergency assistance company. Marie’s primary responsibilities in support of North Carolina’s Southeast' marketing program include network administration, website maintenance, database administration, software training, hardware/software maintenance, and technology budgeting. She has a degree in Business Administration with an area of concentration in information systems (data processing) from North Carolina Central University.