Each month, High Point University President Nido Qubein hosts a Power List Interview, a partnership for discussions with some of the state’s most influential leaders featured in Business North Carolina’s Power List. Since its inception in January 2023, those interviewed have included Lee-Moore Capital CEO Kirk Bradley, Front Street Capital Managing Partner Robin Team, retired Truist CEO Kelly King, and Piedmont Triad Partnership President Michael Fox.
WHO’S NEXT?
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PRESENTING THE POWER LIST
Thanks for taking time to check out the Business North Carolina Power List, our annual snapshot of the state’s most influential private-sector leaders.
As noted annually, North Carolina’s population of 11 million includes many outstanding leaders, making this a small, subjective sampling of those with notable power. The list comes from nominations, discussions with sources, considerable research and many years of experience covering the state’s business community.
The Power List fits Business North Carolina’s 44-year heritage of reporting on state commerce and leadership from a unique statewide perspective. The publication also helps us learn more about key movers and shakers, many of whom aren’t publicity seekers.
The list skews toward white males, a reflection of national and statewide business leadership that doesn’t match the state’s increasing diversity.
My favorite part of this effort is the responses from leaders to our questions. Here’s what several said when asked about the best career advice they had received.
Always strive to be the biggest person in the room, not by word but by deed. — Stuart Goldstein, Cadwalader
If your teammate fails, you fail. — Cecilia Holden, myFutureNC
Your network is your net worth. — Aaron Thomas, Metcon Buildings and Infrastructure
Begin with the end in mind. — David Couch, Blue Ridge Companies
All you have is your word. Character is everything. — Brett Gray, CBRE
Always be yourself. Unless you can be Batman, in which case, always be Batman. — Brian Kahn, McGuireWoods
If the odds are one in a million, just be the one. — Dontá Wilson, Truist
Use career setbacks to push yourself. Don’t forget them, but don’t dwell on them. — Michael Smith, Chatham County EDC
Control what you can control. — Andrea Smith, Charlotte Regional Business Alliance
Don’t sweat the little stuff. If you stop to quiet every barking dog, you will not get to the other side of the street. — Johno Harris III, Lincoln Property
We have two ears and one mouth, so we can listen twice as much as we speak. — Ben Greenberg, N.C. Trucking Association
Don’t peak too soon. — Tino McFarland, McFarland Construction
There are no shortcuts. It’s hard work, grit and perseverance. — Jim Dunn, Verger Capital Management
Don’t believe in your own press clippings. — Brian Stading, Lumos
Never mess up the money. — Tim Minton, N.C. Home Builders Association
Don’t ask anyone to do something you would not do yourself. — Eric Reichard, Rodgers Builders
Do only what you can do — Todd Olson, Pendo
Take care of the people, the products and the profits, in that order. — Byron Kirkland, Smith Anderson
Don’t get too comfortable. — Hans Stig Moller, Odyssey Logistics
Contact David Mildenberg at dmildenberg@businessnc.com
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• City of Greensboro
• Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro
• Computerway Food Systems, Inc.
• Cone Health
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• Stearns Financial Group
• STITCH Design Shop
• The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro
• The Brooks Group
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• The Sales Factory
• Thompson Traders
• Triad Adult and Pediatric Medicine, Inc.
• Truliant Federal Credit Union
• UNC Greensboro
• United Way Greater Greensboro
• Volvo Group
• Weaver Investment Company
• Whitewood Construction
• YMCA of Greensboro
• ZIEHL-ABEGG, Inc.
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Innovation drives impact. To the exceptional leaders—across a wide range of industries—who fuel that innovation in our state, we extend our sincere thanks and congratulations. Your leadership continues to shape the future of North Carolina.
We are proud to recognize these achievements by sponsoring Business North Carolina’s 2025 Power List and celebrating this year’s honorees. For more than 125 years, we’ve been fortunate to work alongside visionary leaders at the helm of many of North Carolina’s most influential organizations. We look forward to seeing where your leadership will take our state in the years ahead.
Once again, congratulations to the 2025 honorees.
AAbrams, Kerry 89
Ackermann, Stacy 89
Adams II, James 89
Aiken, Debbie 113
Albanese, Craig 65
Allen, Brian 125
Allison, Darrell 35
Andrews, Andy 125
Andrews, Kelly 25
Armario, Jose 73
Armato, Carl 65
Ashburn, Leah Wong 103
Atala, Anthony 99
Aznar, Amy Klein 125
B
Bachmann, Anita
Hughes 49
Baggett, Chip 65
Bagwell, Steve 73
Baird, Spencer 82
Baker, Kevin 145
Balling, Mark 125
Bamford, Lynn 103
Bangston, Kevin 145
Banks, Sherrod 89
Barksdale, David 49
Barnhill, Rob 125
Batten, Natalie 120
Baxter, Scott 103
Beacham, Tripp 120
Belcher, Laura 113
Belichick, Bill 17
Berlin, Steve 89
Bernhardt Jr., Alex 103
Bessant, Cathy 113
Black, Tera 17
Blackwelder, Garrett 82
Boddie, Bill 73
Book, Connie 35
Bostian, Jim 49
Boulware, Ebony 65
Bowman, Kendal 44
Bradford, Demp 17
Bradley, Kirk 126
Brady, Brittany 25
Brady, Leigh 49
Brannan, Joe 44
Braswell, Ronald “Trey” 11
Bratspies, Stephen 104
Brazil, Mark 17
Brinkley, Martin 89
Brown, Kelli 35
Brown, Palmer 140
Bruggeworth, Bob 82
Bryan, Jim 104
Bryant, Richard 49
Budd, Joseph 120
Burks, Wesley 65
Bushnell, Andrea 126
C
Cagle, Mary Jo 66
Cahill, Dan 89
Callicutt, Rick 49
Canfield, Jim 120
Carroll II, Roy 126
Carter, Wes 104
Cato, John 140
Catt, Ben 44
Caveney, Brian 66
Cecil, John ‘Jack’ 73
Cecil Jr., Bill 73
Chadwick, Greg 66
Charlesworth, Josh 74
Chen, Victor 50
Chhabra, G.S. 74
Childress, Richard 17
Christensen, Ashley 74
Christensen, Brent 25
Christensen, William “Bill” 104
Chung, Christopher 25
Clark, Brian 145
Cockrell, Kieth 50
Colbert, Lois 90
Cole, Adrienne 26
Coley, Malcomb 121
Cooper, Lisa 140
Corrigan, Boo 17
Couch, David 126
Cox, Jeff 35
Cox, Roy 145
Craig, Mark 74
Creed, J. Bradley 35
Cubbage, Amy 113
Cunningham, Bubba 17
Currie, Adam 50
D
Davenport, Lawrence 26
Davis, Eric 35
Davis, Matt 50
Day, Ron 48
Deans, Neil 121
DeBoer, Tammy 140
Deitemeyer, Kandi 36
Denton, Don 44
Desmond, Sean 82
Dick, Kevin 113
Dobson, Bryan 11
Dobson, Josh 66
Donaldson, Jimmy 17
Downie, Chris 82
Duckworth, Scott 127
Dudas, John 127
Dudley, Caroline Helwig 119
Duggins, Nathan 90
Duncan, Clark 26
Dundon, Tom 18
Dunn, Jim 51
Dunn, Lili 127
Durham, Geoff 26
Dyke, Jeff 140
EEckel, Brian 127
Edmondson, Ty 128
Edwards, Dennis 74
Edwards, Rob 51
Elias, Ric 83
Ellis, Nick 121
Ellison, Marvin 141
English, Natalie 26
Eshelman, Fred 99
Etheridge, Mark 114
Evans, Bradley 90
Evans, Paul 99
Evans, Steve 11
Eveson, Todd 90
FFarmer, Allison 64
Fite, Lee 52
Flow, Don 141
Flowers, Derek 52
Fochtman, Barbara 45
Foster, Geoff 104
Foster, Joe 121
Foster, Mickey 68
Fox, Garey 11
Fox, Michael 145
Franklin, Kevin 27
Freeman, Marty 145
Freischlag, Julie 66
French, Rick 121
Freno, Mike 52
Friedman, Alison 18
Frye, Bobby 104
GGabbard, Tom 18
Gaber, Sharon 36
Gaither, John 106
Gardner, David 52
Gardner, David 83
Garofolo, Paul 99
Gatling, Kimberly 90
Gentry, Haley 146
George, Brian 141
Gerald, Laura 114
Gersbach, Charles 99
Gibbs, Joe 18
Gilliam Jr., Franklin 36
Gintzig, Donald 67
Glasgow, Baker 128
Goldstein, Stuart 91
Goodmon, Jim 18
Goodnight, Jim 83
Graham, Franklin 114
Grainger, Michelle 12
Gray, Michael 45
Gray, Brett 128
Greenberg, Ben 146
Griffn, Tom 91
Grubb, Clay 130
Guthmiller, Janet 67
Gwaltney, Peter 52
HHadley, Zeb 130
Hagood, Craig 10
Hall, Todd 52
Hamilton, Scott 27
Hans, Peter 36
Hansen, Jim 54
Harding, Shawn 11
Hardison, Hooper 106
Harkrader, Carson 45
Harrington, Robert 92
Harris, Jeffrey 141
Harris III, Johno 131
Harrison III, Frank 106
Hatem, Greg 72
Hauser, John 36
Hawkins, Vern 12
Haygood, Jennifer 38
Haynes, Ken 68
Hefner, Brad 83
Heinsohn, Joy 114
Hendrick, Rick 141
Herranz, Rosa Manso 99
Herring, Tommy 12
Hicks, Michell 75
Hill, Loren 27
Hillings, Valerie 18
Holden, Cecilia 114
Holding Jr., Frank 54
Hoops, Humphrey, Timothy 83
Hutchens, Terry 92
I
Ingle II, Robert 141
Isley, Victoria 75
J
Jablokov, Igor 84
Jandrain, Jay 12
Janson, Julie 45
Jeffs, Roger 98
Jenatian, Mohammad 75
Jewell, Stan 106
Johnnie, Mark 130
Johnson, Brian 142
Johnson, Chris 28
Jones, David 130
Jones, Reg 19
Jones, Roy 46
Jones, Shayla Nunn 100
KKahn, Brian 92
Kane, John 132
Kapur, Vimal 105
Keith Jr., Greg 132
Kelly, Tamika Walker 38
Kemper, Chris 46
Kiger, Christopher 92
Kilpatrick, Mike 46
King, Jonathon 54
King, Nina 19
Kirkland, Byron 93
Kleinhans, Evan 12
Klinck, Ted 126
Kolappa, Vimal 75
Kollins, Katherine 46
Kouri, Chris 93
Kunz, Elizabeth 112
LLadig, Curt 54
Lancaster, Mike 132
Landguth, Michael 146
Laport, Mark 75
Lardie, Mark 142
Lash, Pete 132
Lawrence, Paul 93
Lawrence, Tom 116
Leatherwood, Laura 34
Lebda, Doug 56
Ledford, Jamie 19
Legg, Ryan 146
Levitan, Scott 28
Lewus, Paul 100
Lierman, Deverre 84
Lipson, Jesse 84
Long, Bobby 116
Looney, Thomas 38
Lowe, Greg 68
Lowe, Tim 142
Lowe III, Eugene 107
Luddy, Robert 107
M
Mabry, Rhett 116
Mahan, Chip 56
Maier, Angie 14
Malik, Steve 19
Mallernee, Robert 84
Massas, Robert Lopez 146
Masters, Kent 107
McCarthy, Brian 56
McCarthy, Kevin 56
McClure, Steve 134
McConnell, John 76
McCreary, Bob 107
McCurdy, Ryan 84
McDowell, Valecia 93
McFarland, Tino 134
McLaurin, Gene 28
McMahan, Ed 56
McRae, Cam 76
Mikhail, Sheila 100
Millar, Scott 28
Miller, Fielding 56
Millinor, Blake 107
Mims, Susan 116
Minges, Lynn 76
Minton, Tim 134
Mintz, Phil 107
Mitchell, Thomas 94
Moller, Hans Stig 144
Monroe, Chase 134
Moore, Richard 57
Morken, David 86
Morrow, John 94
Moshakos, Amber 76
Munn, Michael 122
Murphy Jr., Wendell ‘Dell’ 14
NNagowski, Mike 70
Nelson, Dionne 136
Nelson, Thomas 108
Nettles, Lee 76
Newell, Robert ‘Bob’ 57
Niklason, Laura 100
Niven, Kathie 76
Nye, Ward 108
OO’Dell, Dee 57
Oehmig, Leib 108
Oglesby, Megan 20
O’Kelly, Shane 142
Olson, Todd 86
Owen Jr., Dale 68
Owens, Mark 29
Page, Christy 70
Painter, Michael 58
Panther, Kent 122
Pappas, Paradise, Joe 122
Parker, Chad 122
Parker, Daren 46
Parker, Jim 122
Parrish, Doyle 78
Pashley, Tom 78
Patel, Nayan 78
Peek, Chris 70
Peele, Katherine 122
Peña, Omar Jorge 143
Perko, Amy Privette 20
Pesquin, Gustavo 100
Phillips, James 19
Pike, J. Eric 46
Pilon, Mary Claudia Belk 116
Plotkin, Gabe 20
Pointer, Joey 143
Pope, Art 143
Popowycz, Mike 14
Porter, Julie 117
Poston, Edwin 58
Powell, Meg 100
Praeger, Michael 86
Pratt, Ryan 87
Preyer, John 38
Price, Kevin 29
Price, Marvin 29
Price, Vincent 40
Profftt, Stuart 136
QQubein, Nido 40
RRaffaldini, Jay 78
Raiford, Brooks 87
Rajkowski, Dan 20
Ralls, Scott 40
Randolph, Jimmy 30
Ravin, David 136
Rea, David 58
Rea, Paul 14
Jeremy 80
Reichard, Eric 136
Regnery, Dave 108
Rhatigan, Bob 101
Roberts, Lee 40
Robertson, Allen 94
Robertson, Ford 94
Robinson, Jenna 41
Rocha-Goldberg, Pilar 117
Rogers, Philip 41
Rogers Jr., William ‘Bill’ 58
Roper, Julie 30
Rose, Jim 59
Rothblatt, Martine 101
Rucker, Brandon 123
Ruhe, Thom 117
Rydell, Shannon 123
S
Sachar, Ravish 101
Safran, Perry 96
Salamido, Gary 32
Samet, Arthur 136
Samulski, R. Jude 101
Sandner, Jason 59
Schmidt, Andrew 78
Schnall, Rick 20
Schornak, Tommy 101
Scott III, Linwood 14
Searcy, Douglas 42
Segrave, Jim 148
Sharma, Amit 86
Sherrill, Glenn 108
Shuford III, Alex 1
Sideris, Harry 43
Sills, James 60
Simpson, David 137
Sisco, Lee 123
Slosson, Jack 96
Smith, Andrea 30
Smith, Eddie 109
Smith, Harry 102
Smith, LaTida 118
Smith, Marcus 22
Smith, Michael 24
Smith, Tim 137
Sobba, Gary 22
Solomon, Jason 96
Sotunde, Tunde 59
Spector, Leo 70
Stading, Brian 81
Starling, Ray 88
Steigerwalt, Eric 60
Strayhorn, Ralph 33
Suggs, Sean 110
Sutton Jr., Ben 16
Sweeney, Tim 87
Sytz, Ron 110
WWaldrum, Michael 71
Walker, Kevin 60
Wall, Marshall 96
Wallace, Mona Lisa 97
Walter, Greg 22
Walton, Thad 62
Warlick, Anderson 111
Warren, Carl 148
Warren, Jim 47
Waterfeld, David 111
Weisiger Jr., Ed 124
Weiss, Michael 100
Westbrook, Hunter 62
Whitehurst, Ted 62
Whiteside, Jennifer Tolle 118
Wilhelm, Markus 47
Wilkerson, Drew 148
TTaft Jr., Thomas 137
Tate, Andrew 32
Taylor, Chris 148
Teague, Ben 33
Team, Robin 137
Tepper, David 22
Thomas, Aaron 138
Thomas, Charles 118
Thompson, Michelle 123
Thorp, Clay 60
Topalian, Leon 110
Trenary, Lance 80
Triplett, Neal 60
Trivanovic, Vuk 110
Tucker, Lisa 143
Tucker, Marilyn Que 22
Tuttell, Wit 80
Williams, Devon 97
Williams, Hope 42
Williams, Kevin 97
Willis, Mary 62
Wilson, Dontá 62
Wingo, Scot 87
Winslow, Dan 118
Wise, Jeff 22
Woltz III, Howard 111
Woodie, Patrick 33
Woods, Gene 71
YYalof, Stephen 139
Yost, Steve 33
VVan Geons, Robert 32
Vannoy, Eddie 138
VanWingerden, Abe 143
Vick, Linwood 14
ZZarian, Paul 138
Zimmerman, Richard 22
CRAIG HAGOOD
CEO
House-Autry Mills
Four Oaks
2025 POWER LIST AGRICULTURE HONOREES
Hagood has spent the past 15 years helming the more than 200-year-old company. He was hired in 2001, the same year it relocated to Four Oaks from Newton Grove. He oversees the production of company branded, private-label and custom products for customers nationwide. They include cornmeal, breadings and mixes.
Hagood oversaw the addition of a gluten-free products factory in 2013 and the purchase of hot sauces and seasonings maker Captain Foods in 2019. He previously worked at Cargill and Conagra.
House-Autry dates to when the House family of England moved to the U.S. and started a mill in Sampson County in 1812. In 1967, the House and Autry Brothers Mill Co. merged to create House-Autry.
Education:
BS University of Georgia; MS Kansas State University; Ph.D. Indiana Wesleyan University
Favorite start to the day: I pray with my wife every morning, even when I’m out of town
Best advice for career: Beware of the status quo; embrace change and the opportunities it brings.
Favorite volunteer activity: Military Missions in Action, which helps veterans in need, and Lettum Eat, which provides food and meals for families in need.
Favorite podcast: “Masters In Business” with Barry Ritholtz, owner of a New York-based investment management company
Best question for hiring: What is the question I should have asked you that I didn’t?
RONALD “TREY” BRASWELL
BRYAN DOBSON
STEVE EVANS
GAREY FOX
MICHELLE GRAINGER
CRAIG HAGOOD
SHAWN HARDING
VERN HAWKINS
TOMMY HERRING
JAY JANDRAIN
EVAN KLEINHANS
ANGIE MAIER
WENDELL “DELL” MURPHY JR.
MIKE POPOWYCZ
PAUL REA
LINWOOD H. SCOTT III
LINWOOD VICK
"Beware of the status quo; embrace change and the opportunities it brings.”
— CRAIG HAGOOD
RONALD “TREY” BRASWELL
President
Braswell Family Farms
Nashville
Braswell, a fourth-generation farmer, was named president in 2017. The farm, which was started by brothers E.G. and J.M. Braswell more than 80 years ago, is a founding member of distributor Eggland’s Best Eggs and the country’s second-largest franchisee, producing more than 65 million dozen eggs annually. He also oversees the company’s feed business, which serves chicken and hog farmers from one of the East Coast’s largest mills. His father, the farm’s third-generation leader, died in October.
Education: BA NC State University; MBA The College of William and Mary
GAREY FOX
Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
NC State University Cary
Fox came to NC State in 2017, when he was named a professor and head of the college’s Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. He became dean six years later. He helps spotlight the mission to feed a growing population despite urban expansion consuming farmland and other challenges.
The college and U.S. Department of Agriculture are building a nearly 52,000-square-foot plant improvement laboratory, allowing scientists to research improvements to maize, soybean, wheat, cotton and peanuts. It’s expected to open next year.
Education: BS, MS Texas A&M University; Ph.D. Colorado State University
Favorite start to the day:
Accomplish something — early wins create positive momentum, improving motivation for larger challenges.
Best advice for career: A leader will never make everyone happy. Focus on vision and mission, clearly communicating the reasons for your decisions.
Favorite volunteer activity:
Coaching a high school robotics team
Industry’s key challenge: Farmland loss, extreme weather events, workforce development, and disease and pest management
Your best life change:
Becoming NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences dean
BRYAN DOBSON CEO
Quality Equipment
Fuquay-Varina
Dobson has led this group of John Deere dealerships since a 2018 merger. Its 36 locations, including 33 in North Carolina, and about 650 employees makes it the country’s seventh largest, according to trade publication Farm Equipment’s most-recent ranking. He grew up in his family’s John Deere business in the late 1970s and 80s and spent six years in the furniture industry across the South before returning to Farmland Tractor in Scotland Neck in 1997.
Education: BA East Carolina University
STEVE EVANS
Vice President, Community Development Smithfield Foods Knightdale
SHAWN HARDING
President
N.C. Farm Bureau Raleigh
Evans took his experience working in rural community development jobs to the Virginia-based food processor in 2019. He promotes the company’s strategies, including environmental and workforce development efforts. A Knightdale City Council member since 2021 and serving as its mayor pro tem, he promotes the food company’s strategies, also is a board member for the N.C. Business Committee for Education. In January, the Chinese-owned business raised about $520 million in an IPO.
Education: BS N.C. A&T State University
Harding has led the state’s largest farm group since 2019. It counts more than 500,000 memberfamilies. Its main business is insurance, with annual revenue of about $1 billion. Harding grew up in Beaufort County, where he worked on his family’s tobacco farm in Chocowinity. He and his brother raised tobacco until his wife, Tracey, helped them shift to fruits and vegetables in the late 1990s. One of his three children now manages the farm.
Education: BS NC State University
MICHELLE GRAINGER
Executive Director
N.C. Sweetpotato Commission
Grainger took the commission reins in 2020 after working at her alma mater’s Center for Innovation Management Studies and Executive Farm Management Program for about 20 years. She represents more than 400 growers and the packers, processors and business associates that support them. North Carolina’s hot, moist climate and fertile soil have made the state the No. 1 producer of sweetpotatoes since 1971. Nearly two-thirds of all sweetpotatoes grown nationwide come from eastern North Carolina. She helped lead the initiative to make the official spelling of sweetpotato one word.
Education:
BA, BS NC State University
Favorite start to the day: Saying a prayer of gratitude for all of the incredible blessings I and those whom I love have been blessed by. Best advice for career: Don’t get discouraged when the path gets rocky, but stay the course and recruit the missing skill sets you need. Influential mentor: Much of my leadership style and approach to decision-making, I attribute to Paul Mugge, my manager for more than 15 years at NC State.
Favorite podcast: “The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe” and “An Army of Normal Folks with Coach Bill Courtney”
Best tip for engaging workers: Allowing people to take ownership in projects where their strengths and skills are able to shine.
VERN HAWKINS
President Syngenta Crop Protection
Greensboro
An Indiana native, Hawkins went to work for Zeneca Agrochemicals as a fungicide and insecticide product manager in the U.K. after earning his MBA. He started with Syngenta, where he previously worked as a college intern, in 1985 and was named president in 2010. He helped introduce a fungicide used on more than 130 crops grown in 100-plus nations. He is a director of Taranis, a leader in AI-powered crop intelligence. Last fall, the company completed a renovation of its 17-building, 70-acre campus in Greensboro.
Education: BS Purdue University; MBA Temple University
TOMMY HERRING
President Hog Slat Newton Grove
Herring, alongside his brothers David and Mark, took over Hog Slat from their father, Billy Herring, and helped build the country’s largest swine equipment manufacturer. It has about 1,000 employees and 1,400 subcontractors. It sells hog and poultry confinement units through 95 retail stores. The three brothers also own TDM Farms, which operates in five states and sells more than 800,000 hogs annually. He was inducted into trade publication Swineweb.com’s Hall of Fame this year.
Education: BS NC State University
JAY JANDRAIN CEO Butterball Garner
After working for Cargill and Plantation, Jandrain joined Butterball in 2002 as director of research and development and began his current role in 2018. The company, jointly owned by Goldsboro-based Goldsboro Milling and Merriam, Kansasbased Seaboard, produces more than 1 billion pounds of turkey products annually, the most in the U.S. It has more than 6,000 employees and processing plants in North Carolina, Missouri and Arkansas. He also chairs the National Turkey Federation.
Education: BS Cornell University
EVAN KLEINHANS CEO AgCarolina Farm Credit Winterville
Kleinhans became CEO in January 2023 after working for the membership-owned enterprise since 2011. AgCarolina is part of the Farm Credit System, the largest provider of credit to U.S. agriculture. His group has more than $3 billion in loans to almost 6,000 members across 46 counties in eastern North Carolina.
Education: BS, MBA East Carolina University
Cary
ANGIE MAIER
Principal Valley View Insights
Raleigh
WENDELL “DELL”
MURPHY JR.
Chair
Murphy Family Ventures
Rose Hill
MIKE POPOWYCZ CEO Case Farms Troutman
Maier did stints with the N.C. Pork Council and as an N.C. General Assembly staffer before starting her business. It lobbies for trade associations representing the cattle, dairy and pork industries. She has had a hand in bills that changed the state’s right-to-farm laws and the development of swine renewable natural gas projects.
Education: BA, Master’s NC State University
Favorite start to the day: Making tea - Harney and Sons’ Tower of London and Paris
Favorite podcast: “This American Life” Your best life change: Starting my lobbying business
Favorite actor to play you: Lauren Graham
Murphy made news in December when the company agreed to produce as many as 3.2 million hogs annually for Smithfeld Foods, continuing a long family tradition. In 1962, Murphy’s father and grandfather started a pork production business that became a national leader before merging with Smithfeld in 2000. Four years later, the family’s businesses, including farm management, golf courses, and sales of cars, boats and real estate, were united under Murphy Family Ventures. Murphy’s father, Wendell, is a member of the NC State board of trustees, and his wife, Wendy, chairs the UNC System Board of Governors.
Education: BS NC State University
Popowycz has led Case Farms since 2022. He joined the poultry operation in 1987, a year after its founding. He currently oversees 475 grower farms. The company, which also has operations in Ohio, processes 3.8 million birds per week, employs about 3,200 people and produces more than 1 billion pounds of poultry products annually. Case’s former chief fnancial offcer and board member since 2005, he has served as chair of the National Chicken Council board.
Education: BA Moravian College
Rea joined BASF in Australia in 2001. The New Zealand native worked in Singapore before taking his current role in 2015. He oversees the German-based company’s crop protection, seed, turf and pest management business in the United States and Canada.
Education: MBA University of Sydney PAUL REA
Senior Vice President BASF North America Raleigh
LINWOOD SCOTT
III Co-Owner Scott Farms Lucama
Scott serves as vice president of tobacco and farm operations on the six-generation farm, where he works with his father, Linwood Scott Jr., and his brother, Dewey. It includes more than 14,000 acres of sweetpotato, tobacco and other crops in Wilson County. It’s one of the largest companies that extends to Wayne and Johnston counties. Scott Farms was a pioneer in exporting sweetpotatoes to the U.K. In 2000, at age 31, Scott was the U.S. National Young Farmer of the Year, like his father 24 years earlier. In his spare time, he has coached youth basketball and T-ball.
Education: Atlantic Christian (now Barton College)
LINWOOD VICK
Partner, General Manager
Vick Family Farms Wilson
Vick Family Farms stretches across more than 9,000 acres in Wilson, Nash and Edgecombe counties, a far cry from the 25 acres his parents, Jerome and Diane, started with 50 years ago. It grows tobacco, sweetpotatoes, cotton, soybeans, wheat and corn. Its Carolina Gold and Pure Gold sweetpotatoes are sold worldwide, frst exported to the United Kingdom in the mid-1990s. He’s received the N.C. Farm Family of the Year and National Young Farmer of the Year awards.
Education: BS NC State University
BEN SUTTON JR. CEO
Teall Sports & Entertainment Winston-Salem
2025 POWER LIST ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS HONOREES
BILL BELICHICK
TERA BLACK
MARK BRAZIL
RICHARD CHILDRESS
BOO CORRIGAN
Marketing and advancing intercollegiate athletics is Sutton’s MO. The former Wake Forest athletic department employee manages an empire of sports-related investments through his current company, which he founded several years ago. ISP, the sports marketing company he built from scratch, was acquired by sports marketing and licensing giant IMG in 2010. He became president of IMG, eventually selling it to Silver Lake Partners and WME for $2.4 billion. His other investments include farming and gourmet restaurants.
Education: BA, JD Wake Forest University
Favorite start to the day: Morning coffee with three or four newspapers to read
Favorite volunteer activity: Working for and around projects on behalf of my alma mater, Wake Forest
Influential mentor: Gene Hooks, longtime Wake Forest athletics director
Industry’s key challenge: Coalescing around a long-term strategy that takes best advantage of college football, still the country’s most undervalued sports or entertainment asset.
Favorite musician: Fleetwood Mac
Best question for hiring: What fills your heart with joy?
Remote work, yay or nay? Nay — building deeply personal, purposeful, meaningful and team-oriented cultures is paramount to experiencing and sustaining success
Best tip for engaging workers: Don’t ask them to do anything you haven’t done yourself. People will follow where they see their leaders lead.
BUBBA CUNNINGHAM
JOHN CURRIE
JIMMY DONALDSON
TOM DUNDON
ALISON FRIEDMAN
THOMAS GABBARD
JOE GIBBS
JIM GOODMON
VALERIE HILLINGS
REG JONES
NINA KING
JAMIE LEDFORD
STEVE MALIK
MEGAN OGLESBY
JIM PHILLIPS
GABE PLOTKIN
AMY PRIVETTE PERKO
DAN RAJKOWSKI
RICK SCHNALL
MARCUS SMITH
BEN SUTTON JR.
DAVID TEPPER
MARILYN QUE TUCKER
GREG WALTER
JEFF WISE
RICHARD ZIMMERMAN
— Ben Sutton Jr.
“College football, still the country’s most undervalued sports or entertainment asset.”
BILL BELICHICK
Head Coach
UNC Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill
Charlotte
Charlotte
Belichick, who won six Super Bowls as the New England Patriots head coach, was given the reins of the University of North Carolina football program in December.
The Tar Heels agreed to a fiveyear contract that will pay him $10 million per year plus bonuses. UNC hopes to cash in on his gridiron genius, especially navigating name-image-likeness payments and the player transfer portal. He has promised an NFL-like operation that will attract players who want to get to the next level.
Education: BA Wesleyan College
Black is one of the longest tenured executives in the American Hockey League, which is minor league hockey’s top level. She’s also its only female COO, having spent almost 20 seasons with the Charlotte team. She has helped navigate the affiliate of the NHL’s Florida Panthers through good times, including claiming the 2019 Calder Cup championship, and challenges such as changing leagues, a season lost to the COVID-19 pandemic and two NHL affiliation changes. Her marketing prowess has made the Checkers among the AHL’s most successful, regularly ranking in the 28-team league’s top 10 in attendance.
Education:
BS San Diego State University
MARK BRAZIL
CEO Wyndham Championship Greensboro
Brazil has spent nearly 25 years shepherding the state’s longest-running PGA Tour event through professional golf’s rapidly changing landscape. The tournament now feels ensconced in its late-summer slot and is on sound financial footing. He was hired by the Greensboro Jaycees in 2001 as tournament director and became CEO of the Piedmont Triad Charitable Foundation, the tournament’s new umbrella organization, in 2021. Under his guidance, the tournament’s community presence has grown.
Education: BA Baylor University
RICHARD CHILDRESS
Owner
Richard Childress Racing Lexington
Childress continues to roll along as head of Richard Childress Racing, one of NASCAR’s leading teams. His grandson Austin drives one of its Cup cars. The soonto-be octogenarian founded the organization in 1969, while his driving career was winding down. He has invested in other businesses and interests, including Childress Vineyards in Lexington, one of the state’s largest wineries, and the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, part of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
BOO CORRIGAN
Athletic Director
N.C. State University
Raleigh
Corrigan became N.C. State’s athletic director in 2019, just in time to try to manage the chaos brought by the COVID pandemic, name-image-likeness payments and the player transfer portal. His department oversees 23 teams that brought more than $113 million in revenue to the school for 2023-24. The son of former ACC Commissioner Gene Corrigan, he is a player in the world of big-time college athletics, chairing the College Football Playoff Selection Committee in 2023-24.
Education: BA University of Notre Dame; MEd Virginia Commonwealth University
LAWRENCE “BUBBA” CUNNINGHAM
Athletic Director
UNC Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill
Cunningham is a prominent figure in national college athletics, serving as chair of this year’s NCAA basketball selection committee. UNC teams have won more than 20 national titles since his arrival in 2011. His tenure has included controversy over the sudden end of Mack Brown’s second tenure as football coach and the subsequent hiring of NFL legend Bill Belichick. Then there’s ongoing discussions of UNC’s future in the 70-year-old Atlantic Coast Conference.
Education: BA, MBA University of Notre Dame
TARA BLACK COO
JOHN CURRIE
Athletic Director
Wake Forest University Winston-Salem
Many Wake Forest teams, including men’s soccer, men’s and women’s golf, track, tennis and baseball, have excelled since Currie became AD in 2018. But having the smallest enrollment of any university in the four NCAA power conferences has proven a struggle when it comes to fnding resources for football and basketball. With an eye on new revenue, he is helping drive The Grounds, a $150 million mixedused development adjacent to Wake’s football stadium and basketball arena that includes the university, developer Carter, Front Street Capital and the city of Winston-Salem.
Education: BA Wake Forest University; Master’s University of Tennessee
JIMMY DONALDSON
Infuencer
MrBeast Greenville
Donaldson counts more than 384 million subscribers to his YouTube channel, MrBeast. He posted his frst video at the age of 13 in 2012. He’s credited with creating the genre of expensive video stunts. His include flling his brother’s house with expanding slime and planting golden treasure inside the Sphinx. He is the founder of several businesses and products, including MrBeast Burger, a chain of virtual restaurants; Lunchly snacks; and Feastables, a brand that markets snacks and chocolates. He’s a philanthropist, too, helping with #teamtrees, a reforestation effort, and #teamseas, which removes trash from rivers, beaches and oceans.
Education: East Carolina University
Owner
Carolina Hurricanes Raleigh
ALISON FRIEDMAN
James and Susan Moeser Executive and Artistic Director Carolina Performing Arts at UNC Chapel Hill Chapel Hill
Friedman manages artistic productions at four venues on campus and in the community. Her group collaborates with artists to create mission-driven experiences. She has considerable international experience, spending nearly two decades in China. She founded Ping Pong Productions, a nonproft performing arts exchange that presented performances on fve continents, and was artistic director for performing arts for the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority in Hong Kong.
Education: BA Brown University
Best advice for career: Follow the pull not the push.
Best question for hiring: What’s an example of when you didn’t take “no” for an answer?
Best tip for engaging workers: Listen
TOM
GABBARD
CEO
Blumenthal Arts Charlotte
Gabbard is into his third decade of leadership, overseeing the Queen City’s chief performing arts venues. They welcomed more than 1.2 million visitors and funneled more than $96 million into the local economy last year. He manages 110 employees who make sure more than 1,000 performances hit the stage annually. That’s helped make Charlotte a top-10 market in North America for touring Broadway shows. He serves on The Broadway League’s board of governors and is a past president of Independent Presenters Network.
Education: BA Pepperdine University; MBA Golden Gate University
Dundon has made his Carolina Hurricanes a success story. He became majority partner in 2018 and sole owner in 2021. The hockey team regularly contends for the Stanley Cup, and the team’s attendance is among the best in the NHL. The billionaire investor is working on a mixeduse development around Lenovo Center, where the Hurricanes will play through 2044. For help, he hired CEO Brian Fork, N.C. Sen. Phil Berger’s former chief of staff.
Education: BS Southern Methodist University
JOE GIBBS Owner, Founder
Joe Gibbs Racing
Huntersville
Joe Gibbs, 84, is still running circles around his competition. The Mocksville native who moved from North Carolina as a teen continues to oversee the NASCAR team he started in 1992. Gibbs’ drivers have won fve NASCAR Cup Series championships. He was inducted in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2020. That’s 24 years after he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His shrewd coaching led Washington to three Super Bowl wins between 1983 and 1992.
Education: BA, Master’s San Diego State University
TOM DUNDON
JIM GOODMON
CEO
Capitol Broadcasting
Raleigh
Goodmon started at WRAL-TV, the station owned by his grandfather, as a teenager. Company legend says he was so young that he was paid in petty cash to skirt labor laws. He became CEO in 1979. Under his leadership, Capitol has acquired three TV stations, nine radio stations, developed Durham’s American Tobacco Historic District, purchased the Durham Bulls baseball franchise in 1991, and launched various ventures, including High School OT, a website devoted to covering prep sports. His son Jimmy is now president.
Education: Duke University
VALERIE HILLINGS
CEO North Carolina Museum of Art
Raleigh
Hillings manages more than 200 employees at the state’s largest public art museum, which USA Today recently ranked No. 8 on its list of the country’s best free museums. The Alexandria, Virginia, native was named the museum’s leader in 2018. She spent the previous 14 years with Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation in New York City. The N.C. museum is in good fnancial health; its foundation had reserves of $79.2 million as of 2023. It received a $2.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment in March to support its Judaic art collection and expand programming.
Education: BA Duke University; MA, Ph.D. New York University
REG JONES
Managing Director
U.S. Golf Association
Pinehurst
Jones oversees parking, spectator transportation to grandstands, merchandise and other noncompetition matters at the U.S. Golf Association’s U.S. Open golf tournaments. He is credited with the smooth-running show at last year’s U.S. Open in Pinehurst. Jones started as an intern at Pinehurst Resort and was named operations manager in its championship offce in 1994 and director of operations in 1996. Then he was championship director before being hired by USGA.
Education: BA Wake Forest University; MA Ohio University
NINA KING
Athletic Director
Duke University Durham
Since 2021, King has led the university’s fabled athletics program, which includes 27 sports and nearly 800 student-athletes. In 2008, she followed mentor Kevin White to Duke from Notre Dame, then she was hired to replace him when he retired.
She is a past chair of the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Basketball Committee, serves on the boards of directors of USA Basketball and The College Women Sports Awards. She also teaches a sports business course at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business.
Education: BS University of Notre Dame; JD Tulane University
JAMIE LEDFORD
President
Golf Pride Grips Pinehurst
Ledford was named president of Golf Pride in 2012, following stints as vice president of global business development at Callaway Golf and director of consumer services at Starbucks. The company’s Global Innovation Center, which sits near Pinehurst’s No. 8 course, features retail, testing and rapid prototyping labs to develop new golf equipment. Golf Pride says more than 80% of tour professionals use its grips without a single endorsement deal.
Education: BA University of Puget Sound; MA Johns Hopkins University
STEVE MALIK
Owner, Chair North Carolina Football Club
Raleigh
Malik, who was born in Wales and grew up in Kinston, is a lifelong soccer fan. He purchased the Carolina Railhawks, now Carolina Football Club of the USL, in 2015 and the Western New York Flash of the NWSL in 2017. He moved the latter to Cary, rebranding it Carolina Courage. It has proven successful despite playing in the NWSL’s smallest venue, WakeMed Park. He has been unsuccessful in bringing a MLS franchise to Raleigh despite making several bids. He previously led some medical technology companies, including Medfusion, which he sold for $43 million in 2019.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill
MEGAN OGLESBY
Principal Investor
Carolina Core FC
High Point
Oglesby’s family started Old Dominion Freight Line and she is a chief adviser at the Earl and Kathryn Congdon Family Foundation. Last year, she joined friends and family to invest in the Carolina Core Football Club in Major League Soccer’s MLS Next Pro league. The Core may be the only sports franchise in America named after a regional economic development entity. It drew more than 3,700 fans each game at Truist Point stadium.
Education: BA Elon University; MBA High Point University
Favorite start to the day: A solid workout and strong cup of coffee before my kids get up.
Best advice for career: Surround yourself with people whose strengths balance your weaknesses and create an environment of trust and respect.
Infuential mentor: Earl and Kathryn Congdon Family Foundation’s David Congdon, who taught me that everything can be fgured out and to relentlessly ask questions.
Favorite question for hiring: Tell me about your guiding principles and values, both personally and professionally.
JAMES PHILLIPS
Commissioner
Atlantic Coast Conference
Charlotte
Phillips has been busy since coming on board in 2021. He ushered in the ACC’s bicoastal era, welcoming California, SMU and Stanford to the league. In March, the ACC settled its litigation with members Clemson and Florida State. ACC revenue topped $700 million for the frst time, according to its most-recent tax fling, and each member school received an average of $45 million, a league record.
Education: BA University of Illinois; MEd Arizona State University; Ph.D. University of Tennessee
GABE PLOTKIN
Majority Owner
Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte
Better big-time basketball is what Plotkin and Rich Schnall promised when they purchased the majority share of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets from Michael Jordan for $3 billion in 2023. But the team has lost more than two-thirds of its games since the sale. It has made the playoffs three times in the past 20 years. Plotkin founded the now-defunct Melvin Capital hedge fund, and has his own family offce, Miami Beach, Fla.based Tallwoods Capital.
Education: BA Northwestern University
AMY PRIVETTE PERKO
CEO
Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics
Fayetteville
A basketball standout and summa cum laude graduate at Wake Forest, Perko has made a career of keeping college athletics on the right track. After almost seven years as an NCAA rules enforcement offcer, she joined the Knight Commission in 2005. It’s tough work as colleges are well down the road to professionalism through name-image-likeness deals and portal-transfer freedom. In recent years, the commission has made several recommendations calling for a redistribution of the millions produced by the College Football Playoffs.
Education: BA Wake Forest University; MSM University of Richmond
Favorite start to the day: Stretching and yoga
Infuential mentor: Bill Friday Industry’s key challenge: Developing a legally defensible and sustainable structure for Division I sports that benefts athletes and schools
Favorite podcast: ‘Poetry Unbound’
DAN RAJKOWSKI
COO
Charlotte Knights
Charlotte
Rajkowski has worked in minor league baseball for more than 40 years, about half that time in the Charlotte Knights’ front offce. He helped the team move to downtown Charlotte’s Truist Field in 2014. Last summer, he was part of owner Don Beaver’s sale to New York-based Diamond Baseball Holdings, whose other recent purchases include the WinstonSalem Dash. He kept his job, and the team its White Sox affliation, after the transition. He also is lending a hand to the Queen City’s bid for a major league franchise.
RICK SCHNALL
Majority Owner
Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte
Schnall, along with Gabe Plotkin, became majority co-owners of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets in 2023. He is co-president of private equity frm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in New York. A former minority owner of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, he is credited with helping improve the team’s business operations before selling his share when the Hornet deal came along. He serves on the board of directors of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Education: BA University of Pennsylvania; MBA Harvard University
MARCUS SMITH CEO Speedway Motorsports
Charlotte
DAVID
TEPPER
Owner Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Football Club
Charlotte
Smith’s frst jobs at the Charlotte Motor Speedway involved picking up trash, mowing grass and selling tickets. Later, he left college to join his father’s management team at Speedway Motorsports, the racing conglomerate that owns 11 speedways across the country. He became its president in 2008 then CEO in 2015. His focus is improving the fan experience and building attendance, two places where the sport faces signifcant challenges.
Education: UNC Chapel Hill
GREG WALTER
President, General Manager Charlotte Motor Speedway Charlotte
Walter was named president of Charlotte Motor Speedway in September, the culmination of a sales and management career that included stops at Raycom, Capitol Broadcasting and ESPN. He was named Atlanta Motor Speedway’s vice president of sales in 1998, then general manager of the Charlotte track in 2018. He chairs the N.C. Motorsports Association’s board of directors, promoting an industry with a $6 billion impact on the state. He has been named Speedway Motorsports Promoter of the Year three times.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill
Tepper’s tenure as owner of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers has been challenged by abundant losses, fumbled draft picks and fred coaches. There hasn’t been a playoff berth or winning season since the hedge fund manager acquired the team for $2.2 billion in 2018. A recent NFL Players Association survey gave him a Dgrade. But fans seem impressed with Coach Dave Canales and Tepper wins kudos for bringing Major League Soccer to Charlotte. He’s also given music fans and the local hospitality sector much to cheer about, adding major concerts at Bank of America Stadium. Recent performances included Beyonce, Elton John and Kendrick Lamar.
Education: BA University of Pittsburgh; MBA Carnegie Mellon University
MARILYN QUE TUCKER
Commissioner
North Carolina High School Athletic Association
Chapel Hill
Tucker’s group oversees competition in 18 sports for its 444 member high schools. Its staff presides over conference alignments, championship competition, offciating and rules making. A former high school and college coach, she joined the 112-year-old organization in 1991. She’s faced tough questions in recent years because of N.C. General Assembly legislation, which curtailed the association’s powers.
Education: BA Mars Hill College; ME UNC Greensboro
JEFF WISE
CEO
Whitewater Center Charlotte
Wise practiced as an attorney in Atlanta, helped start Charlotte’s First Commerce Bank and co-founded and led a healthcare information systems company. But for most of the past two decades, he’s been the leader of the Whitewater Center, which attracts more than 1 million visits a year for outdoor sports, music, food and beverages. It offers the world’s largest recirculating artifcial whitewater river, and operates recreation facilities in western North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
Education: BA University of Richmond; JD Emory University
RICHARD ZIMMERMAN CEO
Six Flags Entertainment
Charlotte
The former president and CEO of amusement park operator Cedar Fair, Zimmerman kept his titles through last summer’s $2 billion merger with competitor Six Flags. Its new headquarters is in Charlotte, not far from Carowinds, one of its 42 parks across North America. The company said some were for sale, but didn’t mention names, during a March earnings call. He spent nearly a decade as general manager of Kings Dominion amusement park in Virginia and directed the Richmond Chamber of Commerce and Richmond Convention and Visitors Bureau. He is a senior adviser for New York-based Velocity Capital Management.
Education: BS Georgetown University
MICHAEL SMITH President
Chatham County Economic Development Corporation Pittsboro
2025 POWER LIST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HONOREES
Smith brought 20 years of economic development experience when he was hired to lead Chatham County EDC in 2021. The next year, VinFast and Wolfspeed pledged a combined $9 billion in investments and 9,000 jobs in the county.
The Wolfspeed plant is progressing, while VinFast has delayed its proposed factory as the Vietnamese company navigates the volatile electric-vehicle industry. Chatham remains among the state’s hottest markets, aided by its proximity to the Triangle and Triad metro areas. In December, MetOx International, manufacturer of superconducting wire, announced a $193.7 million factory in the county that may add 333 jobs.
Smith is among the state’s most experienced economic developers. He worked at the N.C. Department of Commerce for seven years, followed by jobs with local groups in Iredell, Davidson and Stanly counties. Before joining the Chatham EDC, he was executive director of Sanford Area Growth Alliance in Lee County for two years.
He’s a past president of the North Carolina Economic Development Association.
Education: BA, MA East Carolina University
Favorite start to the day: Using Upper Room Devotional on my iPhone while listening to WCPE
Best advice for career: Use career setbacks to push yourself. Don’t forget them, but don’t dwell on them.
Favorite volunteer activity: Jonesboro Rotary Club
Favorite podcast: “Maybe I’m Amazed” with Dr. James Howell, pastor at Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte
Favorite musician: U2
Remote work, yay or nay? Yay — it’s a positive way to keep our team energized, especially with the varying hours of economic development work
Your best life change: Using work-from-home days to catch up and get ahead
Favorite actor to play you: Tom Hanks
Best tip for engaging workers: Give them flexibility and support every day.
KELLY ANDREWS
BRITTANY BRADY
BRENT CHRISTENSEN
CHRISTOPHER CHUNG
ADRIENNE COLE
LAWRENCE DAVENPORT
CLARK DUNCAN
GEOFF DURHAM
NATALIE ENGLISH
KEVIN FRANKLIN
SCOTT HAMILTON
LOREN HILL
CHRIS JOHNSON
SCOTT LEVITAN
GENE MCLAURIN
SCOTT MILLAR
MARK OWENS
KEVIN PRICE
MARVIN PRICE
JIMMY RANDOLPH
JULIE ROPER
GARY SALAMIDO
ANDREA SMITH
MELISSA SMITH
MICHAEL SMITH
RALPH STRAYHORN
ANDREW TATE
BEN TEAGUE
ROBERT VAN GEONS
PATRICK WOODIE
STEVE YOST
them.
“Use career setbacks to push yourself. Don’t forget them, but don’t dwell on them.”
— Michael Smith
KELLY ANDREWS
Economic Development Director Pitt County Greenville
Andrews received one of two North Carolina Economic Development Association Economic Developer of the Year awards last June, culminating a year when Pitt County reported $450 million in capital investment that promised 1,000 jobs. The county also secured more than $2 million in grants to support growth. She was named executive director in 2020 after 14 years as assistant director. She serves on the Pitt Community College board of trustees and ECU’s executive board for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering.
Education: BSBA UNC Chapel Hill; MBA East Carolina University
BRITTANY BRADY
CEO
Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development
Hendersonville
The Henderson County native has led the county’s partnership since 2017. The group and Clark Capital are transforming Quality Point, a 338,000-square-foot building at Broadpoint Industrial Park in Fletcher. Current tenants include Tageos, d&b audiotechnik and Cummins. A Golden LEAF grant in 2020 of about $507,000 to extend public water to Hendersonville’s Garrison Industrial Park helped secure manufacturer Jabil as an anchor tenant. The Florida-based business employed 263 with an average wage of $54,057 by last September.
Education: BS East Tennessee State University; Master’s University of South Carolina
Favorite start to the day: Time with the Lord, a good workout and strong coffee
Best advice for career: Work in silence; let your success be the noise. Favorite volunteer activity: My kids’ schools
Influential mentor: [Duke Energy executive] Andrew Tate
Industry’s key challenge: Available land and people
Favorite podcast: “That Sounds Fun” with Annie F. Downs
Best tip for engaging workers: Communicate and celebrate
BRENT CHRISTENSEN
CEO
Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
Greensboro
Christensen has led the Chamber and its more than 1,300 member businesses since June 2015. It cited regional announcements of $5 billion in private capital investment and almost 9,000 new jobs over a fiveyear span. Aviation companies, such as HondaJet and HAECO Americas, and global apparel company Kontoor Brands are headquartered in Greensboro. Toyota’s first battery factory outside Japan is starting production about 20 miles southeast of Greensboro’s center city. He worked in economic development jobs in Mississippi and Florida before moving to the Gate City.
Education: BA Duke University; MBA University of South Florida
Favorite start to the day: A power walk on my Peloton Tread
Favorite podcast: “The Peter Zeihan Podcast Series”
Best question for hiring: What is the biggest professional risk you have ever taken? What was the result?
CHRISTOPHER CHUNG
CEO
Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
Raleigh
This year marks a decade since Chung was named CEO of the state’s business recruitment and support entity. His tenure has included historic economic development announcements, such as Toyota’s Randolph County plant, VinFast’s pledge for a $4 billion electric vehicle factory in Chatham County and Boom Supersonic’s plan at Piedmont Triad International Airport for a 1,700-employee factory to manufacture supersonic airliners. He grew up in the Columbus, Ohio, area and worked in Ohio and Missouri before joining the state’s public-private partnership.
Education: BA Ohio State University
Favorite start to the day: 6 a.m. workout, either swimming or weighttraining with a short cardio routine Best advice for career: Don’t hesitate to be the first to ask a question.
Favorite volunteer activity: Speaking to students about the economic development profession. While many didn’t know it existed, they want to learn more.
Industry’s key challenge: Ensuring that our services and value proposition evolve in step with our stakeholders.
Favorite podcast: The New York Times “The Daily”
Favorite musician: Any jazz great for relaxing and AC/DC for working out or getting fired up
Remote work, yay or nay? Yay
Your best life change:
Swimming for exercise.
Favorite actor to play you: Larry David
Best tip for engaging workers: Communicate openly, honestly and frequently.
ADRIENNE COLE
CEO
Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
Raleigh
Under Cole’s leadership, the Chamber contributed to the announcement of more than 100,000 jobs and $4.3 billion in capital investment during the past five years. She serves on several boards, including Research Triangle Regional Partnership and Downtown Raleigh Alliance. The Chamber counts more than 1,800 member businesses, which represent more than two-thirds of Wake County’s private-sector employment, and holds more than 160 annual events.
Education: BA Meredith College; MPA Appalachian State University
S. LAWRENCE DAVENPORT
Board Member
Golden LEAF Foundation
Rocky Mount
Davenport represents the past and present of North Carolina’s economy. A lifelong resident of Pitt County and fourth-generation tobacco farmer, he served on the board of the state’s Tobacco Growers Association. In 2001, he was appointed chair of the Golden LEAF Foundation’s 15-member board, where he is the longest-serving member. The foundation expects to grant about $69 million in fiscal year 2025 for college scholarships, economic development, agriculture, workforce development and other initiatives. In January, it announced a $25 million grant to the state Department of Public Instruction for efforts to improve rural middle schools.
Education: BS NC State University
Senior Vice President
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
Asheville
Duncan joined the Chamber in 2008 and has led several recruitment efforts, including New Belgium Brewing, Linamar, Moog Music and White Labs, and guided expansions, including GE Aviation. A key victory came in January when Pratt & Whitney announced an expansion of its turbine airfoil manufacturing plant, which had opened two years earlier in Buncombe County. The $285 million investment is expected to add 325 jobs to the almost 900 already there.
Education: BA Wake Forest University
Best start to the day: A brisk walk with my dog on the family farm Best advice for career: Trust is currency.
Best tip for engaging workers: Shared purpose, mutal respect and authentic belonging
GEOFF DURHAM
CEO
Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce
Durham
He previously held leadership positions in Maryland and Virginia and joined Downtown Durham Inc. in 2013. During his tenure in Bull City, downtown’s office occupancy rate rose to 94% and the number of downtown residences doubled. Durham assumed his current role in 2016. The Chamber collaborates with the business community and economic development partners in a city boasting a regional population of more than 2 million, three universities and 7,000-acre Research Triangle Park.
Education:
BA Randolph-Macon College
Best advice for career: Show up and be accountable. Success requires strategic thought, adaptability and strong interpersonal skills to communicate complex ideas.
Industry’s key challenge: Addressing workforce needs by partnering with schools to bridge skill gaps and create career pathways, advocating for policies that support community growth and highlighting contributions.
NATALIE ENGLISH
CEO
Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
Wilmington
English leads more than 1,000 members at the Chamber, the state’s first and longest-running chamber of commerce. She works to help each and improve the local business climate. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina granted the Chamber $200,000 last fall; the money will help improve the local healthcare talent pipeline. She also has leadership roles with United Way of Cape Fear Area and New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority board. English worked for the Charlotte Chamber for 11 years before moving to Wilmington.
Education: BA NC State University Favorite start to the day: A cup of coffee and reading newsletters
Best advice for career: Invest in your people.
Favorite volunteer activity: Serving on United Way of Cape Fear Area’s board.
Influential mentor: Asheville Chamber’s Kit Cramer, who taught me to empower and encourage volunteers to expand the chamber.
Industry’s key challenge: Representing and advocating for the business community in a divided country.
Favorite podcast: “Chatter” with BNC Best question for hiring: Where do you see yourself five years from now, so I can help you achieve that goal. Remote work, yay or nay? My team has the flexibility to work remotely when needed.
Favorite actor to play you: Meg Ryan Best tip for engaging workers: Listen and encourage.
CLARK DUNCAN
KEVIN FRANKLIN President Randolph County Economic Development Corporation Ramseur
Franklin, who was named president in 2019, welcomed another major company last year when the county approved an incentive package of $38.6 million over 15 years for Ross Dress for Less. The retailer is building a 1.7-million-square-foot distribution center that’s expected to create 852 jobs. The county will convey 30 acres, valued at $1 million, to Ross. And Toyota supplier Toyota Tsusho, a warehousing and logistics company, is renovating and equipping a long-vacant shell building, where it will create 41 jobs
Education: BA Bob Jones University
Favorite start to the day: Listening to a daily Scripture reading Infuential mentor: Bonnie Renfro, who hired me and introduced me to economic development.
Industry’s key challenge: Infrastructure, including available and suitable buildings and sites, water and sewer with suffcient capacities, and power for projects with escalating demand
Favorite podcast: “Conversations with Tyler”
Remote work, yay or nay? Flexibility is great, but our staff is more engaged and productive in the offce. You can’t replicate important “watercooler conversations” while working remotely.
LOREN HILL
Carolina Core Regional Economic Development Director
Piedmont Triad Partnership
High Point
A longtime economic developer, Hill is putting experience to work in The Carolina Core, a 150-mile swath from Greensboro to Fayetteville. It’s home to 2.2 million workers, more than 30 colleges and universities, and more than $15.5 billion in capital investments in 2021-22 alone. His career includes 20 years with High Point Economic Development and three years with the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. Before taking his current job, he announced his retirement in February 2021. “My retirement lasted one month to the day,” he says.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill
Favorite start to the day: Playing online word and geography games
Best advice for career: It’s not enough to do a good job. You must communicate what you’re doing to leadership, colleagues and stakeholders.
Remote work, yay or nay? Remote work has been positive for me. Regular in-person meetings with colleagues are important.
SCOTT HAMILTON
CEO
Golden LEAF Foundation
Rocky Mount
Hamilton’s economic development credentials have accrued since he was the founding CEO of Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development in 2006. He led AdvantageWest Economic Development Group for eight years and was executive director of the Appalachian Regional Commission. He has held his current job for six years at the Foundation, which was formed in 1999 to receive funds from the national settlement with cigarette companies. Golden LEAF’s assets totaled a record $1.4 billion as of last June. He is a past president of the North Carolina Economic Developers Association.
Education: BA UNC Greensboro
Best advice for career: Develop relationships, trusted advisers and strong networks. Be present and show up. You can pretend to care, but you can’t pretend to be there.
Infuential mentor: High school adviser Richard Riggins, who helped develop my leadership skills and instill the value of self-motivation.
Industry’s key challenge: Availability and supply of workforce housing.
Best question for hiring: Do you have a personal mission statement?
Remote work, yay or nay? Remote work requires work and productivity benchmarks, the same as in the offce. A hybrid remote-offce policy can be a great compromise.
Your best life change: Getting married almost 39 years ago and changing careers from healthcare administration to economic development.
Favorite actor to play you: Steve Martin
Best tip for engaging workers: Help them understand their value in assisting the organization achieve its mission.
CHRIS JOHNSON
Director of Economic Development
Johnston County Smithfeld
Johnson has directed Johnston County’s economic development for a dozen years. A key role is targeting relocating or expanding businesses in the advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and warehouse and distribution industries. The county is a founding member of eastern North Carolina’s fvecounty BioPharma Crescent, which recruits and supports pharmaceutical and biopharma companies. Novo Nordisk announced an industry record $4.1 billion expansion and 1,000 additional jobs in Johnston County last year.
Education: BS East Carolina University
Favorite start to the day: Jumping on my Trek road bike or Peloton
Best advice for career: Treat others as you want to be treated. Service above self.
Favorite volunteer activity: Assisting with Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night to Shine Event in Goldsboro and chairing the Neuse Charter School
Facilities Board
Infuential mentor: Johnston County Manager Rick Hester
Industry’s key challenge: Meeting infrastructure needs and striking a balance between growth and preserving our agricultural heritage.
Favorite podcast: “Adam Carolla Show”
Favorite musician: Earth, Wind & Fire
Remote work, yay or nay? Nay
Favorite actor to play you: John Cusack
Best tip for engaging workers: Lead by example.
SCOTT LEVITAN CEO
Research Triangle Foundation Durham
Levitan leads the foundation that stewards Research Triangle Park’s community of about 375 companies and 60,000 employees. Its mission is to create a thriving business environment, promote economic development and facilitate strategic partnerships. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2017, Levitan worked in real estate roles with Georgia Institute of Technology and Harvard University. He has more than 30 years of experience leading large-scale mixed-use development projects.
Education: BS Louisiana State University; Master’s Harvard University & University of York (England)
GENE MCLAURIN
Board Chair
Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
Rockingham
McLaurin, a former eight-term Rockingham mayor and one-term state senator, is president and CEO of Quality Oil Co. He applies much of that experience at his other job, helping lead the effort to recruit businesses and support existing ones, push international trade, help small businesses and promote tourism across the state. When news channel CNBC named North Carolina the country’s Top State for Business in 2022, he said, “[EDPNC, General Assembly and N.C. Department of Commerce] have been able to create an awardwinning business climate that the biggest companies in the world want to experience.”
Education: BA UNC Charlotte
Best advice for career: My grandfathers were successful business leaders and taught me to treat everyone with respect and look at both sides of the coin.
Favorite volunteer activity: Serving in my church and community.
Infuential mentor: G.R. Kindley, 92, who preceded me as Rockingham’s mayor. I often ask him for advice.
Industry’s key challenge: Workforce
Favorite musician: James Taylor
Your best life change: At age 50, I resigned a management position with a large international company to help a local company develop strategic objectives and a business plan. I still enjoy this role 18 years later.
Best tip for engaging workers: Support, encourage and give them the fexibility to make decisions.
SCOTT MILLAR
President
Catawba County Economic Development Corporation
Hickor y
An Aviation Walk in Hickory, $4 million to repurpose a data center in Claremont, Pleneri apparel opening its Innovation Center in the Manufacturing Solutions Center in Conover, Steel Warehouse investing $27 million to build in Hickory — it all adds up to a productive 2024 for Millar and his Catawba County team. He joined Catawba EDC in 1993, becoming its president in 1997. Called “Charlotte’s Great Northwest,” Catawba County has the country’s ffth-highest concentration of manufacturing with 421 companies and 24,500 workers.
Education: BS University of Tennessee
Best advice for career: You’d worry less about what others think of you if you realized how little time they spend thinking about you.
Infuential mentor: Jim Broyhill
Favorite actor to play you: Gaston County Economic Developer Donny Hicks, who’d force everyone to listen intently, laugh incessantly and last indefnitely.
MARK OWENS CEO
Greater Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem
In 2023, Owens moved the organization’s offces to Innovation Quarter, which is home to more than 170 companies occupying 1.9 million square feet of offce, laboratory, coworking and education space on 330 downtown acres. It is the shadows of smokestacks once used by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. Last year, Owens accepted a Chamber of the Year award from the national Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Greater Winston-Salem has helped attract $800 million in capital investment and generate more than 2,000 jobs since 2020. It has distributed almost $900,000 in grants to minority-owned businesses.
Education: BS Presbyterian College Favorite start to the day: Taking our 7-year-old to school.
Favorite volunteer activity: Principal for the Day at Mineral Springs Elementary School. I’m excited to fnd more ways to partner with local schools.
Industry’s key challenge: Anticipating the business community’s evolving needs and preparing for them. Failing to do so could mean missing out on the growth and opportunities that our community wants.
Remote work, yay or nay? A hybrid and fexible model strikes the right balance between keeping team members engaged and happy while fostering loyalty and a sense of value.
KEVIN PRICE CEO
National Institute of Minority Economic Development
Chapel Hill
The Institute’s mission is to create “an environment in which race, gender and geography are no longer a barrier to prosperity.” Price became its third president and CEO in March 2020. Under his leadership, the Institute merged with a community development fnancial institution, rebranding it Institute Capital. Last year, he launched a second subsidiary, Institute Community Development Initiative, as an intermediary support system to other community development corporations. The three are headquartered on Durham’s Parrish Street, once known as the South’s Black Wall Street.
Education: BA UNC Greensboro; MBA, MHA Pfeiffer University
MARVIN PRICE
Executive Vice President, Economic Development
Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
Greensboro
Price, who heads the chamber’s economic development efforts, was named one of the top 50 economic developers of 2024 by Consultant Connect, an agency that connects economic developers and site consultants. He was also appointed to the North Carolina Economic Development Association’s board of directors. Recently, he helped Greensboro welcome German injection-molding manufacturer Sanner Group’s Gilero, which leased a 60,000-square-foot factory.
Education: BA University of Montevallo; Master’s Auburn University
Favorite start to the day: Walking my French bulldog Nino
Best advice for career: Nothing worth having comes easy.
Favorite volunteer activities: National Urban League Young Professionals and Junior Achievement of the Triad Infuential mentor: Ronnie Bryant, who gave me the opportunity to work in economic development for the state’s largest metro.
Favorite podcast: “The New Economic Developers on the Block” Favorite musicians: Drake, Jay Z and Tyler, The Creator
Best question for hiring: What makes you happy outside of work?
Remote work, yay or nay? Yay — after tearing my patellar tendon, working from home has truly helped me.
Best life change: Not bringing work challenges home.
Favorite actor to play you: Michael B. Jordan
Best tip for engaging workers: Find what’s important to them.
JIMMY RANDOLPH CEO
Randolph is helping more than 500 businesses and stakeholders in his hometown succeed. Last year, pharmaceutical company Kyowa Kirin invested $520 million in a new factory, promising 102 jobs. Astellas Gene Therapies advanced its expansion project, Bharat Forge doubled its manufacturing space and Caterpillar is increasing production capacity. He previously worked in human relations for American Airlines and in several roles with Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce, a precursor to the Alliance.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill
Favorite start to the day: New York Times Spelling Bee, Connections and Strands online games over coffee with Julie
Favorite volunteer activity: Serving on the Triangle Land Conservancy’s board of directors.
Remote work, yay or nay? Yay Your best life change: Selling my small business and returning to economic development.
Strategic Adviser
Charlotte Regional
Business Alliance
Charlotte
Smith worked for Bank of America for 34 years, the last nine as chief administrative offcer, before retiring in 2023. Eight months later, she was back at work as interim CEO of the Alliance. In March, she stepped down after the Alliance hired former Husqvarna executive Robert McCutcheon to lead the regional business-promotion group. She remains an adviser.
The Alliance is among many civic groups in which Smith has shown leadership, which led to her selection as a Charlotte Business Woman of the Year by Queens University. While working for BofA, she was cited in American Banker’s Most Powerful Women in Banking reports.
Education: BA Southern Methodist University
Best advice for career: Control what you can control.
Infuential mentor: Hugh McColl Jr.
Favorite musician: Alicia Keys
Favorite actor to play you: Tea Leoni
JULIE ROPER
Economic
Development and External Affairs Manager
Enbridge Gastonia
Roper manages community engagement and communications with lawmakers and other offcials for the Canadian company, which acquired Dominion Energy in 2023. Enbridge Gas North Carolina has about 650,000 customers in 28 counties in North Carolina. Cities served include Asheville, Gastonia and Raleigh. A U.S. Air Force veteran, she chairs Gaston County Economic Development Commission’s board.
Education: BS Belmont Abbey College; MPA Appalachian State University
Favorite start to the day: Quiet time to center myself for the day ahead and practice gratitude.
Best advice for career: We’re all members of the marketing department. What you say about your place of employment, intentionally or not, has an impact, internally or externally. Your bad day ranting might cause someone to lose confdence in your organization.
Favorite volunteer activity: Cleaning up the local greenway.
Infuential mentor: Successful entrepreneur friends, whose tenacity and creativity I incorporate into my corporate world challenges.
Favorite podcast: The Mindset Mentor with Rob Dial
Favorite musician: Chris Stapleton Remote work, yay or nay? Both help retain top talent and ensure a realistic work-life balance.
Your best life change: Walking for exercise and stress relief.
Best tip for engaging workers: Explain necessary changes and their role in the process and outcome.
MELISSA SMITH
Senior Vice President
Economic Development Partnership of N.C. Raleigh
As a leader in business recruitment and development, Smith’s role is to attract new corporate operations and highimpact expansions to North Carolina. She’s been in economic development for more than 25 years, including nine as senior economic developer with N.C. Department of Commerce.
ANDREA SMITH
GARY SALAMIDO
CEO
NC Chamber Cary
After lobbying for the NC Chamber’s members at the General Assembly, Salamido was named the group’s chief operating officer and acting president in 2018, then president and CEO the following year. He has almost 40 years worth of experience in public and government affairs. In a recent interview, he noted the importance of education policies that align with workforce programs and the removal of barriers to work such as childcare, housing needs and criminal justice reform.
Education: BS Albany School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; MS University of Texas at Austin
Favorite start to the day: Spending 15 minutes of quiet time, looking at the woods through my back window, and enjoying a cup of coffee. Best advice for career: Develop trusting relationships, and put people ahead of differences in policy and politics. Don’t make it personal.
Energy needs of manufacturers looking to expand have exploded over the last two years, Tate says. Requests for 5 to 10 megawatts of added power have shifted to 50 to 100 megawatts. “Our role has moved from maybe a background role to a much more influential seat in the competitive process,” he says. At Duke, he moves to leverage assets and resources to drive partnerships, job creation and revenue. He previously held leadership positions with North Carolina Railroad Co., Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development and Fuquay-Varina Chamber of Commerce.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill
Favorite start to the day: Calibrate with Brooke over coffee before the kids are up. Tennis and a biscuit on the weekend.
Infuential mentor: Scott Hamilton, who gave me lots to think about, including what your words and actions might look like as a headline.
Industry’s key challenge: Meeting energy demands while decarbonizing generation, without sacrificing reliability and affordability.
Favorite podcast: “Chatter” with BNC
Remote work, yay or nay? Both Best tip for engaging workers: Listen
Infuential mentor: [Former Glaxo CEO] Robert Ingram, who taught me the importance of investing in relationships, developing leaders, advocating for them and knowing when to let them lead.
Industry’s key challenge:
Preserving the state’s leading business climate while advancing courageous policy proposals to keep us as the top state for private-sector job growth.
Your best life change: Journaling
Favorite actor to play you: Dean Martin
ROBERT VAN GEONS
CEO
Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development
Fayetteville
Best tip for engaging workers: Put a commercial popcorn maker in the break room and let the fresh popcorn aroma waft through the office.
Van Geons has seen a lot of progress in his south-central N.C. region since joining the EDC in 2017. During his tenure, the organization has announced more than $1.3 billion of new investment and 5,000 jobs. He has helped attract various companies to the region, including a billion-dollar titanium plant, a 1.3-million-square-foot Amazon distribution center and sports dome manufacturer Yeadon Domes. Combined with his past work in Rowan and Stanly counties, Van Geons has helped secure more than $3.5 billion in projects and 11,000 jobs.
Education: BA Catawba College; MS University of Southern Mississippi
Favorite start to the day: Breakfast with my two girls at our favorite Waffle House.
Best advice for career: Invest in your relationships, donating your time and knowledge.
Favorite volunteer activity: Animal rescue
Infuential mentor: Kannapolis City Manager Mike Legg, who taught me to lead with humility and optimism while weathering turbulent times.
Favorite musician: The Dead South Best question for hiring: Tell me about an initiative you led that didn’t work out. What did you learn?
Remote work, yay or nay?
Hybrid is best.
Your best life change: Do more — watch less. Live life in the first person.
Favorite actor to play you: Timothy Olyphant Best tip for engaging workers: Encourage them to pursue their interests within the organization, allowing them to reshape their role.
RALPH STRAYHORN
Board Chair
Golden LEAF Foundation
Charlotte
Strayhorn saw a great start to 2025, when the group debuted a $25 million initiative with the N.C. Department of Public Instruction to improve school performance. The veteran banker is CEO and board chair at New Republic Bank, following leadership positions with Cape Fear Bank, BNC Bancorp and other institutions. The Durham native says Golden LEAF’s projects “help respond to the needs of businesses and individuals in the formerly tobacco-dependent area of our state.”
Education: BA, JD UNC Chapel Hill
Best advice for career: Don’t make a decision when it’s dark.
Favorite musician: The Eagles
Your best life change: A better and more healthy balance between work and play.
PATRICK WOODIE CEO
N.C. Rural Center
Cary
Woodie was named president of the N.C. Rural Center in 2013. That followed jobs with the Alleghany County Board of Commissioners and Blue Ridge Business Development Center, where he helped New River Community Partners transform an abandoned textile plant into a technology and education center to help diversify Sparta’s economy. The Rural Center’s work includes leadership training, research, legislative advocacy and indirect lending programs. It has invested more than $400,000 in 55 churches over the past several years for various community projects.
Education: BA , JD Wake Forest University
Best advice for career: Follow your bliss; there’s no substitute for doing work you love.
Infuential mentor: Billy Ray Hall, NC Rural Center’s frst president
Industry’s key challenge: The economic devastation from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina and the economic distress along the I-95 corridor in eastern North Carolina.
Favorite musician: Dolly Parton
Best question for hiring: What questions do you have for me?
Remote work, yay or nay?
Both, though all jobs do not lend themselves equally to remote work. Much of our work requires our presence in and attention to the state’s rural communities. That all can’t be done virtually.
BEN TEAGUE
Vice President
Strategic Development Biltmore Farms
Asheville
Teague understands Asheville’s business scene inside and out. The former head of Asheville Chamber of Commerce’s economic development efforts joined the Cecil family’s Biltmore Farms in 2018. There, he crafts commercial, residential and hotel projects that blend with their mountain surroundings. He’s been featured in Forbes, Wall Street Journal and elsewhere. When Hurricane Helene hit last September, his mission switched from building to rebuilding, helping impacted businesses and communities and emphasizing the critical presence of neighborto-neighbor support.
Education: BA Mississippi College; MBA University of Mississippi
STEVE YOST
President
North Carolina’s Southeast Whiteville
Since joining the business promotion group in 2005, Yost has helped more than 200 companies locate or expand within the organization’s 20 counties. The region is home to almost 2 million people, 22 public and private universities, and industries including agriculture, aerospace and defense, logistics and textiles. He has worked on economic development efforts at the local, state and regional levels with the Columbus County EDC and N.C. Department of Commerce.
Education: BS Appalachian State University; MPA UNC Chapel Hill
Favorite volunteer activity: Boy Scouts of America, Cape Fear Council
Infuential mentor: Dr. Jack Harrell, chair of the frst organization I worked for in Lenoir County. He was the best I’ve ever witnessed at working with people from all parts of society. Industry’s key challenge: Workforce development
Favorite musician: BB King
Best question for hiring: What do you have passion for doing in life?
Remote work, yay or nay? A hybrid model is best. In-person is better for relationship development and management.
Your best life change: Building vegetable and fower gardens
Favorite actor to play you: Andy Griffth, if he was still alive
Best tip for engaging workers: Provide an environment and direction that enables them to use their leadership abilities, then let them do their jobs.
LAURA LEATHERWOOD President
Blue Ridge Community College
Hendersonville
2025 POWER LIST EDUCATION HONOREES
Leatherwood has led the college in Henderson and Transylvania counties since 2017 after working at Haywood Community College for 21 years. She was named 2022 Education Champion by the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce and 2022 President of the Year by the State Board of Community Colleges. She emphasizes Blue Ridge’s small classes, customized training and affordability as pathways toward a successful future
Following Hurricane Helene, the school offered a “Build Your Future Grant” to help students rebuild, re-skill or advance their careers following challenges brought by the storm. The program is free.
Education: BS, BA, Master’s, Ph.D. Western Carolina University
Favorite start to the day: I start my day with coffee and a daily devotional. Then, I peruse about seven different newspapers to scan the horizon at a national, state and local level. This helps me stay abreast of the issues and events that matter most, as well as project the challenges and opportunities ahead for our college and community.
Best advice for career: 1. Your body of work speaks for itself. 2. If you do the right thing, no matter how hard it may be, it will come back to you. 3. If you make things happen for others, you will be surprised how others will come to your aid and assistance.
Favorite volunteer activity: For more than eight years, it has been a great privilege to serve with the Blue Ridge Honor Flight, accompanying local U.S. veterans of world conflicts to their respective memorials in Washington, D.C. It is always an incredibly moving and rewarding experience. We cannot thank them enough for enabling us to live and learn in freedom.
Industry’s key challenge: Shifting demographics and declining birth rates, leading to an impending enrollment “cliff” with fewer college-age individuals than in decades past. As the number of future college graduates decreases, it is crucial to ask: Are we investing in the right areas to prepare the next generation for North Carolina’s workforce? Ongoing evaluation of academic programs and resources is vital to align with the evolving needs of businesses and communities across the state.
Favorite podcast: ”The Wall Street Journal Podcast”
Remote work, yay or nay? My view on remote work depends on the position and the job requirements. There are some jobs that lend themselves to remote work, while others do not. However, the value of face-to-face work is relationships, and communities are built on relationships.
Best tip for engaging workers: Everyone wants to feel that their work has made a difference. Leaders play a crucial role in fostering this by ensuring their teams feel valued, taking the time to understand them, investing in their growth and providing challenges that promote development.
DARRELL ALLISON
CONNIE BOOK
KELLI BROWN
JEFF COX
J. BRADLEY CREED
ERIC DAVIS
KANDI DEITEMEYER
SHARON GABER
FRANKLIN GILLIAM JR.
PETER HANS
JOHN HAUSER
JENNIFER HAYGOOD
TAMIKA WALKER KELLY
LAURA LEATHERWOOD
THOMAS LOONEY
JOHN PREYER
VINCENT PRICE
NIDO QUBEIN
SCOTT RALLS
LEE ROBERTS
JENNA ROBINSON
PHILIP ROGERS
DOUGLAS SEARCY
HOPE WILLIAMS
“Are we investing in the right areas to prepare the next generation for North Carolina’s workforce?”
— Laura Leatherwood
DARRELL ALLISON Chancellor
Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville
Allison became the chancellor at the second-oldest public college in the UNC System in 2021. FSU is part of the NC Promise Tuition Plan, which applies state funds toward tuition costs. Allison also moved $1.6 million in COVID relief toward student debt acquired during the pandemic. In his first year in office, he raised more than $2 million in private philanthropy. FSU enrolls about 6,700 students and was named a Purple Heart University for its support of veterans and their families, the first UNC System school to receive the honor.
Education: BA N.C. Central University, JD UNC Chapel Hill
CONNIE BOOK
President
Elon University Elon
Book spent 16 years as an Elon faculty member before leaving in 2015 to become The Citadel’s first female provost and chief academic officer. She returned to Elon in 2018 as president. Under her leadership, Elon has annually been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 national university for excellence in undergraduate teaching. Last year, Elon established a campus in Charlotte to house its new Flex Law program. Book is past chair of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and board member of N.C. Independent Colleges and Universities.
Education: BA Louisiana State University; Master’s Northwestern State University; Ph.D. University of Georgia
KELLI BROWN Chancellor
Western Carolina University Cullowhee
Brown became Western Carolina University’s first female chancellor in 2019 and has been part of several capital projects, including construction of the new Apodaca Science Building in 2021 and opening of “The Rocks” in 2022, an assemblage of three freshmen residence halls. In January, WCU kicked off its largest fundraising campaign in its 136-year history called “Fill the Western Sky,” an effort to secure $100 million in support. Brown previously was interim president at Valdosta State in Georgia and held positions at Georgia College, State University, University of Florida and University of South Florida.
Education: BS, Master’s University of Toledo; Ph.D. University of Illinois, Carbondale
JEFF COX President
North Carolina Community College System
Raleigh
Cox became president of the system in June 2023 following an educational journey in which he has been an elementary school principal, English teacher, football coach, golf coach, superintendent of Alleghany County Schools and president of Wilkes Community College. “You can sit back and fuss and fuss about the problems, or you can step up and see if you can be part of the solution,” he says. Nearly every resident of North Carolina’s 100 counties is within a 30-minute drive of one of the state’s 58 community colleges.
Education: BS and Master’s Appalachian State University; Ph.D. UNC Charlotte
J. BRADLEY CREED
President
Campbell University Buies Creek
ERIC DAVIS Chair
State Board of Education Charlotte
Creed will retire this summer after 10 years as leader of the 137-yearold institution. Creed oversaw the most successful campaign in school history, a five-year project that raised $105 million to support the development of the Oscar N. Harris Student Union. The Christian university has more than 100 undergraduate majors and an enrollment of 5,000. He previously was a provost at Samford University and dean of Baylor University’s seminary.
Education: BA Baylor University, MDiv, Ph.D. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Davis was appointed by thenGov. Pat McCrory to the N.C. State Board of Education in 2015 after serving on the CharlotteMecklenburg board, including as chairman from 2009 to 2011. He has chaired the state board since 2018. Last September, he addressed pandemic recovery and said classroom test results are improving. “We’re closing the gap,” he said. “I want to thank our teachers, principals, parents, students and all those who volunteered to help our students catch up, recover and close the gap that the pandemic created.” Davis was an Airborne Ranger Combat Engineer Officer in the Army and has worked in corporate banking for Wells Fargo.
Education: BS United States Military Academy
KANDI DEITEMEYER
President
Central Piedmont
Community College
Charlotte
Dietemeyer served community colleges in North Carolina, Kentucky and Florida before becoming Central Piedmont Community College’s president in 2017. She has been an executive board member of the American Association of Community Colleges. In 2020-2021, she was president of the North Carolina Association of Community Colleges. She is a member of the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council. Enrollment of degreeseeking students increased 9% to about 20,600 in the fall 2024 semester. More than 30,000 students are in various programs.
Education: BA, MA, Ph.D. University of South Florida
SHARON GABER
Chancellor
UNC Charlotte Charlotte
Gaber came to UNC Charlotte as its ffth chancellor in 2020. Since then, the university has climbed 76 spots in the U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges rankings, making it one of the 10 fastest risers among the nation’s campuses. In February, UNC Charlotte gained Research 1 status in the Carnegie Classifcation, which ranks research activity and impact. At 31,000 students, it’s the third-largest in the University of North Carolina System. Gaber was previously president of the University of Toledo for fve years; provost and vice chancellor at the University of Arkansas; and interim provost at Auburn.
Education: AB Occidental College; MPL University of Southern California; Ph.D. Cornell University
FRANKLIN GILLIAM JR.
Chancellor
UNC Greensboro Greensboro
Gilliam’s background includes being a college football player, political commentator and author. In 2015, he became the 11th chancellor at the Greensboro university after serving as dean of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and frst Associate Vice Chancellor for Community Partnerships in the University of California System. At UNCG, he helped secure $105 million toward funding a new nursing and STEM building, which opened in 2021, and is leading the ‘Light the Way: The Campaign for Earned Achievement’ fundraiser with a goal of $200 million.
Education: BA Drake University; MA, Ph.D. University of Iowa
PETER HANS
President
UNC System Chapel Hill
A frst-generation college graduate, Hans became the University of North Carolina’s seventh president in 2020 and has led policy reforms to increase fnancial aid, improve student mental health and increase enrollment in growing industry sectors. During his tenure, UNC has made record investments in campus renovations, reaching adult learners and strengthening rural healthcare and nursing education. Hans grew up in the coastal town of Southport and in Hendersonville, in the mountains. He was a senior policy adviser to three U.S. senators and led the North Carolina Community College System for two years.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; MA Harvard University
JOHN
HAUSER President
Gaston College Belmont
Hauser brought more than 30 years of leadership and administrative experience in the state’s community college system when he became Gaston College’s seventh president in 2020. He is former president of Carteret Community College and spent 20 years at Wilkes Community College. He also taught at Appalachian State and Surry Community College. Gaston has campuses in Dallas, Lincolnton and Belmont and more than 140 study programs. Hauser’s message to students: “Create moments that enrich your life and shape your promising future. Those moments will transform into the kind of momentum that gives you the power to achieve all your goals.”
Education: BS UNC Charlotte; MA NC State University; Ph.D. Appalachian State University
JENNIFER HAYGOOD
CFO
UNC System Raleigh
After starting her career as an elementary school teacher and Teach for America member, Haygood has had key fnancial roles in the Triangle. She spent 12 years as a senior executive at the state community college system, including a stint as interim president. She then joined Peter Hans when he moved to the UNC System in 2020. She has served on the State Employees Credit Union Board of Directors since 2019.
Education: BA Rice University, MPP Duke University
Favorite start to the day: Watching the sunrise while on my morning walk at the N.C. Museum of Art park.
Best advice for career: When you prioritize mastering every detail, you risk neglecting the strategic vision and relationships that are critical for moving forward in your career.
Industry’s key challenge: Higher education faces a dual challenge: Declining public confdence in its value and shifting demographic trends that threaten long-term enrollment stability.
Favorite podcast: “ReThinking” with Adam Grant
Remote work, yay or nay? Negative Favorite actor to play you:
Jennifer Garner
Best tip for engaging workers: Take the time to explain “the why” behind their work and how it connects to the bigger picture.
TAMIKA WALKER KELLY President North Carolina Association of
Educators Raleigh
Kelly has led the N.C. affliate of the National Education Association since 2020, championing the cause of public school teachers. Since 2007, Kelly has been a K-5 music educator in Cumberland County, teaching elementary students the fundamentals of music and also auditioning fourth- and ffth-graders for choir. She has lobbied state lawmakers to improve compensation for educators, citing statistics showing that North Carolina is falling behind other Southern states. Her personal classroom mission: “To help students explore their creativity through music and other arts. By exploring that creativity, they become fearless learners who impact their own communities and beyond.”
Education:
BA, Master’s East Carolina University
THOMAS LOONEY
Chair
State Board of Community Colleges
Raleigh
Looney was named chairman of the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges in July 2023 after 40 years with IBM and Lenovo. He also serves on the board of the N.C. Coastal Federation, which works to maintain clean coastal waters and salt marshes and protect oyster habitats. Looney has chaired the boards at Wake Tech and the N.C. School of Science and Math, which promotes STEM education availability throughout the state. He says he is “passionate about workforce development, protecting the coastal environment and changing people’s lives through education.”
Education: BS Niagara University; MBA Xavier University
Best advice for career: Time kills deals and always asks for the order. Favorite volunteer activity: Revitalizing North Carolina’s oyster industry, creating a $100 million industry and 1,000 coastal jobs. Industry’s key challenge: Education must evolve and move at the speed of business by leveraging technology, accelerating decisionmaking, treating students as valued customers, and executing as a unifed team.
Best tip for engaging workers: Lead by example — never ask others to do what you wouldn’t do yourself, earning the right to ask.
JOHN PREYER Chair
UNC Chapel Hill Board of Trustees
Chapel Hill
Thirty-fve years after graduating with a political science degree, in 1990, Preyer chairs the campus trustee board. He has served on the UNC Institute for the Environment’s board of visitors and was appointed a trustee in 2019. Preyer made news earlier this year for his role in encouraging Bill Belichick to become the Tar Heels’ football coach. In 1998, he co-founded Restoration Systems, a Raleigh company specializing in wetland, stream, nutrient and habitat migration. “We want to continue the trajectory that UNC is on, where it is the leading public university in the world,” he says.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill
VINCENT PRICE
President Duke University Durham
A global expert on public opinion, social infuence and political communication, and former editor-in-chief of Public Opinion Quarterly, Price became president in 2017. His leadership has seen strategic advancement of the arts, investments in science and technology, efforts to address climate change and deepen engagements with Durham and the region. In February, Duke kicked off its latest multi-billion fundraising campaign with plans to establish 175 new professorships and directorships and revitalize 420,000 square feet of lab and classroom space. Price was previously provost of the University of Pennsylvania.
Education: BA Santa Clara University; Master’s, Ph.D. Stanford University
NIDO QUBEIN
President High Point University High Point
Qubein’s infuence as president of High Point University extends beyond campus borders. HPU is the city of High Point’s largest employer, and the university contributes millions to the local economy. Qubein has led downtown revitalization efforts, and the school’s Town and Gown Think Tank is an economic partnership with the school and local leaders. Since Qubein became president in 2005, enrollment has increased 250%, net assets grew from $56 million to almost $1 billion and HPU’s academic rankings have soared. He’s attracted $500 million in philanthropic investment and added seven new academic schools, most recently the Workman School of Dental Medicine.
Education: BA High Point University; Master’s UNC Greensboro
SCOTT RALLS
President Wake Tech Community College Raleigh
After a two-year stint leading Virginia’s statewide community college system, Ralls returned as president of the state’s largest community college in April 2019. Wake Tech is one of 29 colleges or universities in the U.S. designated a Frontier Series College by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Ralls is co-chair of the Policy Leadership Trust for Student Success, a national organization sponsored by Jobs for the Future. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Public Service Award from the N.C. Chamber.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; Master’s, Ph.D. University of Maryland
Favorite start to the day: Working out at the YMCA
Best advice for career: Follow your passion as long as someone will pay you to do that.
Favorite volunteer activity: Serving on the board of Communities in Schools of Wake County
Infuential mentor: Bill Friday, former president of UNC System
Industry’s key challenge: Hiring and retaining faculty with very marketable skills
Favorite podcast: “Pivot” with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway
Favorite musician: Jason Isbell
Best question for hiring: What is your motivation for wanting to work here?
Remote work, yay or nay? Negative for me. I like to go into work. Your best life change: Returning to the NC Community College System
Favorite actor to play you: Russell Crowe
Best tip for engaging workers: Keep the mission out in front and help them see their role in the mission.
LEE ROBERTS Chancellor
UNC Chapel Hill Chapel Hill
Roberts dropped ‘interim’ from his title last August and became UNC Chapel Hill’s 13th chancellor following a six-month national search with more than 60 candidates. Like many other university presidents, he’s facing cuts in federal research funding and pressure to balance the diversity of thought at traditionally progressive-leaning campuses. He is co-founder of the SharpVue Capital investment frm. He has served on the UNC Board of Governors, State Board of Community Colleges, State Banking Commission and Golden LEAF Foundation board. He is the son of journalists Steven Roberts and the late Cokie Roberts.
Education: BA Duke University; JD Georgetown University
President
James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal
Raleigh
Since 2015, Robinson has been president of the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, a conservative nonproft higher education policy institute in Raleigh founded in 2003. Formerly known as the Pope Center, the organization promotes policies at the state level to improve higher education governance and practices, and uses newsletters, events and research to inform parents, alumni, taxpayers and policymakers about potential change. Robinson has been with the Center since 2007, beginning as a student outreach coordinator, then director of outreach in 2011.
Education: BA NC State University; Master’s, Ph.D. UNC Chapel Hill
Chancellor East Carolina University Greenville
Rogers says ECU “represents the heart and soul of my identity as a person and leader.” He became ECU’s 12th chancellor in 2020, leading a campus with an enrollment of nearly 29,000. Rogers was raised in Greenville and frst worked at the university in 2007 as a policy analyst, then as chief of staff to Chancellor Steve Ballard from 2008-2013 in charge of government relations, marketing, communication and policy development. He previously worked at the American Council for Education. Construction began in March on a new Medical Education Building.
Education: BA Wake Forest University; MPA UNC Chapel Hill; EdD University of Pennsylvania
JENNA ROBINSON
PHILIP ROGERS
DOUGLAS SEARCY
President
Barton College Wilson
Barton College is a private, liberal arts school in Wilson that is affliated with the Christian Church. It offers 29 majors, seven minors and six master’s degrees and has an enrollment of about 1,200. Searcy became president in 2015 and has worked to boost fundraising, renovate living spaces and add new sports complexes. Searcy previously was dean of student affairs at Wingate University and held administrative roles at Elon, Gardner-Webb and Appalachian State.
Education: BA Mars Hill University; MEd University of South Carolina; Ph.D. University of Nebraska
Favorite start to the day: Exercise, prayer, reading and a good cup of coffee.
Best advice for career: Listen well and be available to those you serve.
Favorite volunteer activity:
Barton College’s Day of Service. It’s energizing to serve alongside students, faculty and staff as we give back to our hometown community of Wilson.
Infuential mentor: Dr. Jerry McGee, former president of Wingate University, has been a continual source of support and encouragement.
Industry’s key challenge: Meeting current and future educational market demands to develop engaged citizens and a strong and able workforce.
Favorite musician: My brother’s bluegrass band, Junction 280, is a regional favorite in western North Carolina and beyond.
HOPE WILLIAMS
President
North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities Raleigh
Williams has headed the network of 36 campuses of four-year schools, a private two-year school, women’s colleges and historically Black colleges since 1992. She joined the organization six years earlier. Together, they serve about 59,000 undergraduates and 25,000 graduate and professional students. More than 90% receive a form of fnancial aid. Her position includes seeking scholarship and program support for students and campuses and fostering collaborative partnerships among schools. The state’s colleges face an expected 6% decline in N.C. high school students over the next fve years.
Education: AB Duke University; MPA NC State University; Ph.D. UNC Chapel Hill Industry’s key challenge: Building awareness among parents and students, especially the many frstgeneration college students, about the array of fnancial assistance options available to make college affordable.
Your best life change: Seeking “harmony” rather than “balance” in allocating my time to address urgent and ongoing issues.
Best tip for keeping workers engaged: Most employees want to know their work “makes a difference.” For employees of our organization, the best tip is a reminder that they are contributing to the life-changing experience and multi-generational impact of a college education for our students and their families.
HARRY SIDERIS
CEO
Duke Energy
Charlotte
2025 POWER LIST ENERGY HONOREES
There’s a new sheriff leading the state’s dominant energy company. Sideris succeeded Lynn Good as CEO in April, following her retirement after 12 years on the job.
The former Deloitte manager joined Duke Energy’s predecessor, Progress Energy in Raleigh, in 1996 after graduating from NC State. After the 2012 merger between Progress and Duke, Sideris was vice president of power generation for Duke Energy’s fossil/hydro operations in western N.C. and South Carolina. He later became chief accounting officer, chief strategy and commercial officer and chief financial officer.
He’s leading the transition as Duke shifts from coal-fired plants, which provided a majority of generation as recently as 2005, to alternative sources. The Trump Administration’s “drill baby drill” energy generation strategy and criticism of “green energy” may slow that transition, prompting some shifts by Duke in its outlook.
The company is planning to close its remaining coal plants by 2036 and says it remains committed to modernizing the power grid and generating more clean energy.
Education: BS NC State University; MBA Campbell University
Influential mentor: Charlie Gates (former Duke senior vice president) was just the epitome of servant leadership in how he led and supported his teams. His employees always had a sense of teamwork and loyalty to get the job done right.
Industry’s key challenge: After decades of zero to minimal growth in usage — electricity usage from EVs, the rise of AI data centers and onshoring of U.S. manufacturing — are reaching heights we haven’t seen before. Some estimates show U.S. energy needs doubling by 2050. Serving this load growth with reliable, affordable and increasingly clean energy is a challenge the entire utility industry and country face. We’re planning and improving the grid every day to prepare for that and to continue reliably serving customers.
What
Best question for hiring: I like to ask: What is the biggest misperception about you, and how do you go about addressing it? I have found that a potential hire’s ability to identify this shows selfawareness, which is critical to their success both in and out of the workplace.
KENDAL BOWMAN
JOE BRANNAN
BEN CATT
DON DENTON
BARBARA FOCHTMAN
MICHAEL GRAY
CARSON HARKRADER
JULIE JANSON
ROY JONES
CHRIS KEMPER
MIKE KILPATRICK
KATHERINE KOLLINS
DAREN PARKER
ERIC PIKE
HARRY SIDERIS
JIM WARREN
MARKUS WILHELM
Best tip for engaging workers: Sharing information transparently and listening to employees’ concerns in their own work setting keeps them the most engaged. When employees know they are being heard, it goes a long way in building trust, confidence and teamwork.
“After decades of zero to minimal growth in usage — electricity usage from EVs, the rise of AI data centers and onshoring of U.S. manufacturing — are reaching heights we haven’t seen before.”
— HARRY SIDERIS
KENDAL BOWMAN
North Carolina President Duke Energy Raleigh
Bowman has overseen Duke Energy’s regulated utilities, which include 3.7 million electric retail customers and 786,000 natural gas customers, since 2022. She has been with the company since 1999 and previously held legal posts, most recently as vice president of regulatory affairs and policy for North Carolina. Population growth, growing demand from data centers and more manufacturing have pressed Duke to provide reliable energy while meeting targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Lawmakers are considering giving Duke relief from a frst deadline of a 70% reduction target by 2030, while maintaining a carbon neutrality provision by 2050.
Education: BA University of Virginia; JD Stetson University
Favorite start to the day: 5-mile run Best question for hiring: What is your favorite book and what book would you recommend?
Favorite actor to play you: Nicole Kidman
Best tip for engaging workers: Open communication and to have at least one meaningful conversation per week with your employees
JOE BRANNAN CEO
North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives
Morrisville
Brannan leads a 170-employee group that represents the state’s 26 not-for-proft cooperatives, which serve 2.8 million people across 93 counties. About 98% of accounts are residential or small businesses, and the group serves about 24% of the population and 45% of the state’s geography. The co-ops own 61.5% of Duke Energy-managed Catawba Nuclear Station’s No. 1 unit and are slated to own 16.5% of a planned 1,360-megawatt natural-gas plant in Person County. Brannan joined the cooperative in 2006 and took the CEO role in 2012.
Education: BS Pennsylvania State University; MBA Lehigh University
Favorite start to the day: Walking the dog, a little time for news and a cup of coffee, and then it’s off to work.
Best advice for career: In everything you do, treat people with respect and integrity - my dad.
Favorite volunteer activity: I have thoroughly enjoyed volunteering as a coach for the several sports my children played. It was incredibly rewarding to watch the teams learn how to work together toward a common goal and expand both their skills and passion for the game.
BEN CATT CEO
Pine Gate Renewables
Asheville
Catt co-founded Pine Gate Renewables in 2016. The utilityscale solar and storage provider operates in a dozen states and has developments underway in 20 others. It has closed more than $7 billion in capital spending and project fnancing. Its more than 100 sites account for 2 gigawatts of capacity, and it has 30 gigawatts of projects in development, moving from a startup solar development shop to an independent power producer. A frequent speaker on the national stage, Catt is a former board member of the Solar Energy Industries Association. Catt was previously the fnance director at Asheville’s FLS Energy.
Education: BS Indiana University
Favorite start of the day: With my kids. During the week, it’s the frenetic get-ready for school, but that time in the car before drop-off is priceless. The weekends are the time we have with them before they get too cool for us.
Favorite volunteer activity: Contributing to Helene response. Best tip for engaging workers: Offer a clear vision. Keep the door open. Roll up your sleeves and join in. Foster an environment where tough questions can be asked and the status quo challenged. Own the lessons learned and always celebrate the wins, big and small.
DON DENTON CEO
Carolina Water Service of North Carolina
Charlotte
Carolina Water Service serves more than 40,000 customers in 38 counties across the state. For water, it has more than 35,700 connections and 129 treatment plants. For wastewater, the numbers are more than 21,700 connections at 24 plants. It acquired the Carteret County water system in December 2023, adding 1,200 customers. Once part of Canada-based Corix Group, it’s now part of Sugarland, Texasbased Nexus Water Group after the merger last year of Corix and SouthWest Water Co. Denton worked for Duke Energy for 20 years before joining Carolina Water in 2021.
Education: BA Georgia Tech; MBA Queens University
BARBARA FOCHTMAN
Chief Operating Offcer
Lithium
Rio Tinto Lithium
Charlotte
Fochtman spent more than 25 years frst with FMC and then Livent, which merged with Australia’s Allkem to create Arcadium Lithium in January 2024. In March, Rio Tinto completed its $6.7 billion acquisition of Arcadium Lithium. Fochtman had become chief operating offcer of the previous company in September and played a key role in the transition. Rio Tinto has about 60,000 employees and operates in 35 countries, mining for metals and minerals, from iron ore to salt to diamonds. Arcadium had about 2,400 employees at the time of the merger, including 400 based in the U.S. It supplies lithium chemicals used in electric batteries and other uses.
Education: BS University of Texas; MBA Jacksonville University
MICHAEL GRAY
Country Holding Offcer, U.S.
ABB
Cary
The company, with 105,000 employees worldwide, makes electric motors and EV chargers, robots and automation systems, among many products. Its U.S. footprint includes 20,000 employees and more than 40 sites. Gray joined in 2008 after previously working for AutoZone and International Paper. Last year, the U.S. Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party criticized ABB for its China-based supply chains involving U.S.bound cranes used at ports. The company reportedly declined a request to have Gray speak to the committee, according to congressional records.
Education: BA, Master’s University of Memphis
CARSON HARKRADER
CEO
Carolina Solar Energy
Durham
Carolina Solar Energy has developed 51 utility-scale photovoltaic solar-energy projects across North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky since 2007. Her father, Richard Harkrader, founded the company in 2004. She joined the company in 2012 after eight years at GE Energy, helping lead worldwide projects. She became CEO in 2018 and has led the company as it expands beyond North Carolina. She chairs the Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association and has been on the board of Alaska Renewables since 2022.
Education: BA Brown University; MBA, New York University Industry’s key challenge: Adapting to change
Remote work, yay or nay?
Very positive
Your best life change: Becoming a parent
Best tip for engaging workers: The DISC assessment (TestGorilla) has been key for me in understanding my employees’ motivators (and letting them get to know me better as well).
JULIE JANSON CEO
Duke Energy Carolinas
Charlotte
Janson leads regulatory affairs and legislative initiatives in the region and oversees the longterm strategy and fnancial performance of its utilities in the Carolinas. Soaring peak-demand growth in the Carolinas is causing revisions in the company’s planning, while the change in presidential administrations has also sparked tumult in the energy industry. She worked at Cincinnatibased Cinergy before it was acquired by Duke and later led the company’s operations in Kentucky and Ohio.
Education: BA Georgetown University; JD University of Cincinnati
ROY JONES
CEO
ElectriCities of North Carolina
Raleigh
More than 90 community-owned electric systems, mostly in North Carolina but also in South Carolina and Virginia, rely on ElectriCities to keep the lights on. Jones joined ElectriCities in 2009 and became CEO in 2015. He joined the notfor-proft group 14 years ago and became CEO in 2015. He has been in the electric-power industry for more than four decades, starting with Entergy in 1981.
Education: BS LaSalle University
Favorite start to the day: Having a cup of coffee and quiet time to think Favorite volunteer activity: Habitat for Humanity
CHRIS KEMPER
CEO
Palmetto Clean Energy
Charlotte
The residential solar power company raised $1.2 billion last year, $300 million in January and expects to take in another $500 million by the end of the frst quarter. The money will provide fnancing as the company expands its base of 500,000-plus customers. About 80% signed on last year as the company’s revenue growth more than doubled. Investors backing Palmetto include Charlotte-based Truist Bank, Shell Ventures, TPG, the Social Capital venture capital frm and a dozen other investment frms that have put money into the company. Kemper started the company in 2010 in London, shifted to Charleston, South Carolina, and then moved to Charlotte in 2023.
Education: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIKE KILPATRICK
Founder, CEO
STG
Solar Pisgah Forest
STG partners with developers, contractors and investors to construct utility-scale solar farms. Since 2015, it has worked on 60-plus projects in nine states, producing almost 2 gigawatts of generation capacity. The company transitioned from working as an electrical subcontractor.
KATHARINE KOLLINS
President
Southeastern Wind Coalition
Chapel Hill
The nonproft organization promotes wind-energy efforts in six Southeastern states. On President Donald Trump’s frst day of his second term, he paused new or renewed approvals for onshore or offshore wind projects on federal lands or waters. Kollins says the move risks American energy dominance. Charlotte-based Duke Energy is mulling both onshore and offshore wind-production products as part of its efforts for cleaner energy.
Education: BS University of Colorado; MBA, Master’s Duke University
DAREN PARKER
Owner
Parker Gas Co.
Fayetteville
ERIC
PIKE Chair
Pike Corp.
Mount Airy
Parker’s company provides propane delivery, appliance sales and service through six offces in southeastern and central North Carolina. Earlier this year, the business bought Bobby Taylor Oil Co., which has fuel plants in Fayetteville and Elizabethtown. Parker’s father, Earl, started the company in 1958.
Education: BA East Carolina University
The 12,000-employee company offers infrastructure engineering and construction services to more than 400 U.S. utilities and other organizations. Pike joined the company in 1990 as a lineman and was CEO from 2002 to 2023. His grandfather, Floyd Pike, founded the company in 1945.
Education: BA Emory University
Executive director NC WARN Efand
The Graham native has been executive director of the clean energy and climate justice nonproft since 1993. NC WARN’s campaigns critical of fossil fuels often focus on major energy producers. Last year, NC≠≠ Warn covered the cost for the town of Carrboro to fle suit against Duke Energy, accusing Duke Energy of pushing fossil fuels over cleaner sources of energy for decades, damaging the environment and costing the town money. The lawsuit is pending. NC WARN has about seven employees, 25 volunteers and contributions and grants of about $2.4 million, according to its most recent tax fling.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill
CEO
Strata Clean Energy Durham
After 25 years as a media executive, Wilhelm founded the company in 2008 as a residential rooftop solar company. It rebranded in 2021 to refect its broader business. Strata has 170 projects in operation, more than 6 gigawatts of solar, 22 gigawatts of storage in development and 4.2 gigawatts under management across the U.S. In March, Strata announced a project with Canadian Solar to build a 100-megawatt battery energy storage system in Arizona, with construction to begin in October 2026.
Education: Business diploma, University of Passau
JIM WARREN
MARKUS WILHELM
RON DAY
CEO
First Carolina Financial Services and First Carolina Bank
Raleigh
First Carolina has been among the state’s fastest-growing banks since Day helped start the business in 2012 after working for RBC. It now has assets of $3.2 billion and offices in five North Carolina cities, along with sites in Virginia, South Carolina and Atlanta.
2025 POWER LIST
ANITA HUGHES BACHMANN
DAVID BARKSDALE
LEIGH BRADY
RICHARD BRYANT
RICK CALLICUTT
KIETH COCKRELL
ADAM CURRIE
MATT DAVIS
In January, it acquired Radnor, Pennsylvania-based BM Technologies, which provides financial aid disbursement services for more than 700 campuses. Day led a $45.5 million fundraising last year, with more than 200 individual investors buying First Carolina shares. Seventy-two investors were new shareholders.
It was the company’s 11th private placement since its inception. The largest, for $115 million, was completed in March 2022. Investors paid for shares at a price representing about 140% of First Carolina’s tangible book value, Day says.
Lending surged 20%, or about $400 million, in the past year. But the bank hasn’t charged off a soured loan in eight years, Day adds.
Education: BS UNC Chapel Hill
Favorite start to the day: A 2- to 3-mile walk
Best advice for career: Make your plan, and help those around you be successful.
Influential mentor: Former NCNB boss Kevin Shannon, who is an adviser
Industry’s key challenge: Creativity in raising core deposits through digital means.
Favorite musician: Elton John
Remote work, yay or nay? We prefer in person because we have so many customer-facing employees. It promotes development and learning and strengthens culture. We provide technology for remote work when necessary, and our recent acquisition of BankMobile Technologies gives us a broader footprint, adding remote technology work to our business.
Best tip for engaging workers: Be all in
RON DAY
JIM DUNN
ROB EDWARDS
LEE FITE
DEREK FLOWERS
MIKE FRENO
DAVID GARDNER
PETER GWALTNEY
TODD HALL
JIM HANSEN
FRANK HOLDING JR.
THOMAS HOOPS
JONATHON KING
CURT LADIG
DOUG LEBDA
CHIP MAHAN
BRIAN MCCARTHY
KEVIN MCCARTHY
ED MCMAHAN
FIELDING MILLER
RICHARD MOORE
ROBERT (BOB) NEWELL
DEE O’DELL
MICHAEL PAINTER
BILL PAPPAS
EDWIN POSTON
DAVID REA
— RON DAY
“Make your plan, and help those around you be successful.”
WILLIAM “BILL” ROGERS JR.
JIM ROSE
JASON SANDNER
JAMES SILLS
TUNDE SOTUNDE
ERIC STEIGERWALT
CLAY THORP
NEAL TRIPLETT
KEVIN WALKER
THAD WALTON
HUNTER WESTBROOK
TED WHITEHURST
MARY WILLIS
DONTÁ WILSON
ANITA HUGHES
BACHMANN
CEO
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of N.C. Greensboro
DAVID BARKSDALE
CEO
Piedmont Federal Bank
Winston-Salem
Bachmann has led the largest U.S. health insurer’s N.C. operations since 2017. It employs more than 8,300 people in the state. She is a member of UNC Greensboro’s board of trustees and with her husband, George, established an endowed scholarship last year for students seeking healthcare degrees. Her extensive career in healthcare started in information management at the Greenville Hospital System in South Carolina.
Education: BA East Carolina University; MHSA Medical University of South Carolina
LEIGH BRADY
CEO
State Employees’ Credit Union Raleigh
Brady has led the second-largest U.S. credit union since June 2023, when she succeeded Jim Hayes. The Wilson native has worked at SECU since 1987, including as chief operating officer. Last year, American Banker named her one of the “Most Powerful Women in Credit Unions.” The organization, which is owned by its 2.8 million members, reported a surplus of $209 million in the 2024 fiscal year. Assets total about $53 billion. In March, SECU unveiled its first credit card that offers “cash back” and “points” rewards.
Education: BA NC State University; MBA Meredith College
Unlike its peers, Piedmont Federal is owned by its depositors, not shareholders as a mutual institution. Barksdale joined in 2019 after working for several N.C. community banks including First Reliance, Carolina Premier and New Bridge. Piedmont Federal has $1.28 billion in assets and about a dozen offices. He chairs the local United Way, serves as president of his Rotary Club, a director of the Winston-Salem Foundation and as a past president of the area Boy Scout council.
Education: BS Wake Forest University
Favorite start to the day: Rising early, drinking coffee, and reading emails and the local paper. Then I exercise, shower and head to the office by 6 a.m.
Favorite volunteer activity: Scouting America
Influential mentor: Former manager Dan Merrill, who taught me to be a better leader, and consultant Andy Davies, who taught me to be strategic and the value of execution.
Industry’s key challenge: The regulatory burden, particularly for smaller banks, makes it very hard to do business in a sensible manner. Regulation is needed, but banks have been overloaded recently.
Favorite musician: Robert Earl Keen
Remote work, yay or nay? Nay. I get flexibility, but I believe culture is built and sustained in person.
Your best life changes: Marrying my wife and learning to smoke pork Best tip for engaging workers: Culture drives engagement. We clearly define our culture through purpose, values and essentials — 26 fundamental behaviors we attempt to emulate in every interaction.
RICHARD BRYANT
CEO
Capital Investment Companies Raleigh
The Gastonia native co-founded the wealth management company with Bobby Edgerton in 1984. At the time, Bryant had about 30 clients after working for a national brokerage. It now has about 175 financial planners and advisers in 12 states. Capital Investment manages more than $8 billion for its clients. Bryant is among the longest-serving CEOs of any U.S. financial services company.
Education: BA NC State University Best advice for career: “Get in a business with no people management, no receivables and no bleeping inventory.” — my Dad Industry’s key challenge: Cybersecurity compounded by AI, while utilizing AI and technology to our ultimate benefit. And developing younger talent.
Best question for hiring: Get them talking about their past and passions. Your best life change: Thriving to remain grounded and staying married for almost 39 years. Favorite actor to play you: Jeff Bridges or Jack Nicholson
Best tips for engaging workers: Listen to them and value their opinions
RICK CALLICUTT
Chair,
Carolinas & Virginia Pinnacle Financial Partners High Point
The Davidson County native was among six original employees of Bank of North Carolina in 1991. He became CEO in 2013, and the bank was acquired by Nashville-based Pinnacle in 2017 for $1.9 billion. He had previously worked at Wachovia and First Union. He’s a trustee at High Point University and a former chair of the N.C. Bankers Association.
Education: BA High Point University
KIETH COCKRELL
President Bank of America
Charlotte Region
Charlotte
The Long Island, New York, native is a key civic leader in addition to leading the headquarters market of the second-largest U.S. bank. He gained the job in 2021. He has spent more than 30 years with Bank of America after a decade working for IBM. His children include Anna, who won a silver medal in the 400-meter hurdles at last year’s Olympics; Ross, who played in the NFL for seven years; and Ciera, a Howard University Law School graduate.
Education: BS Columbia University
JIM DUNN CEO Verger Capital Management Winston-Salem
ADAM CURRIE
CEO
First Bank
Greensboro
Currie succeeded Mike Mayer in February at the bank that dates to 1935, when it was started in Troy. The Charlotte native joined the company in 2015 after working for PNC, RBC and Bank of America and was named president in 2023. He has “been instrumental in positioning First Bank for another 90 years of success,” CEO Richard Moore says.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill
MATT DAVIS
President
TowneBank
Raleigh
Davis worked at Raleigh-based Paragon Bank for 15 years before it was acquired by Portsmouth, Virginia-based TowneBank in 2018. He’s had his current role since December 2022. Formed in 1999, the bank has 51 locations in Virginia and North Carolina, $17 billion in assets and reported a proft of $162 million last year. It also has signifcant mortgage banking, insurance and property management businesses.
Education: BA, Master’s NC State University
ROB EDWARDS Vice Chair
Ridgemont
Equity
Partners
Charlotte
Dunn started his investment management business in 2014 after working as chief investment offcer at the Wake Forest University Offce of Investments and a managing director at Wilshire Associates. The company manages about $2.9 billion solely for Wake Forest and other nonprofts. Its three key areas of focus are portfolio diversifcation, active risk management and unconstrained idea generation.
Education: BBA Villanova University Favorite start to the day: Read, prep for the day, then head to the offce. I drink a cold Sunshine energy drink, rather than coffee.
Best advice for career: There are no shortcuts. It’s hard work, grit and perseverance.
Favorite volunteer activity:
Participating in company volunteer events, including building Habitat for Humanity homes, serving meals, tending a community garden and organizing a toy drive for children impacted by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina.
Infuential mentor: Verger Chief Operating Offcer Vicki West, whose steadfast servant leadership and thoughtful demeanor serve as inspiration.
Industry’s key challenge: During this period of economic volatility, global social and political change, increased social needs, and contracted university, healthcare and nonproft resources, balancing long-term returns and liquidity and protecting endowments from signifcant drawdowns is more diffcult than ever.
Favorite podcasts: Ted Seides’ “Capital Allocators” and John Bowman’s “Capital Decanted” Favorite musician: Sting and The Police
Favorite actor to play you: Liev Schreiber
Best tip for engaging workers: Build an ethos of entrepreneurship where everyone understands the impact they make.
Edwards joined with other former Bank of America private equity executives to co-found Ridgemont in 2010. It now has about 60 employees and has provided 160 companies with equity investments of as much as $250 million. His previous employers include McKinsey & Co. and Bowles, Hollowell & Conner. He is a director of Greeneville, Tennesseebased Forward Air. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys golf, fshing and hunting.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; MBA Harvard University
LEE FITE
President
Fifth Third Bank
Carolinas Region
Charlotte
Fite joined the Cincinnati-based bank in 2007 after working for RBC and First Union. He became regional president in 2018, overseeing the Carolinas and Virginia. The company employs more than 1,000 people in the Charlotte region. It opened an offce in Charlotte’s low-income West End neighborhood in January. It was the frst of 15 banking centers planned for historically disinvested areas this year in the bank’s 11-state footprint. Fifth Third opened its frst Wilmington offce in November.
Education: BS BA Appalachian State University; MBA Wake Forest University
DEREK FLOWERS
Chief Risk Offcer
Wells Fargo Charlotte
Flowers joined the bank as a loan offcer in 1993 and now is the highest-ranking executive based in North Carolina, leading 10,000 teammates and serving on the company’s Operating Committee. Before his current post, he was head of the strategic execution and operations offce. He played “a critical role managing the buildout of the company’s risk and control frameworks,” CEO Charlie Scharf says.
Education: BS University of Arizona; MBA University of Michigan
DAVID GARDNER
Founding Partner
Cofounders Capital Cary
The Triangle’s best-known angel investor says he has failed at retirement twice. He has founded or co-founded seven companies, including PeopleClick and Report2Web. Six had successful exits. He’s raised two funds totaling $43 million. His book, “The StartUp Hats,” addresses entrepreneurship.
Education: BA Bluefeld University Favorite start to the day: Coffee with my wife.
Best advice for career: Show up.
Favorite volunteer activity: Opportunity International Infuential mentor: Alex Osadzinski Industry’s key challenge: Lack of funding.
Favorite musician: The Bygones Best question for hiring: What did you not agree with on your last performance review?
Your best life change: Downsizing Favorite actor to play you: Tom Cruise Best tip for engaging workers: Give them your company.
PETER GWALTNEY CEO
North Carolina Bankers Association Wake Forest
MIKE FRENO CEO
Barings
Charlotte
Freno joined Barings as a managing director in 2005 and became CEO in 2020. He’s on the executive leadership team of owner MassMutual Insurance Holdings. The business manages more than $430 billion in assets, about half from MassMutual, and has more than 700 employees in Charlotte. In January, it agreed to buy Washington, D.C.-based Artemis Real Estate Partnership, which has $11 billion in assets.
Education: BA Furman University; MBA Wake Forest University
TODD HALL CEO
Truliant Federal Credit Union
Winston-Salem
Gwaltney is in his 10th year leading the association, a role similar to one he held earlier in Louisiana. It represents small community banks and giants such as Bank of America. About 100,000 people work for the 88 banks doing business in North Carolina, the association says. They provide $41 billion in home loans and about $10 billion in small business loans annually. There are about 2,060 branches across the state.
Education: BA Louisiana State University
Truliant is among the state’s most aggressive credit unions with about 340,000 members, more than 900 employees and 35 branches in the Carolinas and Virginia. Its assets top $5 billion, making it the largest fnancial institution based in the Triad. Hall joined the credit union in 2012 and became CEO in 2020. Originally formed in 1952 to serve Western Electric employees in WinstonSalem, it now offers mortgages, small business loans, property and life insurance, and investment services.
Education: BS University of South Carolina; MBA Wake Forest University
JIM HANSEN
Regional President, Eastern Carolinas and Southeast PNC Bank
Raleigh
PNC reinforced its commitment to North Carolina in November, announcing plans to add 25 branches in the Charlotte metro and 10 across the Triangle region over the next fve years. Hansen is a key force in that effort, which is part of a 200-branch, $1.5 billion plan by the Pittsburgh-based bank. He has worked for PNC and its predecessor, RBC Bank, since 2001. A past chair of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership board, he is the immediate past chair of the North Carolina Bankers Association.
Education: BS NC State University; MBA UNC Chapel Hill
Favorite start to the day: Arriving at the offce early with coffee in hand, focusing myself for the day’s meeting and calls. If I’m in town, scanning headlines and solving Wordle. Favorite volunteer activity: Visiting early childhood centers to read stories to preschool-age children. And engaging with several economic development organizations. Industry’s key challenge: Despite last year’s falling interest rates and slowing infation, borrowing costs are a barrier for some companies that want to grow.
Your best life change: As my 19-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son have grown up, I have leaned into their sports, Scouting and other hobbies through parent-child activities and travel. I’ve taken both on one-on-one trips, opportunities for them to pursue interests and for me to connect with them, discussing their life questions, perspectives and aspirations.
FRANK HOLDING JR. CEO
First Citizens Bancshares Raleigh
As CEO of the largest familyowned U.S. bank, Holding is managing the integration of Silicon Valley Bank and CIT Group, which nearly quadrupled the company’s size over the past four years. The bank reported a $2.8 billion proft in 2024, assets of about $223 billion and a midMarch market valuation of about $25 billion. It is among the 20 largest U.S. banks. He is a director of fyExclusive, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and Mount Olive Pickle.
Education: BS UNC Chapel Hill; MBA University of Pennsylvania
THOMAS HOOPS
CEO
New Republic Partners
Charlotte
Hoops is the leader of the 5-year-old wealth management company that is backed by several prominent North Carolina families. New Republic has more than $2 billion under management, including discretionary accounts, and offces in Atlanta, Charlotte, Charleston, South Carolina, Denver, Raleigh and Richmond, Virginia. The frm says it can offer investment opportunities that are usually reserved for big institutional investors.
Education: BS Duke University; JD, MBA UNC Chapel Hill
JONATHON
KING President
UNC Management Chapel Hill
Bill Belichick and Hubert Davis may generate the headlines at UNC Chapel Hill, but a lot of the money gets managed by King, who has led the universityaffliated investment frm that oversaw $11.5 billion as of Dec. 31, mostly for UNC campuses. Its main UNC Investment Fund reported a 12.6% return in the June 2024 fscal year, rebounding from a 0.4% decline in the previous year. Assets have grown by 70% over the past fve years, including investment gains and contributions. He previously spent 16 years at Dartmouth University.
Education: BA Middlebury College; MBA Dartmouth College
CURT LADIG CEO
Delta Dental of North Carolina
Raleigh
Since 2011, Ladig has led the state’s largest dental insurer. It is part of a nonproft dental service company, Renaissance Health Service, which operates similar plans in several other states. Delta Dental is a national network of 39 independent companies. Before moving to Raleigh, he was chief operating offcer of Delta Dental of Kentucky. He previously worked for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and Ernst & Young.
Education: BS Indiana University Favorite hiring question: What are you passionate about in your career and in your life?
Your best life change: To be always willing to learn something new.
DOUG LEBDA
CEO, Founder LendingTree
Charlotte
An acclaimed entrepreneur who launched his company in 1996, Lebda has pushed to reduce debt and overseen renewed growth in its three segments of home, consumer and insurance. The result was a lower net loss of $41.7 million in 2024, compared to a combined $300 million loss over the previous two years. Revenue gained 34% to $900 million. Growth has returned after a “prolonged period of diffcult operating conditions,” he said in March.
Education: BA Bucknell University; MA University of Virginia
CHIP MAHAN
CEO
Live Oak Bancshares
Wilmington
The key energizer of economic growth in Wilmington in the past decade, Mahan has helped develop Live Oak Bank, the nCino software frm, the Canapi Ventures investment frm and other spinoffs. About 600 people work at Live Oak’s campus, though Mahan says there is room for 6,000. The Milken Institute rated Wilmington as the 13th best-performing city, behind Raleigh (No.1) and ahead of Durham (No. 16) and Charlotte (No. 24).
Education: BA Washington & Lee University
BRIAN MCCARTHY
Principal Vanguard Group Charlotte
McCarthy has been one of the giant investment company’s key Charlotte executives for more than a decade. His work affects millions of individual investors at the Valley Forge, Pennsylvania-based company that has $10 trillion of assets under management. He previously was global head of the investment management group for Operational Risk. The company has 2,400 Charlotte employees, who are moving this year to a 700,000-square-foot building that insurer Centene built and never occupied in north Charlotte.
Education: BS Boston Colege; MBA St. Joseph’s University
KEVIN
MCCARTHY
Co-Founder Managing Partner Kian Capital
Charlotte
McCarthy joined Rick Cravey to cofound the private-equity company in 2011. He had been head of Wachovia Securities’ Middle Market Capital Group, overseeing a more than $1 billion portfolio. He was previously a partner at Atlanta-based CGW Southeast Partners, a private equity frm with $750 million of capital under management. Kian had 13 active investments as of March, with about $1 billion of assets under management
Education: BS University of Virginia; MBA Duke University
ED MCMAHAN
Managing Partner
Falfurrias Capital Partners Charlotte
Falfurrias Capital’s success was evident when it completed a $1.35 billion fund in March, a big hike from its previous $850 million fund raised in 2021. It is investing $1.75 billion in active funds and has raised $3.6 billion in capital since McMahan co-founded the private-equity business with Hugh McColl Jr. and Marc Oken in 2006. The Charlotte native had previously worked at Chicago Growth Partners and Bowles Hollowell Conner. It’s perhaps best known for its food-related investments such as Bojangles and the owner of Duke’s Mayo. But the fund has invested in a wide variety of business services and industries. Its track record ranked among the top fve small-cap buyout frms worldwide, according to a HEC Paris-Dow Jones report in 2023.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; MBA Northwestern University
FIELDING MILLER
CEO Captrust Raleigh
The registered investment adviser co-founded by Miller in 1997 keeps adding fnancial professionals, including the purchase of Charlotte’s Carolinas Investment Consulting in March. Last summer, it said it passed the $1 trillion mark in assets under advisement. Captrust has completed more than 75 deals over the years and has more than 1,500 employees in about 90 locations. Miller remains the largest individual investor, with backing from the Carlyle and GTCR private-equity groups.
Education: BS East Carolina University
RICHARD MOORE CEO First Bancorp Raleigh
Moore leads about 1,400 associates at the community bank that has 113 offces in North Carolina and South Carolina and a market valuation of about $1.6 billion. Assets top $12 billion. He became CEO of First Bancorp in 2012 after serving two terms as state treasurer from 2001-09. A former assistant U.S. attorney, he has promoted a national effort to protect shareholders from Wall Street abuses. He is on the UNC Health Foundation board.
Education: BS, JD Wake Forest University; Master’s London School of Economics
Favorite start to the day: Being outside in a quiet place, enjoying a cup of coffee and listening to nature. Favorite volunteer activity: Raising money and awareness for the recently announced N.C. Children’s hospital
ROBERT (BOB) NEWELL
CEO
Franklin Street Partners Chapel Hill
DEE O’DELL Head of Business Banking Sales
U.S. Bank
Charlotte
The wealth management business that Newell joined in 2009 topped the $4 billion assets under management mark late last year. A former president of Wachovia Trust, he joined Franklin in 2009. The business manages money for institutions and individuals. It was acquired by Fifth Third Bank in 2018.
Education: BA NC State University
The veteran of Wachovia Bank moved to U.S. Bank in 2009 to help lead the bank’s growing presence in Charlotte. The ffthlargest U.S. bank now has about 1,400 employees in the Queen City. O’Dell heads a national division focused on customers with $2.5 million to $25 million in annual sales. He’s a longtime civic leader whose work has included co-chairing the Opportunity Task Force, which concentrates on economic mobility, and serving as a past chair of the United Way of Greater Charlotte’s board.
Education: BA Hampden-Sydney College; MBA UNC Chapel Hill
MICHAEL PAINTER
Co-Founder
Managing Partner
Plexus Capital Raleigh
BILL PAPPAS
Head of Global Technology & Operations
Metlife
Charlotte
Painter co-founded the investment frm with Bob Anders in 2005 after previously working for RBC Bank and other fnancial frms. It closed its ffth and latest fund in 2023, raising $554 million. Overall, it has raised $2.2 billion. With about 45 team members, Plexus invests in companies with annual operating proft of $2 million to $15 million.
Education: BS UNC Chapel Hill
EDWIN POSTON
Co-Founder, Partner
TrueBridge Capital Partners Chapel Hill
Poston worked as managing director and head of private equity at The Rockefeller Foundation before founding TrueBridge in 2007 with Mel Williams. It was acquired by Dallas-based P10 Holdings in 2020 and reports more than $7.5 billion in assets under management. Last May, it raised $1.6 billion across fve different investment vehicles, including $884 million for a fund to invest in “high-performing venture frms.”
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; MBA & JD Emory University
Pappas reports to MetLife CEO Michel Khalaf, directs 43,000 Metlife employees and oversees a budget of $3 billion. He joined the insurer in 2019 after a lengthy career at Bank of America. Metlife has more than 90 million customers in more than 40 countries. He calls emerging technology, particularly AI, “an opportunity of a lifetime.” Forbes named him to its 2023 CIO NEXT list of transformational technology leaders.
Education: BA, MBA Bentley University
Favorite start to the day: A long run, which clears my mind and keeps me in shape.
Favorite volunteer activity: Packing meals at Rise Against Hunger, which supports children and families facing food insecurity worldwide.
Infuential mentors: MetLife CEO Michel Khalaf, who has shown me the impact of a purpose-driven company. Bank of America’s Cathy Bessant, who proved that nothing overshadows execution. And legendary GE CEO Jack Welch, who taught me that people are the most important thing in business.
Industry’s key challenge: Inclusion Best tip for engaging workers: Ensure that everybody feels they can make a difference, regardless of level, region or business line.
DAVID REAN President
Salem Investment Counselors
Winston-Salem
Rea and Salem manage $4.5 billion after concentrating on high-quality companies with good growth prospects since 2007. Last year, CNBC rated it the top investment advisory frm in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia and eighth nationally, marking the ffth time in six years it has been in the top 10. Its more than 600 clients include individuals, families and institutions.
Education: BA Wake Forest University
Best advice for career: Work hard and be optimistic and honest. Industry’s key challenge: Staying ahead of trends.
Favorite musician: Elton John Best question for hiring: What do you want to do?
Remote work, yay or nay? Nay Best tip for engaging workers: Give them responsibilities and rewards
WILLIAM “BILL”
ROGERS JR. CEO Truist Financial Charlotte
The Durham native and longtime SunTrust CEO succeeded former BB&T chief Kelly King as Truist’s top executive in 2022, three years after the largest U.S. bank merger in more than a decade. After hefty expense reductions, hundreds of offce closings, the sale of its lucrative insurance business and a revised leadership team, the bank reported a $4.8 billion proft last year. Truist stock outperformed the S&P 500 Index in the year ending March 31, reversing years of underperformance. Rogers’ 20-year colleague, Chief Operating Offcer Beau Cummins, retired in January, with his roles flled by Kristin Lesher and Mike Maguire.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; MBA Georgia State University
JIM ROSE
State President
United Community Bank
Raleigh
The career banker joined Greenville, South Carolina-based United Community Bank as the N.C. president in 2017. In March, it was ranked as the No. 1 bank for customer satisfaction in the Southeast by the J.D. Power research firm. As of Dec. 31, it had 199 offices in six states and nearly $28 billion in assets. He has chaired the board of Delta Dental of North Carolina and is a director of the NC State Education Assistance Authority.
Education: BA Wake Forest University Best advice for career: Live the Golden Rule, and there is no substitute for hard work.
Influential mentor: My Dad, his work ethic and ability to show people that he cared remain meaningful to me.
Industry’s key challenge: Nurturing personal relationships in a high-tech and impersonal world.
Favorite podcast: “The Joe Rogan Experience”
Favorite musician: Peter Frampton
Remote work, yay or nay? Nay — people need interaction and face-toface encouragement.
Favorite actor to play you: Kevin Costner
Best tip for engaging workers: Celebrate the little things and big things often.
JASON SANDNER
CEO
Curi
Raleigh
CEO
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
Durham
Curi is marking 50 years in business as a more diversified operation than when it was founded as Medical Mutual Insurance Co. of North Carolina. Sandner succeeded longtime CEO Dale Jenkins in 2021 and has overseen acquisitions in Curi’s wealth management, advisory and insurance units. Its January 2024 combo with RMB Capital sparked the move of the new Curi RMB Capital’s headquarters to Chicago. Sandner joined Curi in 2011.
Education: BA Towson University
The state’s largest health insurer is now a subsidiary of CuraCor, a new not-for-profit holding company created to enable more mergers and partnerships, the company says. Sotunde is a native of Nigeria who immigrated in the 1990s to complete his pediatric residency at Howard University. He was named CEO of BCBS of North Carolina in 2020 after managing Medicaid services for Anthem.
Education: MD University of Ibadan; MBA University of Memphis
TUNDE SOTUNDE
JAMES SILLS
CEO M&F Bank Durham
Sills has overseen major changes since taking the helm of the nation’s second-oldest AfricanAmerican-owned bank in 2014. In the past year, he helped win approval for a plan to convert $80 million of preferred shares at a major discount, boosting capital and reducing the chance that an investor group could gain control through purchases of M&F’s shares. North Carolina’s only African-American-owned bank, it has assets of more than $500 million and offces in Charlotte, Durham, Greensboro, Raleigh and Winston-Salem.
Education: BA Morehouse College; MPA University of Pittsburgh
Favorite start to the day: CNBC
Best advice for career: Do not take yourself too seriously. Take what you do seriously.
Favorite volunteer activity: Mentoring youth
Infuential mentor: James Wright, former bank president and CEO Industry’s key challenge: Attracting and retaining talent
Favorite musician: Sade
Best question for hiring: Why should we hire you for this position?
Remote work, yay or nay?
Nay — I like going into the offce fve days a week.
Your best life change: Sleeping seven to eight hours every night.
Favorite actor to play you: Denzel Washington
Best tip for engaging workers: Stressing the importance of soft skills.
ERIC STEIGERWALT CEO
Brighthouse Financial Charlotte
Brighthouse Is a provider of annuities and life insurance that was spun off from MetLife in 2017. Steigerwalt became CEO at the company’s launch in 2016 after working for MetLife for 18 years. The company reported net income of $286 million in 2024 after a loss of $1.2 billion in 2023. Brighthouse expects volatility in its net income in connection with its use of hedges in its risk-management strategy. Shares have increased more than 140% during the fve years through March 31. Steigerwalt is on the board of the American Council of Life Insurers.
Education: BA Drew University
CLAY THORP
General Partner
Hatteras Venture Partners Durham
Thorp is on seven corporate boards and is an observer on three others, including Durham-based Tune Therapeutics, which raised $175 million in January. He has co-founded eight companies. In 2000, he co-founded Hatteras with John Crumpler. It now manages $450 million in fve venture funds, having investments in biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics and other areas. He co-founded the Robert A. Ingram Institute for Equitable Healthcare Access at UNC Health, honoring his 20-year business partner, who died in 2023.
Education: BS UNC Chapel Hill; Master’s Harvard University
NEAL TRIPLETT
CEO
Duke University Management Durham
The management company oversees the university’s endowment, which totaled $11.9 billion as of June 30 after an 8% investment return in the fscal year. It also manages a retirement pool for Duke employees, Duke University Health System’s investments and the assets of The Duke Endowment. Triplett joined the institution in 1999 and became CEO in 2007. Last year, he was elected a director of Arch Capital Group, a Bermuda-based insurance company.
Education: BA, MBA Duke University
KEVIN
WALKER
Managing Director
Raleigh Site Executive UBS
Raleigh
The veteran Credit Suisse technology services leader has worked for UBS since the big Swiss fnancial services companies merged last July. Credit Suisse had planned to expand its 1,700-employee center in Raleigh with as many as 1,200 more positions, but last year, UBS canceled a state incentives agreement. Walker is a director of the N.C. Tech Association and Wake Tech Foundation.
Education: BA Caldwell University; Master’s Fairleigh Dickinson University
THAD WALTON
North Carolina Commercial Banking Leader and Charlotte Market Executive Regions Bank
Charlotte
Walton joined Birmingham, Alabama-based Regions in 2011 after working for First Citizens Bank. He was named to his current positions in 2019 and 2022. His lending team has doubled in size under his leadership.
Education: BS UNC Chapel Hill; JD Charlotte School of Law
TED WHITEHURST
CEO Providence Bank Tarboro
Whitehurst joined the Rocky Mount-based bank when it was started in 2006, and he has been CEO since 2016. Last year, Providence reached $1.3 billion in assets and reported more than 30% gains in loans and deposits. Proft increased 14% to $15.8 million. Providence has ranked among the top four N.C. banks for overall performance for 11 straight years, according to the Bank Performance Report.
Education:
BS East Carolina University
Favorite start to the day: Waking up! Every day is a gift, an opportunity to grow, connect and make a difference.
Best advice for career: Embrace being a little uncomfortable Growth happens when you take on challenges just beyond your current skill set.
Favorite volunteer activity: Serving on the United Way board of directors
HUNTER WESTBROOK
CEO
HomeTrust Bank Asheville
Westbrook has led the largest fnancial institution based in western North Carolina since 2021 after joining in 2012. HomeTrust reported a 10% increase in proft to $54.8 million last year, overcoming negative impacts from Hurricane Helene. Assets total $4.6 billion. In January, HomeTrust said it was selling its two Knoxville, Tennessee, branches as an effciency move.
Education: BS West Virginia University; MBA University of Minnesota
MARY WILLIS
CEO Fidelity Bank
Fuquay-Varina
Willis has worked at the bank for 37 years. She started as a teller, joining her father, Billy Woodard, who was the bank’s CEO for 40 years. She became CEO in 2010. The bank has 55 offces in the Carolinas and Virginia, with $4.2 billion in assets and about 500 employees. Net income gained 6% to $119 million last year. Raleigh’s Holding family owns a controlling stake in Fidelity Bank.
Education: BA East Carolina University
DONTÁ WILSON
Chief Consumer and Small Business Banking Offcer Truist Financial Charlotte
Your best life change: Becoming a husband and father. My wife and kids are my greatest teachers; they have changed my life in ways I could’ve never imagined.
For more than 25 years, Wilson, 47, has served in leadership roles with Truist and its predecessor BB&T. He was named chief digital and client experience offcer in 2019 and appointed to the executive leadership team in 2016. He oversees more than 1,900 branches across the Southeast, mid-Atlantic and Texas. He had previous key roles in the Georgia, Alabama and northern Virginia regions.
Education: BS UNC Charlotte; MBA University of Maryland
Best advice for career: “If the odds are one in a million, just be the one.” — my Grandfather
Favorite volunteer activity: Working with inner city “at-potential” youth
Your best life change: Focusing my energy on improving myself.
2025 POWER LIST HEALTHCARE
HONOREES
ALLISON FARMER CEO
EmergeOrtho Durham
Farmer became the first statewide CEO of the largest physician-owned orthopedic practice in the state in 2021. The accountant started as EmergeOrtho’s chief financial officer in 2013. Its 60-plus outpatient offices are spread across 28 counties, with about 350 orthopedic physicians and other specialists. In 2023, it joined the state’s other large orthopedic provider, OrthoCarolina, to create a program that bills on a patient’s overall care, bucking the traditional fee-forservice model.
Education: BS, Master’s UNC Chapel Hill
Best advice for career: Strive to be someone people enjoy working with.
Industry’s key challenge: Continuous declining Medicare reimbursement for physicians
Remote work, yay or nay? Positive
Your best life change: Make choices that are intentional and bring you joy. If the choice does not, maybe select the other option. Here is the most important part of this — you can choose if it brings you joy or not.
Favorite actor to play you: Tina Fey
Best tip for engaging workers: Ensure team members are in the right roles, especially taking into account the right time of their career for that role.
CRAIG ALBANESE
CARL ARMATO
CHIP BAGGETT
EBONY BOULWARE
WESLEY BURKS
MARY JO CAGLE
BRIAN CAVENEY
GREG CHADWICK
JOSH DOBSON
ALLISON FARMER
MICKEY FOSTER
JULIE FREISCHLAG
DONALD GINTZIG
JANET GUTHMILLER
KEN HAYNES
GREG LOWE
MIKE NAGOWSKI
KENNETH DALE OWEN JR.
CHRISTY PAGE
CHRIS PEEK
LEO SPECTOR
MICHAEL WALDRUM
EUGENE WOODS
CRAIG ALBANESE
CEO
Duke University Health Durham
Albanese became CEO in February 2023, about a year after starting at Duke Health as chief operating officer. His 25-plus years as a healthcare executive includes stints at Stanford Health and New York-Presbyterian. In December, Duke Health agreed to buy the 123-bed Lake Norman Regional Hospital in a $280 million transaction. Duke Health and UNC Health expect to break ground on a 500-bed children’s hospital in 2027 that will take six years to complete. Duke University School of Medicine received $455 million last year in National Institute of Health funding, 13th among the nation’s medical schools.
Education: BS Washington and Lee University; MD SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University; MBA Santa Clara University
CARL ARMATO
CEO
Novant Health
Winston-Salem
The CPA came to a Novant predecessor in 1998 and became CEO in 2012. With 19 hospitals, it is North Carolina’s second-largest healthcare operator, with about $10 billion in revenue after buying three South Carolina hospitals last year. Novant wants to triple its revenue to $30 billion in the coming years. In March, the notfor-profit said it would partner with Duke Health to develop new healthcare sites across the state, with construction for the first sites beginning this summer. Novant backed out of a $230 million deal to acquire two Iredell County hospitals over FTC objections.
Education: BS University of Louisiana at Lafayette; MBA Norwich University Favorite start to the day: I start each day with a daily devotional email called “The Morning Offering.” The inspirational messages ground me before the hustle of the workday. Best advice for career: My father, Lucien Armato, told me to always focus on caring for others. He taught me to have a caring heart, inspire hope and give access and possibilities to all people.
Influential mentor: My father is the reason my journey with Type 1 diabetes ignited a passion for a career in healthcare. I was diagnosed at just 18 months, and throughout my childhood, he told me I could use my Type 1 diabetes to help others. I took that to heart and today, I’m proud to use my experience as a patient living with a chronic condition to drive Novant Health to be a health system focused on — and nationally recognized for — safety, quality and a remarkable patient experience.
CHIP BAGGETT
CEO
N.C. Medical Society
Raleigh
Baggett joined the association that represents more than 10,000 physicians and medical professionals in 2007, and took his current position in 2020. Among his duties are advocating for his members’ interest with state lawmakers. The organization’s advocacy focal points for 2025 include reducing administrative burden, and increasing the number of physicians and physician assistants in the state. The society had $3.3 million in revenue and $23 million in net assets in 2023.
Education: BS Appalachian State University; JD N.C. Central University
EBONY BOULWARE
Dean
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Chief
Science Officer, Advocate Health Chapel Hill
WESLEY BURKS
CEO
UNC Health
Chapel Hill
After posts as a professor and executive at Johns Hopkins and Duke medical schools, Boulware joined Advocate Health in 2023. She is helping lead the medical school, a joint venture with Wake Forest University, as it opens its Charlotte campus this year.She is also a governing Council Member for the National Academy of Medicine. Boulware’s study of 150 neighborhoods in Durham County found a connection between high levels of structural racism and poor health.
Education: BA Vassar College; MD Duke University; MPH Johns Hopkins University
Burks has been CEO since 2019 after joining the system in 2011. It includes 11 hospitals and almost 30,000 employees. Earlier this year, UNC Health opened its largest expansion in 70 years, a seven-story surgical tower that includes 26 operating rooms, 59 pre- and post-op rooms, 80 private rooms and 15 observation beds. He is also dean of the UNC medical school, which received $349 million in National Institutes of Health funding, ranking 19th in the nation. A key effort is working with Duke Health on a proposed, $2 billion children’s hospital in the Triangle. Burks received the University of Arkansas Medical Science’s 2024 Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Education: BS University of Central Arkansas; MD University of Arkansas
MARY JO CAGLE CEO
Cone Health
Greensboro
The leader of Guilford County’s main healthcare provider is retiring in late May, citing a family healthcare matter. Cagle has worked in Greensboro since 2011, and became Cone Health’s frst female and physician CEO in 2021. She helped engineer the merger with Risant Health, which is part of the $115 billion Kaiser Permanente enterprise. Cone Health, which employs about 13,000, had $3.1 billion in revenue in the 2024 fscal year. Bernard Sherry is the interim CEO.
Education: BS, MD University of Alabama
Infuential mentors: Dr. Thompson Gailey taught me how to be an empathetic, compassionate physician. To sit eye to eye with a patient, listen, hold their hand, and understand from their point of view. Shideh Bina taught me the art of leadership and that vulnerability is a superpower.
Industry’s key challenge: Personnel shortages, including nurses, physicians and laboratory specialists.
Favorite musicians: Van Morrison, Dianna Krall
Remote work yay or nay?
Positive, especially the option of blended work. It brings a wider array of talent to the table from a greater geographic area.
Chief Medical & Scientifc Offcer
Labcorp Durham
Caveney joined the $13 billion testing company in 2017 after working for Duke University Medical Center and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. His duties include serving as president of Labcorp’s Early Development Research Laboratories, and he oversees medical and scientifc affairs, oncology, cell and gene therapy and quality. Modern Healthcare named him among healthcare’s 100 most infuential people in 2020. Labcorp has about 67,000 employees in almost 100 countries. It provided support for more than 75% of the new drugs and therapeutic products approved in 2024 by the FDA, and performed more than 700 million tests.
Education: BS University of Central Arkansas; MD West Virginia; MPH UNC Chapel Hill
GREG CHADWICK
Dean
ECU School of Dental Medicine Greenville
JOSH DOBSON
CEO
North Carolina Healthcare Association Raleigh
The Charlotte native practiced endodontics in the Queen City for nearly 30 years before heading to ECU to help establish the dental school. He became dean in 2012. It has graduated about 250 students since 2015, with admission restricted to N.C. residents. Chadwick also serves as president of the FDI World Dental Federation. ECU dental school graduates have an average debt of $125,000 compared with the national average of $250,000.
Education:
BS, MS, DDS UNC Chapel Hill
Last year, Dobson succeeded Stephen Lawler as CEO of the organization that unites 135 hospitals. He was chosen after serving one term as North Carolina Labor Commissioner. The Republican began his political career as a McDowell County commissioner in 2010. In 2013, he was appointed to the state House, representing Avery and McDowell counties. He served four terms before being elected to statewide offce. Dobson worked at a hardware store and in landscaping in college, then went on to Baxter’s Healthcare in Marion. He also worked as a correctional offcer at a maximum-security unit before moving to the administrative side.
Education: AA McDowell Technical Community College; BA GardnerWebb University; Master’s Appalachian State University
JULIE FREISCHLAG
CEO
Atrium Health, Wake Forest Baptist
Chief Academic Offcer
Advocate Health Winston-Salem
The vascular surgeon announced in April she would retire at the end of the year. She is the past dean at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.In October, Wake Forest Baptist broke ground on a $163 million outpatient surgery center, cancer center and medical offce building in northwest Greensboro. It plans to open an adjacent 36-bed, $262.8 million hospital in January 2029 after facing opposition from Cone Health. She chairs the Association of American Medical Colleges, which includes 170 U.S. and Canadian medical schools and about 400 teaching hospitals and health systems.
Education: BS University of Illinois, Chicago; MD Rush University
BRIAN CAVENEY
DONALD GINTZIG CEO
WakeMed Raleigh
Gintzig is a retired Navy rear admiral with more than 25 years of experience as a healthcare executive. He took command of WakeMed in 2013. It has three acute-care hospitals and almost 12,000 employees and providers, with revenue of $2 billion in its 2023 fscal year. Last year, WakeMed opened Wendell Healthplex in the fast-growing east Wake suburb. This year, WakeMed partnered with Duke Health and Lifepoint Health to open the 52bed Peak Rehabilitation Hospital in Apex. In 2028, WakeMed plans to open a 150-bed mental health hospital and a 45-bed acute care hospital in Garner.
Education: BS, Master’s George Washington University
JANET GUTHMILLER
Dean
UNC Adams School of Dentistry
Chapel Hill
Guthmiller returned to UNC in 2022 as dean of its dental school after holding a similar position at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She had previously worked at Carolina from 2007 to 2014 as an associate dean and professor of periodontology. Students and residents at the state’s frst dental school provide $3.6 million worth of free dental care involving 90,000-plus patient visits annually. Scimago Institutions Rankings put the Adams School of Dentistry in ffth place on its list of top U.S. dental schools. About 150 dentists, hygienists and dental educators graduated from the school in May 2024.
Education: BA Northwestern University; DDS University of Iowa; Ph.D. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
MICKEY FOSTER CEO
First Health of the Carolinas Pinehurst
Foster has held various healthcare executive positions at hospitals across the state since the mid1990s, and assumed his current role in 2019. The four-hospital system is licensed for 564 beds, has about 6,300 employees and serves patients in 15 counties. In 2024, the hospital created a police force to handle immediate public safety needs on its campus. FirstHealth was ranked 43rd out of more than 700 employers in Forbes 2025 list of America’s Best employers. Foster serves on the Moore County Economic Development Partnership board.
Education:
BS East Carolina University; Master’s Central Michigan University
Best advice for career: Great leaders excel in two key areas: they treat employees well, prioritizing their wellbeing, and drive meaningful business results. Leadership is ultimately a results-driven role. The most effective leaders understand that business outcomes and a positive employee culture are not competing priorities but interconnected drivers of sustained success.
Infuential mentor: Tim Rice, CEO Emeritus of Cone Health
Best tip for engaging workers: Walk in their shoes — literally. As an executive leader, it’s essential to understand the daily challenges and successes your employees experience. That’s why I make it a priority to shadow employees each month through a Walk in My Shoes program. Employees are far more engaged when they see that their voices matter and that leaders aren’t only present but also willing to roll up their sleeves.
KEN HAYNES
Chief Enterprise Services Offcer
Advocate Health Charlotte
Haynes came to Advocate’s Atrium Health unit in 2017 after serving as CEO of Christus Health’s Santa Rosa Hospital System in San Antonio, Texas. In 2022, Atrium Health joined forces with Advocate, creating the thirdlargest U.S. not-for-proft hospital chain with revenue of more than $32 billion. He was president of Atrium’s Greater Charlotte and Southeast regions before taking his current role in February. His duties include innovation and commercialization, support services, strategy and business development. He’s helped develop The Pearl medical innovation center, which will include a Wake Forest University School of Medicine campus, and is opening this summer.
Education: BS University of Alabama; MSHA, MBA University of Alabama at Birmingham
GREG LOWE
President
HCA Healthcare North Carolina Asheville
Lowe moved to the Asheville area to lead HCA Healthcare in the state after it bought Mission Health in 2019. In 2024, Mission overcame regulatory pressure that threatened its Medicaid and Medicare funding for failing to comply with health and safety regulations. In September, Lowe added another title, as CEO of 853bed Mission Hospital, after Chad Patrick was assigned to an HCA hospital in Florida. The hospital was praised for its resiliency after Hurricane Helene. Mission Hospital opened an emergency room in Arden in late 2024 and won court approval to open another emergency room in south Asheville.
Education: BA University of Utah; MBA University of Minnesota
DALE OWEN CEO Tryon Medical Partners
Charlotte
Six years after leading a group of doctors who had been working for Atrium Health, Trying Medical partnered with San Franciscobased private equity frm TPG to boost the fnancial strength of the business. The practice of about 90 doctors sees about 200,000 patients annually at 11 locations in the Charlotte area. The cardiologist has been practicing medicine since 1986.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; MD Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Favorite start to the day: I’m an early bird — welcoming a 6:30 a.m. patient and laughing with them about starting so early
Best advice for career: Motivation, Persistence, Determination, Refuse to fail on goals and dreams
Favorite volunteer activity: Urban Ministries
Infuential mentor: The head of cardiology in Milwaukee — he pushed me to be my best Industry’s key challenge: Pivoting to value based med and care processes
Favorite musician: Beatles, Paul McCartney
Best question for hiring: What are your motivations? Where do you see this position helping you and us grow?
Remote work, yay or nay?
Challenging to do in medicine
Your best life change: Leading Tryon to independence
Favorite actor to play you: Gene Hackman
Best tip for engaging workers: Develop personal relationships
MIKE NAGOWSKI
CEO
Cape Fear Valley Health System Fayetteville
CHRISTY PAGE
President UNC Health Enterprises Chapel Hill
Construction started late last year on a medical school that Cape Fear Valley is building with Methodist University. The frst students are slated to be on campus in fall 2026. The school is expected to eventually graduate about 120 physicians each year, with a focus of keeping them practicing in rural areas. Nagowski has led the eighthospital system with more than $1 billion in annual revenue since 2008. The health system started construction earlier this year on an adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit in Lillington.
Education: BS Park College; MBA St. Bonaventure University
Page is also chief academic offcer of the UNC School of Medicine, where she had been executive dean since 2019 before taking her new role earlier this year. She oversees the health system’s innovation projects, while helping form partnerships to diversify UNC Health’s income. Samantha Meltzer-Brody succeeded her at the med school. The medical school has more than 2,200 faculty members, 800 medical students and 560 doctoral candidates and manages $648 million in research grants. A Wilmington native and Morehead Scholar, the family physician joined the UNC faculty in 2006. She chaired the search committee that led to Lee Roberts’ selection as chancellor at UNC Chapel Hill last year.
Education: BS, Master’s, MD UNC Chapel Hill
CHRIS PEEK
CEO
CaroMont Health Gastonia
Peek was picked to lead CaroMont Health in 2017 after serving as deputy county manager for Mecklenburg County. His responsibilities include 4,400 employees, a 476-bed acute care hospital, CaroMont Medical Group and a skilled nursing facility. In January, it opened a 54-bed hospital in Belmont that is part of a $300 million expansion in Gaston County. He is past chair of the North Carolina Healthcare Association. Becker’s Hospital Review named him one of its Community Hospital CEOs to Know in 2023. He has lived in Gaston County for more than 30 years.
Education: BS UNC Charlotte; MBA Amberton University
LEO SPECTOR
CEO
OrthoCarolina Charlotte
Spector became OrthoCarolina’s frst CEO with an MBA in 2024 after working for the company for more than 18 years as an orthopedic surgeon. The son of a Boston orthopedic surgeon, Spector had held previous leadership roles including chief quality offcer. He continues to see patients several days a week. The practice has about 112 physician shareholders, 472 medical providers and 1,700 employees. It operates in more than 30 locations. In February, OrthoCarolina’s physical therapy branch was acquired by PT Solutions Physical Therapy.
Education: BA Colgate University; MD and Residency University of Massachusetts Medical School; University of Massachusetts Medical School; MBA Duke University
WHEN LEADERS GET TOGETHER ...
MICHAEL WALDRUM CEO
ECU
Health
Greenville
A critical care and pulmonology specialist, he was named CEO in 2015 after having executive roles at university-affliated hospitals in Tucson, Arizona and Birmingham, Alabama. The 12,000-employee nonproft healthcare system, formerly called Vidant, joined with the state-owned medical school to form ECU Health in 2021. He was named dean of ECU Brody School of Medicine as part of the merger. He became chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges board in November. In 2024, ECU started construction on its $265 million Center for Medical Education, a step toward increasing its medical school class size from 86 to more than 120. It is expected to open in 2027.
Education: BA The University of the South; MD University of Alabama; MS Harvard University; MBA University of Michigan
Best advice for career: Work hard, get experience and be open to new opportunities/problems.
Favorite volunteer activity: Serving on the board of NC East Alliance Industry’s key challenge: Workforce shortages, especially in rural communities
Favorite podcast: “Heterodox Out Loud”
Best question for hiring: What is the hardest thing you have ever done and what did you learn from it?
Remote work, yay or nay? Negative your best life change: Adopting a lifelong learning mindset
Best tip for engaging workers: Engage with them through all channels and be open/transparent
EUGENE WOODS CEO
Advocate Health Charlotte
The head of one of the state’s largest employers leads a 67-hospital system that he and a longtime friend, Advocate Aurora Health CEO Jim Skogsberg, put together in December 2022. It posted about $32 billion in revenue in 2024, making it the third-biggest U.S. not-for-proft hospital operator. He came to Charlotte in 2016 and has overseen mergers with Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem and the Advocate Aurora system, which has a major presence in Milwaukee and Chicago. The development of Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Charlotte campus and The Pearl mixed-use development are key accomplishments. The $255 million, 38-bed Atrium Health Lake Norman hospital is also expected to open this summer. A past chair of the American Hospitals Association board, Woods is rated one of Modern Healthcare’s 100 Most Infuential Leaders in Healthcare.
Education: BA, MBA, MPHA Penn State University
A CONVERSATION BEGINS.
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GREG HATEM Chairman Empire Eats Raleigh
2025 POWER LIST
HOSPITALITY & TOURISM
HONOREES
The longtime real estate developer launched Empire Eats in 2002, growing it to nine restaurants and a catering service. Through repurposing older buildings, he helped reshape downtown Raleigh into a modern foodie destination. His best-known restaurant, The Pit, serves authentic eastern North Carolina-style barbecue. Hatem created each restaurant’s concept, from Italian to Lebanese, along with hiring chefs, selecting dećor and creating marketing. The Eagle Scout is a key booster of the Khayrallah Center at NC State, which celebrates the Lebanese American community. He is a member of the Raleigh Hall of Fame.
Education: BS NC State University; MBA Harvard University
Favorite start to the day: Taking my two dogs for a walk.
Favorite volunteer activity: Scouting. I love the ability to work with kids as they try things in the real world from camping to first aid. There are merit badges for almost everything. It’s the only place I know for them to experience leadership and work toward a rank and distinction that is respected in the community, the Eagle.
Influential mentor: Mrs. Janet Dixon of Roanoke Rapids. When my father died, his estate was a mess with way more debt than assets. Some real estate could be either sold or developed. Mrs. Dixon taught me the basics of development during our visits. There would not be an Empire Properties without her insight.
Favorite podcast: “Ovies & Giglio” They keep it real and make it fun.
Favorite musician: Joni Mitchell
Remote work, yay or nay? Negative. It really hurts the ability to create an enlightened working culture. I also think it’s just as stifling to their personal development. Our workmates account for some of our most trusted friends throughout our lives.
Favorite actor to play you: Danny DeVito
Best tip for engaging workers: Regularly spend a time visiting with them. Ask them how they are and let them know what they are doing is important and appreciated.
JOSE ARMARIO
STEVE BAGWELL
BILL BODDIE
BILL CECIL JR.
JOHN “JACK” CECIL
JOSH CHARLESWORTH
G.S. CHHABRA
ASHLEY CHRISTENSEN
MARK CRAIG
DENNY EDWARDS
GREG HATEM
MICHELL HICKS
VIC ISLEY
MOHAMMAD JENATIAN
VIMAL KOLAPPA
MARK LAPORT
JOHN MCCONNELL
CAM MCRAE
LYNN MINGES
AMBER MOSHAKOS
LEE NETTLES
KATHIE NIVEN
DOYLE PARRISH
TOM PASHLEY
NAYAN PATEL
JAY RAFFALDINI
JEREMY REAVES
ANDREW SCHMIDT
LANCE TRENARY
WIT TUTTELL
Remote work: “Negative. It really hurts the ability to create an enlightened working culture. ”
– Greg Hatem
JOSE ARMARIO
CEO
Bojangles Charlotte
Armario has led the restaurant chain since it was taken private by private-equity groups Durational Capital Management and The Jordan Co. in 2019. With more than 38 years of leadership experience, he’s built on the franchise’s more than 800 locations, with a westward push that saw the first Bojangles open in Las Vegas in January and plans to open others this year in southern California and Arizona. The chain operates in 17 states as it tries to break out of a regional mold. Known for its bone-in chicken since opening its first location in Charlotte in 1977, new stores have a slimmed down menu that emphasizes boneless chicken.
Education: BA Miami Dade College; Master’s University of Miami
BILL BODDIE
CEO
Boddie-Noell Enterprises
Rocky Mount
JOHN “JACK” CECIL
CEO Biltmore Farms
Asheville
Bill Boddie represents the third generation of a family franchise business that operates 327 Hardee’s restaurants in four states, making it the brand’s largest franchisee. It also hosts events and gatherings at Rose Hill, an 18th-century manor that was built by his ancestors, and develops real estate such as Marshes Light Marina in Manteo. In December, Boddie-Noell opened its newest location opened its newest location in Moneta, Virginia.
STEVE
BAGWELL CEO Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority Charlotte
The Queen City native and CPA succeeded Tom Murray at the tourism promotion group’s leader in 2023 after starting with the organization as the convention center’s warehouse manager nearly 30 years ago. Tourism contributed a record $1.1 billion to Charlotte’s economy in the last fiscal year. A two-year, $245 million renovation of the cityowned Spectrum Center, home to the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, is expected to be completed this year. The city is contributing $650 million toward $800 million of renovations at Bank of America Stadium, owned by Tepper Sports & Entertainment.
Education: BS Clemson University Favorite start to the day: Sipping a glass of Bojangles sweet tea while catching up on the news and setting my intentions for the day ahead. Best advice for career: “Stay curious, and never stop learning — adaptability is key to long-term success.”
Industry’s key challenge: Navigating the balance between sustainable tourism growth, evolving expectations of visitors, residents, and stakeholders, and the dual challenge of maintaining and modernizing city-owned venues while delivering exceptional guest experiences in a highly competitive market.
Remote work, yay or nay? Yay Best tip for engaging workers: Celebrate wins — big and small — foster diverse perspectives, and create opportunities for collaboration, learning and growth.
Cecil joined the real-estate developer in 1984 and was named president and CEO in 1992. Developments include a shopping mall, hotels, apartments, medical offices and more than 1,000 homes. Its Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park was the first new construction LEED-certified hotel under that brand. Its 42-acre Biltmore Park Town Square is the largest mixed-use project in Asheville. Cecil sits on the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina board, chairs the Dogwood Health Trust, is a trustee for The Duke Endowment and serves as governor of the Urban Land Institute Foundation.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; Master’s American Graduate School of International Management
BILL CECIL JR.
President
Biltmore Co. Asheville
Cecil manages America’s largest privately owned home, located on an 8,000-acre estate that is open daily to visitors. Cecil, the great-grandson of Biltmore estate founder George Vanderbilt, has been CEO for nearly 30 years. He took over in 1995 after the retirement of his father, George Cecil Sr. Biltmore’s grounds and some of its buildings were badly damaged during Tropical Storm Helene, and the estate was closed for more than a month as it recovered from the storm. About 1.5 million guests visit annually.
JOSH
CHARLESWORTH
CEO Krispy Kreme
Charlotte
Charlesworth joined Krispy Kreme as its chief financial officer in 2017 after working as global chief financial officer at chocolate leader Mars. Last year, he cut a deal that called for Krispy Kreme doughnuts to be sold in all U.S. McDonald’s restaurants over the next two years. The move sparked investor enthusiasm amid wariness of the logistical challenges. Last July, the company sold its majority stake in Insomnia Cookies for $173 million to focus on its core business. The company reported a $3 million profit on $1.6 billion in revenue last year, following cumulative net losses of about $80 million in the previous three years.
Education: BS London School of Economics
G.S. CHHABRA
CEO
CMC Hotels
Greensboro
A chemical engineer who retired from Union Carbide in 1987, Chhabra developed the Best Western Cary in 1984, the company’s first hotel. That twostory, 52-room hotel is being replaced with a seven-story, 124room Residence Inn by Marriott. The company’s 10 other hotels are mostly in the Triad, but include single hotels in Charlotte and Wrightsville Beach. The business also owns retail and office space and several restaurants. The company opened Raleigh’s first Westin brand hotel in 2023.
Education: Master’s University of Wisconsin
ASHLEY CHRISTENSEN
Chef, Proprietor
AC Restaurants Raleigh
A two-time James Beard Award winner, Christensen’s AC Restaurants has six establishments in Raleigh. Death & Taxes opened in 2015 and was a 2016 James Beard Award finalist for Best New Restaurant. Christensen has appeared on Food Network’s “Iron Chef America” and MSNBC’s “Your Business.” She is active in charitable initiatives and a vocal critic of sexual harassment in the industry. Christensen expanded the capacity of her Poole’s Diner and turned her Fox Liquor Bar into a private event space. She sold her stake in an upstart chicken restaurant in 2023.
Education: BS NC State University
MARK CRAIG
President
R.H. Barringer
Greensboro
Mark Craig’s great-grandfather started the distributor in 1933. It now has more than 700 employees at locations in Greensboro, Hickory, Linwood, North Wilkesboro, Raleigh and Winston-Salem. It handles Anheuser-Busch products and other brands, including Tar Heel brewers Highland and Catawba. Last year, the company agreed to distribute products from Wise Man Brewing, one of the Triad’s oldest craft brewers. The company has also begun to distribute hemp-based products. Craig is vice chair of the N.C. Wildlife Commission board, where he’s served since 2015.
DENNIS EDWARDS
CEO
Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau Raleigh
Edwards has led the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau since 2007, and oversees a staff of 35 and an annual budget of $11.2 million. He has worked in the hospitality business for more than 40 years. Raleigh saw record tourism in 2024, with hotel lodging and prepared food and beverage tax collections gaining 5.7%. The convention center is undergoing a $387.5 million expansion that’s expected to be completed in 2028. Omni Hotels & Resorts is building a 550-room hotel in connection with the expansion. Last year, the North Carolina Travel & Tourism board appointed Edwards as its chair.
Education:
BA University of Northern Iowa
Favorite start to the day: Work out at 4:30 a.m. and get in the office around 6:30 a.m.
Best advice for career: Surround yourself with a great staff and be humble.
Favorite volunteer activity: Involvement at the church. Influential mentor: Eddie Webster who was my boss in Palm Springs, California, and Houston. Industry’s key challenge: How to use and manage all of the new technology including AI.
Favorite musician: Eric Clapton
Best question for hiring: How they’ve handled a difficult situation
Remote work, yay or nay? Hybrid is OK. Having staff in the office builds culture and collaboration.
Favorite actor to play you: Tom Hanks
MICHELL HICKS
Principal Chief Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Cherokee
Hicks was elected in 2023 to his fourth term as principal chief, after previously serving as principal chief from 2003 to 2015. The tribe was praised for its response to help in Hurricane Helene recovery in western North Carolina. In addition to its casinos and hotels in Cherokee, the tribe opened the $800 million Caesars Virginia in Danville in a partnership with Caesars Entertainment. The complex includes a 90,000-square-feet of gaming space and a 320-room hotel. The tribe began legally selling recreational marijuana to people 21 and over in September. Medical marijuana has been available on the tribe’s land since 2021. Last year, Hicks served on Gov.-elect Josh Stein’s transition team.
Education: BBA Western Carolina University
VICTORIA ISLEY
CEO
Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau
Asheville
Before arriving in Asheville in 2020, Isley promoted Bermuda, Washington D.C., Tampa Bay, Florida and Durham. She’s helped the area’s craft brewing and culinary industries rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. After Helene caused widespread damage in September, Explore Asheville established the Always Asheville Fund, awarding more than $1.53 million to nearly 40 local businesses within four months of the storm. Explore Asheville helped artists Luke Combs and Eric Church put together the Concert for Carolina, which raised more than $24 million for recovery efforts. Tourism contributed about $3 billion to Buncombe County’s economy in 2023, but lodging sales declined more than 60% in October and November compared with a year earlier.
Education: BS UNC Chapel Hill
MOHAMMAD JENATIAN
CEO
Greater Charlotte Hospitality & Tourism Alliance
Charlotte
VIMAL KOLAPPA
CEO
East Coast Hospitality Chocowinity
The former hotel manager has been the group’s only leader in its 31-year history, representing more than 900 members. Tourism contributes about $8 billion to Mecklenburg County’s economy. About 45% of Charlotte’s room nights were linked to sports events in 2024, with 80% related to youth tournaments, according to the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. A key 2024 initiative was to lobby Charlotte City Council to approve a plan that will add 19 new departure paths to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Education: BS UNC Charlotte
Kolappa immigrated to the United States from India in the 1970s at the age of 22. After more than a decade in the telecommunications industry, he founded East Coast Hospitality, which now employs more than 400 people and owns 18 hotels, 15 in North Carolina and one each in Virginia, Florida and Ohio. East Coast’s hotels in the Tar Heel state are mainly in rural areas. He is a trustee at UNC Chapel Hill and a director of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. He is the founder of the N.C. Association of Indian Americans.
Education: MBA Roosevelt University
MARK LAPORT
CEO
Concord Hospitality Enterprises Raleigh
Laport founded Concord Hospitality in 1985. It now operates about 150 hotels in the U.S. and Canada. He and partner Richard Branca repurchased a controlling stake from Berkshire Hathaway in 2022, and then attracted other partners. In 2024, the company opened the 348-room Westin Atlanta Gwinnett. The company expects to open Marriott’s frst StudioRes brand hotel in Fort Myers, Florida, this year. It has plans for 50 more such extendedstay hotels. It also struck its frst partnership with Margaritaville Resorts & Hotels last year by assuming hotel management in Tampa, Florida. The company employs more than 6,000 people. Concord Hospitality received Marriott’s coveted Partnership Circle Award in 2024 for the 10th consecutive year, marking an industry frst.
Education: BS College of Mount Union; Master’s Rochester Institute of Technology
JOHN MCCONNELL
CEO
McConnell Golf Raleigh
John McConnell built his wealth selling medical software companies before acquiring the Raleigh Country Club in 2003. Since then, McConnell Golf has acquired 15 other properties, many of which were losing money, in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, and invested more than $100 million in improvements. Last year, McConnell’s Sedgefeld Country Club in Greensboro partnered with Brooklyn, New York-based Underdog Sports to secure an online gambling license.
Education: BS Virginia Tech
CEO
Tands
Kinston
McRae purchased his frst Bojangles’ location from the chicken restaurant’s founders almost 45 years ago. Since then, his company has become one of the company’s largest franchisees, with nearly 70 restaurants throughout eastern North Carolina and Richmond, Virginia. He has invested in real estate, golf courses and minor league baseball through the years.
LYNN MINGES
CEO
N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association
Raleigh
Lynn Minges will retire at the end of the year, fnishing a 13-year tenure leading the N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association. The group helped the state’s hospitality industry recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, its Serving Careers Campaign generated nearly 700,000 job application starts. Before joining the N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association, Minges served as deputy secretary in the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The industry represents about $33 billion in sales annually and employs 11% of the state’s workforce.
Education: AA Peace College; BA NC State University
AMBER MOSHAKOS
President
LM Restaurants
Raleigh
Amber Moshakos leads overall operations for the family business, which operates 33 units in four states. The company’s Carolina Ale House chain has more than two dozen locations. It opened a 10th brand, Birdie’s Barroom & Kitchen, in October 2024. LM Restaurants also spent $14.9 million in early 2024 on a 10-story, fully leased offce building in Raleigh that isn’t related to its dining operations. The company employs about 1,900 people. Moshakos is on the board of the N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association.
Education: BS NC State University; Master’s Cornell University
LEE NETTLES
Executive Director Outer Banks Visitor Center Manteo
Tourists spent $2.1 billion in Dare County in 2023 and the industry employs almost half of its residents. Over the last two years, the lead tourism agency has worked to increase overnight stays and other travel there in lessthan-peak months to lessen the impact on the small county that ranks fourth in the state in tourism spending. Part of that strategy involves engaging visitors with the community’s nonprofts. Nettles has worked with the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau for more than 15 years, and he has been chair of the board of directors for North Carolina Travel & Tourism since early 2024.
Education: BS UNC Chapel Hill
KATHIE NIVEN CEO
Biscuitville
Greensboro
Biscuitville opened eight restaurants in 2024, expanding the family-owned restaurant chain in both North Carolina and South Carolina. The company now operates 84 restaurants in three states. Niven joined the familyowned business in 2011, gaining her current post in 2021, after working for Arby’s, Burger King and other fast-food giants. She repositioned the brand as “Southern Fresh,” revamped the menu and helped triple the company’s annual revenue to $150 million. She also increased average sales per store to more than $2 million. She was named to Elon University’s Distinguished Alumni List in 2023.
Education: BS Elon University
CAM MCRAE
DOYLE PARRISH
CEO
Summit Hospitality Group
Raleigh
Doyle Parrish co-founded Summit in 1988. Its more than 700 employees work at 18 hotels across the Triad, Charlotte, Wilmington and Pinehurst, mostly under the Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott brands. It also has three upscale restaurants in Raleigh and one in Charlotte. He’s the past chair of the Raleigh tourism bureau and state travel coalition. An Eagle Scout and the father of two Eagle Scouts, Parrish is on the national executive board of Scouting America, formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America.
Education: BS UNC Chapel Hill; MBA Wake Forest University
TOM PASHLEY
President
Pinehurst Resort & Country Club
Pinehurst
Pinehurst unveiled its first new golf course in 30 years in 2024, and it was later ranked by Sports Illustrated as the Best New Course in the magazine’s end-of-year golf course awards. In addition, the USGA made Pinehurst an anchor site for the U.S. Open. After hosting the tournament in 2024, it is scheduled to return in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047. Pashley joined the Dedman family-owned business in 2000 and took his current post in 2014. More than 1,300 people work at the 2,000-acre property, which features four historic hotels and nine championship golf courses.
Education: BBA University of Georgia; MBA Duke University
NAYAN PATEL
President CN Hotels
Greensboro
Nayan Patel’s family’s first hotel purchase after moving from India nearly 50 years ago was a 28-room facility in Modesto, California. Two years later, the family moved to Greensboro, and Patel’s father, CN, founded CN Hotels. The company now manages 29 hotels in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida and Virginia, including properties under the Marriott, IHG, Hilton, Best Western and Wyndham banners. Its most recent expansion, the 97-room Hotel Lela Wilmington under the Hilton banner, opened in February.
JAY RAFFALDINI
Owner
Raffaldini Vineyards & Winery
Winston-Salem
The New York hedge fund veteran makes one of the state wine industry’s more compelling stories. His vineyard’s 2023 Vermentino Superiore received a Double Gold Medal at the most recent San Francisco International Wine Competition. The 104-acre winery was grown from an abandoned farm in Wilkes County that Raffaldini bought in 2000. It now attracts 25,000 visitors annually and produces about 6,000 cases a year. Raffaldini grew up in Bergen County, New Jersey and got his start in Wall Street in the 1980s. He still manages a $9 billion hedge fund for global investors that is affiliated with UBS.
Education: BA Georgetown University; MBA New York University
ANDREW SCHMIDT
CEO
Visit Greenville, NC Greenville
Andrew Schmidt has headed Visit Greenville, N.C. since November 2014. A former university professor, Schmidt also has 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, and he has led the organization through enormous gains in tourism in Pitt County. Visitors to the county spent $312.88 million in 2023, an increase of 7.5% from 2022. Schmidt is immediate past president of the N.C. Travel Industry Association. He is also a board member of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.
Education: BS East Carolina University; Master’s East Carolina University
Best advice for career: Make sure your short-term decisions lead to long-term success
Favorite volunteer activity: Working with an organization called Africa Hope Initiatives.
Industry’s key challenge: To be recognized as the invaluable economic driver that it is.
Favorite podcast: “Do Politics Better” Remote work, yay or nay? Negative if it’s five days a week. You cannot create a unique cohesive team structure if staff never sees each other. Having said that, I do have a policy of working one day a week from home for those who need more of a work-life balance. Best tip for engaging workers: Constant communication. Ensuring that each staff member understands our organization’s goals and objectives and that they each have a key responsibility/role to get us there.
JEREMY REAVES
CEO Cook Out
Thomasville
Cook Out was founded in Greensboro in 1989 by Reaves’s father, Morris Reaves. Since then, the company has opened more than 300 restaurants in 10 states and had $330 million in revenue in 2023, Restaurant Business magazine estimates. It is opening its frst Florida store this year in Pensacola. The company is known for its wide variety of milkshakes and burgers, barbecue, corn dogs, and quesadillas. The company employs more than 13,000 people. Reaves is developing a new concept, Taco Roos, with an initial store in Thomasville.
LANCE TRENARY
CEO
Golden Corral Durham
Lance Trenary has been with Golden Corral since 1986 and has served as CEO since 2015. He is only the third CEO in the brand’s history. The brand has nearly 400 restaurants operating in 42 states with about 25,000 employees, with most of the locations operated by franchisees. Systemwide revenue totaled $1.6 billion in 2023, Restaurant Business estimates.
The company launched a fastcasual restaurant concept, Homeward Kitchen, in late 2023 in Southern Pines, but is changing that into a “Golden Corral Favorites” brand.
Education: BA Mississippi State University
Favorite start to the day: I begin each day by reading a devotional and then taking a sign language lesson. I am completely deaf, so I need to continue to communicate in a variety of ways.
Favorite volunteer activity: I love serving our military men and women. I am a board member for Project Healing Waters, an organization that enables wounded military members to heal through fy fshing. I love to take Veterans fy fshing!
Industry’s key challenge: We have many headwinds with immigration reform, tariffs, and over-regulation, along with the daily execution of the hundreds of moving parts in our restaurants. It is not for the faint of heart.
Best tip for engaging workers: Be very intentional about creating the best possible work experience and always exceed your team members’ expectations. Everyone must be valued, and they must feel it in a very authentic way.
WIT TUTTELL
Executive Director
Visit North Carolina
Raleigh
Tuttell has led the state’s tourism agency since 2013, and in 2022, he was named the national State Tourism Director of the Year. Tuttle helped North Carolina’s tourism industry rebound from the effects of the pandemic, leading Count On Me NC, a public health initiative that promoted safe travel practices in North Carolina, and Get Back to a Better Place, a brand campaign that helped North Carolina remain one of the top fve most visited states in 2021. Visitors spent a record $35.6 billion in 2023, a 15% increase from 2022. More than 227,000 people in North Carolina work in the tourism and hospitality industry, and tourism accounts for 6.2% of total employment in the state.
Education: BS University of Florida
Favorite start to the day: A cup of tea and look at the news.
Favorite volunteer activity: Backpack Buddies at Interfaith Food Shuttle
Infuential mentor: North Carolina native Carole Ketterhagen, CEO of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater CVB Industry’s key challenge: Lack of appreciation of the value of tourism to the economy
Favorite podcast: “First in Fright” Favorite musician: Warren Zevon Best question for hiring: What’s your favorite place in North Carolina and why?
Remote work, yay or nay? Positiveespecially if you go someplace in NC to do the work
Your best life change: Getting a dog.
Favorite actor to play you: Rutger Hauer
Best tip for engaging workers: Make sure the work environment is flled with fun, joy and happiness.
BRIAN STADING
CEO Lumos
High
Point
2025 POWER LIST INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HONOREES
SPENCER BAIRD
GARRETT BLACKWELDER
JUD BOWMAN
ROBERT BRUGGEWORTH
SEAN DESMOND
CHRIS DOWNIE
Stading is overseeing massive investment and rapid growth at the company formed by the 2022 merger of Lumos Networks and High Point-based North State Communications. Earlier this year, the company added Florida as its eighth state of operation with plans for nearly 7,500 miles of fiber-optic internet. It previously announced expansions in the Columbus, Ohio, and Birmingham, Alabama, markets.
The company is passing nearly 500,000 homes and small businesses as part of a goal of reaching 1 million in the next five years. Stading started as a telecom technician and now has more than 30 years of experience at telecommunications companies, including Ziply, CenturyLink and Qwest, having joined Lumos in 2022. He led Lumos through a $1.1 billion debt-refinancing agreement and a major joint venture with T-Mobile.
“As society grows more digitally dependent, the speed and reliability of fiber internet become necessary for economic growth and development,” Stading says. “The communities where we are building are growing exponentially, and they need an internet connection that is fast enough and reliable enough to support that growth.”
Education: BA Aurora University; MBA Northwestern University
Favorite start to the day: Looking at previous day’s sales results
Best advice for career: Don’t believe in your own press clippings. Stay humble and focus on doing your best for your customers, employees and shareholders.
Industry’s key challenge: Deployment cost when building new fiber infrastructure. The initial investment can be costly alongside permitting and labor. But we believe fiber internet is a technology that has the power to change and improve lives, and you can’t put a cost on that.
Best tip for engaging workers: A common goal or mission that all the employees believe in. When everyone is driven by a shared purpose, it creates a culture where people are engaged and teamwork and collective success become the norm.
Favorite actor to play you: Michael Keaton
Favorite musician: Bob Seger
Best hiring question: What motivates you?
Your best life change: Being a grandfather
RIC ELIAS
DAVID GARDNER
JIM GOODNIGHT
BRAD HEFNER
TIMOTHY HUMPHREY
IGOR JABLOKOV
DEVERRE LIERMAN
JESSE LIPSON
ROBERT MALLERNEE
RYAN MCCURDY
DAVID MORKEN
TODD OLSON
MICHAEL PRAEGER
RYAN PRATT
BROOKS RAIFORD
AMIT SHARMA
BRIAN STADING
TIM SWEENEY
SCOT WINGO
— BRIAN STADING
“As society grows more digitally dependent, the speed and reliability of fiber internet become necessary for economic growth and development.”
SPENCER BAIRD
CEO
Inmar Intelligence Winston-Salem
Baird leads about 5,000 employees at the applied data company, having joined in 2020 and succeeded David Mounts as CEO in 2022. He previously had leadership roles with food industry companies, including Dannon, Kellogg and Peapod. At Inmar, he has repositioned the company and changed most senior leadership. It collects more than 50 million data fles every day and handles billions of dollars of retail value. In January, logistics giant DHL bought Inmar Supply Chain Solutions, which specializes in product remarketing and recalls. Canadian pension plan OMERS Private Equity owns Inmar.
Education: BS Virginia Wesleyan University
GARRETT BLACKWELDER
CEO
Grover Gaming Greenville
In one of the biggest M&A deals for an N.C. tech company, Blackwelder in February agreed to sell his company’s charitable gaming division to slot machine maker Light & Wonder for a total consideration of $1.05 billion. The company employs more than 400 people, who develop software and content for gaming systems. Its 10,000-plus leased electronic pull-tab units in North Dakota, Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky and New Hampshire operate under a recurring revenue model. Charitable gaming refers to fraternal lodges and other nonprofts that raise money from legalized pull-tab betting in an increasing number of states. Blackwelder played college basketball and is a youth basketball coach.
Education: BS East Carolina University
JUD BOWMAN CEO, Founder Sift Media
Durham
Bowman, 42, has been a star performer in the Triangle tech community since he was a student at the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics. He had major success with his Pinpoint and Applia startups before founding Sift in 2015, which hasn’t made much news in recent years after ranking 175th on the Inc. 5000 in 2021.
Best start to the day: Dropping my oldest daughter off at school.
Infuential mentor: Steve Nelson
Favorite musician: Frederic Chopin
Best tip for engaging workers: Transparency
BOB BRUGGEWORTH
CEO Qorvo
Greensboro
SEAN DESMOND
CEO nCino
Wilmington
Bruggeworth joined RF Micro Devices in 1999 and was CEO when it merged with TriQuint Semiconductor to form Qorvo in 2014. Among other things, the business provides chips to mobile phone giants Apple and Samsung. After reporting record proft topping $1 billion in its 2022 fscal year, it has struggled over the past two years. Proft for the frst nine months of the current fscal year totaled $24 million. He is a director of the Semiconductor Industry Association.
Education: BS Wilkes University
Desmond succeeded co-founder Pierre Naude in February, stepping up from his role as chief product offcer. He joined nCino in 2013 as chief customer success offcer and had been managing about two-thirds of nCino’s 1,650 employees. Before joining nCino, Desmond worked for 14 years at Informatica, a Redwood City, California-based cloud data management provider. He also had worked at Platinum Technologies, which was acquired by Computer Associates.
Education: BA James Madison University
CHRIS DOWNIE
CEO Flexential Charlotte
Since 2016, Downie has led a data center and cloud computing company with more than 3 million square feet of space in 19 markets. Before Flexential, Downie was CEO at Telx Holdings, a data center solutions provider based in New York City. He previously held fnance and operations posts at Bear Stearns and Daniels & Associates. In October, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners made a strategic investment in Flexential that Downie said would accelerate growth.
Education: BA Dartmouth College; MBA New York University
Favorite musician: Chris Stapleton Remote work, yay or nay: While remote work has its place, nothing replaces the energy, collaboration and culture-building that happens in person. The best results come from teams who can problem solve, innovate and execute together in real time.
Best tip for engaging workers: Clear communication, a strong sense of purpose, and a culture that values both accountability and fexibility. People stay engaged when they see their impact and feel empowered to drive results.
RIC ELIAS
Co-Founder and
CEO
Red Ventures Fort Mill, S.C.
Last May, Forbes magazine listed Elias on its billionaires’ list for the first time. The Puerto Rican native, aided by the General Atlantic and Silver Lake private-equity groups, has assembled a portfolio of digital businesses, including Bankrate, Lonely Planet, CNET and The Points Guy. Elias and Dan Feldstein co-founded Red Ventures as a digital marketing agency in 2000, later providing call center sales services. In November, the 2,700-employee company said it would double its suburban Charlotte headquarters with a $90 million campus expansion. Elias has launched various philanthropic efforts, including a plan to help rebuild Puerto Rico after devastating hurricane damage.
Education: BS Boston College, MBA Harvard University
DAVID GARDNER
Founding Partner
Cofounders Capital Cary
The venture capital firm, led by Gardner and Managing Partner Tim McLoughlin, closed its third fund for $50 million in 2023, following previous rounds of $31 million and $12 million. The selfdescribed serial entrepreneur has focused his time in recent years on combating a lack of early-stage capital. He has founded or co-founded a total of seven companies. Last fall, Cofounders led a $1.7 million seed round for Spidr, a Nashville-based fintech.
Education: BS Bluefield University; MIS NC State University
Favorite start to the day: Coffee with my wife
Best advice for career: Show up
Industry’s key challenge: Lack of funding
Favorite musician: The Bygones
Favorite actor to play you: Tom Cruise
Best tip for engaging workers:
Chief Analytics Officer, NC Senior State Executive
Humphrey joined IBM in 1995 and has gained leadership roles across hardware, software, battery technology, operations, data and AI functions. He grew up in Fayetteville. His work has prompted numerous company and community awards related to his work and service. He is a former director at UNC Health and has been on the NC State University board of trustees since 2021. His volunteer work has included mentoring more than 30 people and advocacy for OneTen, which promotes a skills-first approach to creating jobs for those who may not have four-year college degrees.
Education: BS NC State University
JIM GOODNIGHT
CEO
SAS Institute
Cary
The Salisbury native remains North Carolina’s best-known tech executive at 83, having led his business for 49 years. He and his executive team are positioning the business for a potential IPO. SAS has reported an annual profit every year since its inception in 1976. The data management, analytics and AI company employs more than 12,000 people and has reported annual revenue topping $3.5 billion. In November, SAS bought U.K.-based startup Hazy Ltd., which Goodnight called a pivotal step in its efforts to become an industry leader in data management and artificial intelligence development.
Education: BS Bluefield University; MIS NC State University
Best advice for career: If something isn’t working out, sometimes the best move is to step back, reassess and change direction. This mindset has saved me time and resources and paved the way for some of our most innovative projects.
Industry’s key challenge: Ensuring ethical and responsible AI.
Best tip for engaging workers: If you treat employees like they make a difference, they will make a difference. This means fostering a culture that values innovation, integrity, and employee well-being.
BRAD HEFNER
Global Server Operations Site Lead Google Lenoir
Hefner has worked for the Alphabet-owned search giant for more than 12 years. He became site lead in 2022. In addition to Google, he has worked as an educator, an automotive consultant and in operations management at a regional auto service company. Google has invested more than $1.2 billion since opening the Caldwell County site in 2007. More expansion is coming, with local officials in October approving 20-year tax breaks of 50% for real property and 85% for personal property, tied to meeting investment and job targets.
Education:
BS University of West Georgia Favorite start to the day: Walking through the office and greeting everyone. These interactions build familiarity, foster camaraderie and create meaningful dialogue.
Industry’s key challenge: Innovating in responsible ways, particularly with machine learning and AI. Focusing on how these technologies can benefit society while addressing ethical considerations.
Your best life change: Prioritizing a better work-life balance has been transformative.
Favorite actor to play you: Jason Sudekis
TIMOTHY HUMPHREY
IGOR
JABLOKOV
Founder, Chair Pryon Raleigh
The UNC Charlotte MBA grad is an artifcial intelligence sector leader after helping create the technology behind Amazon’s Alexa and Echo products. He is building his Pryon AI business, backed by $100 million raised in 2023 and more on the way. Jablokov, 51, started the business in 2017 after selling his previous company, Yap. He became chair in October, with Chris Mahl taking over as president and CEO. About 10 of Pryon’s 100 employees work in North Carolina, he said in February.
Education: BS Penn State University; MBA UNC Charlotte
DEVERRE
LIERMAN
Vice President, Digital Experience and Head of Raleigh Innovation Hub Infosys Raleigh
JESSE LIPSON
CEO, Founder Levitate Raleigh
Lierman had a 23-year career at IBM, partly in digital commerce, before moving to open the India-based company’s Raleigh Technology Hub in 2018. She’s leading Infosys’ transformation strategy for delivery teams and clients throughout the Southeast. Plans to create as many as 2,000 jobs in North Carolina haven’t panned out, prompting the end of a $22 million state incentives deal. But the company employs 1,800 in the state and has invested more than $8 million in recent years, offcials said.
Education: BS Rutgers University
ROBERT MALLERNEE
CEO, Founder Eton Solutions Morrisville
RYAN MCCURDY
President, North America Lenovo Morrisville
Mallernee started Eton Advisors in 2009 to offer innovative solutions within the wealth management space. Utilizing more than 30 years of experience, from UBS to US Trust, he later founded Eton Solutions in 2015 to provide knowledge and software solutions to private-equity groups and family offces around the world. He teaches wealth management classes at UNC Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Education: BS UNC Chapel Hill; MBA University of Chicago
Lipson keeps building Levitate, a marketing platform that helps small-to-medium businesses engage with their customers and high-value contacts more authentically. Levitate has 6,500 customers and about 200 employees. He sold ShareFile to Citrix in 2011. After graduating from Duke in 2000, Lipson worked for an internet startup and later founded a fle-sharing software business, appropriately named ShareFile, that was acquired by Citrix. He stayed there fve years before launching his relationship marketing business.
Education: BA Duke University
McCurdy joined the giant PC maker to lead North American sales in 2023 after working for chipmaker Intel for 23 years. He had been general manager of global accounts at Intel, overseeing more than half of the company’s $60 billion in revenue. Lenovo shipped 61.8 million units in 2024, earning a leading 23.5% market share. The company has joint headquarters in Hong Kong and Morrisville after buying IBM’s PC business in 2004.
Education: BA Michigan State University Favorite start to the day: Workout or run Best advice for career: Autograph your work with excellence Infuential mentors: Former Intel CEO Bob Swan and CJ Bruno, my frst manager
Industry’s key challenge: Realizing the full potential of AI’s beneft to society.
Favorite musician: The Bygones Best question for hiring: Describe the most diffcult problem you’ve ever solved.
Favorite actor to play you: Will Ferrell
Best tip for engaging workers: Make it competitive but fun
DAVID MORKEN CEO, Co-Founder Bandwidth Raleigh
Morken started his communications services business out of a bedroom in 1999 and built a publicly traded company with annual revenue of about $750 million and more than 1,000 employees, mostly in North Carolina. He previously had cofounded the Internet’s frst online tax fling service, efling.com, then served as a Marine Corps judge advocate. Life as a public company since 2017 has been challenging for Bandwidth. Its stock soared in its frst four years as a listed company but struggled since 2022 as profts lagged. Bandwidth opened a new headquarters near the PNC Arena in west Raleigh in 2023.
Education: BA Oral Roberts University; JD University of Notre Dame
TODD OLSON CEO,
Founder Pendo Raleigh
After working at two other startups, Olson teamed up with fellow product leaders and technologists from Red Hat, Cisco and Google to launch Pendo in October 2013. The company has raised $356 million, employs 750 at eight offces and serves more than 2,500 customers. It has landed on Forbes Cloud 100 and Inc. Best Workplaces for the past six years. Pendo’s platform helps track and analyze users’ actions so companies can improve their software.
Education: BS Carnegie Mellon University
Favorite start to the day: Challenging workout
Best advice for career: Do only what you can do
Infuential mentor: Neeraj Agrawal from Battery Ventures, who invested in our Series A in 2015
Favorite podcasts: “Acquired, The Logan Bartlett Show” Industry’s key challenge: Keeping up with the pace of AI innovation
Remote work, yay or nay? Nay
Your best life change: Becoming an entrepreneur
Favorite actor to play you: Benedict Cumberbatch
Best tip for engaging workers: Winning
MICHAEL PRAEGER
CEO, Co-Founder
AvidXchange Charlotte
Michael Praeger co-founded the payments software company in 2000, and it has grown to more than 1,600 employees and 8,000 customers. It went public in 2021. Annual revenue has increased 77% in the past three years to $439 million. The company posted an $8 million proft after reporting cumulative losses of $370 million over the previous three years. Employee growth has slowed recently, prompting the company to miss its new-job target, which was set as part of a state incentives deal. Before AvidXchange, he co-founded a technology career enhancement and recruiting site.
Education:
BS, BA Georgetown University
Best advice for career: Solve one problem in a really good way for a singular customer. We were able to not only better serve and understand our customers but take those learnings to scale our business.
Infuential mentor: Patrick Thean, whose strategic mindset and ability to simplify complex challenges have had a profound impact on me.
Industry’s key challenge: We serve a variety of verticals across our customer base with constantly evolving needs and goals.
Remote work, yay or nay? Yay. While I deeply value hybrid collaboration and the benefts of a blended working environment, I also believe in giving my team the fexibility and trust they need to thrive in their careers. Our tools empower customers to embrace a work-fromanywhere lifestyle.
Your best life change: Learning to eFoil (fying over water). It’s a perfect blend of staying active, being out on the water and improving balance.
Favorite actor to play you: Robert De Niro
AMIT SHARMA CEO, Founder CData Software Chapel
Hill
Sharma’s company scored one of the state’s biggest fnancings last year, receiving $350 million from private-equity groups Warburg Pincus and Accel. That followed rounds of $140 million in 2021 and $20 million in 2020 for the data management company, whose customers include FedEx, Holiday Inn and Offce Depot. Sharma launched CData in 2010 and revenue was expected to top $100 million last year. It has remained proftable since its formation.
Updata Partners of Washington, D.C., is a key investor.
Education: MS NC State University; MBA Duke University
RYAN PRATT
CEO, Founder Guerrilla RF
Greensboro
Guerilla RF is a 2013 startup by Pratt that builds parts and pieces for wireless infrastructure and equipment makers to provide better coverage. More automotive and satellite communications orders are helping the Greensboro-based public company boost revenue at more than 40% in the frst three quarters of 2024, but the company reported net losses of more than $12 million during that period, mostly related to accounting writedowns. He previously worked for Qorvo predecessor RF MicroDevices as a design engineer.
Education: BS NC State University
Best advice for career: Do what you’re good at and delegate what you’re not.
Infuential mentor:
My father, Bill Pratt Industry’s key challenge: Managing through extreme supply and demand cycles
Favorite musician: Weezer
Your best life change: Prioritizing time with family
Best tip for engaging workers: Communicate often, trust them and keep the atmosphere positive.
Favorite actor to play you: Jason Statham
BROOKS RAIFORD
CEO
North Carolina Technology Association
Cary
Raiford leads an industry group whose almost 700 members employ more than 250,000 people in North Carolina. Before joining NC Tech in 2008, he worked in business development for a large contractor, was president of nonproft Leadership North Carolina, was a policy aide for president of the Leadership and was a policy aide to Gov. Jim Hunt. He’s vice chair of Guilford College’s board of trustees.
Education: BS NC State University
Favorite start to the day: Read an actual newspaper
Best advice for career: Go the extra mile
Best question for hiring: Describe a time you disappointed your boss, and how did you handle it?
Favorite musician: Johnny Cash
Favorite actor to play you: Jason Bateman
TIM SWEENEY CEO, Founder Epic Games
Cary
Sweeney’s Epic Games is a videogame powerhouse that has developed Fortnite and Rocket League while licensing its popular game engine, Unreal Engine, to other developers. Epic’s anticipated 2024 IPO never materialized, while Sweeney keeps fghting to sell games on iPhones and Android phones without using the Apple and Google stores and payment systems. In January, the billionaire said Big Tech leaders were “pretending to be Republicans,” while running a “scummy monopoly campaign to vilify competition law as they rip off consumers and crush competitors.” He said he has no regrets about the legal feud. “We think our best days are ahead,” he told PCgamer.com.
Education: BS University of Maryland
SCOT WINGO
CEO
Triangle Tweener Fund
Durham
The veteran Triangle entrepreneur and Robbie Allen lead the Tweener Fund to support promising new early-stage regional businesses. In February, Wingo announced a new “stealth AI E-commerce startup,” without specifc details. A co-founder is Cameron Bowe, a former colleague at ChannelAdvisor, where Wingo was CEO. He also publishes an online newsletter, is co-host of “The Jason & Scot Show” podcast, and regularly speaks about e-commerce and other tech issues. His other startups include AuctionRover. com, Stingray Software and Get Spiffy.
Education: BS University of South Carolina; MCE NC State University
RAY STARLING
General Counsel
NC Chamber
President
NC Chamber Legal Institute
Raleigh
2025 POWER LIST LAW HONOREES
KERRY ABRAMS
STACY ACKERMANN
JAMES ADAMS II
SHERROD BANKS
STEPHEN BERLIN
MARTIN BRINKLEY
DAN CAHILL
LOIS COLBERT
NATHAN DUGGINS
Starling is an attorney and adjunct law professor at UNC Chapel Hill, public policy professional, agricultural industry thought leader, and former principal agriculture adviser to President Donald Trump. He joined the NC Chamber in 2019 and leads the litigation strategy for the business group, its legal institute and affiliated entities.
Before joining the Chamber, Starling served as chief of staff to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, chief of staff and chief counsel for U.S. Senator Thom Tillis and general counsel for the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. He was elected to the Smithfield Foods’ board of directors when the company made an initial public offering in January.
His 2022 book, "Farmers to Foodies," was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. He also is an aspiring blueberry farmer, having installed more than 60 plants at the family farm in Autryville in Sampson County earlier this year.
Education: BA NC State University; JD UNC Chapel Hill
Favorite start to the day: Soft alarm sound at 5:15, Diet Mountain Dew over ice straight to my veins by 5:30, followed by quiet time, and on the stationary bike by 6:00.
Best advice for career: Be humble. Stay hungry. Always hustle. (Brad Lomenick) Throw in a dose of Augustine's order of love and the additional "H" admonition to "be healthy" and it’s hard to lose in the long run.
Industry’s key challenge: Alignment. This is a word I've come to love since joining the NC Chamber. We have so much potential if we could just prioritize the problems and then pull in the same direction to address the biggest ones first. Every single problem we face would be easier to resolve if we aligned our vision, rowed together, and agreed on honestly revisiting the question of whether we got where we were trying to go.
Best tip for engaging workers: Care deeply about them.
BRADLEY EVANS
TODD EVESON
KIMBERLY BULLOCK GATLING
STUART GOLDSTEIN
TOM GRIFFIN
ROBERT HARRINGTON
TERRY HUTCHENS
BRIAN KAHN
BYRON KIRKLAND
CHRIS KOURI
PAUL LAWRENCE
VALECIA MCDOWELL
THOMAS MITCHELL
JOHN MORROW
ALLEN ROBERTSON
FORD ROBERTSON
PERRY SAFRAN
JACK SLOSSON
JASON SOLOMON
RAY STARLING
MARSHALL WALL
MONA LISA WALLACE
DEVON WILLIAMS
KEVIN WILLIAMS
"Every single problem we face would be easier to resolve if we aligned our vision, rowed together."
— RAY STARLING
KERRY ABRAMS
Dean
Duke University School of Law
Durham
STACY ACKERMANN Partner
K&L Gates Charlotte
JAMES ADAMS II
Managing Partner
Brooks Pierce
Greensboro
SHERROD BANKS
Founder, Principal
Banks Law Group Durham
Abrams joined Duke Law in 2018 after serving as the University of Virginia’s vice provost for faculty affairs and on the law faculty for 13 years. Recognized for her knowledge on immigration, citizenship, family and constitutional law, she leads a school that enrolled 250 first-year students last year from 36 states and territories and six countries. The university had received 5,395 applications.
Education: BA Swarthmore College; JD Stanford University
Ackermann heads K&L Gates’ global finance practice, representing investors, lenders, servicers and other market participants. She is a regular speaker on commercial realestate financing and structured financing transactions. She joined the international firm in 2012.
Education: BA Furman University; JD University of South Carolina
STEPHEN BERLIN
Partner
Kilpatrick Winston-Salem
An experienced environmental litigator, Berlin has spent 38 years at Kilpatrick’s Winston-Salem office. He received the N.C. Bar Association’s Citizen Lawyer Award in 2023 for his longtime advocacy of the arts. The Wake Forest University graduate serves on the UNC School of the Arts board of trustees and chairs the board of the Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County.
Education: BA, JD Wake Forest University
Favorite volunteer activity: Anything to support the thriving arts scene in Winston-Salem and North Carolina.
Influential mentor: The legendary Ralph Stockton. (He was a veteran Winston-Salem lawyer.)
Industry’s key challenge: Every law firm must make sure clients are receiving the outstanding client service they deserve.
Best tip for engaging workers: Creating a collaborative atmosphere where everyone feels valued.
Adams took over as managing partner for the 127-year-old law firm in February, succeeding Reid Phillips who had served in the role since 2016. He has spent his entire 30-plus-year career at Brooks Pierce, with a practice centered on representing large national enterprises, small local companies and individuals in all aspects of disputes and litigation. The firm employs 117 lawyers, with offices in Greensboro, Raleigh and Wilmington.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; JD Georgetown University
Banks founded the firm in 1994, practicing in affordable housing and community development law, commercial and residential real estate, business and civil litigation, private placement stock offerings, labor and employment law, municipal law, corporations and partnerships. Every year, the UNC Chapel Hill adjunct law professor shuts down the office for two days to provide volunteers for the Triangle Golf Challenge, which offers down payment assistance to firsttime homebuyers transitioning from public assistance to private homeownership.
Education: BA, JD UNC Chapel Hill
MARTIN BRINKLEY
Dean, Professor University of North Carolina School of Law Raleigh
DAN CAHILL
Managing Partner Poyner Spruill Raleigh
The North Carolina native has led UNC’s law school for a decade and is the first person to do so while still practicing. He is of counsel and a 12-year partner at Smith Anderson in Raleigh. UNC was ranked 20th in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 rankings of U.S. law schools. Brinkley teaches several courses and serves as faculty director of the UNC Law Institute for Innovation, which offers earlystage legal counsel to new forprofit and nonprofit ventures.
Education: BA Harvard University; JD UNC Chapel Hill
Cahill became managing partner and assistant general counsel of the North Carolina-based law firm in 2017. Since 1994, he has represented corporations in commercial disputes in state and federal court and through alternative dispute resolution. A lifelong Raleigh resident, Cahill focuses on complex commercial disputes, representing banks and financial institutions. He also serves as a mediator and provides professional liability defense for lawyers and architects.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; JD Wake Forest University
LOIS COLBERT
Partner
Kilpatrick Charlotte
Colbert has spent her 30-plusyear career focusing on employee benefts, joining Kilpatrick in 1993. She leads the national frm’s employee benefts practice group. An author and editor of several professional publications and frequent speaker on employee benefts and equity compensation, Colbert has been consistently recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America and other industry journals.
Education: BS University of Illinois; JD University of Michigan
NATHAN DUGGINS
Managing Partner
Tuggle Duggins Greensboro
Duggins’ practice works with clients in construction, real estate and employment, and his background includes experience in the utility, commercial and multifamily construction industries. He runs the Greensboro frm founded by his father and Dick Tuggle more than 50 years ago. His civic work includes serving on boards of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, Guilford Merchants Association and the Wake Forest University School of Law.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; JD Wake Forest University
TODD EVESON
Managing Partner
Wyrick Robbins Raleigh
Eveson took the helm of one of the largest Triangle-based law frms three years ago, after leading Wyrick Robbins’ banking and fnance institutions practice. He also chairs the executive committee. His practice focuses on corporate law, fnancial institutions, securities law, and mergers and acquisitions. He serves on the board of advisers for the UNC School of Law’s Center for Banking and Finance.
Education: BA Duke University; JD UNC Chapel Hill
BRADLEY EVANS
Co-Managing Director Ward and Smith Greenville
Inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates in 2023 and a certifed Supreme Court mediator, Evans advises clients and litigates cases involving intellectual property disputes, commercial, business, estate and professional licensing issues. The Ahoskie native often represents those in the construction industry in state and federal courts. Along with Co-Managing Director Devon Williams, Evans leads a frm with more than 100 attorneys and six North Carolina offces.
Education: BA, JD Wake Forest University
Favorite start to the day: I am part of a morning outside workout group.
Favorite volunteer activity: I serve on the board of North Carolina's chapter of The Nature Conservancy.
Infuential mentor: Early in my career, I clerked for U.S. District Judge Malcolm Howard, who recently passed away. I could not have asked for a better mentor. Despite all of his accomplishments as a soldier, lawyer and judge, he was incredibly humble and gracious with everyone.
Favorite podcast: "Sherlock Holmes Short Stories" is playing now.
Best tip for engaging workers: We all need points of inspiration to feel energized by our work. It may be as simple as providing fnancial security for your family, or it may be more aspirational, such as upholding justice.
KIMBERLY BULLOCK GATLING
Partner
Fox Rothschild Greensboro
Since 2020, Gatling has been responsible for developing and promoting a diverse, inclusive workforce and environment at Fox Rothschild, in addition to her intellectual property practice. She is also a member of the frm’s privacy & data security group, helping manage and protect clients’ sensitive business and personal information. A recipient of the Greensboro Bar Association’s 2024 Centennial Award for outstanding community service, Gatling chairs N.C. A&T State University’s board of trustees and is a director for publicly traded Culp and Winston-Salem-based Truliant Federal Credit Union.
Education: BS N.C. A&T State University; JD George Washington University
STUART GOLDSTEIN
Managing
Partner
Cadwalader Charlotte
Goldstein runs the 230-yearold financial services law firm’s Charlotte office, co-chairs the capital markets practice and is a management committee member. His practice specializes in structured finance. He has served in numerous leadership roles for the Alzheimer’s Association, receiving its Award of Excellence in 2019 for his support of the organization’s Western Carolina Chapter.
Education: BS Cornell University; JD UC Berkeley
Best advice for career: My late father, Bill, was a very giving man. He pushed me to always strive to be the biggest person in the room, not by word, but by deed. That ethos has formed my career since day one.
Favorite volunteer activity: I am deeply involved with the Western Carolina Alzheimer’s Association. My family has been directly impacted by Alzheimer’s disease, and it’s been an honor to serve with so many in the Charlotte community to raise awareness and funds for critical research.
Best tip for engaging workers: I’ve always encouraged young lawyers joining Cadwalader’s Charlotte team to be bold and willing to take chances.
I would add that it’s important to listen to our clients and one another and to get out of our offices or remote workspaces and engage in our communities.
TOM GRIFFIN
Managing
Partner
Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein Charlotte
When an environmental issue arises in a business deal, clients seek Griffin’s expertise in finding solutions to complex problems. He began his 42-year law career as an honors attorney with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and joined Parker Poe in 1989. With extensive knowledge of environmental regulations, Griffin collaborates with agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the EPA and state environmental entities. He is managing partner of the 275-plus lawyer firm, named last year by U. S. News & World Report as one of the best law firms to work for.
Education: BA Wake Forest University; JD University of Virginia
ROBERT HARRINGTON
Shareholder, Chair
Robinson Bradshaw
Charlotte
President-elect of the North Carolina Bar Association and the North Carolina Bar Foundation and an experienced business litigator, Harrington’s 30-year career includes clients in fnancial services, manufacturing, agribusiness, telecommunications, sports and entertainment, healthcare and education. He also co-chairs Robinson Bradshaw’s litigation department. Harrington has held numerous leadership roles in the community and state. He chairs the NCBA’s task force on integration, equity and equal justice and is a member of the Duke Law School board of visitors and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law’s board of directors.
Education: BA, JD Duke University
Favorite start to the day: A brisk exercise walk.
Best advice for career: Every project requires your best work. No exceptions.
Infuential mentor: Phil Wittmann, the senior litigation partner in my frst law frm. Phil was always meticulously prepared and invariably calm and composed. I watched him treat clients and adversaries alike with respect, graciousness and good humor.
Industry’s key challenge: Identifying and mastering those client services that can't be performed as effectively by others seeking to provide services traditionally provided by lawyers. Similarly we need to incorporate technological advances without sacrifcing professional judgment and personal attention.
Favorite musician: Lindsey Webster
Remote work, yay or nay?
Our ability to do remote work successfully is a real advantage, but I don't think remote work is an effective or sustainable substitute for in-offce work. Remote work lacks the spontaneity, creativity, focus and mutual support of the offce.
Your best life change: Marrying Sharon Harrington
Favorite actor to play you: Wendell Pierce
Best tip for engaging workers: Find time to work together on projects. Don't just assign work, collaborate. Working together allows you to learn from each other, across age, experience, working style and background.
TERRY HUTCHENS
Managing Partner Hutchens Law Firm Fayetteville
Hutchens founded the frm in 1980 with a staff of fve. Today, it has offces throughout the Carolinas, employing more than 250. He focuses on business law, often representing lenders and private corporations, as well as large residential and commercial construction companies. In 1992, Hutchens received The Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Gov. Jim Martin, the state’s highest honor. He serves on the Wake Forest School of Law board of visitors and the UNC System’s governing board.
Education: BS NC State University; MBA, JD Wake Forest University
BRIAN KAHN
Managing Partner McGuireWoods Charlotte
Kahn leads the 190-year-old frm’s Charlotte offce, concentrating his practice on complex business litigation, class actions, fnancial services and real estate disputes. He is a founder, writer and coproducer of "Charlotte Squawks," a long-running parody show about culture and politics in the Queen City. He serves as vice chair of North Carolina Humanities and on the board of trustees for the Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; JD University of Virginia.
Favorite start to the day: Working out at the Charlotte Levine Jewish Community Center and then drinking way too much coffee.
Best advice for career: Always be yourself. Unless you can be Batman, in which case, always be Batman.
Favorite volunteer activity: Serving on the board for North Carolina Humanities
Infuential mentor: Bill Friday, former president of UNC System
Favorite musician: Jason Isbell Remote working, yay or nay? Negative for me. I like to go into work.
Your best life change: Returning to the N.C. Community College System
Favorite actor to play you: Russell Crowe
Best tip for engaging workers: Keep the mission out in front and help them see their role in the mission.
CHRIS KOURI
Charlotte Offce Managing Shareholder
Maynard Nexsen
Charlotte
Kouri’s practice focuses on economic development, government affairs and land use law. He joined Maynard Nexsen (formerly Nexsen Pruet) in 2015. Early in his 25-year career, he served as general counsel and head of government affairs for Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Charlotte native is passionate about job creation in his home state and ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002. Prior to receiving master’s and law degrees, Kouri played football for Yale University and France’s Argonautes and was named MVP in the French Super Bowl.
Education: BA Yale University; Master’s Duke University; JD UNC Chapel Hill
Favorite start to the day: Early morning workout, followed by a few quiet minutes of recovery … and coffee. Best advice for career: Whether at work, or outside of work, build in room to follow your passions and interests. And somehow work those into your day-to-day work responsibilities. It will broaden your perspective and enhance what you have to offer your career … even if they seem unrelated.
Favorite volunteer activity: Disaster relief Hurricane Katrina, Haiti earthquake, Hurricane Helene and Coaching fag football, basketball and other youth sports.
Favorite podcast: “Armchair Expert” (Dax Shepard)
Favorite musicians: The Neville Brothers, The Allman Brothers, Louis Armstrong
Best question for hiring: What’s your favorite thing about this line of work?
Remote work, yay or nay? In-offce, while being equipped with resources and fexibility for occasional remote. Your best life change: Relying more on teammates in all aspects of life.
Favorite actor to play you: Matthew McConaughey
Best tip for engaging workers: Check in on how they are doing generally (not just at work).
PAUL LAWRENCE
Managing Partner
Hedrick Gardner
Kincheloe & Garofalo
Charlotte
Lawrence has spent 31 years at the frm, specializing in civil litigation, professional negligence and premises liability, employment law and workers’ compensation cases. He’s been named one of the top 20 managing partners in the state by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly and included in the Best Lawyers of America since 2016. A former assistant district attorney in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, Lawrence has been an adjunct professor and instructor at several universities and colleges.
Education: BS University of Scranton; JD Villanova University
BYRON KIRKLAND
Managing Partner
Smith Anderson Raleigh
Managing partner for fve years, Kirkland’s expertise includes private-equity transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and general securities and corporate law matters. He represents emerging and established companies in a wide range of industries as well as venture capital and private-equity funds. A member of the frm’s management committee, Kirkland serves on the board of directors for the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, the NC Technology Association, the Miracle League of the Triangle and the United Way of the Greater Triangle.
Education: BA, MBA, JD UNC Chapel Hill
Best advice: Take care of the people, the products and the profts, in that order.
Your best life change: The older I get, the more focused I am on being grateful.
Best tip for engaging workers: Ensuring all of our team feels part of the frm's success.
VALECIA
MCDOWELL Partner
Moore & Van Allen
Charlotte
McDowell is co-head of the frm’s white collar, regulatory defense and investigations practice and its DEI advice, audits and assessments. During her 26-year tenure, she has conducted extensive internal and governmental investigations reviews throughout the world and represented clients in disputes with entities such as the Federal Reserve Board and the Department of Justice. Best Lawyers in America recognized McDowell as its 2025 Securities Lawyer of the Year and Lawdragon included her on this year’s 500 Leading Lawyers in America list.
Education: BA, JD Duke University Favorite podcast: The “House of R” on Ringer-verse. These brilliant women break down "Game of Thrones," "Star Wars," "Harry Potter," etc. Yes, I am that nerd.
Best question for hiring: What is the one thing I need to know about you that I can’t fnd on your resume?
Remote work, yay or nay? Yay
Best tip for engaging workers: Businesses are built by people. If you dehumanize your employees, disregard their professional needs, and advance your own personal economic agenda to their detriment, they are going to “phone it in” and your enterprise is going to leave untold dollars on the table. Instead, if you listen more than you talk, put your team’s needs front and center, and play to your employees’ strengths while balancing their weaknesses, they will walk through fre for you. And, of course, don’t be a bad boss.
THOMAS MITCHELL
Chair, Managing Partner
Moore & Van Allen
Charlotte
Mitchell has spent his entire career at Moore & Van Allen, starting as a summer associate more than 30 years ago. He became managing partner in 2018 and leads a frm that has become one of the largest in Southeast, with more than 400 lawyers and staff. An experienced fnance lawyer, he acts as lead partner for the 75-year-old frm’s largest fnancial services clients. He is a member of the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council, Johnson C. Smith University’s board of trustees and Charlotte Center City’s board of directors.
Education: BA University of Illinois; JD Washington & Lee University
JOHN MORROW
Managing Partner
Womble Bond
Dickinson Winston-Salem
A nationally recognized intellectual property lawyer, Morrow became managing partner of the frm’s Winston-Salem and Greensboro offces in 2023. He has spent his 28-year career at the international frm, starting in the mail room while home from college. His practice concentrates on disputes in areas such as patent, trademark and copyright infringement, unfair competition, trade secret misappropriation and data breaches. He chaired the frm’s intellectual property litigation practice group from 2012 to 2021.
Education: BS UNC Chapel Hill; JD Wake Forest University
Best advice for career: Building a career is not a sprint. It takes a lot of time, patience, hard work, loyalty, sacrifces — and luck. Enjoy and embrace the journey.
Favorite volunteer activity: Serving lunch at the Winston-Salem Street School
Favorite podcast: “Armchair Expert”
Favorite musician: Chris Cornell
Best question for hiring: How do you believe you can improve our organization?
ALLEN ROBERTSON
Managing Partner
Robinson Bradshaw Charlotte
FORD ROBERTSON Partner
Kilpatrick
Raleigh
Named a Managing Partner to Watch by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly in 2024 and 2023, Robertson maintains an active practice, working with the frm’s public fnance, banking, bankruptcy and healthcare practices. He has extensive experience in fnancings for nonproft educational institutions and the senior living and nonproft healthcare industries. Robertson has been managing partner since 2015. The 165-plus lawyer frm has four Carolinas offces and moved its Charlotte headquarters to a new uptown tower in February.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; JD Harvard University
Robertson has been managing partner of Kilpatrick’s Raleigh offce for eight years. He practices in all areas of commercial real estate, with a focus on development, leasing and joint venture formation. He helped bring the United States Golf Association’s second headquarters to Pinehurst. Robertson’s real estate expertise consistently lands him on top lawyers lists by industry publications. He is a member of the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Wake County and Communities in Schools.
Education: BA University of Virginia; JD Wake Forest University
Favorite start to the day: With a cup of coffee and The Wall Street Journal, preferably on my porch if the weather is nice.
Favorite volunteer activity: Helping out at the Boys & Girls Clubs. They are changing lives every day.
Infuential mentor: Former Kilpatrick lawyer Gary Joyner who died in 2016. Gary was the reason I came to Kilpatrick. As a young real estate lawyer, new to Raleigh, he was everything I wanted, and still strive to be as a lawyer, counselor, servantleader and a person.
Industry’s key challenge: Commercial real estate will always be a cyclical business, and we have been in a trough lately. However, headwinds seem to be easing. I am optimistic for a stronger 2025.
Favorite podcast: “The End of the World” with Josh Clark. Scary.
Best question for hiring: Why in the world do you want to be a lawyer?
Remote working, yay or nay? My clients build and lease offce building's, so I'm going to say negative!
Favorite actor to play you: Matthew McConaughey. We are dead ringers! Best tip for engaging workers: Give them ownership and autonomy and celebrate their successes.
PERRY SAFRAN
President
Safran Law Offces
Raleigh
A leading construction law attorney and founding partner of his frm, Safran is a registered arbitrator and former Raleigh City Council member. He is a frequent lecturer on construction-related issues and has served as an adjunct professor at Campbell School of Law and NC State University. As a longtime member of the Centennial Authority board, Safran has helped guide construction and continued operations of the Lenovo Center (formerly PNC Arena), which is home to the Carolina Hurricanes and NC State University men's basketball. He is an NC State trustee.
Education: BA NC State University; MBA Wake Forest University; JD Campbell University
Favorite start to the day: Breakfast with my wife Susan to set the day for both of us. Grandma Susan is busy!
Best advice for career: My father said, 'Everyone deserves your respect.'
Favorite volunteer activity: Focusing on food insecurity and helping stock shelves for the next-day visitor
Infuential mentor: My soulmate, Susan, 50 years together and many grandchildren!
Industry’s key challenge: Managing rapid change
Favorite podcast: BNC’s “Chatter" with Ben! Of course!
Remote working, yay or nay?
Negative and negative!
Your best life change: Paying attention to my exercise
Favorite actor to play you: Raymond Burr
Best tip for engaging workers: Socialize
JACK SLOSSON
Managing Partner
Nelson Mullins
Charlotte
Slosson runs the Queen City offce of the 1,000-plus lawyerand-business professionals frm that started in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1897. He is chair of its toxic tort/asbestos practice group and regularly represents clients in extra-contractual insurance, asbestos and product liability litigation. He served as lead counsel for a civil rights trial that received international media attention. Slosson joined Nelson Mullins in 2001.
Education: BA Davidson College; JD UNC Chapel Hill
JASON SOLOMON
Managing Partner
Alston & Bird
Charlotte
Solomon runs the Charlotte offce of the 900-lawyer international frm, named a Best Workplace by Fortune for 25 consecutive years. His practice is focused on the representation of trustees and agents in fnancial transactions and related litigation, bankruptcies and restructuring. His work on fnancial transactions and asset classes includes mortgage-backed and asset-backed securitizations, high-yield debt transactions, project fnance matters and lending facilities.
Education: BS & BA UNC Chapel Hill; JD Washington & Lee University
MARSHALL WALL
Managing Partner Cranfll Sumner Raleigh
Managing partner since 2016, Wall also chairs the frm’s business law and cyber liability and privacy law practice groups. He handles various matters from employment law to governance issues and was part of the frst class of N.C. lawyers to be certifed in privacy and information security. An experienced trial attorney, Walls has worked on professional negligence, catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases and served as lead trial counsel in trucking, product liability and negligent security cases. He is a member of Campbell University Law School’s board of visitors.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; JD Campbell University
Favorite start to the day: A long run
Favorite volunteer activity: I spent many years on the board of trustees for the foundation that supports Transitions Lifecare in Raleigh, which was formerly Hospice of Wake County. It is an amazing organization.
Favorite podcast: “Freakonomics” defnitely makes you think.
Favorite musician: The Connells — Mike Connell is a colleague, so how can I pick anyone else?
Remote work, yay or nay? Yay
MONA LISA WALLACE
Founding Partner
Wallace & Graham Salisbury
For more than four decades, Wallace has built a reputation for taking on cases no one else would. The nationally known personal injury attorney has represented members of working families claiming diseases, cancers and injuries caused by some of the largest companies in the world and successfully litigated thousands of claims involving asbestos and other toxic exposures. In recent years, Wallace’s legal efforts have focused on unfair medical billing practices and the safety and quality of care in North Carolina’s nursing homes. Her work on behalf of neighbors of Smithfeld Foods’ Bladen County plant was featured in the 2022 book “Wastelands.”
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; JD Wake Forest University
KEVIN WILLIAMS
President
Bell Davis Pitt Winston-Salem
Williams helps clients navigate business, commercial, professional negligence and fduciary disputes. He joined the frm in 1998 and represents corporations and individuals in areas such as corporate and shareholder disputes, professional negligence, product liability, trademark infringement and insurance coverage issues. He grew up in Elizabeth City and has been consistently recognized as one of the top litigators by The Best Lawyers in America.
Education: BS, BA UNC Chapel Hill; JD Wake Forest University
DEVON WILLIAMS
Co-Managing Director
Ward and Smith Raleigh
Williams' practice is focused on labor and employment issues. As a member of the frm’s alcoholic beverage law and hemp and cannabis practice groups, she also helps clients in agribusiness, CBD and craft brewery industries in safeguarding their confdential and proprietary information and understanding changing labor and employment laws. She was named a Managing Partner to Watch by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly the past two years. Williams collaborates with Co-Managing Director Bradley Evans.
Education: BS University of Maryland; JD Campbell University
Favorite start to the day: Before we go our separate ways each morning, we pray together as a family. I love that — it starts us off knowing who is in control.
Infuential mentor: Ward and Smith attorney Al Bell took me under his wing early in my career and demonstrated that he cared about me as a person and invested in my professional success.
Favorite musician: I enjoy all kinds of music, so it is hard to pick just one. But my oldest loves Dolly Parton, so I've enjoyed learning all over again just how amazing Dolly is!
Your best life change: Becoming a mother to our daughters, who are 1½ and 4½ years old.
Favorite actor to play you: Gal Gadot, Sandra Bullock or Alexandra Daddario Best tip for engaging workers: Ensure that everyone on the team understands (a) that their role is important to the mission and (b) how their contribution fts into achieving the goal. The low-hanging fruit of being respectful, listening and showing appreciation goes a long way, too.
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ROGER JEFFS
CEO
Liquidia Morrisville
2025 POWER LIST LIFE SCIENCES
HONOREES
Jeffs joined Liquidia in 2022 to help build the company that is developing products for pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease. Liquidia went public in 2018 and posted combined losses of about $200 million over the past two years on revenue of about $32 million. It had a market cap of $1.25 billion in early April. Liquidia has had a long-running legal battle with United Therapeutics, where Jeffs was co-CEO until his departure in 2016. Court rulings favorable to Liquidia last year have investors enthused about the company’s potential. In 2015, Jeffs received the Wings of Hope Award from the Solving Kids’ Cancer organization in “recognition of his visionary leadership in advancing cancer research while prioritizing the lives of children.”
Education: BA Duke University; Ph.D. UNC Chapel Hill
Favorite start to the day: Every day starts at 5:30 a.m. with freshly ground whole bean coffee and a light breakfast. Then it’s on to a daily exercise regime (swim, bike, run and/or weights) seven days a week. This wakes the senses and is a great lead into the day.
Best advice for career: Chase the science and not the markets. This is probably why I’ve spent my career developing therapeutics for rare diseases.
Influential mentors. My parents have been the greatest influences in my life. My dad chaired the chemistry department at Duke while I was growing up. He taught me the core principles of science. My mom was the lead research nurse at the Duke Cancer Center. I experienced firsthand the importance of applying scientific principles to the development of drug targets and the clinical application of this science, as well as the significant benefit this science could provide to patients with serious diseases and poor prognosis.
Industry’s key challenge: Bureaucracy. What delays a new drug approval is not the clinical science, but something ancillary like an animal toxicology result or a manufacturing control. While these things are important they shouldn’t delay the approval of a new therapy that has demonstrated clear safety, efficacy and clinical benefit in patients with unmet needs. Typically, almost all of these ancillary issues could be sorted post-approval.
Favorite podcast: “The Daily” by The New York Times
Remote working, yay or nay? I’m a huge advocate of remote working. While it does take some discipline to execute, it creates greater efficiency and allows you to recruit from a national talent base without concern for geographical restrictions.
Your best life change: Getting married, nothing else is even close!
ANTHONY ATALA
FRED ESHELMAN
PAUL EVANS
PAUL GAROFOLO
CHARLES GERSBACH
ROGER JEFFS
ROSA MANZO HERRANZ
SHAYLA NUNN JONES
PAUL LEWUS
SHEILA MIKHAIL
LAURA NIKLASON
GUSTAVO PESQUIN
MEG POWELL
BOB RHATIGAN
MARTINE ROTHBLATT
RAVISH SACHAR
R. JUDE SAMULSKI
TOMMY SCHORNAK
— Roger Jeffs
Best tip for engaging workers: Everyone needs a shared purpose, a sense of the bigger mission, and a clear understanding of their critical role in helping to achieve this mission.
“Chase the science and not the markets.”
ANTHONY ATALA
Director
Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Winston-Salem
One of the state’s most famous scientists and researchers, Atala chairs the Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Department of Urology and is a practicing surgeon. The institute secured several large grants in the past year, including $40 million from the Defense Health Agency. He was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Sciences, the National Academy of Inventors as a Charter Fellow and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. His work twice has been listed as Time magazine’s top 10 medical breakthroughs of the year.
Education: BS University of Miami; MD University of Louisville School of Medicine
FRED ESHELMAN
Founder Eshelman Ventures
Wilmington
UNC Chapel Hill’s pharmacy school is named after the Wilmington entrepreneur, reflecting his enormous philanthropy that included a $100 million gift to the university in 2014. He is founder of Eshelman Ventures of Wilmington. He is best known for starting Pharmaceutical Product Development and later Furiex Pharmaceuticals In November, he joined the board of San Franciscobased Jupiter Ventures, a biotech investment company co-founded by Ned Sharpless, former director of UNC Chapel Hill’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Education: BS UNC Chapel Hill; Ph.D. University of Cincinnati
PAUL EVANS CEO
Velocity Clinical Research Durham
The U.K. native leads a clinical research company with more than 80 research sites across the U.S. and Europe. Evans ran sites for 13 years and spent another 13 managing them. “Patient recruitment is still the biggest problem in clinical trials,” he says. London-based GHO Capital acquired the company in 2021 from NaviMed Capital. Velocity has ranked among the state’s fastestgrowing companies on various surveys.
Education: BS Dalhousie University; Ph.D. University of London
PAUL GAROFOLO
CEO,
Co-Founder
Locus Biosciences
Morrisville
In 2015, Garofolo helped start Locus Biosciences, a precisionmedicine company that develops products to remove diseasecausing pathogenic bacteria from the body. He previously was chief technology officer and global head of operations at Patheon Pharmaceuticals and global head of manufacturing at Valeant Pharmaceuticals. He is a board member at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and was a visiting professor at NC State’s Poole College of Management.
Education: BS University of Arizona
CHARLES GERSBACH
Co-Founder, Director Tune Therapeutics
Durham
Tune attracted $175 million in capital in January. The company has about 80 employees, split between Seattle and Durham. It was co-founded by Gersbach, who is a Duke University professor of biomedical engineering. He is also director of Duke’s Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies. His numerous awards include a fellowship at the National Academy of Inventors and Outstanding New Investigator by the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy.
Education: BS, Ph.D. Georgia Institute of Technology
ROSA MANSO HERRANZ
Site Director
Eli Lilly
Concord
The Spanish native leads the $2 billion, 600-employee plant in Concord that Lilly opened last June, shipping medicines around the globe. “This place isn’t just about the building. It’s a symbol of hope,” she says. “Here, science and innovation come together. We work for our purpose — to improve lives worldwide.” She joined Lilly in 2001. Her previous job was as Aseptic Operations/ Parenteral Plant leader in France, where she guided a 300-person team.
Education: Industrial Engineering
Universidad Politecnica de Madrid; MBA IE Business School
SHAYLAH NUNN JONES
Director, Public Affairs and Communications
Novo Nordisk
Durham
Jones joined the pharma company in 2009 and provides counsel to senior-level management about public policy issues affecting business objectives. She also works to promote public-private partnerships for the company, which is investing billions to expand its North Carolina operations, which produce products for diabetes, obesity and other chronic diseases. She previously was a senior policy analyst and a liaison for the Virginia governor’s offce. She notes that her proudest accomplishment is “the three little boys who call her Mom.”
Education: BA Spelman College; JD University of Georgia
PAUL LEWUS
Vice President, Head of Site Operations
Amgen
Apex
Amgen develops and manufactures medicines using human genetic data to create treatments for cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis and infammatory diseases. In December, it announced a $1 billion expansion of its manufacturing facility in Holly Springs that opened in the past year. That brings the total site investment to more than $1.5 billion with employment expected to reach 725 by 2032. Lewus has worked for Amgen since 2004, including assignments in California and Colorado.
Education: BS Colorado State University; Ph.D. University of Virginia
MIKHAIL
Co-Founder
Asklepios
BioPharmaceutical Chapel Hill
Mikhail’s career as a women’s health advocate began as an attorney for biotech companies before forming a partnership with geneticist Jude Samulski to tackle genetic disorders. As CEO of Bamboo Therapeutics, she raised $50 million and led the company in its $840 million acquisition by Pfzer. She and Samulski co-founded Asklepios BioPharmaceutical (AskBio), for which she raised $235 million and established three manufacturing plants in Spain. It was acquired by Bayer for $4 billion in 2020. Her latest ventures include Breast Cancer Ruckus, which aims to increase awareness about screenings and diagnosis.
Education: BS University of Illinois; MBA University of Chicago; JD Northwestern University
GUSTAVO PESQUIN
CEO
AskBio
Durham
Pesquin took his post in March 2023 after serving as chief commercial offcer of Amneal Pharmaceuticals. AskBio is a subsidiary of Germany’s Bayer that is studying treatments for Parkinson’s disease. Previously, he worked for more than 10 years at Sanof, where he was North America Head for General Medicines and Global Head of the Diabetes and Cardiovascular Franchise. “I think we have the opportunity to help patients in a way that was unthinkable not long ago,” the Argentinian native says.
Education: BS Universidad Nacional de Cuyo; MBA Northwestern University
LAURA NIKLASON
Founder, CEO
Humacyte
Durham
The biotech is now 20 years old after its founding by Niklason, Juliana Blum and Shannon Dahl. It is pioneering the use of bioengineered human tissues and organs to be implantable and regenerative. But development is expensive as the company has reported net losses of about $360 million over the past four years. Humacyte went public in 2021. She has been a longtime professor of anaesthesiology and biomedical engineering, frst at Duke University then at Yale.
Education: BA University of Illinois; Ph.D. University of Chicago; MD University of Michigan
Best advice for career: Pick a big problem, spend 10 to 15 years, and solve it.
Favorite volunteer activity: Habitat for Humanity
Infuential mentor: Robert Langer at MIT
Favorite actor to play you: Laura Linney
Best tip for engaging workers: Teach them the science and the vision. Works every time.
MEG POWELL Founder, CEO
501 Ventures
Chapel Hill
Powell is a leading advocate, entrepreneur and connector in the Triangle technology and life sciences industries. In 2020, she founded 501 Ventures as a life sciences accelerator aimed at bolstering the industry. Earlier in her career, she worked for GlaxoSmithKline and Eli Lilly and founded startups, including Target RWE. Powell is a director at BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, RTI International and the N.C. School of Mathematics and Science Foundation.
Education: PharMD UNC Chapel Hill; MBA Stanford University
SHEILA
BOB RHATIGAN CEO Merz Aesthetics
Raleigh
Rhatigan joined the family-owned company in 2017 after spending much of his career at Allergan and Procter & Gamble. He led the commercial launch of Botox for Allergan and is among the skin-care products industry’s leading influencers, often speaking on panels. In February, he represented the company at a global conference in Paris. He was named Top Aesthetics CEO by Aesthetic Everything for three consecutive years.
Education: BA University of California, Santa Barbara Best question for hiring: Which company has been your favorite to work for and why?
Best tip for engaging workers: Build a culture grounded in clear values and trust. It is important to communicate on a timely and transparent basis across the organization.
MARTINE ROTHBLATT
Founder, CEO United Therapeuti Durham
Rothblatt founded United Therapeutics in 1996. Before that, she co-founded SiriusXM Radio in 1990. An inventor or co-inventor of nine U.S. patents, she later turned her attention to biotech to help her daughter, who suffered from pulmonary hypertension. Since its IPO in 1999, United’s shares have climbed from less than $10 to more than $300. The market cap was about $14 billion in early April. In 2023, she received the Benjamin Franklin Medal for Distinguished Achievement in the Sciences.
Education: BA, MBA, JD University of California, Los Angeles
RAVISH SACHAR
CEO, Founder
Contego Medical Raleigh
Sachar founded Contego in 2005 to develop ways to transform complex medical issues into simplified procedures. The company has raised about $65 million over the past six years. In January, medical device giant Medtronic said it was taking a bigger stake in Contego after its initial investment in 2020. He is a cardiologist at UNC Rex and physician-in-chief at N.C. Heart and Vascular Hospital with a globally respected expertise in carotid artery and peripheral vascular diseases.
Education: BA Hampshire College; MDs University of Southern California and Columbia University
R. JUDE SAMULSKI
Former Director
UNC Gene Therapy Center Chapel Hill
A gene therapy researcher for more than 40 years, Samulski is a former director of the UNC Gene Therapy Center. Last year, he stepped down after 20 years as chief scientific officer at Durham’s Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, which was acquired by Bayer in 2020. He co-founded biotechnology companies including AskBio, Bamboo Therapeutic and NanoCor Therapeutics. In 2008, He was the first to receive the Outstanding Achievement Award from the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy. Last fall, he donated $3 million for a new endowed professorship at NC State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Education: BS Clemson University; Ph.D. University of Florida
TOMMY SCHORNAK Vice Presiden, General Manager Thermo Fisher Scientifc Greenville
Schornak leads Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Greenville plant, which manufactures sterile injectables, tablets and capsules. He joined the Waltham, Massachusetts-based company in 2019 as director of operations. It employs more than 1,500 people at its Pitt County operations. As a contract manufacturer, Thermo Fisher serves clients such as Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and AstraZeneca, according to the FiercePharma newsletter. Earlier in his career, he worked for Gilead Sciences in California and Albany Molecular Research in Massachusetts and New Mexico.
Best question for hiring: Which company has been your favorite to work for and why?
Best advice for career: A great mentor told me, “If a door opens, walk through it.” Never get too comfortable, or you risk losing the fire that drives excellence.
Favorite volunteer activity:
Participating in a quarterly street cleanup. Our African Heritage Business Resource Group at Thermo Fisher helped to adopt the street, and the team has built such a strong relationship with its residents.
Remote working: yay or nay?
The pandemic showed more than 2,000 employees that we can overcome anything together, virtually or in person. In-person collaboration is key to solving problems fast. Customer service is the most important offering a company can provide.
Your best life change: Setting aside time for myself as a habit. It is critical when leading teams.
Favorite actor to play you?
Tom Hanks
HARRY SMITH Founder, CEO
The Rise Companies
Atlantic Beach
2025 POWER LIST MANUFACTURING HONOREES
Smith started his private investment business after spending much of his career in the air filtration business, including serving as CEO of publicly traded Flanders Filters, which was based in Washington in Beaufort County. He launched Pamlico Air in 2019 and built it into a 2,000-employee company with plants in four states as the pandemic created unprecedented demand for air filters.
Germany’s Mann+Hummell industrial conglomerate bought Pamlico Air in 2022, and Smith left the business a year later to focus on his personal investments.
Rise now operates six companies in North Carolina, Florida and Texas, including metal fabrication, electrical services, custom panels mainly used by oil and gas producers, and over-the-counter CBD products. The businesses have strong cash flow and limited debt and are viewed as long-term holdings, setting Rise apart from more short-term oriented private-equity investors, Smith says.
Smith was a member of the UNC System Board of Governors from 2013 to 2020, including two years as board chair. Since leaving the board he has focused on his business interests, while remaining vocal on state political issues. Outside the office, he’s an avid fisherman having won contests such as the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in Morehead City.
Education: BS, BA East Carolina University
Favorite start to the day: Glass of yerba mate (herbal tea) and a book
Best advice for career: Don’t major in the minors
Influential mentor: Dale Jenkins, former CEO of Medical Mutual Insurance of North Carolina, now called Curi
Industry’s key challenge: Skilled labor
Favorite podcast: “Youpreneur” by Chris Ducker
Favorite musician: Jimmy Buffett
Remote work, yay or nay? Negative
Your best life change: Healthy lifestyle
Favorite actor to play you: Adam Sandler
Best tip for engaging workers: Healthy culture
LEAH ASHBURN
LYNN BAMFORD
SCOTT BAXTER
ALEX BERNHARDT JR.
STEPHEN BRATSPIES
JIM BRYAN
WES CARTER
WILLIAM “BILL” CHRISTENSEN
GEOFF FOSTER
BOBBY FRYE
JOHN GAITHER
HOOPER HARDISON
FRANK HARRISON III
STAN JEWELL
VIMAL KAPUR
EUGENE LOWE III
ROBERT LUDDY
KENT MASTERS
BOB MCCREARY
BLAKE MILLINOR
PHIL MINTZ
THOMAS NELSON
C. HOWARD “WARD” NYE
LEIB OEHMIG
DAVE REGNERY
GLENN SHERRILL
ALEX SHUFORD III
EDDIE SMITH
HARRY SMITH
SEAN SUGGS
RON SYTZ
LEON TOPALIAN
VUK TRIVANOVIC
ANDERSON WARLICK
DAVID WATERFIELD
HOWARD WOLTZ III
Favorite podcast: “Youpreneur” by Chris Ducker
— Harry Smith
LEAH ASHBURN
President Highland Brewing Asheville
Ashburn holds the taps at Highland Brewing, the popular craft brewer her father, retired engineer Oscar Wong, started with retrofitted dairy equipment 30 years ago. Today, it’s capable of producing 40,000 barrels annually, including wildly popular seasonal offerings. Her marketing instincts have made the brewery a destination with a host of features, including a rooftop bar, event center and volleyball courts.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill
Favorite start to the day: I like to clear out emails and take care of anything that is quick or urgent, scan the news and pet the cat while I drink coffee and decide what I’m looking forward to that day.
Best advice for career: Find your own balance. Each of us is wired differently, and I’ve felt myself shift to less aspiring to more admiring. There is less energy spent trying to emulate another person and more joy in appreciating them.
Influential mentor: My father founded Highland and shaped me as a leader. Despite our different styles, I take pride in the examples set for me and lessons I’ve learned. Among my favorites: Do the right thing — the good will come back to you. Treat everyone with respect. Be confident and humble. Avoid the temptation of short-term gains in favor of long-term value. There is always opportunity in risk. Take more risks.
Industry’s key challenge: Consumer tastes are not only driving the flavors of beer, they are changing the definitions of some beer styles and testing the definitions of all beverages, in and outside of alcohol. IPA today doesn’t mean what IPA meant in 2020. We have to be consumer-centric now more than ever.
Best tip for engaging workers: The process, which is ongoing, of working and living in a way that works for me. I am a better leader when my personal life is moving forward along with my work life.
LYNN BAMFORD CEO
Curtiss-Wright Davidson
The 21-year company veteran became CEO in 2021. She has led the company through nine acquisitions. The maker of hightech components for aerospace, defense and power generation employed about 8,800 people in more than 20 countries at the end of 2024. The company reported $3.1 billion in sales last year, up 10%, and operating income of $546 million, up 11%. She joined Curtiss-Wright with its acquisition of Dy4, a provider of embedded computing solutions. She is the first female CEO in the company’s 96-year history.
Education: BS Penn State; Master’s George Mason University
SCOTT BAXTER
CEO
Kontoor Brands Greensboro
After 12 years in leadership roles at VF, Baxter was named the leader of Kontoor when the maker of Wrangler and Lee brands was spun off in 2019. Since then, shares of Kontoor have outpaced VF, surprising many investors. The company posted a $246 million profit last year with revenue of $2.6 billion. Now, he has to deal with tariffs given that more than two-thirds of Kontoor’s production occurs in Bangladesh, Mexico and Nicaragua. He is a director of Lowe’s.
Education: BS University of Toledo; MBA Northwestern
ALEX BERNHARDT JR. CEO
Bernhardt Furniture
Hickory
The fourth-generation leader of one of the world’s largest familyowned furniture companies has worked for the company for more than 30 years. Bernhardt became CEO in 2009. It started in Lenoir in 1889, making him the oldest continually operating furniture company in the U.S. The company has 1,500 employees and eight manufacturing sites in North Carolina that produce casegoods sold in more than 50 countries.
Education: BA, MBA UNC Chapel Hill
STEPHEN BRATSPIES
CEO
Hanesbrands
Winston-Salem
Bratspies is departing by the end of 2025, after leading efforts for five years to reduce costs and plow savings into innovation and wider distribution of the company’s most profitable brands. He previously was a Walmart executive for 15 years. Pressured by an activist shareholder, Hanesbrands added new board members while selling its U.S. sheer hosiery business and its Champion brand. It also exited its U.S.-based outlet store business. No successor had been named for Bratspies as of mid-April.
Education: BA Franklin & Marshall College; MBA The Wharton School
JIM BRYAN
President Fairystone Fabrics
Burlington
Bryan managed Fairystone for more than a decade before buying the business from the founder’s son, Tom Bobo, in 2011. He spent 17 years with Burlington Industries before moving to Fairystone. His more than 45-year career in textiles after growing bored with a police officer’s job in a small resort town in Massachusetts after college. Fairystone has chalked up growth making specialty fabrics for automotive interiors, as well as medical and defense industries. It’s a founding member of the AlamanceCAP apprenticeship program for high school students.
Education: BA Florida Southern College
WES CARTER
President Atlantic Packaging
Wilmington
Carter joined the company in 2002, adding a third generation to the business started in 1946. His grandfather Horace Carter owned The Tabor City Tribune, the first weekly newspaper in the U.S. to win the Pulitzer Prize. The addition of printing, paper converting and delivery services turned Atlantic into one of the biggest privately held U.S. packaging firms. It has more than 20 domestic facilities and two overseas plants. He has bolstered the plants environmental commitment with initiatives such as producing 100% curbside recyclable packaging to replace single-use plastic.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill
WILLIAM “BILL” CHRISTENSEN
CEO
Jeld-Wen
Charlotte
Christensen joined the window and door manufacturer in April 2022 as an executive vice president, after working as CEO at two large Swiss companies, REHAU and AFG. He was named Jeld-Wen’s CEO in December 2022. He is working to reverse the $189 million loss posted last year, when it closed plants in California and Wisconsin. Revenue totaled nearly $3.8 billion at the company, which has 16,000 employees in North America and Europe.
Education: BA Rollins College; MBA University of Chicago
Best advice for career: Never say no to a great opportunity
Favorite volunteer activity: Mentoring students
Influential mentor: My wife keeps me exploring and growing.
Your industry’s key challenge: The economic reality of affordability and interest rates is challenging our industry as we work to deliver housing units our country desperately needs.
Favorite musician: Bob Marley
Your best life change: Returning to business school
Favorite actor to play you: Kevin Costner
GEOFF FOSTER
Founder, CEO Core Technology and Molding
Greensboro
Foster held positions with several companies, including AMP, Tyco Electronics and Syngenta, before founding Core with his wife, Tonya. The company has customers in 150 countries, serving aerospace, appliance, automotive, medical and lawn equipment businesses. Core has a particular focus on the automotive and biopharmaceuticals sectors. He is a longtime adjunct professor at his alma mater, N.C. A&T State University.
Education: BS, MS N.C. A&T State University; MBA Wake Forest University
BOBBY FRYE CEO
Mt. Olive Pickle
Mount Olive
Mt. Olive Pickle is the largest privately held U.S. pickle company, selling more than 230 million jars of pickles, peppers and relishes each year. The company employs more than 1,200 people in its operations in Mount Olive and Goldsboro. Frye started with the family company in 1980 and assumed his current position in 2015. The company became the official pickle and pickle juice provider to the Carolina Panthers last year.
Education: BA Lenoir-Rhyne College
JOHN GAITHER CEO Feetures
Charlotte
Gaither’s father, Hugh, started the company in 2001 in Newton in Catawba County, where it still has its distribution center. He moved up to CEO in 2023. Last year, the 72-employee company sold almost 6 million pairs of socks, mostly made in Asia. It has catered to runners since its origin.
The Gaither family previously owned Ridgeview, a hosiery and sock manufacturing business that closed in 2000. John Gaither’s brother, Joe, is the company’s chief marketing offcer.
Best advice for career: Trust your instincts.
Favorite volunteer activity:
Coaching my three kids, Jack, Ben, and Hannah, in sports.
Infuential mentor: My father: I was able to watch and learn from him as our business grew from a startup to a mature company.
Remote working, yay or nay?
A hybrid approach is best.
Your best life change: I started drinking coffee late in life. Now it’s one of my favorite parts of the day.
Best tip for engaging workers: Ensure their roles evolve in ways that highlight their strengths.
FRANK HARRISON III
CEO
Coca-Cola Consolidated
Charlotte
Harrison’s great-grandfather introduced Coca-Cola to the Carolinas in 1902, and the company is now the nation’s largest CocaCola bottler. He has led its 17,000 employees since 1994, when he was named CEO. Two years later, he was elected board chairman. He joined the company a decade earlier, running routes and operating bottling lines before his elevation to division sales manager and vice president. Sales climbed 3.7% to $6.9 billion last year to and adjusted net income rose 10.6% to $678.6 million.
Education: BS UNC Chapel Hill; MBA Duke University Favorite start to the day: Reading the Bible and praying
STAN JEWELL
CEO Renfro Brands Mount
Airy
HOOPER HARDISON
CEO
Charlotte Pipe and Foundry
Charlotte
Hardison has led the 124-yearold privately held company since 2022, having joined the business 34 years earlier. He previously held various sales and management positions at the company where his father, Ned, was a longtime executive. Founded by Frank Dowd as a small foundry in Charlotte, fve generations of his family have run and expanded the business. Charlotte Pipe and its subsidiary, Neenah Enterprises, manufacture cast iron and plastic pipe and fttings and municipal castings in 10 U.S. factories. It sells products across the country and overseas.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; MBA University of Virginia
VIMAL KAPUR CEO Honeywell Charlotte
Jewell took charge of Renfro in 2017 after spending a decade as president of VF Corp.’s Central and South America unit, where he boosted sales of Wrangler, Vans and other brands. At 104-year-old Renfro, Jewell is diversifying its portfolio of legwear and socks, including Polo, Dr. Scholl’s and Merrell. Last year, the private company paid $15 million for Fayetteville’s MJ Soffe, the maker of “silkies” running shorts originally worn by U.S. servicemen. Earlier, Renfro committed to invest roughly $2 million to expand its Mount Airy operations.
Education: BS, MS Georgia Tech
A 36-year company employee and CEO since 2023, Kapur has simplifed the company’s portfolio to boost shareholder returns. Earlier this year, Honeywell said it would spin off its automation and aerospace technologies units, along with the previously announced plan to spin off advanced materials. Honeywell employs 97,000 people worldwide, including 1,150 in Charlotte, where it moved its headquarters in 2018. Operating income climbed 5% to $7.4 billion last year on sales of $38.5 billion.
Education: BS Thapar Institute of Engineering
EUGENE LOWE III
CEO SPX
Charlotte
As CEO for a decade, Lowe has spurred revenue and earnings growth with acquisitions and investments in AI and other technologies to boost sales of HVAC and detection/ measurement equipment. Customers include healthcare, telecommunications and municipalities. The public company employs about 4,400 employees in 16 countries. Revenue approached $2 billion last year, up 13.8% from a year earlier. Adjusted operating income climbed 36.7% to $394.7 million. He joined SPX in 2008 after working for Milliken & Co., Bain & Co. and Lazard Technology Partners.
Education: BS Virginia Tech; MBA Dartmouth College
ROBERT LUDDY
Founder, President
CaptiveAire Systems
Raleigh
Nearly half a century after sinking $1,300 into a single-room sheet metal business, Luddy now operates a 2,100-employee commercial kitchen ventilation company with factories in North Carolina and fve other states. It also has more than 90 sales offces in the U.S. and Canada. Over the past three decades, He has been engaged in improving education and starting schools that stress communications and other skills to prepare young people for the workplace.
Education: BS LaSalle University Best advice for career: Continuous development of knowledge and leadership skills
KENT MASTERS
CEO Albemarle Corporation
Charlotte
Masters joined Albemarle a decade ago as a director and became CEO in 2020. The world’s largest lithium miner is facing declining metal prices amid slowing sales of electric vehicles. A sharp skid in the company’s share price was slowed in February after the company forecast break-even cash fow in 2025. It continues slashing costs after eliminating about 7% of its global workforce last year. It employed 8,300 people as of Dec. 31.
Education: BS Georgia Tech; MBA New York University
BOB MCCREARY
CEO
McCreary Modern Newton
A former starter for Wake Forest University’s football team and the Dallas Cowboys, McCreary returned home to North Carolina to start McCreary Modern with 30 employees in 1986. Today, the furniture maker employs more than 800 people in six plants in Catawba and Caldwell counties. He created an employee-stock ownership plan in 2008. He’s donated almost $55 million to Wake Forest as the lead donor for numerous football facilities. He was inducted into the school’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.
Education: BS Wake Forest University
BLAKE MILLINOR
CEO Valdese Weavers Valdese
In the 110 years since Waldensians from northern Italy started weaving in North Carolina’s foothills, the company has grown to more than 900 workers in four Burke County facilities. The maker of upholstery fabrics has been 100% employee-owned for a decade. Millinor joined more than 20 years ago and took charge as CEO in 2021. Spending on R&D and spinning, weaving and fnishing equipment produces computeraided mass customization of fabrics from a catalog of more than 200,000 patterns.
Education: BS The Citadel
PHILLIP MINTZ
Executive Director NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions
Hillsborough
As leader of the College of Engineering’s extension services program, Mintz shares his quartercentury of manufacturing and engineering experience with underserved businesses and technical professionals trying to compete globally. He also directs the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership. He took charge of the partnership in 2011 after returning to his alma mater following engineering jobs with the U.S. Navy, Lockheed-Martin and Westinghouse.
Education: BS NC State University; MS N.C. A&T State University
THOMAS NELSON
CEO
National Gypsum
Charlotte
The Chicago native has had his post since 1999. He previously was vice chair of the building product manufacturer that started in 1925 in Buffalo, New York. His late father-in-law, C.D. Spangler Jr., bought the company for $1.2 billion in 1995. Nelson serves on the boards of Advocate Health, Bechtel and Yum! Brands. He worked for Morgan Stanley & Co. in the venture capital industry before joining National Gypsum.
Education: BS Stanford University; MBA Harvard University
LEIB OEHMIG
CEO
Glen Raven Burlington
Oehmig succeeded Allen Gant as CEO in 2017 after joining the company in 1989 in hometown of Anderson, South Carolina, where it operates a large plant. Glen Raven was founded in Alamance County in 1880 and now operates in 23 countries. Its brands include Sunbrella, Dickson and GlenGuard. His community and industry service involvement has included Anderson University, Tri County Technical College, Institute of Textile Technology, United States Industrial Fabrics Institute and the Advanced Textiles Association.
Education: BS, MBA Clemson University
WARD NYE
CEO
Martin Marietta
Raleigh
Nye is in his 15th year as CEO of the 9,400-employee aggregates and construction supply company. It posted a record $1.99 billion proft in 2024. Revenue declined 3.6% to $6.5 billion as it absorbed two acquisitions completed a year earlier. He worked at peer company Hanson for 13 years before moving to Martin Marietta as chief operating offcer in 2006. He is a director of General Dynamics and the American Road Transportation Builders Association.
Education: BA Duke University; JD Wake Forest University Favorite start to the day: Reading the news, usually The Wall Street Journal
Best advice for career: Remain curious in mind, agile in approach and easy to deal with.
Infuential mentor: Wellcome CEO Robert Ingram, through his insights and unfailing kindness and grace Industry’s key challenge: Finding, retaining and deploying talent
Best question for hiring: What are you like on your worst day?
Remote work, yay or nay? Negative — hinders mentoring, growing relationships and personal growth Best tip for engaging workers: Regularly and genuinely acknowledge hard work and achievement
DAVE REGNERY
CEO
Trane Technologies Davidson
The company staffer since 1985 keeps it cool at Trane, which had 30,000 employees and $19 billion in revenue last year and a market valuation of $71 billion as of mid-April. After starting as an intern, he’s had key leadership roles around the world, including heading Commercial HVAC and Transport Refrigeration. He was chief operating offcer before becoming CEO in 2021. Regnery is on the Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders for the World Economic Forum.
Education: BS Northeastern University; MBA Lehigh University
GLENN SHERRILL CEO SteelFab Charlotte
The country’s largest privately owned steel fabricator, SteelFab is a third-generation family business with 10 plants and 15 offces nationally. It is supplying 10,000 tons of steel for Atrium Health’s new 12-story tower in Charlotte, expected to open in 2027. Sherrill joined the business after college in 1993. He’s a past president of the Southern Association of Steel Fabricators.
Education: BA NC State University
ALEX SHUFORD III
CEO
Rock House Farm
Hickory
As CEO for a decade, Shuford is the third generation to lead the highend furniture maker started by his grandfather. In a podcast last year, he predicted a generational wealth shift will spur furniture demand. Rock House has grown through acquisitions, including the 2022 purchases of Classic Leather and St. Timothy Furniture that added to its other brands, including Century Furniture and Cabot Wrenn. He worked more than 23 years at Century before taking charge at Rock House. It has about 1,300 employees.
Education: BA Pomona College
EDDIE SMITH CEO
Grady-White Boats Greenville
One of North Carolina’s legendary entrepreneurs, Smith, 82, and his late wife bought the boat-building company in 1968, salvaging it from near bankruptcy. The company makes 28 models of boats, ranging from 18 feet to 45 feet. He has donated funds to UNC Chapel Hill and East Carolina University for healthcare efforts and athletics. The Eddie Smith Field House in Chapel Hill is named for his father, and Chris Smith Field at Kenan Stadium is named for his son.
Education: BS UNC Chapel Hill Best advice for career: Have impeccable integrity, and total unrelenting commitment to unsurpassed customer satisfaction
Infuential mentor: My father was my key mentor, teaching me the importance of personal integrity, and to focus on treating employees and customers extremely well and to create a consistently high-quality product. Favorite musician: I like country music in general and classical music for relaxing.
SEAN SUGGS
President Toyota Battery Manufacturing NC
Liberty
Battery production started in April at Toyota’s Randolph County site, nearly four years after the Japanese automaker announced the $14 billion plant. Suggs is directing the expansion, which is Toyota’s 11th U.S. manufacturing plant and expects to employ 5,100 workers by 2030. He joined Toyota in 1998 after serving eight years in the U.S. Army. After working for Nissan from 2008-13, he returned to Toyota and worked in several posts before taking his North Carolina position. He is on the board of Renasant Bank, Toyota U.S.A. Foundation and S&P Global Mobility Council.
Education: BS Oakland City University; MBA Auburn University
RON SYTZ
CEO
Beverly Knits
Gastonia
Beverly Knits was founded in 1980 by Robert and JoAnn Sytz. The company has been owned since 2004 by their son, Ron Sytz, and his wife, Janet. The business had to lay off 175 employees because of increased competition from Chinese firms, Ron Sytz said in a Charlotte Observer column last year and has locations in Gastonia, Albemarle and Hemingway, South Carolina. About half of Beverly’s current production is devoted to apparel and 35% to bedding, with the balance going to automotive, medical and industrial fabrics.
Education: BS Georgia Tech
LEON TOPALIAN
CEO Nucor
Charlotte
The head of the largest U.S. steel company is a 29-year Nucor veteran who became CEO in 2020. The company posted record profit and revenue in his first years on the job, but business has gotten tougher amid a 26% decline in annual revenue over the past two years because of slowing demand. Nucor reported a $2 billion profit last year, down from a record $7.6 billion in 2022. He’s vice chair of the World Steel Association’s board.
Education: BS Massachusetts Maritime Academy
VUK
TRIVANOVIC
CEO
Shurtape Technologies Hickory
Trivanovic worked for Valspar for 17 years before joining the family-owned company in 2015. He became CEO in 2021 at the business started in Catawba County by the Shuford family in 1880. It makes specialty adhesive tapes with brands such as Duck, Frog Tape and Painter’s Mate. The company has operations in the U.S., China, Germany, Mexico, Peru and the United Kingdom and 1,600 employees.
Education: BS University of Illinois; MBA Northwestern University
ANDERSON WARLICK
CEO
Parkdale Mills
Gastonia
Warlick leads one of North Carolina’s largest private companies. It has about 4,000 employees worldwide and more than $1 billion in revenue. It’s the largest consumer of cotton in the U.S. with more than plants in the U.S., Mexico and South America. He succeeded his father-in-law, Duke Kimbrell, as CEO. Late last year, Parkdale announced plant closings in Sanford and Mountain City, Tennessee.
Education: BS The Citadel
DAVID
WATERFIELD CEO
Reynolds American Winston-Salem
HOWARD WOLTZ III CEO
Insteel Industries
Mount Airy
The 25-year veteran of BAT Group was appointed to his N.C. post in July 2023. It’s the largest market in BAT’s global business. Reynolds is marking the 150th anniversary since Richard Joshua Reynolds started the business. BAT Group bought Reynolds for $49 billion in 2017. Waterfeld’s previous posts include Group Head of Combustibles and Regional Head of Marketing for Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa and Area Director for Western Europe. He is on BAT’s management board.
Education: Royal Holloway, University of London
As CEO for more than three decades, Woltz leads the largest U.S. maker of steel wire reinforcing products for concrete construction projects. Late last year, Insteel closed a Warren, Ohio, factory acquired weeks earlier in a $70 million cash acquisition of a competitor. By consolidating operations, HE is seeking to bolster effciencies of Insteel’s 11 U.S. facilities .His father started the business in 1953. It employed 929 as of September.
Education: BA, BS UNC Chapel Hill
ELIZABETH KUNZ CEO
Girls on the Run International Charlotte
Former teacher and social worker Molly Barker formed Girls on the Run International in 1996 in Charlotte as an effort to combat declining mental health and physical activity in elementary- and middle-school-aged girls. The organization has grown to serve 2.5 million girls.
2025 POWER LIST
NONPROFITS & PHILANTHROPIES HONOREES
DEBBIE AIKEN
LAURA BELCHER
CATHY BESSANT
AMY CUBBAGE
KEVIN DICK
MARK ETHRIDGE
LAURA GERALD
FRANKLIN GRAHAM
JOY VERMILLION HEINSOHN
Kunz began volunteering for Girls on the Run in 2002, joining as its development director in 2005 and named CEO two years later. She previously had worked for Charlotte’s YMCA for about nine years and as a food industry marketer. She is a board member of the National Fitness Foundation.
Education: BA UNC Charlotte
Industry’s key challenge: Ensuring that the financial resources are in place to advance one’s mission is a perennial industry challenge. A troubling trend in the United States is that volunteerism and civic engagement is sadly in a state of decline. We serve almost 200,000 girls each year and never want to turn away a team because there are no adults to lead the lessons.
Favorite musician: My Morning Jacket
Your best life change: Joining Girls on the Run. It was a risky decision for a single mom to work for a grassroots organization with a small staff and limited financial resources. I took the leap of faith because I believed so passionately in the mission and could clearly envision its potential. When I joined, it served approximately 15,000 girls. We now have over 2.5 million joyful, healthy, and confident alumni.
Remote working, yay or nay? Positive. Girls on the Run is fully remote with staff in 16 states. Not having geographical limitations has allowed us to hire the best and brightest people. Additionally, 96% of our staff is female. With women still doing a disproportionate amount of child care, cooking and housework in the United States, being remote has had a huge positive impact on their ability to better navigate professional and personal responsibilities.
CECILIA HOLDEN
ELIZABETH KUNZ
TOM LAWRENCE
BOBBY LONG
RHETT MABRY
JIM MELVIN
SUSAN MIMS
MARY CLAUDIA BELK PILON
JULIE PORTER
PILAR ROCHA-GOLDBERG
THOM RUHE
LATIDA SMITH
CHARLES THOMAS
JENNIFER WHITESIDE
DAN WINSLOW
“We now have over 2.5 million joyful, healthy and confident alumni.”
— Elizabeth Kunz
DEBBIE AIKEN
Executive Director
Anonymous Trust Wake Forest
CATHY BESSANT
CEO Foundation for the Carolinas Charlotte
Aiken serves as Anonymous Trust’s first executive director, beginning the role in 2017 after 35 years in financial services with Fifth Third Bank and SunTrust Bank, among others. The trust primarily benefits eastern North Carolina education. It grew out of the estate of Nancy Bryan Faircloth, who died in 2010. The trust has awarded more than $80 million in grants and reported $274 million in assets in 2023.
Aiken is on the board of the N.C. Symphony.
Education: BA Vanderbilt University
Bessant has led one of the nation’s largest community foundations since January 2024. It followed a 40year finance career, including key leadership roles at Bank of America, where she reported to CEOs Ken Lewis and Brian Moynihan. The foundation oversees more than $4 billion, held across 2,700 charitable funds established by families, businesses and nonprofits in Mecklenburg and 12 nearby counties. In March, the foundation completed a $90 million renovation of the Carolina Theatre in uptown Charlotte. Bessant was inducted into the American Banker’s “25 Most Powerful Women in Banking” Hall of Fame in 2020. She is a director of Zurich Insurance Group and chairs the USA Field Hockey board of directors.
Education: BA University of Michigan
AMY CUBBAGE
President
North Carolina Partnership for Children
Charlotte
Cubbage oversees 75 local partnerships that implement the early childhood system and work to improve early childhood education readiness across N.C.’s 100 counties. The public/private partnership manages Smart Start through those local partners. She’s been in the post since 2020. Previously, Cubbage was a National Head Start fellow, taught courses at Eastern Connecticut State University, and spent a decade with the Teachstone consulting group.
Education: BA Brown University; MS Wheelock College; JD Northeastern University
Best hiring question: Tell me about a time you made a mistake, apologized, and how you worked to rectify it?
Best tip for engaging workers: Be kind whenever possible. It’s always possible.
Favorite actor to play you: Uma Thurman
LAURA
BELCHER CEO Habitat
for Humanity of the Charlotte Region Charlotte
KEVIN DICK CEO Carolina Small Business Development Fund Knightdale
Belcher led the organization as it completed its 4,000th home in the region and welcomed 4,000 volunteers to Habitat’s Carter Work Project in Charlotte. The group, which built its first home in Charlotte in 1984, served more than 500 families in 2023, topping its original goal of 200. She previously worked at the Arts and Science Council of Charlotte and has been named Charlotte Woman of the Year.
Education: BBA William & Mary
Kevin Dick leads a 37-employee nonprofit that has deployed more than $117 million in capital since its formation in 2010. He was hired to lead the group in 2020, following 15 years in key economic development roles for the cities of Charlotte and Durham. The fund has provided more than 3,000 grants and loans to N.C. small businesses, many of them minority-owned. It also provides research aimed at informing private and public sector decisionmakers about the importance of small businesses. The fund has received honors from the U.S. Small Business Administration for its lending.
Education: BS Georgetown University; Master’s Florida Atlantic University
Best advice for career: Focus more on the need to deliver the message than on the way it might be received.
Favorite volunteer activity: Mentoring
Industry’s key challenge: Successful communication about how important small businesses are to our economy and why they and entrepreneurial support organizations like ours merit public policy advocacy and private sector support.
Favorite musician: Sade
Favorite podcast: “The Pivot” Your best life change: The recognition that I couldn’t always deal with challenges and past traumas by myself.
Best tip for engaging workers: Let them know constantly how they fit into the puzzle and seek their input before making important decisions.
Favorite actor to play you: Sterling K. Brown
MARK ETHRIDGE
Managing Principal
Ascent Housing Charlotte
LAURA GERALD
President
Katie B. Reynolds
Charitable Trust
Winston-Salem
FRANKLIN GRAHAM
CEO
Samaritan’s Purse Boone
The real estate professional spearheaded a response to Charlotte’s affordable housing crisis by combining publicpolicy initiatives and privatesector solutions. He co-founded the Housing Impact Fund in partnership with Charlotte business leaders Erskine Bowles and Nelson Schwab. The fund has applied $270 million to preserve nearly 2,000 naturally occurring affordable housing units in the Charlotte region, gaining national attention for the work. He was vice president of Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital and became a partner at Ascent Capital Real Estate in 2017.
Education: BA Princeton University
After medical school, Gerald Gerald began her career as a primary care pediatrician in her hometown of Lumberton. She soon focused on improving statewide healthcare. Initially, she worked to help Medicaid recipients with Community Care of North Carolina and later as executive director of the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission. The former state health director joined the trust in 2016. It began with a gift from a Reynolds family heir in 1947 and now has about $600 million in assets, with donations of about $20 million per year, adhering to a “socially responsible investment strategy.”
Education: BA, MS Harvard; MD Johns Hopkins University
The Christian organization was founded in 1970 and seeks to help victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease and famine. The son of late evangelist Billy and Ruth Bell Graham has been its CEO since 1979. As part of the relief efforts surrounding Hurricane Helene, Samaritan’s Purse coordinated more than 350 airlifts delivering critical supplies to remote communities across 17 counties in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, now the largest civilian airlift operation in U.S. history. The organization reported revenue of $1.3 billion and net assets of $1.7 billion in 2023. Separately, Graham leads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association based in Charlotte.
Education: BA Appalachian State University
JOY VERMILLION HEINSOHN
Executive Director
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
Winston-Salem
CECILIA HOLDEN CEO myFutureNC Raleigh
After working for the foundation for 24 years, Heinsohn succeeded Maurice “Mo” Green as CEO in March 2023. She launched the foundation’s Public Art for All initiative and the All For NC Fellowship. She is a native North Carolinian and has served on the board of Wake Forest University, among other groups. In its mission to improve the quality of life in North Carolina, the foundation reported giving about $24 million in 2023. Since 1936, it has provided about $691 million in grants.
Education: BA Wake Forest University; MPA Harvard University
Holden has led the educationfocused nonproft since its formation in 2019. The group has helped spearhead increases in educational attainment in the state, which leaders say is critical for competitiveness individually and as a state. She previously worked in state government as director of Government and Community Affairs for the State Board of Education and as the N.C. Department of Commerce’s chief of staff.
Education: BS UNC Wilmington; MBA Duke University Favorite start to the day: Quiet time reading my devotional, and going on a walk with friends.
Best advice for career: If your teammate fails, you fail! Don’t let what you can’t do get in the way of what you can do!
Infuential mentors: John Skvarla, former N.C. Commerce Secretary; Bill Foster, IBM vice president; Jack Helm, former Wake County telecommunications director; my parents, Barbara and Cecil Knight.
TOM LAWRENCE
CEO
The Leon Levine Foundation
Charlotte
BOBBY LONG
Chair
Piedmont Triad
Charitable Foundation
Greensboro
RHETT MABRY
President
The Duke Endowment
Charlotte
Lawrence became the foundation’s first full-time employee when he joined the Levine family offices in 2002 and its first executive director in 2012. It has become one of Charlotte’s most prominent nonprofits and grown to serve communities across North and South Carolina. In 2020, the foundation started by the founder of the Family Dollar retail chain reached $300 million in grant funds. It has donated more than $30 million annually since 2021, including a major scholarship program at UNC Charlotte, $3 million for a Davidson psychiatric hospital and tens of millions of dollars committed to Atrium Health for cancer care and research.
Education: BSBA University of Richmond
The insurance executive is a leading philanthropist with projects including the shift_ed group, which works to provide individualized support for students across Guilford County. He is also credited with securing backing for the annual Wyndham Championship golf tournament in Greensboro. He co-founded Piedmont Capital Partners in 2002,and co-chairs the Piedmont Triad Partnership, which markets a 12-county region and launched the Carolina Core brand in 2018.
Education: BS NC State University
JIM MELVIN
CEO
Joseph M. Bryan Foundation Greensboro
Informally known as “Mr. Greensboro,” Melvin has led the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation for many years, organizing coalitions to benefit public schools and expand the economy. He previously had a lengthy banking career including leading the state’s largest savings and loan. He was Greensboro’s mayor from 1971-81. Officials credit him as a key force in helping attract Toyota’s $14 billion battery plant to neighboring Randolph County.
Education: BS UNC Chapel Hill
SUSAN MIMS
CEO
Dogwood Health Trust Asheville
A longtime public health executive who has been in the Asheville area since 2000, Mims leads the $1.7 billion private foundation formed by the sale of Mission Health to HCA Healthcare. Its goal is to support groups that improve the factors that influence health in western North Carolina. Dogwood has four strategic priority areas: housing, education, economic opportunity, and health and wellness. Prior to joining Dogwood Health, Mims worked with the Mountain Area Health Education Center, UNC Health Sciences and spent 14 years at Mission Health.
Education: BS University of Georgia; MPH MD UNC Chapel Hill
The endowment holds assets of about $5 billion and has distributed an equal amount of grants in its 100 years. In December, trustees announced a plan to distribute another $5 billion over the next 15 years. The Greensboro native joined the group in 1992 and held posts in the healthcare and child care units before becoming president in 2016. He has worked at Ernst & Young and an HCA hospital in Atlanta. He is a board member of Candid, a data service for the nonprofit sector.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; MHA Duke University
MARY CLAUDIA BELK PILON
President, Board Chair
John M. Belk Endowment
Charlotte
Pilon leads the nearly $400 million foundation named for her father, the former Charlotte mayor and renowned retailer. She worked in retail management at Belk for 12 years and the separate Belk Foundation for five years. She became the foundation’s leader in 2012 and has focused on early childhood education, increasing access to college and credentialing education for low-income and other students and strengthening the state’s workforce.
Education: BA Roanoke College
JULIE PORTER
President
DreamKey Partners
Charlotte
Porter joined DreamKey Partners in 2013. The organization has invested more than $450 million to fnance, preserve and develop subsidized housing for lower wage-earners. Originally the Charlotte Mecklenburg Housing Partnership, DreamKey has expanded in the Carolinas and Georgia. In 2023, it provided education and counseling to nearly 3,000 people, along with $4.7 million in down-payment assistance. Porter previously was executive director of an affordable housing enterprise in Kansas City, Missouri, where she launched a neighborhood revitalization program.
Education: BS Wichita State University
THOM
RUHE CEO NC IDEA
Hillsborough
Before Ruhe became CEO in 2016, NC IDEA distributed almost $600,000 in grants. According to recent flings, the nonproft has expanded to more than $3.5 million provided annually to North Carolina entrepreneurs. Since its formation in 2005, the organization has awarded about $25 million. Ruhe stepped into his role as CEO after lengthy experience at groups promoting entrepreneurship, including seven years working for the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, Missouri.
Education: BS Bowling Green State University
Favorite podcast: Selfshly, my podcast, “#Ecosysteming,” gives me pleasure in the conversations we curate with accomplished individuals. Best tips for engaging workers: A healthy corporate culture is vital. It should be clear to everyone how their efforts contribute to the goals and impact of the organization.
Remote work, yay or nay? When expectations of output are clear and monitored, remote working can offer fexibility to employees that add to their job satisfaction.
PILAR ROCHAGOLDBERG
CEO
EL Centro Hispano
Durham
N.C.’s Latinx population grew by an estimated 40% between 2010 and 2020 to about 1.1 million. That makes for important work for Rocha-Goldberg, who moved from Colombia to the U.S. in 2004 and leads the state’s largest and oldest Hispanic-oriented nonproft. It has economic development, health, community engagement and education projects in 15 counties. Its programs reached more than 200,000 people during the 2023 fscal year, including almost 15,000 at mobile health unit screenings. She joined El Centro Hispano in 2009 after working at Duke University Medical Center, where she ran a Spanish-language program for hypertensive Latinos. She later implemented a wider nutrition program at El Centro Hispano.
Rocha-Goldberg is a member of the Chancellor’s Health Advisory Board at Duke University, a board member of Durham Tech Community College, Aging Well Durham and the Carolina Small Business Development Fund.
Education: BA Pontifcia Universidad Javeriana
Best advice for career: Be honest and genuine.
Favorite volunteer activity: Supporting other nonprofts doing work in different communities.
Industry’s key challenge: Unrestricted funding
Favorite musician: Carlos Vives
Best tip for engaging workers: Collaborative leadership
Favorite actor to play you: Calista Flockhart
LATIDA SMITH
President
The Winston-Salem Foundation Clemmons
Smith was selected to become president of The Winston-Salem Foundation in 2021 after leading a similar organization in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The 105-year-old foundation holds nearly $650 million in assets, according to its most recent fling in 2023, making it one of the state’s largest. It administers the money and advises more than 1,040 endowed funds from community members and groups.
Education: BA Ohio Wesleyan University; Master’s The Ohio State University Industry’s key challenge: Making a case for community in an increasingly polarized global culture.
Favorite podcast: “Giving Done Right” from the Center for Effective Philanthropy
Remote work, yay or nay? Positive. Supports work-life balance for those privileged to have this option. Your best life change: Relocating from my hometown, Cleveland, to expand my career in philanthropy.
Best tip for engaging workers: Hire smart people with a passion for your mission and ensure they have room to spread their wings.
CHARLES THOMAS
Charlotte Program Director
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Charlotte
Thomas joined the Knight Foundation in 2016 as Program Director for Charlotte, where the national organization has committed more than $58 million since 2008. Knight family members formerly owned The Charlotte Observer among many other U.S. newspapers.
The foundation has identifed Charlotte’s Historic West End as a primary focus in the city. Prior to his current role, Thomas served as the founding executive director of Queen City Forward, a hub for entrepreneurs. He also worked as director of education of The Light Factory Contemporary Museum of Photography and Film and as a business consultant.
Education: BA Duke University
Favorite start to the day: Reading or meditating.
Best advice for career: Don’t give your heart to the company.
Infuential mentor: Former Knight Foundation CEO Albero Ibarguen
Industry’s key challenge: Income inequality and climate change
Favorite musician: Sting
Best tip for engaging workers: Build authentic relationships.
JENNIFER TOLLE WHITESIDE
CEO
North Carolina Community Foundation Raleigh
DAN WINSLOW CEO
New Hanover Community Endowment Wilmington
Since Whiteside took the lead role in 2007, the foundation has more than doubled its assets to about $400 million as of 2023. Its grantmaking totaled about $37 million that year. Before joining the Community Foundation, she was the frst executive director of Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina, now the Positive Childhood Alliance NC, growing that organization from one to 14 staff members.
Education: BS University of Florida; Master’s Louisiana State University
The $1.6 billion endowment has a key role in improving Wilmington. It was formed after New Hanover County sold the region’s main hospital to Novant Health in 2021. After initial CEO William Buster left in early 2024, the endowment hired Winslow following a search committee that studied 164 candidates. His varied career includes work as a partner at a large law frm, a District Court judge, Massachusetts state lawmaker and a publicly traded software company executive.
Education: BA Tufts University; JD Boston College
CAROLINE HELWIG DUDLEY
Managing Director, Global Lead
Talent and Organization
Accenture
Charlotte
2025 POWER LIST PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES
HONOREES
NATALIE BATTEN
TRIPP BEACHAM
JOSEPH BUDD
JIM CANFIELD
MALCOMB COLEY
NEIL DEANS
Dudley joined the business consulting and services company in 2000 and has had a variety of roles, including her current post as Global Lead for Talent and Organization. She also has had assignments related to mergers, operations, marketing and customer-relationship management. The parent of four children, she previously told BNC her passions include exploring innovations to improve brain health.
In 2023, Dudley donated a kidney to 1-year-old Carter Wilson, who was attending a pre-K program at Providence Day School, where her children attend. Before the transplant, the young boy had been repeatedly hospitalized and needed dialysis three to four times a week. “She’s a one-in-a-million type of person,” Carter’s father, Dewett Wilson, told a Charlotte TV station last year. “She’s a remarkable human being. She’s given our little boy a shot at life.”
Education: BA Duke University
Favorite volunteer activity: Freedom School is a great equalizer for our Charlotte students and the Urban League of Central Carolinas builds practical, job-ready skills within our adult learners.
Industry’s key challenge: The biggest challenge in all industries is the increasingly breakneck pace of change and how organizations are responding. In Accenture’s most recent Pulse of Change survey, we found that while roughly 72% of C-Suite executives expect more change in the business environment across industries in 2025, only 43% of those leaders feel prepared to handle it, while even fewer of their employees (36%) feel prepared to respond. Eighty-six percent of the leaders we surveyed are planning to up their investment in AI in 2025 and are planning to scale it across their organizations.
Your best life change: Prioritizing my time for play and fun. I’ve found my most creative moments come during these activities.
Best question for hiring: What have you learned in the last six months?
Best tip for engaging workers: At Accenture, we’re fortunate to work with some of the best and brightest in the business, and I believe the key to engagement is building a sense of community and purpose.
CAROLINE HELWIG DUDLEY
NICK ELLIS
JOE FOSTER
RICK FRENCH
MICHAEL MUNN
KENT PANTHER
JOE PARADISE
CHAD PARKER
JIM PARKER
KATHERINE PEELE
BRANDON RUCKER
SHANNON RYDELL
LEE SISCO
MICHELLE THOMPSON
"Eighty-six percent of the leaders we surveyed are planning to up their investment in AI in 2025 and are planning to scale it across their organizations."
— Caroline Helwig Dudley
NATALIE BATTEN
Managing Director Accenture
Raleigh
Batten leads more than 900 employees at the consulting business that has clients in more than 120 countries. The immediate past chair of the NC Technology Association, she is a mentor for Dress for Success Triangle NC and a board member of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill
Favorite start to the day: French press coffee and a walk through my neighborhood
Best question for hiring: For undergraduates, what’s your favorite class? I get to see a more authentic person, and I love watching people light up about something they enjoy.
Best tip for engaging workers: Pay attention to individuals, make time and genuinely care. In my line of work, there are always new things to learn and new ways to grow.
TRIPP BEACHAM
Managing Principal
BB+M Architecture
Charlotte
Beacham, along with Brian Bunce and Roger Manley, has helped build one of the Queen City’s most active architecture frms since its formation in 2005. He previously worked at Jenkins-Peer Architects. Its recent work includes Chronicle Mill in Belmont, the School of Education building at UNC Wilmington and the Dove’s Nest Women Rehabilitation Center in Charlotte. BB+M specializes in designing interiors, mixed-use projects, offces and institutional buildings.
Education: BA UNC Charlotte
Favorite start to the day: Slowly! More of a night owl than an early bird. But, let’s go with cheese grits and dark coffee.
Best advice for career: Be honest and genuine.
Favorite volunteer activity: Youth baseball coach
Industry’s key challenge: Interest rates and construction costs strangling the viability of new products
Infuential mentor: Charlotte
architect Joddy Peer
Best question for hiring: What’s your favorite Will Ferrell movie? Remote working, yay or nay?
Negative! Collaboration and creativity are hard enough in person.
Best tip for engaging workers: Deliver a great product in a team environment.
Favorite actor to play you: Jason Bateman
JOSEPH BUDD
Executive Chair
The Budd Group Winston-Salem
Since 2001, Budd has led the more than 4,000 employee company, which provides 24/7 janitorial and facility services. His father started the business in 1963, and it now operates in 12 states and Washington, D.C. He is a commissioner for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. His brother, Ted, is North Carolina’s junior U.S. senator.
Education: BS High Point University; MBA Wake Forest University
Favorite start to the day: A devotional book
Best advice for career: Always be present and engaged.
Favorite volunteer activity: Angel Flights (Budd is an experienced pilot.)
Industry’s key challenge: Qualifed employees
Favorite podcast: “Trinity Forum Conversations”
Best tip for engaging workers: Show appreciation for the little things they do.
JIM CANFIELD CEO WithersRavenel
Fuquay-Varina
Canfeld stewards the 100% employee-owned consulting company with more than 400 employees. They are involved in such services as asset and construction management, design and planning, economic development, environmental, geometrics surveying, land and site development, and utilities.
Education: BS, Master’s NC State University
Industry’s key challenge: Hiring and retaining talent in a workforce consisting of fve generations with differing expectations.
Remote working, yay or nay?
Positive. It won’t ever go away. It certainly has its challenges, but it gives teammates the fexibility they desire, and when accountability is clear, it allows us to be more focused on results.
Best tips for engaging workers: Be genuine, authentic, and show that you listen and care.
MALCOMB
COLEY
U.S. Central Region
Private Leader, Charlotte Managing Partner EY
Charlotte
The eastern North Carolina native is stepping down at EY this summer, but he remains among Charlotte’s most active civic leaders. He spent more than 30 years at the accounting and consulting frm. He is a member of Charlotte Regional Business Alliance’s executive committee and an owner with Hugh McColl Jr. and Lloyd Yates at Bright Hope Capital, an investment frm that backs regional Black entrepreneurs. He also is a trustee at UNC Wilmington.
Education: BA UNC Wilmington
JOE FOSTER
Managing
Partner
Deloitte
Charlotte
NEIL DEANS
Executive Vice President Kimley-Horn
Raleigh
Deans joined Kimley-Horn as an intern, then he moved up to a marketing manager and later Southeast region executive vice president. He has more than 30 years of service with the company, and he continues to promote its engineering, planning and design consultancy to a broad array of industries, from aviation to landscapes. He is responsible for the performance of 10 offces in the Carolinas, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Education: BS NC State University
NICK ELLIS CEO Stewart Raleigh
The veteran Raleigh engineering company executive joined Stewart in 2023 and succeeded founder Willy Stewart as CEO in March. The 31-year-old business has 150 employees in six North Carolina offces and one in South Carolina. He has been a senior vice president at TranSystems, a Kansas City-based company specializing in transportation plans, design and construction. He also had leadership roles at SEPI engineering in Raleigh and spent 21 years at Kimley-Horn and Associates. He co-founded the nonproft Living with Autism in 2010. He played football while attending UNC.
Education: BS UNC Chapel Hill
The former group partner in charge of audit in the Carolinas and Tennessee, Foster was promoted to his current position in January 2024, succeeding John Giannuzzi. He’s been part of Deloitte for 20 years and is a member of its management committee, while serving as chief strategy and operating offcer of the accounting and reporting advisory. He’s on the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council and chairs the board of The Relatives, a nonproft serving youth in crisis.
Education: BS Auburn University
Best advice for career: Help as many other people be successful as you can.
Infuential mentor: John Giannuzzi, former Carolinas managing partner
Favorite volunteer activity: I was one of the frst in my family to receive a bachelor’s degree — I fnd it fulflling to network with high potential frst-generation college students.
Industry’s key challenge: Adapting to the AI era, investing in advanced cybersecurity systems and fostering a positive workplace culture that provides opportunities for professional growth and competitive remuneration.
RICK FRENCH CEO
French/West/Vaughan
Raleigh
Starting as a public relations frm in 1997, the integrated marketing frm led by French now employs more than 100 PR, advertising and digital media staffers. Its clients work in many industries and include Wrangler, ABB, Teen Cancer America, Mitsubishi Electric and the N.C. Department of Transportation. He’s a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum national trustee, co-owner of a Cincinnati Reds affliated minor-league baseball team and is managing partner of a flm and documentary production company.
Education: BA Oakland University
Favorite volunteer activity: Serving as the current chair of PBS-NC
Infuential mentor: Greensboro advertising executive Lee Trone
Industry’s key challenge: The emergence of generative AI and how it is transforming creative ideation.
Your best life change: The career change to public relations from journalism
Remote working, yay or nay? Mixed — something born out of necessity has become a headache for many employers.
Best tip for engaging workers: Be transparent with them. Ask for their help in fnding solutions, and more often than not they will deliver.
MICHAEL MUNN
CEO
McAdams
Raleigh
McAdams is a civil engineering, land planning, landscape architecture, transportation and geomatics company headquartered in Raleigh. Munn started as a project engineer in 1997, rising to his current position. In 2010, McAdams was involved in the redevelopment of Raleigh’s North Hills Mall. It has nine offces across Texas, Florida and the Carolinas. In January, he completed an acquisition of TPD Carolinas and its offces in Asheville and Greenville, South Carolina.
Education: BS NC State University
KENT PANTHER
CEO
Wray Ward
Charlotte
Panther joined the integrated marketing frm in 2004 and played a key role in the agency’s growth as it developed a focus on the home and building industries with brands such as Levelor, Huber and Velux. He was named president and CEO in 2023, succeeding longtime leader Jennifer Appleby. Before coming to Wray Ward, he worked at various brand marketing agencies, working on projects for Coca-Cola, Lowe’s and McDonald’s.
Education: BA Miami University Best advice: If you want to have a diffcult or serious conversation with someone, do it during a long car drive (my father).
Favorite musician: Depeche Mode Best hiring question: How will this job help you grow, and how does that ft into your career?
Your best life change: Playing tennis with same group for 20 years
JOE
Managing
Partner
KPMG
Charlotte
Paradise is the lead partner and account executive for 11 offces in the Carolinas, Florida and Puerto Rico. He joined the accounting and professional services company in 2016. KPMG employs more than 700 people in the Charlotte region, having grown 40% since 2019. It has about 650 employees elsewhere in North Carolina. He serves numerous clients, including Royal Caribbean. He is a member of UNC Charlotte Belk College of Business’ Advisory Board.
Education: BS Florida State University
CHAD PARKER
Principal, Co-Managing Director
RSM
Charlotte
Gensler is a design and architecture frm with 57 offces around the globe and nearly $2 billion in annual revenue. Parker joined in 2011, when it purchased the local frm he had started in 2005. Its North Carolina projects include the Lenovo Center, formerly PNC Arena, and its namesake technology company’s 550,000-square-foot Raleigh headquarters.
Education: BS NC State University
JIM PARKER CEO
Summit Design and Engineering Services
Hillsborough
Parker was born in High Point and grew up in Durham. He was working as an N.C. Department of Transportation engineer when he joined Alois Callemyn, a land surveyor, to start a business in 1997. After a corporate sale, Summit Design was formed in 2004, and it has since added various services. It now offers architecture, planning, construction services, geotechnical engineering and water resources. It employs more than 400 people at 13 offces, including Denver, Colorado, and Tampa, Florida.
Education: BS NC State University
KATHERINE PEELE
Chief Practice Offcer
LS3P
Raleigh
Peele joined Boney Architects more than 30 years ago. It merged with Charleston, South Carolinabased LS3P in 2004. It has 12 offces in four states. She oversees design excellence, innovation and growth, building on her experience working on more than $1 billion of construction projects. This work includes architecture, interiors and planning, plus specialties in historic preservation and sustainability. She joined the frm’s board in 2010 and has been chair since 2022. She has a Gold Medal from the North Carolina chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
Education: BA NC State University
PARADISE
BRANDON RUCKER
Partner, Board Chair and Assurance Operations Leader RSM
Charlotte
SHANNON RYDELL
Partner, Charlotte Offce President
Little Diversifed Architectural Consulting
Charlotte
In December, Rucker was named to a second one-year term as board chair at Chicago-based RSM, which is the ffth-largest U.S. accounting frm. He is a frst-generation college graduate who leads more than 700 audit professionals. His almost 30 years in public accounting includes two stints at RSM, separated by four years at a large frm. He is a past board member of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.
Education: BS Western Kentucky University
LEE
SISCO
Federal Director, East Regions HDR
Charlotte
Rydell frst joined the design business in 1997. He later worked for Gensler for nearly four years, but he returned to Little in 2014, focusing on higher education work. He became a partner in 2022. Founder Bill Little started the frm in Charlotte in 1964. It now has six locations and about 440 employees, about half of whom are based in Charlotte.
Education: BA UNC Charlotte; bachelor of architecture, NC State University
MICHELLE THOMPSON CEO
Cherry Bekaert
Raleigh
Sisco is on the regional management teams for architecture and engineering for the eastern United States. His efforts focus on growing the Omaha, Nebraska-based company’s federal business. His 25 years of experience in the Navy culminated as the deputy director of intelligence at the U.S. Pacifc Fleet headquarters. Employeeowned HDR had annual revenue of more than $3 billion in 2023.
Education: BA University of Arizona; Master’s National Defense University
Thompson leads the 78-year-old company, providing guidance on strategy, growth and fnancial management. She joined the frm in 1998 and was named CEO in 2018. Cherry Bekaert ranked 24th among U.S. accounting frms with $572 million in revenue, according to Inside Public Accounting. In 2022, San Francisco-based equity group Parthenon Capital invested in Cherry Bekaert, which has helped spark growth.
Education: BS UNC Chapel Hill; Master’s University of South Carolina
ED WEISIGER JR. Chairman Weisiger Group
Charlotte
2025 POWER LIST
REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION HONOREES
After leading the family-owned company since 1991, Weisiger was succeeded by his daughter, Amanda Weisiger Cornelson, as CEO in February. She’s the fourth generation to lead the business, which will hit the century-old mark next year.
During Weisiger’s CEO tenure, the company changed its name from Carolina Tractor & Equipment to CTE Group to its present title. Revenue soared at the 1,300-employee company to $1.3 billion last year, with operations in fve states.
The largest division is a dealer for Caterpillar construction equipment and power systems in the western half of North Carolina. Another division represents Hyster-Yale Group lift trucks and material handling equipment in the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee.
Weisiger chairs the NC State Board of Trustees and was part of the search committee that selected Kevin Howell as chancellor in March. In 1989, he and Pete Lash cofounded Beacon Partners and helped build it into the one of the state’s largest commercial real estate developers.
Education: BS NC State University; MBA, Harvard University
Favorite start to the day: 5:30 a.m. elliptical workout while reading the Economist (yes, I’m weird). Best advice for career: Manage yourself if you wish to be successful leading others.
Favorite volunteer activity: NC State University board of trustees work.
Infuential mentor: Jim Owens, former chairman of Caterpillar Industry’s key challenge: Slower progress on productivity enhancement than other industries.
Favorite podcast: “All-in”
Favorite musician: Rolling Stones
Best question for hiring: Tell me about growing up. What did you learn from your parents?
Remote work, yay or nay? Mostly negative: Relationships and early career learning are driven by face-to-face interactions.
Your best life change: Leaving a person and company because of the ethics (lack thereof) involved.
Favorite actor to play you: Tom Hanks
Best tip for engaging workers: Create a mission that is purposeful and meaningful to your team. “By doing what we do, we make things better....and that’s important.”
“Create a mission that is purposeful and meaningful to your team.”
— Ed Weisiger Jr.
BRIAN ALLEN
ALEX “ANDY” ANDREWS IV
AMY KLEIN AZNAR
MARK BALLING
ROB BARNHILL
KIRK BRADLEY
ANDREA BUSHNELL
ROY CARROLL II
WALKER COLLIER
DAVID COUCH
SCOTT DUCKWORTH
JOHN DUDAS
LILI DUNN
BRIAN ECKEL
TY EDMONDSON
BAKER GLASGOW
BRETT GRAY
CLAY GRUBB
ZEB HADLEY
JOHN ‘JOHNO’ HARRIS III
MARK JOHNNIE
DAVID JONES
JOHN KANE
GREG KEITH JR.
TED KLINCK
MIKE LANCASTER
PETE LASH
STEVE MCCLURE
TINO MCFARLAND
TIM MINTON
CHASE MONROE
DIONNE NELSON
STUART PROFITT
DAVID RAVIN
ERIC REICHARD
ARTHUR SAMET
DAVID SIMPSON
TIM SMITH
THOMAS TAFT JR.
ROBIN TEAM
AARON THOMAS
EDDIE VANNOY
ED WEISIGER JR.
PAUL ZARIAN
BRIAN ALLEN
CEO
Precision Walls
Raleigh
Allen heads the company that provides acoustic ceilings, commercial drywall and other products that are installed to ft clients’ needs. The business debuted in 1977 and has seven N.C. locations, three in South Carolina and one each in Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia. Allen says the mission is building strong customer relationships and being the partner that helps drive the job. “At the end of the day,” he says, “it’s all about fnding ways to do things better — while never losing sight of what got us here.”
Education:
BBA, MBA Campbell University
ALEX “ANDY” ANDREWS IV
Executive Chair
Dominion Realty Partners
Raleigh
In the past 16 years, Dominion Realty Partners has developed and acquired more than $3.5 billion in certifed green commercial offce buildings, multi-family communities, high-rise condominiums and mixed-use developments throughout the Southeast. As executive chair, Andrews oversees the development, acquisitions, strategic planning, construction and fnancing of projects in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Before real estate, Andrews played on the World Professional Tennis Tour fve years, winning 19 titles and reaching the doubles semifnals fnal of the US Open and doubles fnals of the Australian Open.
Education: NC State University
Favorite start to the day: Cup of hazelnut coffee
Best advice for career: Work hard, know your strengths and weaknesses and always do the right thing.
Favorite volunteer activity: Giving back to American tennis.
Infuential mentor: General Alex B. Andrews III (father ) and Frank Smith (father-in-law)
Industry’s key challenge: Interest rate increases, cost of construction increases, municipal approval delays, back to work delays and institutional capital appetite for acquisitions.
Favorite podcast: “Joe Rogan”
Favorite musician: Kenny Chesney
Remote work, yay or nay?
Very negative
Favorite actor to play you: John Wick as portrayed by Keanu Reeves. Your best life change: Going from professional athlete to corporate world. Best tip for engaging workers: Allowing everyone to be involved in the company’s successes.
AMY KLEIN AZNAR
Managing Partner
Childress Klein
Charlotte
As managing partner of one of the state’s biggest commercial developers, Azner focuses on “developing investment strategies and managing key risks, ensuring the interests of investors and clients are safeguarded.” The Charlotte native has 20 years’ experience in London and, before joining her father, Fred Klein, she was head of Debt & Value-Add Strategies at LaSalle Investment Management, where she was responsible for managing some of the frm’s largest funds and raised capital commitments of approximately $6.1 billion. She was recognized as one of the 51 most infuential women in UK real estate.
Education: BA Princeton University; MBA University of Pennsylvania
MARK BALLING
Executive VP, General Manager
Skanska USA
Durham
Skanska created a new MidAtlantic Region to enhance its building operations in four markets: Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina and named Balling as the leader in January. Skanska’s markets are private and institutional healthcare, life sciences, research and development, education, government facilities and hospitality. In January, the N.C. Board of Transportation awarded Skanska a $450 million contract to replace the aging Lindsay C. Warren Bridge on U.S. 64 over the Alligator River between Tyrrell and Dare counties.
Education: BS Villanova University
ROB BARNHILL CEO
Barnhill Contracting
Raleigh
Barnhill is the company’s third generation in management, following his father and grandfather. Barnhill Contracting includes commercial buildings, site infrastructure, transportation projects and asphalt. It was ranked the sixth-largest contractor in N.C. Barnhill is building the $113 million Wilson’s Mill High School, scheduled to open in 2026 in Johnston County. Barnhill became CEO in 2010.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill
KIRK BRADLEY
CEO
Lee-Moore Capital Chapel Hill
ANDREA BUSHNELL CEO
North Carolina REALTORS Greensboro
CEO
The Carroll Companies Greensboro
Bradley, of Sanford, has been chairman, president and CEO of Lee-Moore Capital for 38 years, overseeing the real estate developers of communities and mixed-use projects. He is also chair and president of the Governor’s Club Development Corp. Lee-Moore Capital partners with development businesses in the Triangle, particularly Durham, Orange, Alamance, Chatham and Lee counties. Central Carolina Community College named a center in his honor. The Chatham Health Sciences Center includes the Kirk J. Bradley Student Center. He is a member of the UNC Board of Governors.
Education: BA University of Georgia, MBA Duke University
Bushnell says strategic planning and board development are high on her list of favorite professional activities. She’s been CEO of the Realtors group for 15 years.. In a recent guest article for the NC Chamber, Bushnell wrote about a projected housing gap in the next fve years and discussed costs, infrastructure, rural growth and fnance. “Addressing this gap by 2029 could generate $144 billion in labor income and $489 billion in economic activity. Expanding rental and for-sale options will strengthen our economy and secure North Carolina’s future growth,” she said.
Education: BA Montana State University; JD Lewis & Clark Law School
Carroll is among the state’s major real estate developers, initially through his apartment business that reached the 10,000-unit mark in 2014 and has continued growing. He has since expanded in other commercial real estate sectors, including hotels, industrial property and his Bee Safe selfstorage business. Forbes has estimated Carroll’s worth at $2.9 billion. In 2023, a documentary titled “Greensboro Goes to Le Mans” was released about Carroll’s journey as the team owner of Bee Safe Racing, which competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Now, his company is developing Parkside, anchored by a nine-story hotel, and The Madison, a multifamily project in Greensboro with a construction budget of $210 million.
Education: UNC-Greensboro
DAVID COUCH
CEO
Blue Ridge Companies Summerfeld
Couch co-founded Blue Ridge with President Chris Dunbar in 1997. They have developed more than $2 billion of projects, including about 14,000 apartment units at about 40 sites, mostly in the Carolinas and Virginia. They manage about 10,000 now. Previously, he was a co-owner of High Point-based Easter & Eisenman, which developed the Piedmont Centre business park. He’s best known for his decadeold effort to develop housing on his nearly 1,000 acres in north Guilford County, facing opposition from Summerfeld town offcials. He expects to start building 268 housing units next on land deannexed from the town.
Education: BA Wake Forest
Favorite start to the day: I start with gratitude that I woke up today, a dedicated time of prayer, then an invigorating ice bath, a 20-minute “quick hit” workout and stretch and a breakfast of four eggs and pork belly
Best advice for career: Steven Covey’s comment, “Begin with the end in mind” has been a pillar for me.
Favorite volunteer activities: Coaching baseball at Westchester Country Day School. Serving on the boards at Westchester, High Point University, and now Wake Forest University has brought a great sense of fulfllment of purpose.
Infuential mentor: Dr. Nido Qubein Industry’s key challenge: The costs of funds, labor, materials, and “government services” are very concerning regarding any short- or medium-term correction in the attainability quotient for housing at all levels. Particularly challenging is the notion that our younger generations may not have the same access to building home equity as older generations. I’d like to think that by working together, we could come up with benefcial solutions.
Favorite podcasts: “The Carnivore Way,” “The Carnivore Conversation,” Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan.
Favorite musician: Stephanie Quayle, my exceptional wife, obviously! Her voice is the melody that flls our home and my heart.
Favorite hiring question: What do you want to do with your life, and how does the opportunity we have available relate to your achieving that? I like to focus on “ft.”
Favorite actor to play you: Dennis Quaid.
Your best life change: Choosing to become a parent, marrying Stephanie, and then “sharpening the saw” (see Steven Covey’s 7 habits) in Montana, in that order.
ROY CARROLL II
WALKER COLLIER
Managing Partner
Trinity Capital Partners
Charlotte
SCOTT DUCKWORTH
Regional President
Brasfeld & Gorrie
Raleigh
JOHN DUDAS Division Manager Choate Construction Charlotte
Collier is a commercial real estate executive with 17 years’ experience as managing partner at Trinity Capital Advisors in Charlotte, where he has led the acquisition of approximately $3 billion and 21 million square feet of offce, industrial and mixed-use real estate in Charlotte, RaleighDurham, Charleston, South Carolina, Miami and Nashville, Tennessee. His frm partnered with Encinitas, California-based Foundation Capital Ventures to add life sciences and biotech space to its developments. One of Collier’s most memorable events was in the early 2010s when his frm bought the near-empty, 20-story NASCAR Plaza downtown Charlotte offce tower and sold it less than two years later, 90% leased.
Education: BS UNC Chapel Hill, Master’s Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Brasfeld & Gorrie builds and manages construction projects in commercial, government, healthcare and industrial markets. Duckworth is regional president, based in Raleigh. The Birmingham-based company has offces in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Among Duckworth’s ventures: the recent topping out of the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Care Tower in WinstonSalem, a 350,000-square-foot complex, in partnership with Blum Construction. Prior to becoming regional president in 2020, Duckworth was regional vice president/division manager.
Education: Auburn University
A million people have moved into the Charlotte area since Dudas started as vice president/ division manager of Choate Construction in 1991. When asked what superpower he wishes he had, Dudas said, “The power to start, stop or reverse time.”
When Choate started in 1989, its feet consisted of one truck. The Atlanta-based company now has offces in Charlotte, Raleigh and four other cities; four interior divisions; and more than 550 employees who own equity in the business. It is a four-time National Excellence In Construction award winner.
Education: BS Auburn University
LILI
DUNN CEO
Bell Partners Greensboro
Started by Steve Bell in 1976, Bell Partners develops properties in North Carolina, California, Texas and fve other states. Dunn was voted Executive of the Year by industry publication Multifamily Executive. Between 2022 and 2023, Dunn led the frm in expanding its portfolio by approximately 15,000 apartments. In January, the company bought two Colorado properties and one in Miami, adding 828 apartments, for a total of $264 million. Dunn joined the business in 2010 and became CEO in 2022.
Education: BBA University of Michigan
BRIAN ECKEL Founder Cape Fear Commercial Wilmington
Eckel started his boutique real estate frm Cape Fear Commercial in 2001 after working in Atlanta for Ackerman & Co. He has guided the Wilmington company into being one of the region’s leading providers for brokerage, property management and development services. Cape Fear has achieved more than $4 billion in transactions and delivered more than 3,700 multifamily units, totaling about $1.1 billion in value. This year, he oversaw the launch of subsidiary Cape Fear Construction Group. The Wilmington native is a director of Novant Health and has been active in the Port City’s economic development groups.
Education:
BA University of South Carolina
Best advice for career: My Dad repeatedly told me as a kid to try and fnd work you enjoy and you will be good at it.
Infuential mentor: Vin Wells, my childhood friend and business partner for the past 24 years. Remote working, Yay or nay? I think personal interaction and collaboration are extremely important. We are fortunate to have a team that gets their work done whether they are remote or in the offce, so we have a bit of a hybrid model. But there is no question we are better as a team when we are together in person.
Best tip for keeping workers engaged? Challenge them with opportunity.
TY EDMONDSON
CEO
T.A. Loving Goldsboro
T.A. Loving was founded in 1925 and now has more than 400 employees and offces in Goldsboro, Raleigh, and Wilmington. The Goldsboro native started with TA Loving as a summer intern at NC State and has stayed with the general contractor 35 years, becoming CEO in 2023. He serves on the Carolinas Associated General Contractors board of directors.
TA Loving’s work includes athletic facilities, education, life sciences, civil and municipal buildings and others. “T.A. Loving focuses on serving our clients, the project owners, to build essential, qualityof-life projects that truly make a difference in our communities,” says Edmondson.
Education: BS NC State University Infuential mentor: My father was a true role model and friend. He taught me at an early age to work hard for what I want, to face any challenges that come my way head-on, and the importance of being a positive infuence on those around me.
Industry’s key challenge: The shortage of skilled labor. Our primary focus is to identify, recruit and train qualifed workers to build the complex projects we encounter. As constructors, we are tasked with building people as well as building projects.
Best question for hiring: Why construction? This is a very challenging yet rewarding industry.
Remote work, yay or nay? Negative. Building relationships is paramount in an organization’s success. Remote work does not promote the one-onone interactions needed to foster these relationships.
BAKER GLASGOW
President
Clancy & Theys
Construction Raleigh
Glasgow became CEO in January 2022, the frst non-family member to lead the company that began in 1949. He started working for the company in high school and continued as a college intern. “Construction,” he says, “is one of the only businesses where you can create a tangible product in the community in which you live that you can show your kids that you ‘helped build that!’” Glasgow worked on signature projects such as Durham Imperial Tower and Raleigh Union Station. He is vice chair of the NC State Building Commission. Clancy & Theys also has offces in Florida, South Carolina and Virginia and topped $1 billion in annual revenue for the frst time in 2023.
Education: BS NC State University
BRETT GRAY Senior Managing Director CBRE Charlotte
Gray was named senior managing director and market leader of CBRE in Charlotte in August after serving as managing principal at Cushman & Wakefeld for seven of his 12 years with the company. At C&W, he led the Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro and South Carolina markets, where his focus was growth strategy. At CBRE, Gray oversees business operations and growth for all Advisory Services lines of business including leasing, sales, debt and structured fnance, valuation, property management and client care.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill
Favorite start to the day: I read as many various sources of news as I can and then check my emails.
Best advice for career: All you have in your life is your word. Character is everything.
Infuential mentors: Steve Gassaway and John O’Neill
Industry’s key challenge: We have been slow to adapt to technology and ways to mentor new talent.
Remote work, yay or nay? Both have their advantages. Focus time is important when one needs to do heads-down work effciently. Overall, I do believe in the power of bringing people together and the creativity, ideas and energy that it creates. There is no doubt that we are better together.
Your best life change: Getting married and becoming a father.
Favorite actor to play you: George Clooney, but he’s overqualifed and overpaid to take on that role.
Best tip for engaging workers: Keep the energy up and build a team culture that creates accountability.
Cleveland County, Judicial Center
Cleveland County, Judicial Center
UNC Pembroke Thomas
Shelby, NC
Shelby, NC
School of Business
School of Business
Pembroke, NC
Pembroke, NC
BrodyUniversity, Greenville, NC
East Carolina University,Brody School of Medicine Greenville, NC
East Carolina University,Brody School of Medicine
Catawba Two Kings Resort & Casino
Catawba Two Kings Resort & Casino
Kings Mountain, NC
Kings Mountain, NC
As we begin our 25th year in business, Metcon proudly congratulates our CEO, Aaron K. Thomas, on being named to Business North Carolina’s prestigious Power List for the third year in a row! His relentless leadership, vision, and commitment to excellence continue to inspire and drive our industry forward. Congratulations, Aaron!
As we begin our 25th year in business, Metcon proudly congratulates our CEO, Aaron K. Thomas, on being named to Business North Carolina’s prestigious Power List for the third year in a row! His relentless leadership, vision, and commitment to excellence continue to inspire and drive our industry forward. Congratulations, Aaron!
Office Locations: Pembroke, NC, Charlotte, NC, Raleigh, NC, Greensboro, NC, Kings Mountain, NC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
Office Locations: Pembroke, NC, Charlotte, NC, Raleigh, NC, Greensboro, NC, Kings Mountain, NC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
metconus.com for vision,
metconus.com
CLAY GRUBB
CEO
Grubb Properties
Charlotte
Grubb formed his real estate development company in 1993, and it now operates in about 20 cities nationally. It focuses on developing what it calls “essential housing,” targeting middle-income workers. It has offces in Charlotte, Cary, Winston-Salem, Atlanta and Culver City, California. The company launched leasing in April for its frst New York City apartments. Rental rates at the 417-unit complex range from $4,400 a month to $7,300. A second New York City apartment complex is expected to be ready in 2027. He wrote “Creating the Urban Dream” in 2020 about a “clear path for developers and home-buyers to create and live in communities they can both love and afford.”
Education: BSM Tulane University; JD UNC School of Law
Favorite start to the day: Stretching and meditation
Best advice for career: Focus on learning opportunities
Favorite volunteer activity: Harambee at Freedom Schools
Infuential mentor: Rochelle Grubb, my late mother
Industry’s key challenge: America’s Affordable Housing Crisis in a time of high construction costs coupled with high interest rates.
Favorite podcast: “Rich Roll”
Favorite musician: Billy Strings
Best question for hiring: What does a sense of urgency mean to you?
Remote work, yay or nay? Negative
Favorite actor to play you: Ed Norton — given his grandfather, Jim Rouse, is one of my heroes. (Rouse is credited with ‘inventing’ the modern shopping mall.)
Best tip for engaging workers: Inspiration — make sure they appreciate the meaningful impact their efforts are having to improve the lives of others.
Balfour Beatty
Wilmington
Balfour Beatty, a Londonbased general contracting and construction company, received a 2024 Pinnacle Award in February for its work on the $68 million Harkers Island Bridge replacement, which involved a new, 3,200-foot bridge connecting Harkers Island to the mainland. Appointed senior vice president in 2022, he has overseen some of the company’s largest highway, bridge and water projects. In 2023, he was named board chair of Carolinas Associated General Contractors.
Education: BS Oregon State University
ZEB HADLEY CEO National Coatings Wilmington
Hadley, 41, runs a commercial paint and coatings company that has done business in 38 states. Its payroll includes 1,200 employees, including more than 50 technical consultants, having bounced back after the pandemic. His customer base includes body shops, large retailers, boat builders and aircraft-maintenance companies, among others.
Education: BS NC State University
Favorite start to the day: A fresh cup of coffee, tackling emails, catching up on the news or helping get the kids ready for school.
Best advice for career: “Successful people are those that do what unsuccessful people aren’t willing to do.” — My dad
Favorite volunteer activity: We do a quarterly team-building experience with nonproft organizations.
Infuential mentors: My dad, along with Jim Talton and Tom Valone.
Industry’s key challenge: It is the shortage of skilled labor, the diffculty in recruiting top talent or the ongoing need for effective training and workforce development.
Favorite musician: Led Zeppelin
Your best life change: When I was 21, I committed to start a power washing business and made a promise to myself that it would never fail. With that same change in attitude, I stand frmly where I am today. Without that paradigm shift, I still think I would be foating around in the same 21-yearold mindset.
Favorite actor to play you: Jeffery Dean Morgan
Best tip for engaging workers: Ask to take one task away that they do not like to do.
DAVID JONES
CEO
Coldwell Banker
Howard Perry and Walston
Cary
Jones has been with the frm since 1994 and was chief fnancial offcer and president before becoming CEO in 2019. HPW works with new homes, mortgages and titles, insurance services, relocations and rentals. It is one of the largest frms in the Triangle and is well known for its support of local families and active military and veterans over the past two decades.
Education: BS Wake Forest University
MARK JOHNNIE COO
JOHN
“JOHNO” HARRIS III Senior Executive Vice President
Lincoln Property Charlotte
Harris is among the owners of Dallas-based Lincoln Property after a 2023 reorganization that dissolved the Lincoln Harris brand. The big development frm has a combined management and leasing portfolio of more than 562 million square feet of commercial space and has completed more than 164 million square feet of development since its start in 1965. A key uptown Charlotte project is the 10-acre Legacy Union development, with tenants such as Bank of America and Honeywell. He is the son of real estate developer Johnny Harris, the president of Quail Hollow Club. The father-son duo play key roles as the club hosts the PGA Championship this year, along with the annual Truist Championship.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill
Favorite start to the day: Working out before my family gets up. Afterward, I enjoy taking my son to school.
Best advice for career: Don’t sweat the little stuff. If you stop to quiet every barking dog, you will not get to the other side of the street.
Favorite volunteer activity: I feel strongly that we have the obligation to give back through the game of golf. Whether through the First Tee of America or the charities we have supported through tournament golf here in Charlotte.
Infuential mentor: My father, Johnny Harris, has been a signifcant infuence on my life and career. He taught me the importance of perseverance. “No” is never the fnal answer when you’re determined to achieve something. He also
emphasized the value of bringing the right people together, setting a clear vision and executing with purpose.
Industry’s key challenge: Navigating the capital markets for real estate. Both debt and equity have presented signifcant challenges over the last few years.
Favorite podcast:. “Capital Allocations,” “The Daily,” “The Prof G” and “The David Rubenstein Show” to name a few.
Favorite musician: The Eagles Remote work, yay or nay? Negative. Remote working has its downsides. It can make collaboration and trustbuilding more challenging when limited to video communication. Additionally, younger professionals miss valuable opportunities to observe, learn and grow from in-person interactions with more experienced colleagues.
Your best life change: Running has become a stress reliever and a way to prioritize my health. It also allows me to discover real estate and get a feel for new markets when I’m traveling. Best tip for engaging workers: Actively engage with them. Listen to their ideas, learn from their experiences, and empower them to make decisions.
JOHN KANE
Founder, Chair
Kane Realty Raleigh
Kane turned over CEO duties last year to Mike Smith for the company he founded in 1978, but the best-known Raleigh developer remains active in the business and community. The company develops mixed-use communities, regional malls, neighborhood and community centers, offces, hotels and health centers. The Raleigh Hall of Fame member’s signature project is North Hills, a billion-dollar redevelopment that encompasses 165 acres, a multi-block district of urban living, offce space, dining, retail, movie complex and athletic club. His many board seats include the Economic Development Partnership of N.C., RaleighDurham Airport Authority, Duke Heart Center, Research Triangle Regional Partnership and NC Chamber.
Education: BS Wake Forest University
GREG KEITH JR. CEO
The Keith Corp.
Charlotte
Keith founded the company in 1989 with his father, who passed away in 2023. The company’s 480-plus industrial, offce, retail, medical, institutional and educational projects exceed more than 52 million square feet and $5.6 billion in value. They have been built in 39 states, Canada, Mexico, Australia and the United Kingdom. North Carolina transactions in the last year include the purchase of Outlets Nags Head shopping center and the sale of a 155-acre site in west Charlotte for $160 million to a Texas company.
Education: BA, JD Wake Forest University
MIKE LANCASTER
CEO
Frank L. Blum Construction Winston-Salem
Blum Construction has branches in Winston-Salem, Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh and reports $1 billion in completed projects in the last three years, making it among the state’s top builders. Lancaster joined the company in 2010 and became CEO in 2018. Last year, Blum shared North Carolina’s new project of the year award with Winston-Salem-based CJMW Architecture for the Truist Leadership Institute North Building in Greensboro, in a competition sponsored by NAIOP, a national industrial and offce park group.
Education: BS NC State University
TED KLINCK CEO
Highwoods Properties Raleigh
Klinck joined publicly traded Highwoods Properties in 2012 and became CEO in 2018. Highwoods owns, develops, acquires, leases and manages properties primarily in Atlanta, Dallas, Nashville, Tennessee, Orlando and Tampa, Florida, Richmond, Virginia, and Charlotte and Raleigh. Shares of the 350-employee company trade well below peak levels because of concerns over post-pandemic offce space occupancy. The market cap was about $3 billion in early April. In March, it purchased the fully leased, 20-story Advance Auto Parts tower in Raleigh for $138 million.
Education: BBA Southern Methodist University; MBA University of Georgia
Industry’s key challenge: Interest rates in conjunction with continued infation in areas like construction costs.
Remote work, yay or nay? From the view of both a commercial real estate CEO and a father to two young working adults, I see full-time remote work as a negative.
Best tip for engaging workers: Creating a meaningful work environment where employees understand the impact and value of their individual efforts in the pursuit and accomplishment of broader company goals.
PETE LASH
Managing Partner
Beacon Partners Charlotte
Beacon Partners of Charlotte calls Lash its “idea guy.” After 35 years, Lash stepped away from the managing partner role at the frm in February and is now chairman. Pete Kidwell, who has been with the company 12 years, is the new managing partner. Lash had previously been the CEO of the company he helped start with Ed Weisiger in 1989. It has invested more than $2.8 billion in real estate projects across the Carolinas and leases, owns or manages 17.5 million square feet of commercial real estate space. The frm has contributed $7.7 million to nonprofts. Food Engineering magazine named the 425,000-square-foot production facility and headquarters built for Carolina Foods in Pineville as its 2025 Plant of the Year.
Education: BS U.S. Military Academy; MBA University of Virginia
STEVE MCCLURE
CEO
The Spectrum Companies
Charlotte
McClure joined Spectrum’s commercial leasing team in 2004, led its residential division for 10 years and became CEO in 2021. He has been a key leader in forming Spectrum’s new vision to become an evergreen company, to “change lives by creating special places.” Charlotte Center City Partners awarded McClure its City Builder Award last year. Spectrum commercial properties under development, leasing or managed are valued at $2 billion, primarily in Charlotte, Raleigh, South Carolina and Florida. Late last year, Spectrum sold its 639,000-squarefoot Vantage South End offce property to Atlanta-based Cousins Properties for $328.5 million.
Education: BA Wake Forest University; MBA Duke University
Favorite start to the day: Morning workout
Best advice for career: Have a longterm view when making decisions.
Favorite podcast: “All-In Podcast”
Best tip for engaging workers: Empower team members by delegating authority to make decisions and execute business plans.
TINO MCFARLAND
CEO
McFarland Construction
Charlotte
McFarland says perseverance, family and faith were keys to his starting a business in a bedroom of his townhome in 2010 and growing it to a thriving construction frm. The Metrolina Minority Contractors Association named McFarland its 2024 Outstanding Construction Management Firm. Its higherprofle projects include the $241 million expansion of Concourse A at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, opened in September, and the Atrium Health Lake Norman Hospital. Both were collaborations with Kansas City-based JE Dunn. He is active in the Arts and Science Council, National Black MBA Association, YMCA and Leadership Charlotte.
Education: BS Purdue University; MBA Indiana University
Favorite start to the day: Talking with family about goals for the day. Best advice for career: Don’t peak too soon.
Your best life change: Finding more opportunities to unplug and connect with family, friends and favorite hobbies.
Best tip for engaging workers: Keep the work environment relaxed, promote collaboration and embrace the uniqueness of individuals.
TIM MINTON
Executive Vice President
North Carolina Home Builders Association Clayton
Minton is part of the largest Home Builders Association in the country, with more than 14,000 members. The association promotes legislation to keep housing affordable and the industry proftable. The NC Chamber estimates the state faces a fve-year housing inventory gap of 322,360 rental units and 442,118 for-sale units. Homebuilders also face rising costs, including news tariffs on lumber and steel. State associations representing fre marshalls and other frefghters questioned the group’s infuence last year after lawmakers changed fre safety codes. He is a founding member of Operation Coming Home, a nonproft that builds custom homes for injured combat veterans.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; MBA Elon University
Favorite start to the day: The Bible. Best advice for career: Never mess up on the money.
Favorite volunteer activity: Giving out scholarships
Infuential mentor: Mike Carpenter, general counsel at the N.C. Home Builders Association
Industry’s key challenge: Interest rates, supply chains and labor
Favorite musician: Monkees
Remote work, yay or nay? Negative Favorite actor to play you:
Harrison Ford
Best question for hiring: Where do you see yourself in fve years?
Your best life change: Getting married
Best tip for engaging workers: Thank them for a job well done all the time.
CHASE MONROE
President- JLL Tenant Representation JLL Charlotte
Monroe advises small and large companies to lower their real estate costs and occupancy risks. He oversees JLL’s Offce Tenant Representation across the East Coast and Midwest and serves as the Southeast region lead for brokerage. Maryland-based JLL had $23.4 billion in annual revenue and a global workforce of more than 112,000 in 80-plus nations as of Dec. 31. Monroe was an All-American lacrosse athlete at Virginia.
Education: BA University of Virginia
DIONNE NELSON
CEO
Laurel Street
Charlotte
STUART PROFFITT
Co-Founding Partner
Profftt Dixon Partners
Charlotte
DAVID RAVIN
CEO
Northwood Ravin
Charlotte
Nelson founded the mixedincome housing developer in 2011 after earlier executive roles with real estate investor Crosland, NewSchools Venture Fund and Earnest Partners. It has helped more than 5,800 families fnd housing in 60-plus communities and participated in $1.2 billion in investments. Nelson’s board work includes Atlanta-based developer Cousin Properties, the Low Income Investment Fund, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond – Charlotte branch. She is a member of the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council and the Real Estate Executive Council. She was named Charlotte Woman of the Year in 2023.
Education: BA Spelman College; MBA Harvard University
Since its start in 2008, partners Profftt and Wyatt Dixon have closed apartment-community transactions valued at more than $1.7 billion and have an active development pipeline in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Last year, it developed the $100 million multifamily Ello House, a 343-unit complex in South End. In September, Profftt Dixon broke ground on a 345-unit apartment complex in Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood. Profftt previously worked for Charlotte’s Pappas Properties and Los Angeles-based Champion Development Group.
Education: BS NC State University; MBA University of Southern California
Ravin spent 14 years as president of Crosland Residential before founding Northwood Ravin in 2011. Ravin has developed more than 75 multi-family communities with a market value exceeding $6 billion. In February, Northwood Ravin opened The Lodges in Fort Mill, South Carolina, a 261-unit, all-rental community. In 2026, it expects to open a 27-story, 283-unit in Charlotte. In 2027, Ravin expects the frst phase of Providence Square to open, which will have about 1,750 units. UNC Charlotte renamed its architecture program the David R. Ravin School of Architecture. Last year, he received its distinguished alumni award.
Education: BA UNC Charlotte; Master’s University of Michigan; Master’s Massachusetts Institute of Technology
ERIC REICHARD
CEO Rodgers Builders
Charlotte
Reichard started with Rogers in 1991 and became CEO on Jan. 1. He teaches a construction management course at UNC Charlotte and chairs its College of Engineering board. He also serves on the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Carolinas, Crittenton of North Carolina and Charlotte 49ers Athletic Foundation. In February, the Associated Builders and Contractors gave Rogers and Charlotte-based RJ Leeper Construction its frst place award for their work on the Sullenberger Aviation Museum, which opened last year. Rogers’ annual revenue topped $700 million in 2024. It was acquired in early 2024 by Japan’s Kajima.
Education: BS UNC Charlotte
Favorite start to the day: A brisk 5:30 a.m., 3.3-mile walk at UNC Charlotte helps get me ready for the day.
Best advice for career: Don’t ask anyone to do something you would not do yourself.
Favorite volunteer activity: Being Santa Claus at the Crittenton Holiday Party. (Shhh … it’s a secret.)
Infuential mentor: B.D. Rodgers, founder of Rodgers Builders.
ARTHUR SAMET
CEO
Samet Corp.
Greensboro
Samet took over as CEO in 2000 from his father, Norman, who founded the company in 1961. The company has 500-plus employees and annual revenue topped $1.5 billion in 2023, making it the largest general contractor based in North Carolina. Among its many projects are a completed $11 million fre station in Holly Springs and a $15 million terminal at Statesville Regional Airport terminal expected to open in early 2026. Samet has fve regional offces and complementary companies Samet Properties, Comet Development, WxProofng and WxTite.
Education: BA University of Georgia; MBA UNC Chapel Hill
TIM SMITH
Owner
Preston Development
Cary
Smith and co-owner Julian “Bubba” Rawl have developed more than 15,000 lots across the Triangle region since the early 1990s. A major project is the 8,500-acre Chatham Park, which already has 1,000 homes and has started selling 600 more. The Chatham Park YMCA opened in March and includes an outdoor, year-round heated pool. In the next 20 years, the development is expected to have more than 22,000 homes along with abundant retail and offce space. His father, Wilson Smith, was a co-founder of Salisbury-based Food Lion.
Education: BS NC State University
DAVID SIMPSON
CEO
Carolina Associated General Contractrs
Charlotte
Carolinas Associated General
Contractors is one of the largest of the AGC’s 89 chapters and the only one covering two states. Simpson has been with the company for 35 years and CEO since 2014. His frm recently was named Chapter of the Year among chapters with $2.5-million-plus budgets. CAGC is composed of construction-related frms for buildings, utilities, roads, rail and industrial. It’s renovating its Airport Overlook offce in Charlotte with more training and conference space. CAGC welcomed 128 new members in 2024.
Education: BA The Citadel; Master’s University of Missouri
Favorite start to the day: Be thankful for another day. Then work out and read the news.
Best advice for career: “Anyone who stops learning is old, at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” - Henry Ford
Infuential mentor: Jim Reed, my late father-in-law
Industry’s key challenge: Workforce shortage
Favorite podcast: “The Daily”
Favorite musician: The Beatles
Best question for hiring: Why would not hiring you be a big mistake? Remote work, yay or nay? Positive
Your best life change: Becoming a grandfather
Favorite actor to play you: Bill Murray Best tip for engaging workers: All for one, one for all.
THOMAS
TAFT JR. Principal Taft Family Ventures Greenville
Taft runs the day-to-day operations of the third-generation family business that started in 1942. Its affordable housing arm last year opened its largest Greenville project to date, the $31.7 million, 180-unit Arlington Trace apartment complex. It will serve families that earn 60% or less of the Pitt County area median income. Rent will be less than $1,000 a month. Taft also has developed his own multifamily properties and two spec offce buildings in metro Raleigh. Taft previously served on the N.C. Board of Transportation. He currently serves on the Greenville Eastern North Carolina Alliance.
ROBIN TEAM
Managing Partner Front Street Capital Winston-Salem
Team’s son, Coleman, assumed the managing partner role in July from his father, who transitioned to chairman. In 40 years, Front Street has developed or acquired more than $900 million in assets. In late 2024, Front Street and Atlanta-based developer Carter began a $150 million project spanning 100 acres. The Grounds will put housing, offce and commercial development near Wake Forest University’s football and baseball stadiums. The Lexington native and his wife, Katherine, have led the youth ministry program at First Presbyterian Church in Lexington for more than 45 years.
Education: BS Wake Forest Best advice for career: Surround yourself with greatness.
Favorite volunteer activity: Working with young people at First Presbyterian Church.
Infuential mentor: Bob Grubb, founder of Grubb Properties Industry’s key challenge: Access to capital and debt markets
Favorite musician: Doobie Brothers Remote work, yay or nay? Negative, you need to interact with fellow employees to instill and develop company culture.
Favorite actor to play you: Harrison Ford
Best tip for engaging workers: Provide challenging goals and be there to assist as requested.
AARON THOMAS
CEO
Metcon Pembroke
Thomas started his company in 2000 and it’s now the state’s largest minority-owned construction management frm. Metcon has completed more than 850 projects. In June, Metcon and Yates Construction started work on the $750 million Two Kings Casino Resort in Kings Mountain, operated by the Catawba Nation. He is a director of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina and an active donor to North Carolina lawmakers. He’s a board member of the Thomas Entrepreneurship Hub at UNC Pembroke, which was started by a distant cousin.
Education: BS UNC Pembroke; Master’s East Carolina University.
Favorite start to the day: Morning prayer and coffee
Best advice for career: Your network is truly your net worth.
Favorite volunteer activity:
Economic Development Partnership of NC and the NC Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission
Infuential mentor: Grandfather Curt Locklear
Industry’s key challenge: Trained workforce
Favorite podcast: “The Tim Ferriss Show”
Favorite musician: Chris Stapleton
Best question for hiring: Tell me the toughest problem you have solved and how you did it.
Remote work, yay or nay? There are places where it makes sense but overall, I believe that human interaction, collaboration, mentorship and overall teamwork are best fostered by teammates being together in the workplace.
Your best life change: Continual improvement
Favorite actor to play you: Bradley Cooper
Best tip for engaging workers: Build a team and culture that people want to be a part of.
EDDIE VANNOY CEO
Vannoy Construction Jefferson
Vannoy’s father started the business in 1952 as an Ashe County roofng company. Eddie Vannoy joined the company in 1971, followed by his brother, Mark, in 1973. The company now has eight offces in the Southeast and $900 million in annual revenue. Eddie Vannoy took over the business in 1985 when his father retired. The brothers are also developing Jefferson Landing Golf & Resort in Jefferson. His company has raised more than $1 million for high school seniors.
Education: BS East Carolina University
Favorite volunteer activity: Each year Vannoy Construction holds a golf tournament to raise money for local scholarships in memory of my stepson who passed away from cancer, and 100% of the sponsorships and proceeds go toward those scholarships.
Remote work, yay or nay? Working remotely has a negative impact on your workforce relationships. I believe seeing your coworkers and interacting daily helps to build morale.
Your best life change: Becoming diabetic made me work on improving my diet and exercise habits.. Best tip for engaging workers: Talk with employees. I have an open-door policy and I let them know that I am always here to listen.
PAUL ZARIAN
Managing Directo Hines
Cary
Houston-based development company Hines announced in 2020 that Zarian would lead its new Raleigh offce as it was beginning to develop Fenton, a 92-acre mixeduse district in Cary. In 2024, Hines acquired Blu South in Pineville, a 551-unit community that is the company’s frst U.S. build–torent acquisition. More than half of the homes had already been completed, with the remainder to be fnished by the third quarter of this year. Since joining Hines in 2016, Zarian has been involved with more than 2.5 million square feet of property, totaling more than $1 billion.
Education: BS Duke University; MBA, University of Pennsylvania
Best advice for career: “Never stop asking questions, no matter how dumb you think you sound.” - Gerald Hines, founder of Hines Properties.
Industry’s key challenge: Determining what our customers want, bringing that product to market in a fnanceable manner, while elevating the quality of the built environment in our cities.
Remote work, yay or nay? Remote working is a negative for productivity and collaboration. Flexibility is a plus.
STEPHEN YALOF CEO
Tanger Factory Outlets
Greensboro
Tanger has shown great resilience in a competitive retail environment, helping make its 42 shopping centers in 21 states and Canada destinations for shoppers looking for bargains at factory outlet stores. To continue the company’s success, the Tanger family-controlled real estate investment picked Yalof as their CEO in 2021. He had worked as CEO of Simon Premium Outlets for six years. Before Simon, Yalof had key real estate roles at Polo Ralph Lauren and The Gap during their most rapid growth periods.
2025 POWER LIST
RETAIL & WHOLESALE HONOREES
PALMER BROWN
JOHN CATO
LISA COOPER
TAMMY DEBOER
JEFF DYKE
ANDY ELLEN
MARVIN ELLISON
DON FLOW
BRIAN GEORGE
JEFFREY HARRIS
RICK HENDRICK
Net income was flat at $98 million last year. Revenue has increased 23% over the past four years. Tanger bought a center in Little Rock, Arkansas in December and one in Cleveland in February.
Investors have been impressed with Yalof’s leadership. Tanger shares have more than quadrupled since April 2021.
Yalof is a trustee of the International Council of Shopping Centers and is on the advisory board of Real Estate Roundtable.
Education: BS The George Washington University
Favorite start to the day: First thing every morning, rain or shine, I go outside and throw balls with my dog, Crosby.
Best advice for career: You have to love what you do. If you love what you’re doing and you execute at the highest level, you’ll accomplish great things.
Best hiring question: What’s your special power? Your gift? How are you going to interpret this role differently than anyone else?
Industry’s key challenge: We have to continue to evolve shopping as an experience that rewards the customer for getting off the couch and doing things in person.
Favorite podcast: How I Built This
Your best life change: Picking up the guitar at 12 years old and sticking with it.
Favorite musician: James Taylor, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown Band
“We have to continue to evolve shopping as an experience that rewards the customer for getting off the couch and doing things in person.” — Stephen Yalof
ROBERT INGLE II
BRIAN JOHNSON
MARK LARDIE
TIM LOWE
SHANE O’KELLY
OMAR JORGE PEÑA
JOEY POINTER
ART POPE
LISA TUCKER
ABE VAN WINGERDEN
STEPHEN YALOF
PALMER BROWN
CEO
Compass Group
Charlotte
Brown succeeded longtime CEO Gary Green as leader of the largest foodservice operator in late 2023 after working as its chief fnancial offcer. A Morehead-Cain Scholar at UNC Chapel HIll, he joined the company in 2001. The Londonbased business has 580,000 employees in 30 countries. More than two-thirds of its $42 billion in revenue last year came from North America, according to its annual report.
Education: BA, JD UNC Chapel Hill
CEO Cato Charlotte
It’s a challenging time for the business co-founded by Cato’s father, Wayland, in 1946. It suspended its quarterly dividend in November, cut 40 corporate jobs in February and posted cumulative losses of about $40 million over the past two years. In early April, shares traded at their lowest level since 1997. Cato started with the value-priced apparel and accessories retailer in 1997, and became its CEO in 2004. As of February, the company had 1,117 stores in 31 states.
Education: BS UNC Charlotte
COOPER President Mast General Store Boone
Cooper’s parents started the company by buying the original Mast General Store in Valle Crucis in 1997. It has become a beloved institution with 11 stores in four states. Each features a mix of country gifts, clothing, high-end outdoor gear and barrels of oldfashioned candy. In March, the company said it would open a store in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 2027. Last year, the company bought Boone-based M-Prints, which has printed more than 300,000 T-shirts and sweatshirts for the retailer.
Education: BA UNC Charlotte
TAMMY DEBOER
President Harris Teeter Charlotte
JEFF DYKE
DeBoer has led the subsidiary of industry giant Kroger since 2022. It has about 36,000 employees at more than 260 stores in seven states and the District of Columbia, along with distribution centers in Greensboro and Indian Trail. She previously held executive positions with Food Lion and Family Dollar, where she was chief merchandising offcer when it was acquired by Dollar Tree. She chairs the International Fresh Produce Association’s board.
Education: BA Appalachian State University
Dyke joined Sonic in 2005, became president in 2018 and was named to its board in 2019. He oversees 108 dealerships, 16 collision centers, 15 powersports branches in three states and the used-car seller EchoPark. The latter has about 18 locations. Before joining the company, he was a dealership owner and general manager. Sonic’s revenue declined 1% last year to $14.2 billion, while proft gained 16% to $216 million.
ANDY
ELLEN President and General Counsel
N.C. Retail Merchants Association
Wake Forest
Ellen represents 2,500 members who make up about three-quarters of the state’s retail sales volume. More than half of those members operate one store, while others include the nation’s leading retailers. The association has 11 affliated companies. The Southern Pines native became licensed to practice law in 1997. He joined the retailers’ group in 2012 after working at the N.C. Farm Bureau Federation.
Education: BA Elon University; JD Campbell University
Favorite start to the day: Quiet time reading my devotional and going for a walk with friends (on the beach whenever possible).
Best advice for career: If your teammate fails, you fail! Don’t let what you can’t do get in the way of what you can do!
Infuential mentors: John Skvarla, former N.C. Commerce Secretary, who gave everyone undivided attention, took time to get to know people from all walks of life and treated everyone with the same level of respect.
Bill Foster, IBM vice president, who exemplifed excellence in customer service, and fostered an environment of teamwork and high achievement.
Jack Helm, AT&T retiree, and Wake County Telecommunications director, treated government like business and never let bureaucracy and limitations get in the way of good work.
LISA
JOHN CATO
MARVIN ELLISON CEO
Lowes
Mooresville
Starting in retail as a $4.35 per hour Target employee, the Jackson, Tennessee, native has led the home-improvement chain since 2018. Revenue declined 3% to about $84 billion last year in what he called a “challenging” market amid higher interest rates. He leads 300,000 employees and more than 1,700 stores. He is the only African American to be chair and CEO of two Fortune 500 companies. (JC Penney was the other). Named Ethical Leader of the Year by the Society of Human Resource Management in 2024, Ellison is a director at FedEx.
Education: BA University of Memphis; MBA Emory University
DON FLOW
CEO
Flow Automotive
Winston-Salem
CEO
Alex Lee Hickory
The family-owned business was started by Flow’s father in 1957. It has grown to 54 franchises that represent 26 brands after making its biggest acquisition in November 2023 as it expanded to Charlottesville, Virginia. The company employs more than 2,000 people in 10 cities in North Carolina and Virginia. Flow is a director for Atrium Wake Forest Baptist, Golden LEAF Foundation and Piedmont Triad Partnership and is a trustee at Wake Forest University.
Education: BS University of Virginia; MBA Wake Forest University
JEFFREY HARRIS CEO
Furnitureland South High Point
Harris’ parents, Darrell and Stella, opened Furnitureland as a store in 1973. It is now the largest single furniture store in the world with more than 1.3 million square feet of showrooms and partnerships with 1,000-plus manufacturers. Harris formally joined the business in 1988. He serves on advisory boards, including First Citizens Bank, and supports several charities such as Brenner Children’s Hospital.
Your industry’s key challenge: Getting more of the consumer’s disposable income and making it easier to furnish your home
Favorite musicians: Boston
Your best life change: Spending time with those who are the most important to me
Favorite actor to play you: Bradley Cooper
Best tip for engaging workers: Ask your associates what is important to him/her and help each set goals and stay on the path to achieve those goals.
George is a fourth-generation leader who has led the 15,000-employee, family-owned business since 2014. It owns MDI, Lowes Foods, Kj’s Market, Import Mex, W. Lee Flowers and Souto Foods. The company’s investments in Import Mex and Souto cater to the region’s growing Hispanic population. He is the immediate past chair of the Food Industry Association’s board of directors.
Education: BS & MBA Notre Dame University
RICK HENDRICK CEO, Founder
Hendrick Automotive Group and Hendrick Motorsports
Charlotte
ROBERT INGLE II Chairman
Ingles Market Asheville
Raised on a tobacco farm in Virginia, Hendrick became a dealership sales manager at 23 and the youngest Chevrolet dealership owner at 26. His automotive company now employs more than 10,000 people with 131 retail franchises across 13 states. In 2024, the largest U.S. privately held dealership had revenue topping $13 billion. His motorsports business started in 1984 and has become the most successful in NASCAR history, based on Cup Series wins.
A leukemia survivor, Hendrick’s charitable efforts have generated tens of millions of dollars in support of causes.
The son of Ingles founder Robert Ingle controls more than 70% of the voting power of the 198-store supermarket chain, which had revenue of $5.4 billion in its 2024 fscal year. Ingles reported a $105 million proft in 2024, compared with $211 million in the previous year, as Hurricane Helene caused a negative impact of about $35 million. The company operates in six states. Ingle, who stepped down as CEO in 2016, plays guitar for a local rock band, the Asheville Watchdog reported.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill
BRIAN GEORGE
BRIAN JOHNSON
CEO
The Fresh Market Greensboro
MARK LARDIE
CEO Rack Room Shoes Charlotte
In January, Johnson was named to lead the Greensboro-based specialty grocer, shortly after his predecessor, Jason Potter, left to take the top post at Grocery Outlet. Johnson has been chief operating offcer since 2020 after working for Tyler, Texas-based Brookshire Grocery. The Fresh Market operates 166 locations in 22 states. Chilean public company Cencosud owns two-thirds of the company’s equity.
Education: BA Baylor University; MBA University of Texas at Tyler
TIM LOWE
President Lowes Foods Lewisville
Lowe worked at retailers SuperValu, Circuit City, Best Buy and other retailers before joining Lowes Foods in 2013. The company is owned by Hickorybased Alex Lee and operates more than 80 stores with nearly 9,000 employees. Lowe is a Texas native and not related to company founder Jim Lowe, whose father L.S. Lowe in 1921 started what became the second-largest U.S. home improvement chain.
Education: BS University of Houston
The shoe retailing veteran has been CEO of the century-old company since 2012. Rack Room is owned by Germany-based Deichmann Group and has more than 500 locations under the Rack Room Shoes and Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse banners. He previously worked for Footstar and Caleres. Rack Room dates to 1922 when Phil Levinson founded the company in Salisbury. It later became Lerner’s Shoes and then Rack Room.
Education: BS UCLA; MBA Washington University
CEO
Advance Auto Parts Raleigh
A U.S. Army veteran, O’Kelly took his post at the auto parts retailer in September 2023. He has unveiled a multiyear plan to boost profts, including closing more than 500 outlets and selling its Worldpac business for $1.2 billion. Shares have tumbled from more than $200 in 2021 to $36 in early April. He was previously a Home Depot executive. Advance Auto had nearly 4,800 stores as of December.
Education: BS U.S. Military Academy; MBA Harvard Business School
SHANE O’KELLY
JOEY POINTER CEO Fleet Feet
Chapel Hill
Sally Edwards and Elizabeth Jansen founded the athletic shoe retailer in California in 1976 and were female pioneers in a maledominated industry. Pointer started with the company in 2004 after working as a CPA for Ernst & Young. He became CEO in 2017. The brand has more than 260 stores and calls itself the largest U.S. franchisor of running specialty stores. Raleigh-based Investor Management Co. has been an investor in Fleet Feet since 2012.
Education: BA, Master’s UNC Chapel Hill
ART POPE Chair Variety
Wholesalers
Raleigh
Pope’s family owns the discount retailer, which operates 380 stores in 18 states, including the Rose’s chain. It got a lot bigger this year, having acquired the Big Lots brand from Gordon Brothers after the retailer sought bankruptcy protection. Variety is taking over 219 Big Lots stores in more than a dozen states. Pope is a former fourterm member of the N.C. House of Representatives and state budget director. He’s on the UNC System Board of Governors and a director of NCInnovation.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; JD Duke University
LISA TUCKER
CEO
Shoe Show Concord
Tucker has worked for more than 35 years at the company, which her father Robert started in Kannapolis in 1960. She was named president in 2018. The company has more than 1,100 stores. It does business under the names Shoe Show, Shoe Dept., Burlington Shoes, Show Shoe Mega and Shoe Dept. Encore. She is a board member at GardnerWebb University, where she played on the volleyball team.
Education: BS Gardner-Webb University; UNC Chapel Hill
ABE VANWINGERDEN Co-CEO
Metrolina Greenhouses Huntersville
VanWingerden is part of a family that came from the Netherlands in 1971 and a year later founded Metrolina in a 20,000-square-foot rented greenhouse. The business now employs more than 1,200 full-time and part-time workers and serves about 1,400 retailers, including Home Depot and Lowes. Abe has fve siblings who are also involved in the business, including co-CEO Art Van Wingerden.
Education: BA St. Andrews College; MBA Emory University
Best advice for career: A former boss always talked about “love the process, not the project,” which means the wins are great, but you have to love the daily work and grind that assures things get done.
Favorite volunteer activity: Coaching youth sports, especially basketball.
CEO
Aurora Grocery Group/ Compare Foods
Charlotte
Peña’s parents are Dominican Republic immigrants who started bodegas in New York City before opening the frst Compare Foods store in 1989. The family-owned business now operates more than 25 stores, including eight in the Charlotte area. Pena came to Charlotte to operate a store in 2011. He is a director of the N.C. Retail Merchants Association.
Education: BA St. John’s University; JD Cardoza School of Law
Infuential mentor: My father Industry’s key challenge: Retention of key employees is always a struggle in small/midsize organizations where each person plays such a vital role in the process. We work daily on training, development, and succession planning to address this challenge.
Favorite musician: James Taylor, Jimmy Buffet, Kenny Chesney, and Zac Brown Band
Favorite actor to play you: Not an actor yet, but I’m going with Peyton Manning.
Best tip for engaging workers: Transparency. Show every team member how their work impacts the overall plan (both strategically and fnancially), and over time, they will take ownership in their work if they understand that.
OMAR JORGE PEÑA
HANS STIG MOLLER
CEO
Odyssey Logistics
Charlotte
Charlotte has long been a major transportation hub, with Odyssey Logistics adding to the sector by moving its headquarters to the Queen City earlier this year from Danbury, Connecticut. Since April 2023, Moller has led the company, which has revenue of more than $1 billion, 5,000 customers, 2,000-plus employees and 82 locations in the U.S. Europe and Asia. It operates four divisions: intermodal, transport and warehouse, integrated marine logistics and managed services.
Moller has worked in Charlotte for years, including stints at XPO Logistics and shipping titan Maersk, where he led the Bridge Terminal Transport division. The Jordan Group, a New York investment firm, has owned a majority stake in Odyssey since 2017.
Education: BS University of Southern California
Best advice for career: Don’t get too comfortable. I’ve been in the logistics industry for more than 30 years, and there’s never been only one way of doing things. New technology such as machine learning and AI, is disrupting the industry and is only putting a finer point on the need to stay agile, flexible, and open to new ideas. Employees respect a leader who isn’t set in his ways.
Best question for hiring: Tell me the story of your career.
Best tip for engaging workers: Employees can’t feel like isolated satellites. They need to feel invested in their work and in the larger success of the company. The success of the supply chain hinges on strong systems, yes, but also on high-quality relationships among stakeholders. In our own company, we foster both as a matter of policy.
KEVIN BAKER
KEVIN BANGSTON
BRIAN CLARK
ROY COX
MICHAEL FOX
MARTY FREEMAN
HALEY GENTRY
BEN GREENBERG
MICHAEL LANDGUTH
RYAN LEGG
RALPH LOPEZ MASSAS
HANS STIG MOLLER
JIM SEGRAVE
CHRIS TAYLOR
CARL WARREN
DREW WILKERSON
“There’s never been only one way of doing things. ”
— Hans Stig Moller
KEVIN BAKER
Executive Director
Piedmont Triad
Airport Authority
Greensboro
Since taking the controls in 2009, Baker has brought PTI to new heights. More than 8,600 people work on PTI grounds, including a host of aviationrelated manufacturers and service providers. Among the most promising is Denver-based Boom Supersonic, which is planning a $500 million aircraft factory. The companies are supported by Guilford Technical Community College, which offers workforce training onsite. The authority’s projected annual revenue totals about $47.5 million for the 2025 fiscal year.
Education: BS Lehigh University
ROY
COX CEO
Best Logistics Group
Kernersville
Cox has spent his 31-year career at the privately held transportation and logistics provider. He was named CEO in 2016. He is a past president of the N.C. Trucking Association. The business operates about 450 trucks and has more than 750 employees.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill
Favorite start to the day: A morning workout, followed by a cup of coffee while reviewing key business priorities.
Influential mentor: David Reich Jr., chairman of Best Logistics Group
Favorite podcast: “Joe Rogan Experience”
Favorite musician: Eric Church
Your best life change: Seeing a personal trainer three days a week
Favorite actor to play you: Will Ferrell
KEVIN BANGSTON
CEO
Daimler Truck Financial Services North America
Charlotte
For more than 20 years, Bangston has been in the commercial truck and bus business, with stints at Mitsubishi Fuso Thomas Built Buses and Daimler Trucks North America. He now leads the German manufacturer’s financing unit. The company offers a variety of products including an EV solutions plan to help manage the upfront cost of commercial truck electrification.
Education: MBA University of South Carolina
MICHAEL FOX Chair
N.C. Department of Transportation Greensboro
BRIAN CLARK
Executive Director
N.C. Ports
Wilmington
The Institute for Transportation Research and Education at NC State University assessed that NC ports contribute $660 million each year in state and local tax revenues and support more than 88,220 jobs. Clark oversaw more than $350 million in capital improvements since 2023 for harbor deepening, intermodal expansion and a new container gate complex. His 20-plus years of maritime experience include management stints at APM Terminals in Mobile, Alabama, and Port Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Education: BS U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
MARTY FREEMAN CEO
Old Dominion Freight Line Thomasville
North Carolina has about 80,000 miles of state-maintained roads, second-most in the nation. Fox led the board that oversees the department’s nearly $7 billion budget since 2017, before stepping down this spring. He remains a board member. The Greensboro attorney also is president of the Piedmont Triad Partnership business-promotion group and represents clients as a director at Greensboro’s Tuggle Duggins law firm.
Education: BA Appalachian State University; JD UNC Chapel Hill
Freeman succeeded Greg Gantt as CEO in July 2023, after more than three decades with the trucker. He had been executive vice president and chief operating officer since May 2018. He helped the fastgrowing company add 40 service centers since 2014, marking a $2.4 billion investment. Old Dominion is the second-largest less-thantruckload carrier in North America behind FedEx with revenue of $5.8 billion last year. Its shares have been among the best performers among N.C. public companies for many years, but they have plateaued over the past three years.
HALEY GENTRY
Aviation Director
City of Charlotte Charlotte
Gentry oversees the state’s largest airport, considered Charlotte’s key economic engine. She manages a staff of more than 800 and a $300 million annual budget. She’s worked for the airport since 1991, her only post-college employer. The airport had a record 58.8 million enplanements in 2024, a 10% increase over the year prior. The N.C. DOT estimated that the airport has a $31.8 billion economic output for the state.
Education: BS Appalachian State University
Best advice: There is no manual for leadership. Leadership often happens in the midst of the moment. You cannot rely on a quick reference guide.
Best question for hiring: What are you most proud of personally and professionally?
Best tip for engaging workers: Authenticity and integrity go a long way. Every employee shares in the daily mission at our organization.
MICHAEL LANDGUTH
CEO
Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority
Raleigh
RYAN LEGG
Owner
MegaCorps
Wilmington
BEN GREENBERG
CEO
North Carolina Trucking Association
Raleigh
Greenberg joined the trucker’s association as CEO in October 2022 after serving as a board member. He is working on boosting membership through a stronger emphasis on benefits. He was an associate and later a partner at Goldberg Segalla, a national law firm with a Raleigh office, where he worked with transportation industry clients. The state trucking industry includes more than 44,000 companies and about 240,000 employees.
Education: BA UNC Chapel Hill; JD Campbell University
Favorite start to the day: Coffee and Wordle
Best advice for career: We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. Favorite question for hiring: What was your first non-professional job?
Your best life change: Marrying my wife
Best tip for engaging workers: Lead from the front
Landguth has spent half of his 25-year career in aviation heading RDU, where total enplanements increased 6.5% to 15.5 million passengers in 2024. Vision 2040 projects continue to be implemented after completing a two-year public review in 2017, with seven projects completed so far. The airport is adding more international flights and has an annual operating budget topping $135 million.
Education: BS, Master’s Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
After selling a previous logistics company, Legg and his wife, Denise, started their freight brokerage in 2009, notching $3.5 million in revenue. By 2023, they had created a regional giant with revenue topping $880 million. The company opened an office in Charlotte in May. It has five other offices in Florida, Kentucky, West Virginia and Wilmington. MegaCorps provided major support to delivering supplies to those impacted by Hurricane Helene in the Western Carolinas.
Education: BA West Virginia University
RALPH LOPEZ MASSAS
Senior Vice President CLT Hub Operations
American Airlines
Charlotte
Lopez Massas has been at American Airlines’ secondlargest hub since 2020 after working at the Fort Worth, Texas headquarters. The airline keeps adding service in the Queen City, including a new flight to Athens, Greece. About 15,000 people work for American in Charlotte. The $54 billion annual revenue company hosts events such as the BE Smart Hackathon, which encourages 30 Historically Black Colleges and Universities to recruit students into their IT programs. Subsidiary PSA Airlines is moving its headquarters to Charlotte from Dayton, Ohio, in 2026, which will add about 400 jobs.
Education: BS University of Phoenix; MBA IE Business School
JIM SEGRAVE Founder, CEO
fyExclusive Kinston
Segrave, 54, is a dyed-in-the-wool eastern North Carolinian and a consummate flyer. His company went public in December 2023, offering fractional private-jet ownership, maintenance and other services. flyExclusive has a stable of more than 100 business jets, more than 500 employees, and annual revenue topping $300 million. It ranks among the fivelargest U.S. private-jet operators. His previous endeavors included starting a charter jet service that he sold to Delta Airlines. He is a trustee at his alma mater, East Carolina University.
Education:
BS East Carolina University
CHRIS TAYLOR
Vice President of Manufacturing Boom Supersonic Greensboro
Taylor, who worked for Gulfstream Aerospace for 39 years, is the main N.C. face for the aviation company as it develops its $500 million factory at Piedmont Triad International Airport. Plans call for the production of 33 Overture supersonic passenger jets per year, with hopes to double that level in coming years. Tests of the plane earlier this year have proven successful buoying hopes for the company’s innovative technology that still has industry skeptics. But the state has high hopes that the assembly site will eventually employ as many as 2,400 people.
Education: BS Georgia Tech University
CARL WARREN CEO
North Carolina Railroad Raleigh
Warren took his post in 2020 to oversee one of the Tar Heel state’s oldest corporations. Ultimately responsible for 317 miles of track between Charlotte and Morehead City’s port, he oversees various economic development investments, including a $500,000 rail spur to serve an EV battery plant in Brunswick County and $2 million for railserved sites in Richmond, Nash, Burke and Warren counties. The corporation offers engineering and construction, economic development, track protection and flagging, consulting and industrial site and storage.
Education: BA Wesleyan University; MS University of Washington
WILKERSON CEO
RXO
Charlotte
Wilkerson counts nearly two decades of experience in truck brokerage. He was named CEO of the third-largest U.S. freight brokerage in 2022, about 10 years after joining predecessor XPO Logistics. RXO employs about 700 people and arranges shipping for more than 100,000 carriers. Revenue gained nearly 16% to $4.55 billion, while a net loss of $285 million was reported, partly due to the acquisition of Coyote Logistic.
