Beaufort County native and Washington resident Chris Furlough has been selected as the new Washington Harbor District Alliance president, replacing Ross Hamory at the helm of the organization that promotes economic development and quality of life issues in Washington’s central business district.
Hamory and his wife, Chris, relocated to Atlanta on July 1.
Furlough, a graduate of East Carolina University, has been in the construction-development business since 1978 and brings an extensive resume to WHDA. He is past president of the ECU Educational Foundation (also known as the Pirates Club), the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce and the Washington Optimist Club.
“I am very proud to be working with WHDA as we continue to implement the revitalization plan that was adopted by the city of Washington in 2009 called “The Washington Visualization and Reinvestment Strategy.” Our goal is to move Washington forward to economic prosperity by promoting and improving the central downtown business district that lies along the waterfront,” Furlough said in a news release.
Working alongside Furlough will be Trent Tetterton as vice president.
Tetterton, originally from Greenville, attended North Carolina State University and has enjoyed a career in information technology, domestic and international sales, corporate development and as a business owner. He spent nearly 20 years with MCI prior to its acquisition by WorldCom, heading up IT organizations and then a global large-accounts sales organization. Tetterton later joined a start-up company, Actel Communications, before starting his own building and remodeling company, MasterWorks Atlanta.
Since moving to Washington five years ago, Tetterton has been active in several community and charitable organizations including Options to Domestic Violence, Washington Noon Rotary, the Greater Pamlico Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Washington Harbor District Alliance. He currently serves on the boards of WHDA, the Red Cross and Washington Noon Rotary. Tetterton spearheaded the effort to sell old City Hall, with WHDA acting as the facilitator for the city.
Tetterton will be vice president in charge of the economic-development committee.
“I appreciate the confidence of WHDA and look forward to doing everything I can to continue the good works done by my predecessor,” Tetterton said in the release. “My personal goals are to pursue getting a ‘boutique’ hotel in close proximity to the waterfront and downtown retail area, reviving the Turnage Theater, promoting new and existing businesses in the Harbor District (fill the storefronts) and continuing with the maritime improvements along the waterfront. One thing Washington can look forward to is the new lighthouse design harbormaster station and waterfront restrooms facility expected to begin construction in the fall. We are also looking into providing a fueling station and a maritime provisions store on the waterfront. My dream is that Washington will become known not only as a beautiful, quaint waterfront community but also as a dining, arts and entertainment mecca with the ultimate goal being to promote and stimulate economic stability and growth for our downtown merchants and our community.”
“I am happy to report that WHDA has a very active board, which works hard to improve the economic health and quality of life for the city of Washington,” WHDA Executive Director Beth Byrd said in the release. “We want all our citizens to be proud of downtown Washington and we want to attract others here to spend their money.”