Speaker Information

Olaunda Green
Director of Leadership Training

Olaunda is the director of leadership training for the NC Rural Center. In this role, Olaunda oversees the Rural Economic Development Institute (REDI) and Homegrown Leaders programs. With over 20 years of professional experience, Olaunda has worked with local communities, nonprofit organizations, and state government entities by providing training, facilitation, and technical assistance. Olaunda was born and raised in Bunnlevel, a small township in rural Harnett County, about 20 miles north of Fayetteville.  She received her bachelor’s degree in health education at North Carolina Central University and her master’s degree in human services counseling with a life coaching cognate from Liberty University. In her spare time, Olaunda enjoys volunteering at her church, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.



Dalton Bailey
Research and Data Manager

Dalton Bailey is a data manager for the NC Rural Center. He conducts research and data analysis for the Rural Center. Dalton was born and raised in a small rural town in Northern Indiana. He completed his bachelor’s degree in psychology and criminal justice at Manchester University, a small college in rural Indiana, in 2020. He graduated cum laude and won several research conference awards while enrolled. During this time, Dalton participated in a handful of research and data projects at Manchester and in the surrounding rural counties. These projects included evaluating a local county’s drug court program, general community development, and programs at Manchester. He also served as a student board member for the peace studies program, played collegiate tennis, and worked in the university’s first year student experience department.

Dalton then attended Western Kentucky University and completed his master’s degree in psychology with a concentration in psychological science in 2022. This research focused program allowed him to continue to develop his research skills and provided several opportunities to use them in applied contexts. While enrolled, Dalton completed his thesis on political information evaluation and selective political memory. He also managed the program’s social cognition research lab and taught a research methods lab. Dalton also worked as an intern and subcontracted consultant for Elevate Consulting, an evaluation and consulting firm based in Nashville that predominantly serves local non-profit organizations.
Coming from a rural background, Dalton is passionate about using his knowledge to benefit rural communities. He believes these communities are often underserved, and wants to do what he can to improve this in his chosen home of North Carolina. In his free time Dalton enjoys playing with his dog, staying active, and trying new food.



Susannah Longest
Program Associate

Susannah started at the NC Rural Center in 2025 as the program associate with our leadership training programs and the Faith in Rural Communities program. Prior to joining the Rural Center, Susannah worked at Episcopal Migration Ministries building capacity for highly vulnerable refugees and newcomers. She worked with agencies across the country on their volunteer and mentorship programs, oversaw the development of a comprehensive e-learning platform, and submitted required data and reports to the federal government. Before that, she worked at the Hispanic Alliance in Greenville, S.C., managing the Student DREAMers Alliance and collaborating across the Upstate of South Carolina to build a vibrant and thriving community for all.

Susannah studied psychology and Spanish at Furman University. She loves books and movies, cooking and walking with her husband and dog, and would always rather be exploring a trout stream in Western North Carolina.

Mark Molitor
Lead Effectively

Mark Molitor is a leadership development consultant. He serves as a designer and instructor for a variety of leadership development programs. He consults with leadership teams, and, he coaches executives.  Mark has served in leadership roles throughout his life, such as president, CEO, chair, managing partner, cofounder, and team lead. In this phase of his career, he finds deepest fulfillment investing in others to enhance their leadership effectiveness and be their best selves. Mark believes that people are essentially good, innately creative, and able to continually learn and develop their skills.