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MHCREC Employee Spotlight is a way to get to know the faculty and staff at the Center. Check back here often for future spotlights.
Jamie Lanzalotto
Research Technician for the Tomato Breeding Program,
Dept. of Horticultural Science
Where did you grow up and go to college?
I grew up in Smithfield VA, a beautiful coastal town with a strong agricultural community. I went to The College of William and Mary in VA to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Biology.
What is your passion? My favorite things to do are to hike with my dogs and tend to my garden and house plants. I love to identify plants on hikes, and I am very passionate about planting native ornamental plants in my garden.
What does your job involve, and what do you particularly enjoy about working here? I am a Research Technician for the Tomato Breeding Program. My responsibilities vary throughout the year. I work primarily in the greenhouse and the lab, but my favorite time of year is the field season because I love working outside and getting to interact with people from various programs in the field. I am passionate about plant care of all kinds, but I especially love talking about native plants. I am part of the Arbor Garden Restoration Committee which has given me the opportunity to design a landscape using primarily native varieties. I also want to help bring back the MHCREC Community Garden this summer.
Other than plant-related pastimes, what do you do for fun? In my free time, I enjoy listening to science podcasts, reading Jane Austen novels, or working on embroidery projects.
Jackie Blume
Graduate Student & Research Assistant for the Tomato Breeding Program,
Dept. of Horticultural Science
Where did you grow up and go to college?
I grew up in Southwestern PA, and got my B.S. in Plant Science from Penn State.
What gives you energy? I get really energized from hiking, especially if there are some special wildflowers blooming. Western NC is incredible for hiking, so I’m happy I get to be here.
What do you like to do in your free time? I stay busy caring for my orchid and houseplant collection (200+) and write pysanky, which are essentially glorified Easter eggs that take a super long time.
What’s something great about working here? I love being able to work around people who are studying such a wide variety of crops. It’s fun getting to interact with so many people who have different experiences. I’m always learning something new.
Michael Elliott
Tomatoes & Vegetables Research Specialist,
MHCREC
Where did you grow up and go to college?
I grew up in Eastern VA in Smithfield which is known for its Smithfield Hams. I went to College at NCSU and got my B.S. in Agribusiness.
What is your passion and what is your job here? My passion is farming and supporting Agriculture. My job here as the vegetable crop specialist is to support and manage the tomato and other vegetable crop projects.
What do you like to do in your free time? My free time, lately, has been rebuilding an old 1947 Willys Jeep.
What’s a fun fact about yourself? I was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho. My Dad took a job out there building Submarines in the flat plains of Idaho Falls.
What’s great about working here? Not only being able to pursue my passion of being a “farmer”, but that the outputs of our labor here help support the local ag community by providing valuable research and data they can use on their farms.
Amelia Heintz-Botz
Research Technician,
Dept. of Entomology & Plant Pathology
What are your favorite things to do?
I love traveling, spending time in the ocean snorkeling or diving, making and then eating homemade pasta.
What is your job here? I work in the entomology lab managing our insect colonies and in the field on our research projects.
What was your first job? I worked as a teaching aid for a pre-k class and ESL tutor in high school.
How do you spend your free time? Crafting with fibers, dancing, and cooking new cuisine styles.
What’s something great about working here? The PEACHES!!!
Lori Davis
North Central District Admin.,
N.C. Cooperative Extension
Where did you grow up and go to college?
I grew up in Asheville (I lived in West Asheville way before it was cool to live there) and I went to Appalachian State University.
What are your favorite things to do? I like to ride my bike and kayak.
What is your job here? I work for the North Central District in Extension. I’m the district Admin, so I wear many hats and help my 20 counties with everything from hiring, training, and CBO and HR navigation.
What’s a fun fact about yourself? I have hiked the Grand Canyon from rim to rim. During my college years, I worked a summer each at the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park.
What’s something great about working here? Impromptu BLT sandwiches!
Chris Clavet
Pomology Research Specialist,
Dept. of Horticultural Science
Chris grew up in Rhode Island and completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Rhode Island. He is a Research Specialist in the Kon Lab and provides technical support for the research program which means he has a hand in all of the day-to-day tasks from trial design and setup to maintenance and purchasing.
Chris’s master’s research was in entomology but he switched disciplines and has been in horticulture ever since beginning here in 2017
Growing up in the Northeast, Chris started skating around the age of 5 and played ice hockey throughout his life. Although not as common in this area, he still enjoys watching hockey and always look forward to catching the Carolina Hurricanes’ play at home – especially in the playoffs.
Tucker Brandt
Greenhouse and Ornamental Research Specialist,
MHCREC
Tucker started here as a temporary summer employee in 2014, working in between college years at NC State University, before returning as a full-time a Research Technician in 2018. In 2020, Tucker was promoted to Greenhouse and Ornamental Research Specialist.
He really enjoys being over the greenhouses because it allows him to interact with almost all the project leaders and their programs. At some point, everyone comes through the greenhouse at MHCREC!
Tucker takes pride in his position and supports all the programs here at MHCREC to the best of his abilities.
Outside of work, he enjoys a good craft IPA and supporting our many local breweries!
Tom Bilbo
Postdoctoral Research Scholar,
Dept. of Entomology & Plant Pathology
Tom researches methods and practices to improve the biological and cultural management of insect pests in vegetables.
He is an avid gardener and outdoor enthusiast.
Tom lives in complete denial every year that summer will end, and overcompensates in September by listening exclusively to his luau-themed Spotify playlists.
He will miss all his MHCREC friends when leaving this Fall to take a position in Charleston, SC as Clemson’s Vegetable and Strawberry Entomologist—but promises to return each summer to trade SC watermelons for NC Peaches.
Michelle Benigno
Director, Satellite Office, NC State University Science House
College of Sciences
Michelle grew up in Ashe County and graduated from the NC School of Science and Mathematics, and NC State University.
She runs on coffee and mountain air.
She loves traveling and is open to adventure- at one point she lived in a teepee off the grid.
Teaching is her passion. The Mountain Satellite Office of the NC State University Science House serves around 40,000 students and 1300 teachers each year providing STEM instruction and equipment to rural and underserved communities.
