Luther Hodges, reporting from Iraq

Former Charlotte banker Luther Hodges Jr., son of the late Gov. Luther Hodges, has had a varied career -- businessman, politician, Democrat, Republican and adjunct professor at UNC's Kenan School of Business. He'll start adding foreign correspondent to his resume today when he starts writing a blog from Sulaimani in the Kurdish region of Iraq, reports a media consulting firm promoting the arrangement and the "Tarheel Democracy Dispatch." (Note 'Tarheel,' not Tar Heel.) Here's a press release (the Web site address for Hodges' blog is www.tarheeldemocracydispatch.com) from Kohn Associates, which notes that it has done work for a number of clients including Republicans such as N.C. Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry and state Sen. David Rouzer:

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joyce Kohn February 5, 2009
February 4, 2009 – RALEIGH, N.C. - Luther H. Hodges Jr., a long-time North Carolina public servant and business ambassador, invites you to come along as he embarks on his journey to Sulaimani, in the Kurdish region of Iraq. You can track Luther's adventures, currently an adjunct professor at UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School, by following his daily blog at www.tarheeldemocracydispatch.com , presented in association with Kohn Associates, LLC.

Tarheel Democracy Dispatch provides media outlets, institutions of higher learning, and all engaged North Carolinians with a direct look into the culture of a developing northeastern Iraq city, through a daily blog composed by Luther himself. Share the author's intimate experiences, observations and perceptions on Iraq's post-democratic transition and exposure to a global economy.
The Tarheel Democracy Dispatch is proud to partner with the North Carolina Heroes Fund, a 501( C)(3 )organization dedicated to serving the men and women from North Carolina who have or are currently serving in the armed services. The alignment with such a worthwhile cause highlights the sacrifice that so many families have made to ensure our countries freedom.
The first blog post from Iraq will begin on February 6, 2009 as Mr. Hodges is expected to arrive in Sulaimani to begin his stent at American University’s Executive MBA program teaching business law and ethics. Course documents and cases are included as part of the blog’s site.
News Facts:
• The American University of Iraq in Sulaimani is a private, non- profit, comprehensive liberal arts, American style university situated in the progressive and safe city of Sulaimani, in the Kurdish region of Northern Iraq and opened its doors in October 2007. At all levels of instruction at AUI-S, learning is enhanced by way of small, interactive classes and close student-faculty relationships and the language of instruction is English throughout.
• The North Carolina Heroes’ Fund www.northcarolinaheroesfund.org is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to supporting the men and women of North Carolina who support us. The Fund’s focus is on men and women or their families who are currently serving or have recently served in the military and are enduring hardships. The fund was established to provide support to military men and women from North Carolina or those stationed at one of North Carolina’s many military bases.
• Luther H. Hodges, Jr. currently lives in Chapel Hill, NC with his wife Cheray and their three wonderful Labrador Retrievers. Cheray and Luther enjoy spending extended time in Watauga County, in the Western part of our state. Luther graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1957 and went on to Harvard to receive his Masters in Business Administration, which he completed in 1961. Upon his graduation from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he served as an officer in the United States Navy. Much like his father, he entered into the private sector with the intentions of serving the public, as stressed by his father, so he could "give back" to society. He worked 25 years in the commercial banking business, as the Chairman of the Board of the North Carolina National Bank (later becoming Bank of America), and Chairman and CEO of Washington Bancorporation and The National Bank of Washington. In following his father’s footsteps, he ran for United States Senate from North Carolina in 1978, later he served as Acting Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Commerce under President Jimmy Carter. Currently, he serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School, along with serving on various boards of directors.
• Kohn Associates is a strategic marketing, public relations, fundraising and event planning firm located in Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina. By providing turn-key marketing services, and an impressive team lead by principle Joyce Kohn and associates Leah Bartlett (Charlotte, NC) and Matthew Bales they are able to fully serve all their clients needs. Kohn Associates provides in-house web and design services, large and small scale event planning and execution services as well extensive statewide campaign experience. Current clients include the Tarheel Democracy Dispatch, North Carolina Heroes Fund, The Contemporary Art Foundation, David Rouzer for State Senate and Cherie Berry Commissioner of Labor.