WELCOME TO NEW BRC TRUSTEES David Harman Dave is a combination of businessman and environmental activist. He graduated from NC State University with a degree in Economics, and then attended Appalachian State University to obtain his accounting education, leading to his becoming a North Carolina CPA. He worked in public accounting for ten years and in management for a handful of companies for many years before establishing his own consulting business. He was a founding member of the board of directors of a local community bank and was on the ALCO and Audit Committees of that board for four years before the bank was acquired. For many years he has been active in movements to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and to reduce carbon emissions. He has been a director of several nonprofit organizations focused on climate change and conservation, has lobbied US senators over the issue, and has traveled to the Arctic regions of the Yukon and Alaska to observe lifestyles of indigenous peoples there being affected by climate change. Now retired, Dave is a self-styled writer of climate science and has co-authored two books focusing on the science of climate change. He and his wife, Barbara, are natives of Blowing Rock, and they still live nearby in the AhoBlackberry community. They have always enjoyed hiking and outdoor activities. Dave was a runner for over thirty years, and now enjoys walking on the Greenway in Boone and the many trails of the Cone Estate with Barbara.
Patrick Hollowell Patrick was born and raised in Charlotte, and grew up with a strong appreciation for the North Carolina mountains through summer camps, hiking, biking, and camping trips. He began his career as an IT consultant servicing businesses in the Charlotte area, later building out networks for telecommunications and datacenter providers, and managing engineering services for a regional IT firm, before returning to his freelance roots. Currently, he helps Fortune 500 companies and other large enterprises develop, implement, and maintain their cloud and datacenter platforms. After primarily spending only “the nice months” at their Alleghany County home for several years, Patrick and his partner Laura Paynter became full-time High Country residents in early 2020. They enjoy kayaking on the New River, gardening, live music, and admiring the natural beauty of their farm in all seasons.
Shawn W. Poole Shawn was the co-founder of Employbridge Holding Company in 2000. He served as executive vice president, President, and CFO at Employbridge until January 2018 when he retired from daily management. He remains active with the company, the largest industrial staffing firm in the U.S., by acting as an advisor. Shawn was instrumental in growing the company into a nationally recognized firm that earned more than $3 billion in revenue in 2017 and now has more than 95,000 associates working at some 10,000 companies. Prior to Employbridge he started his career at Arthur Andersen, then was CFO of WorldWay (NYSE), CFO and treasurer of American Studios (NASDAQ), and CFO and Managing Director of Randstad North America. Shawn is also an Executive in Residence at Appalachian State University’s Walker College of Business working with the Bowden Investment Group.
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