Annual Celebration- 2024 Digital Program

February 21, 2024

Steven Tanger Center for the Perfomring Arts

Digital Program Sponsored by

ACT I HERE’S TO THE MAKERS ACT II WELCOME AND SPONSOR RECOGNITION WELCOME BY PRESENTING SPONSOR Cone Health THOMAS Z. OSBORNE DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN AWARD Recipient: Deborah Hooper PASSING OF THE GAVEL ATHENA LEADERSHIP AWARD Sponsored by the Dawn S. Chaney Foundation Recipient: Dr. Terri Shelton ACT III FUTURE READY GREENSBORO Marian F. Earls ENCORE COFFEE, DESSERT, AND NETWORKING

MEET OUR SPEAKERS Afika Nxumalo is a passionate storyteller and idea maker. His journey traverses diverse landscapes, from professional songwriting and copywriting with acclaimed teams to teaching purpose-driven songwriting at the Ivy League level. His expertise extends beyond conventional boundaries, encompassing voice acting, on-camera presenting, public speaking, and more. With a commitment to storytelling across commercial, professional, artistic, and institutional realms, Afika showcases the multifaceted nature of his craft. Whether crafting compelling narratives or coaching others in communication skills, his impact resonates globally.

For those seeking world-class communication coaching, Afika invites exploration of his offerings at www.popcollege.co/wordnerdcoaching. Through his unique blend of expertise and creativity, Afika Nxumalo continues to redefine the boundaries of storytelling in the modern age.

Marian F. Earls, MD, MTS, FAAP is board-certified in both General Pediatrics and Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Her career has focused on Medicaid and EPSDT policy and quality implementation in practice. She was the Director of Pediatric Programs and Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Community Care of North Carolina from July 2012 through December 2019 and led the NC CHIPRA Quality Demonstration Grant (2010 – 2015). From 1994 to July 2012 she was the Medical Director of Guilford Child Health., a large, non-profit, private Pediatric practice that was in Greensboro, North Carolina and served families at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Dr. Earls is the developmental and behavioral pediatrician of the NICU Developmental Follow-up Clinic (multidisciplinary) for Cone Health System in Greensboro. She is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics for the University of North Carolina Medical School.

FUTURE READY GREENSBORO

Greensboro employers want to attract and retain the best employees, and they want those employees to be happy and healthy.

Greensboro leaders want a city that is prosperous, resilient, and ready for the future, with: • •

a vibrant workforce that includes young professionals, working parents, and caregivers who feel supported, and businesses that want to stay in Greensboro or relocate to the area.

Research shows family-friendly workplaces improve workplace productivity, recruitment and retention; grow a strong economy; and support children’s healthy development.

Yet only seven percent of current Greensboro employers offer paid parental or family leave, and employers in a majority of industries surveyed by Action Greensboro say they over no child care support to their employees.

Action Greensboro and Family Forward NC are partnering to increase the number of greater Greensboro employers who provide family-friendly workplace benefits and become Family Forward NC Certified Employers.

Our goal is for Greensboro to be declared the first Family Forward NC Certified Community by February of 2025.

PRESENTING SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

Allegacy Federal Credit Union American National Bank & Trust Co. The Cemala Foundation City of Greensboro - Police Department Cone Health Foundation Downtown Greensboro, Inc. Duke Energy Evonik Superabsorber LLC First Citizens Bank First National Bank Fox Rothschild LLP Gateway Research Park, Inc. Guilford Technical Community College Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro HAECO Americas

The Hooper Family JP Morgan Chase Maynard Nexsen MM Interior Design Group NC Carolina Core Piedmont Business Capital Piedmont Triad Airport Authority Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Co. RJ Young Triad Orthodontics Truist Financial Corporation UnitedHealthcare UNCG Office of Research and Engagement Wells Fargo

ATHENA Award Sponsor: Dawn S. Chaney Foundation Digital Program Sponsor: Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Photo Sponsor: Grinz Othrodontics

SPECIAL THANKS

All About Awards Melvin “Skip” Alston, Chairman,Guilford County Board of Commissioners Lisa Finaldi, NC Early Childhood Foundation Joysquad McWhorter Concepts Alexei Mejouev

Chad Oakley, Charles Aris ONServices Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts Twin City Media VanderVeen Photographers Nancy Vaughan, Mayor, City of Greensboro Ashlee Wagner, Charles Aris

HERE’S TO THE MAKERS Thank you to all the Makers who made time to help us!

Afika Nxumalo Alejandra Thompson de Jordan and Family Alex Amoroso Cheesecakes by Alex Brandon Fredrick Core Technology Molding Corporation Colby Thompson Greensboro Swarm Dave Phillips David Heenan Cone Health Ventures David Ramsey Landmark Builders Edwin Hong Merch Connect Elizabeth Hartwig Bennett College Emily Holland Toyota NC Evan Morrison Proximity Manufacturing Co.

Find Your Flow Fitness and Wellness Studio Geoff Foster Core Technology Molding Corporation Grant Gilliard UNC Greensboro Grey Cook Greensboro Swarm Haley Winstead Greensboro Swarm Hannah Wineburg Heenan Jana Barrett Lincoln Financial Group Jeff Topham Greensboro Day School Jeffrey Champigny South End Brewery Run Club Jodee Ruppel Joe Rieke Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum

Kevin Baker Piedmont Triad International Airport Kevin Fox Lincoln Financial Group Kimberly Osborne UNC Greensboro Kyler Evans Vybez Kitchen Lieutenant Maurice McPhatter Greensboro Police Department Moore Music Phanalphie Rhue Bennett College Pierce Foster Rick Swain Landmark Builders Seth Wingate Twin City Media Stephanie Freeman Piedmont Triad International Airport Stephanie Mardis Greensboro Police Department Sterling Douglas & Family Steve Swetoha Greensboro Swarm Susan Davis Greensboro Day School Suzanne Walsh Bennett College The Artist Bloc Tim Amoroso Cheesecakes by Alex Todd Simmons North Carolina A&T State University Tracie Catlett Greensboro Day School Zitty Nxumalo