NC State Makes Strong Showing on ‘Power 100’ List

Chancellor Randy Woodson and a number of NC State alumni landed spots on Business North Carolina’s “Power 100” list, which, according to the magazine, cites “influential folks who are making a significant impact in their enterprises, industries and, in many cases, the broader community.”

The 10 alumni on the list represent a variety of professions and academic backgrounds, from restauranteur to engineer. Five additional NC State grads were named to the magazine’s supplemental “icons” list of senior business leaders. Check them out below:

Andy Andrews
Owner and CEO, Dominion Realty Partners
Non-degree alumnus

John Atkins (Icon)
Chairman and CEO, O’Brien/Atkins Associates PA
Bachelor of Architecture, 1966

Murchison “Bo” Biggs
Secretary and treasurer, K.M. Biggs
Bachelor of Arts in Accounting, 1977
Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics, 1977

Ashley Christensen
Owner, Ashley Christensen Restaurants
Non-degree alumna

David Gardner
Founder and managing partner, Cofounders Capital
Non-degree alumnus

Jim Goodnight
CEO, SAS Institute
Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics, 1965
Master of Experimental Statistics, 1968
Ph.D. in Statistics, 1972

Jim Hansen
Regional president, PNC Financial Services
Bachelor of Science in Business Management, 2000

Stan Kelly
CEO, Piedmont Triad Partnership
Bachelor of Arts in Business Management, 1980

Bobby Long (Icon)
Chairman of the board, Piedmont Triad Charitable Foundation
Bachelor of Arts in Economics, 1977
Bachelor of Arts in Business Management, 1977

Wendell Murphy (Icon)
Chairman of the board, Murphy Family Ventures LLC
Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education, 1960

Ven Poole
Senior partner, DeWitt Carolinas Inc.
Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, 1985

Billy Prim
Executive chairman, Primo Water
Non-degree alumnus

Sepi Saidi
CEO and president, SEPI Inc.
Bachelor of Science in Biological and Agricultural Engineering, 1985
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, 1993

Jerry Wordsworth (Icon)
Chairman, MBM Corporation
Associate of Arts in Livestock Management and Technology, 1966

Smedes York (Icon)
Chairman of the board, McDonald York Building Company
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, 1963
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, 2009