4 Named to Board of Trustees

The UNC system Board of Governors approved the appointments of Tom Cabaniss and Ron Prestage, and re-appointments of Ben Jenkins and Jim Owens, to the NC State Board of Trustees.

Cabaniss, of Richmond, Va., earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from NC State and a law degree from the University of Virginia. He previously served on the NC State University Foundation board of directors and as president of the Alumni Association. He is a founding member of the State Club board of directors, vice president of the Wolfpack Club and an honorary lifetime member of the Alumni Association.

Prestage, of Camden, S.C., earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from NC State. He graduated as a doctor of veterinary medicine from Auburn University and completed an equine surgery internship at the University of California at Davis. Prestage has served as chair of the SC Poultry Federation board of directors, the National Turkey Federation and the US Poultry and Egg Association. He serves on the board of directors of the National Pork Producers Council, the S.C. Chamber of Commerce and the Black River Electric Cooperative.

Jenkins, of Charlotte, is the former managing director and vice chairman of retail banking at Morgan Stanley & Co.’s New York firm. Jenkins was formerly vice chairman and president of the General Bank for Wachovia Corporation, which includes retail and wholesale activities such as branch delivery, commercial, business and community banking and Wachovia Dealer Services. He received his bachelor’s degree in textile chemistry from NC State and his MBA from the University of Alabama. In September 2007, NC State announced the naming of the Jenkins Graduate School of Management in the College of Management in honor of Jenkins.

Owens, of Peoria Heights, Ill., is former chairman and CEO of Caterpillar Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. He is a native of Elizabeth City and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in textile technology and his Ph.D. in economics from NC State.

NC State’s board of trustees is composed of 13 members: eight elected by the UNC Board of Governors, four appointed by the governor and the president of the student body.