Science Center is bringing rainforest to Greensboro
magine walking into a balmy rainforest where a colorful toucan perches in a nearby tree as a sloth inches across a rope bridge above.
Greensboro residents won’t have to leave such sights to the imagination for much longer. The Greensboro Science Center (GSC) plans to break ground in April on Expedition Rainforest – The Greensboro Biodome and the attached Aquatic Rehabilitation and Conservation Center (ARCC).
“We’re building something pretty extraordinary in a relatively small community that’s going to drive tourism,” said Glenn Dobrogosz, CEO of the GSC.
He said it will take at least
18 months for construction, plus another two to three months for the animals to get acclimated before the new facilities can open to the public.
The 32,000-square-foot expansion will cost about $34.4 million. Greensboro taxpayers approved a series of bonds in 2022 that included $20 million earmarked for this project. The rest has come from donors, including the Guilford Merchants Association, which sponsored the entrance area, Dobrogosz said.
“I knew this would be popular, but the level of interest we’re seeing from people that want to give us 10 bucks to people that want to give us over a million dollars has been profound,” he said.
The Biodome will be an
open aviary with more than 250 birds that live in tropical rainforests around the world. It will highlight animals from the Asian, Caribbean and South American rainforests. Guests will see animals such as Galapagos tortoises,
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Want to go?
What: Greensboro Science Center, 4301 Lawndale Drive, Greensboro
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
Cost: $19 to $21; children 2 and under free. Discounts available.
More info: www.greensboroscience.org
Annual Dinner
GMA members and guests mingled Feb. 12 at the 119th Annual Dinner. Pictured from left are : Sean Tobatto, whose wife, Whitney Tobatto (second from left) works at Berico; Berico President Will Berry; and Mary Ellen Hall, whose husband, Lenny Hall (not pictured) is vice president at Berico. More photos on Page 8.
Glenn Dobrogosz, CEO of the Greensboro Science Center, talks about features that will be a part of the rainforest Biodome to be built at the GSC. A groundbreaking is planned for April.
Photo courtesy of Greensboro Science Center
Upcoming events
Here’s what’s coming up:
March 19 — GMA Risers: “Speaking With Confidence: Master Public Speaking for Young Professionals Workshop.” Presented by GMA Board Chair John Thomas of IDeACOM. 12:30-1:30 p.m., GMA, 225 Commerce Place, Greensboro. Lunch provided. Registration begins at 12:15 p.m.
March 25 — After Work Network 4:306:30 p.m. The Oak Branch Conference and Event Center, Greensboro Regional Realtors Association, 23 Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro.
April 2 — Meet & Eat, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., GMA, 225 Commerce Place, Greensboro.
April 8 — Teach Me Tuesday: “Elevating Your Sales & Cold Calls Game: Strategies for Success.” Presented by ActionCOACH Business Coaching. Noon-1:15 p.m., GMA, 225 Commerce Place, Greensboro. Registration/lunch begins at 11:45 a.m.
April 10 — Noontime Network, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn Airport, 238 NC 68 South Airport at Pai Park.
April 15 — Center City AM Briefing, 8-9 a.m., GMA, 225 Commerce Place, Greensboro. Registration begins at 7:45 a.m.
Registration for events is required. Register at www.mygma.org.
Name: Rachel Turner
Hometown: Greensboro, N.C.
Residence: Greensboro, N.C.
Age: 23
Education: Bachelor’s in foreign language and literatures with a concentration in Hispanic studies; master’s in business administration
Business: Corporate Accommodations & Executive Furniture Leasing
Role/title: Brand and Business Development Manager
Responsibilities: For brand development, I handle brand strategy and positioning, marketing and media management, customer experience and reputation management, competitive analysis, partnership and collaboration. For business development, my responsibilities include lead generation, sales growth, client relationship management, networking, events and industry associations.
On GMA: I first heard about GMA through conversations with others in Greensboro, and it’s been a great resource for our team. The workshops have helped us grow professionally, and the networking opportunities have connected us with so many local professionals. There’s always something happening, and we’re constantly meeting new and interesting people in the community.
On GMA’s benefits: Apart from the always-delicious food, GMA is a fan-
President & CEO
Vice President
Membership Development
Program/Events Manager
Membership Coordinator
G. Mark Prince
Michelle Bolick
Sharon Smith
Stacey Speight
Colleen Biedny
Administrative Assistant Melinda Thomas
Operations Assistant Timera Poteat
tastic place to connect with other business professionals and explore everything the Greensboro business community has to offer. I especially enjoy the Meet and Eat lunches—they provide a relaxed setting to get to know people and learn about their work. Consistently attending GMA events has also helped boost brand awareness for our company. When someone needs corporate housing or furniture rentals, fellow GMA members remember us and send clients our way. That’s the power and support of a local network!
On Risers: To truly appreciate the value of Risers, you have to consider the challenges young professionals face—establishing credibility, building
a strong network, finding work-life balance, and growing in their careers. What makes Risers such a great fit for me is that it brings together professionals navigating these same challenges, creating a space where we can learn from and support each other. With flexible options like lunch meetups, after-hours events, and career development workshops, there’s something to fit any schedule. Sometimes, you just have to take a deep breath and go for it! My favorite part is the genuine connections—this isn’t just networking; it’s preparing for the future. One day, we’ll be the business leaders—building relationships now helps us stay ahead of the curve.
Personal: I love spending time outdoors, enjoying a good cup of tea, and being with family and friends. My husband and I are avid “Survivor” fans and enjoy volunteering with the high school ministry at church. When I’m not networking or volunteering, we’re usually traveling, enjoying the outdoors, or spending time at home.
Rachel Turner
Work email:marketing@corporateaccommodations.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/ in/rachel-turner-mba-9833931b8/
PLAY BALL!
Tim Vangel, general manager of the Greensboro Grasshoppers, shares information about the minor league baseball team at the Feb. 4 Center City AM briefing, where local leaders give updates on what is happening in Greensboro.
GMA Board of Directors / 2025
Scott Baker TowneBank
Avery Hall Atlantic Union Bank
Chris Dunbar Blue Ridge Companies
Hank Henning Duke Energy
Brett Barger High Point University
Kathy Haines Kathy Haines Homes
James E. Himes, Jr. WGHP/Fox 8
Megan Oglesby Carolina Core FC
Tim Minor N.C. A&T State University
of Central N.C.
Pete Kidd Kontoor Brands
Will Chappell Bankers Life
Alison Schwartz All Pets Considered
A love of art inspired this new business
‘Pinspiration’ franchise in Greensboro lets you explore your creativity
hen Jamie Brummel started looking at what kind of business she wanted to start, Pinspiration kept popping up in her Google search.
That’s not too surprising, as she has a love of art and a long history in nonprofit art administration.
Pinspiration franchises give customers a chance to flex their creative muscles, everything from making candles and designing jewelry to creating a sign and painting a picture.
“I really like the acrylic pours, because they turn out different every single time,” she said. “Everybody’s been happy with their acrylic pour, because it’s just so different.”
Brummel opened her franchise nearly two years ago. It’s at 1310 Westover Terrace, Unit 109, in Greensboro. She joined the Guilford Merchants Association in July.
She was familiar with GMA both
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clouded leopards, macaws, egrets, ibises and spoonbills. Several species, like the golden lion tamarin (a squirrel-sized monkey), spider monkeys and blue iguanas are endangered.
The Biodome will include more than $1.1 million worth of plants.
Over time, the trees and plants grow and the birds will change up their nesting patterns, creating a new experience for guests, Dobrogosz said.
“Here, this will continually evolve. That’s really cool,” he said.
The only technology is in the entryway, before entering the rainfor-
PARTICIPATION SUCCESS =
through her work with the High Point Arts Council and through her husband, whose company is a member.
After about a year of being open, she started doing more grassroots networking and trying out a few different networking groups to see what would be s a good fit.
“GMA has surpassed all the milestones I had, and has done a great job, and it has been just a great experience for me,” she said.
She also belongs to GMA’s Networking Gurus, which meets on Mondays. Group members have held parties at Pinspiration or connected her to other groups they belong to that also booked her business for team building and other events.
“That’s really helped a lot,” she said.
Brummel had always had a love of art growing up. The original plan was to go to college to be a high school art teacher. But she and her husband ended up moving to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and the college didn’t have an arts education program. Instead, she studied business and found a way to combine that with her love of arts by
est, where the constant 84-degree and humid environment isn’t conducive to the interactive displays and other touches of modern technology now seen throughout the GSC.
That entry will include “naked eye 3D” screens, in which multiple views of an image or video are projected from different angles. The viewer doesn’t need special glasses to see the 3D images.
“We’re gonna hit you early with the magnitude and diversity of life that really is what makes exhibits like this spectacular,” Dobrogosz said. “We want to hit them with that because they’re about to walk into one of the most diverse landscapes in the world, the rainforest.”
working with the Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey, Michigan.
She fell in love with the mission and the staff and what they were doing for the community. She realized that was what she wanted to do.
She later worked at the High Point Arts Council and what is now The Art Gallery at Congdon Yards.
After the pandemic, she and her husband began looking at what types of businesses they might want to open. Pinspiration kept popping up in her Google history.
“I think it’s meant to be,” she told herself.
Her husband and two daughters,
The fish that are living in the Amazon exhibit and the aquarium now will move to a pond in Expedition Rainforest. The stingrays will also move from the aquarium to a new pool in the ARCC where guests can touch them. That area will be open to guests who can watch staff work on everything from growing coral to research, Dobrogosz said.
The ARCC will also have a deep underground tank that can be used to quarantine or treat sharks and the big rays, for example. It will also be deep enough to use for scuba training and dive certification, he said.
Dobrogosz said the GSC is still raising money for this first phase of a multi-phase expansion plan. The next
both UNCG students, help out at the shop.
Brummel said she’s enjoyed her interactions with GMA.
She said new GMA members should take advantage of the After Work Network events and consider joining the weekly networking groups.
“It is a nice small group,” she said. “They make you feel at home, and it’s just a great way to promote your business.”
Jamie Brummel 336-285-5686 pinspiration.com/greensboro
phase will likely be a restaurant and retail area, he said.
Indie the two-toed sloth will make her home in the Biodome once it opens.
Gingerbread houses were among the designs available during the holidays at Pinspiration in Greensboro.
Brummel
Courtesy of Greensboro Science Center
Poteat hired as operations assistant
Timera Poteat has joined the Guilford Merchants Association as an operations assistant.
Poteat, who was hired in January, was born and raised in Burlington, N.C. She has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
“I have experience in and a passion for social media marketing and also data entry,” she said. “Outside of work, I love watching basketball and I am a sneaker head (loves sneakers).”
GMA offers opportunity to grow business
Networking Gurus also has proven fruitful, says Jimmy Mendenhall, a Jan-Pro sales executive.
fter a decade away, Jimmy Mendenhall has rejoined the Guilford Merchants Association in his role as sales executive for Jan-Pro.
The Greensboro Jan-Pro franchise, which is celebrating 25 years serving the Triad, provides janitorial solutions to small and large businesses from Greensboro to Mebane.
NEW MEMBER
Mendenhall likes that GMA focuses on helping small businesses.
“It was just a great opportunity to grow my business,” he said.
He officially joined GMA in February and immediately reconnected with one of the organization’s networking groups, the Networking Gurus.
“I’m thrilled to have been embraced once more by the Networking Gurus. It’s truly wondrous to see that many members of the Gurus are still present from my initial days with the GMA,” Mendenhall said. “This speaks volumes about the invaluable connections and opportunities the GMA fosters in nurturing both business growth and relationships
throughout the Triad.”
Being a member of Networking Gurus has proven to be a fruitful endeavor for Mendenhall. He said he appreciates the camaraderie of their weekly gatherings, where they exchange valuable leads.
“It feels like a welcome home type of thing,” he said.
Mendenhall has lived in Greensboro for 15 years with his wife, Kat, their three sons and two dogs. He said he has a deep affection for the area.
“I love this community and eagerly anticipate further uplifting local businesses,” he said.
Jimmy Mendenhall 336-510-5242
jimmy.mendenhall@jan-pro.com www.jan-pro.com/triad
Member Orientation
Bookkeeping LLC; Monica Kutas, Unlimited Recovery; Natalia Scott (guest), J. Scott & Associates; Michelle Bolick, GMA; Shante’ Kirlew,
Coworking; Shelby Sims, CPL Architects; Torrey Orlopp, CPL Architects; Angela Pace, Advanced Personnel Resources Inc.; and Nidia Cruz, CPL Architects. Second row, from left: Parker White, Backpack Beginnings; Jessica Savage, Safe Transport LLC; Addison Rose Kotulski, Moore Music Co.; Marcus Delgado, American Partners Federal Credit Union; Kevin Melton, Advanced Personnel Resources Inc.; Brittain Huffstetler, Thrivent; Kayleigh Cook, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro; Terri Cummings, Level Up Solutions; Matthew Ferguson, Fidelity Bank; Leslie Speas, InfluenceHR Consulting; Catherine Ukaj, Leavitt Piedmont Insurance; Sandi Nance, Fidelity Bank; and Gracie Mayer, Make A Wish Foundation. Third row, from left: Leon Thomas, Safe Transport LLC; Gary Everhart, Thrivent; Daniel Hypolite, Spangler Restoration; Clay Phipps, Thrive Coworking; John Wermeling, Carolina Core FC; Will Turner, LRNC Office Products; and Steve Auman, CPL Architects. Back row, from left: Joshua Scott (guest), J. Scott & Associates; Matthew Guhne, Advanced Personnel Resources Inc.; Sean Radvansky, RestoPros of the Triad; Joseph Young, CPL Architects; and Terry C. Power, TerryPower.com.
Mendenhall
GMA welcomed new members and new employees of member companies during orientation on Jan. 29. Seated, from left, are: Jennifer Lawson, Make A Wish Foundation; Faith Nager, To The Point
Thrive
Poteat
Bradshaw regales crowd at Annual Dinner
Football great Terry Bradshaw, who transitioned to a successful career in sports broadcasting, headlined the Guilford Merchants Association’s Annual Dinner on Feb. 12 at the Sheraton Greensboro Hotel/Koury Convention
serves as the only official meeting of the organization’s members.
Former football player and sports broadcaster Terry Bradshaw (center) poses for a photo at the Feb. 12 Annual Dinner where he was the featured speaker. Pictured with him from left are: Lori Parsons, Karla Theobald, Anita Bachmann and Dr. Derrick Hoover, all with United Healthcare.
From left: Mark and Kim Littrell, Blue Denim Real Estate, and Gina and Lee Cobbler, ELC Investigations, spend some time together during the cocktail party before the Annual Dinner.
Matthew Ferguson, Fidelity Bank (left); and Sandi Nance, Fidelity Bank, pose for a photo.
Avery Hall Sr. (left), Atlantic Union Bank, and Gary Newcomb, Atlantic Union Bank, give a thumbs up during the Annual Dinner. Hall is a new member of the GMA Board of Directors.
Incoming board Chair John Thomas, IDeACOM of NC Inc. (left) shakes hands with the board’s immediate past chair, David Parrish, New Page Capital.
Center. The event
