June 13, 2024
The Golden LEAF Foundation welcomed two new staff members Caty Gray Urquhart in May and Evan Benedict in June.
“We are excited to announce two new staff members to help carry out the mission of the Foundation,” said Scott T. Hamilton, Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer. “Caty Gray and Evan bring a great set of skills and expertise to our hardworking team of dedicated professionals.”
Caty Gray Urquhart, Operations Manager
Caty Gray Urquhart joined Golden LEAF in May 2024 as the Operations Manager. Her primary responsibilities include managing information technology, daily office operations and facility maintenance.
Prior to joining the Golden LEAF Foundation, she served as a Team Leader and Business Support at Tarboro Brewing Company where she held roles leading daily operations, distributor relationships, and beverage management software administration.
Urquhart is a native of eastern North Carolina. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from East Carolina University. She currently lives in Speed, N.C.
Evan Benedict, Director of Grants Administration
Evan Benedict joined Golden LEAF in June as the Director of Grants Administration. He serves as the primary administrator for Golden LEAF’s grant management system, develops and implements grantmaking policies and procedures, and provides technical support and training for both internal and external system users. Benedict also oversees data integrity and analysis to ensure accurate and efficient grant administration.
Before joining Golden LEAF, Benedict gained extensive experience working with grants management systems in various capacities since 2021, including serving as a Business Analyst for a higher education grantmaker.
Benedict earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, majoring in Information Technology with an emphasis on Business Analysis. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Data Analytics.