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Speakers

2025 ECOSYSTEM SUMMIT SPEAKERS

The 2025 Ecosystem Summit includes an impressive lineup of nationally recognized experts to local ecosystem builders.

Keynote Speaker

Andrew Yang

Noble Mobile

Main stage Speakers

John Austin 5.14.25

John Austin

NC IDEA
Eric Boggs (LI)

Eric Boggs

RevBoss
Michelle Bolas '25

Michelle Bolas

NCInnovation
Jana Bradley

Jana Bradley

Durham County Library
J.W. Carpenter

J.W. Carpenter

Prosper
Joe Colopy

Joe Colopy

Colopy Ventures
Rob Creighton

Rob Creighton

Windlift, Inc.
Brandy Bynum Dawson

Brandy Bynum Dawson

MDC
Spencer Disher

Spencer Disher

NC IDEA
Screenshot

Amy Dunlap

STEMZ, Inc.
Shemekka

Shemekka Ebony

Black Girl Magic Market
Stormie

Stormie Forte

City of Raleigh
Jason Grill

Jason Grill

Right to Start
Carol Anne Hankinson

Carol Anne Hankinson

Roanoke-Chowan Community College
Conaway Haskins

Conaway Haskins

VIPC
Hazlett_Lisa

Lisa Hazlett

The Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship
Kyle Hearns

Kyle Hearns

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
Jeffrey Headshot

Jeffrey Kaplan

Optimist Ventures & Venture Asheville
Troy LeMaile-Stovall

Troy LeMaile-Stovall

TEDCO
Elaine Marshall

Elaine Marshall

Secretary of State at NC Dept of Secretary of State
Britney+McCoy_headshot_0725

Britney McCoy

ECMC Group
Lauren McCullough

Lauren McCullough

Tromml
mcdonald-IJ2_6762

Jennifer McDonald

The Institute for Justice's Cities Work Initiative
Jay Mixter

Jay Mixter

HATCHwnc
Rachael Newberry

Rachael Newberry

RIoT
Ryan Patrick O’Donnell

Ryan Patrick O’Donnell

Sunlight Group, LLC
Jonathan Ortmans

Jonathan Ortmans

Global Entrepreneurship Network
Charles W. Pemble IV, PhD

Charles W. Pemble IV, PhD

Tetran, LLC
Bridget Phifer

Bridget Phifer

Living Better Life LLC
Dante Pittman 2025

Dante Pittman

NC Representative
Catherine Read

Catherine Read

Right to Start
Jim Roberts

Jim R. Roberts

WALE Angel Network
Mitch Smith

Mitch Smith

SCRA/SC Launch
Tom Snyder 5.21.25

Tom Snyder

RIoT
Leah Townsend

Leah Townsend

Center for Entrepreneurial Development (CED)
Webb_Carl

Carl Webb

Provident1898
Emily Wells

Emily Wells

Gig East + Greenlight Community Broadband, City of Wilson
Dr. David Whitmire

Dr. David Whitmire

WRC
Scott Wingo

Scot Wingo

Tweener Fund
Leonardo Williams

Leonardo Williams

Mayor of Durham, NC
Carlos-Zepeda

Carlos M. Zepeda

Prospera

Breakout Session Speakers

W. Michael Buckovich

W. Michael Buckovich

VisionToVenture
Krista Covey

Krista Covey

First Flight Venture Center
Molly Hemstreet

Molly Hemstreet

The Industrial Commons and NSF Textile Innovation Engine of NC
Christine Laucher

Christine Laucher

Mountain BizWorks
Heather McWhorter, Director of UNCW’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. PHOTO COURTESY: OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONS/UNCW

Heather McWhorter

UNCW CIE
Anjanette Miller

Anjanette Miller

Echo
Stan Parker

Stan Parker

WSPR Fund
Paula Pingel

Paula Pingel

Crelucin Business Coaching & Consulting
Vania Ponce

Vania Ramos Ponce

Right to Start
GEW Official Activity

Andrew Yang

Noble Mobile

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Andrew Yang is a serial entrepreneur who was a Democratic presidential candidate in 2020. He is the founder of Humanity Forward and Venture for America, and is also the CEO of Noble Mobile. His New York Times bestseller The War on Normal People helped introduce the idea of universal basic income into the mainstream, and his most recent book, Forward: Notes on the Future of Our Democracy, became a national bestseller.

Eric Boggs

RevBoss

Linkedin

Eric started RevBoss with a mission to build a business that made clients and co-workers happy.

Today, he leads the effort to bring happiness to 100s of clients and more than 50 RevBuds around the world. You can read about the guiding principles he wrote for RevBoss in the HAT Culture manifesto.

Eric spent the last 20 years building companies and advising successful CEOs (Device Magic, Kevel, UserVoice, Ignite Social, and many more).

He completed his undergraduate studies at UNC Chapel Hill and earned an MBA at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business school, where he was a Dean’s Fellow.

Eric spends his free time loving his family, exercising at the crack of dawn, and yelling at Carolina games and Arsenal matches on TV.

Michelle Bolas

NCInnovation

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Michelle Bolas is chief innovation officer and executive vice president at NCInnovation, where she oversees development and execution of the organization’s grant-making, research commercialization support, and university partnerships. Michelle and her team work with public universities in every region of the state to optimize their applied research portfolios and to support NCInnovation’s work to commercialize research outputs.

Prior to joining NCInnovation, Michelle served as chief innovation officer at UNC-Chapel Hill and executive director of Innovate Carolina, where she led the
University’s innovation strategy. As head of UNC’s Innovation Roadmap, Michelle worked closely with leaders, faculty and students to imagine and implement new programs and initiatives that significantly increased the impact of Carolina innovations.

She has more than 25 years of experience working with higher education, business and industry, and government leaders to design and develop comprehensive environments for creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship to thrive.

Jana Bradley

Durham County Library

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At Durham County’s Main Library, Jana draws on her own background as an entrepreneur and her extensive knowledge of market research tools to help Durham’s business owners succeed. A self described “small business sherpa, chaos tamer, creative instigator, researcher, and continuous learner,” Jana and her team at the library’s Small Business Center have earned several recognitions including “Best Co-Working Space” in Indy Week’s annual Best of the Triangle Awards 2025.

J.W. Carpenter

Prosper

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J.W. Carpenter began his tenure as the inaugural president of Prosper in February 2021. Previously, he led the Birmingham Education Foundation for eight years and prior to that was the inaugural executive director of Teach For America-Alabama, the same organization where he began his career as a classroom teacher in Helena, Arkansas. J.W. also practiced law for nearly four years in Birmingham. He has two children named Jack and Margaret. Carpenter earned a B.A. in Political Science from Boston College and J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center. He currently serves on the Boards of the Jefferson County Greenways Commission, the Homewood City Schools Foundation, and Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama.

Joe Colopy

Colopy Ventures

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Tech entrepreneur Joe Colopy co-founded and bootstrapped Bronto Software, growing it to over 250 employees and millions in revenue. Since selling Bronto, he supports entrepreneurs and their startups through GrepBeat, Primordial Ventures, and Jurassic Capital. He is a Triangle Business Journal 40 Under 40 winner and a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Carolinas. A former US Peace Corps Volunteer, he is an alumnus of Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He lives in Durham, North Carolina, with his wife, four children, dog, and an ever-changing number of chickens.

Rob Creighton

Windlift, Inc.

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Rob Creighton is the Founder and CEO of Windlift, a North Carolina–based deep-tech company developing autonomous tethered airborne systems that generate power and provide persistent sensing for defense and commercial applications. He began his career on the Human Genome Project, where he learned to approach complex systems with analytical precision—a mindset he later applied to engineering and energy. At Windlift, Rob pioneered algorithmic design, an AI-driven process that accelerates the optimization of flight systems for resilience and performance. Under his leadership, Windlift has secured over $24 million in DoD and DOE contracts and built partnerships with defense primes and national laboratories. His current focus is scaling the company’s GUARD and APG platforms, which deliver airborne power and persistent overwatch in challenging environments. Rob also leads DeepTech Innovation workshops at First Flight Venture Center, helping founders translate frontier science into commercial success.

Brandy Bynum Dawson

MDC

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Brandy Bynum Dawson is the Senior Program Director for Rural Prosperity and Investment at MDC. In this role, she leads MDC’s rural and capacity-building efforts in North Carolina and beyond, managing a state, regional, and national portfolio. She ensures that MDC offers a range of effective consulting services, including facilitation, training, coaching, resource management, relationship brokering, policy planning, grants development, and expertise identification. Bynum Dawson has been active in the nonprofit community for more than 20 years as a professional, volunteer, and board member. She has experience providing community development services to agencies, communities, and coalitions in the areas of civic engagement, action planning, results-based facilitation, program implementation, and organizational collaboration.

She has facilitated several long-term initiatives across a wide array of subject areas, such as education, health, access to mental health and substance abuse services, and delinquency prevention. She serves on various boards and committees, including the Camber Foundation, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Rural Investment Collaborative Steering Group, North Carolinians Against Gun Violence, and the NC Housing Coalition. Throughout her career, Brandy has received awards for her dedication, leadership, and commitment to affecting change for North Carolinians in rural community development, juvenile justice reform, and health access. A native of rural northeastern NC native, Bynum Dawson prides herself on her rural roots.

Spencer Disher

Advisor & Investor

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Spencer previously served as Senior Vice President at Natixis SA, an international French banking institution, where he was one of the founders and co-managers of Natixis ABM Corp, a subsidiary that grew into a highly profitable entity with approximately $6 billion of fixed income assets under management. He is an experienced senior executive with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry. Spencer has served as an adjunct professor for entrepreneurship in the business college at Johnson & Wales University.

He currently serves as Chair of the board of NC Idea and on the board and investment committee of United Methodist Foundation of Western NC. Spencer also serves on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte and as a director for the Charlotte Angel Fund. In addition, he serves as an advisor and investor to several startups and has worked as a mentor with the following startup organizations: RevTech, City Startup Labs and Innovate Charlotte.

Amy Dunlap

STEMZ, Inc.

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Amy Dunlap is the Founder & CEO of Stemz, a modern floral distribution company transforming the U.S. cut-flower supply chain. She holds a B.S. in Horticulture from the University of Kentucky and an M.A. in Agricultural Education and Communication from the University of Florida.

With over 25 years in the floral industry, Amy first established herself as a successful floral designer and entrepreneur in Winston-Salem. That experience gave her deep insight into the challenges faced by farmers and floral professionals.

As a respected designer, educator, and leader, she bridges the gap between growers and buyers through transparency and sustainability. Under her leadership, Stemz now supports dozens of farms and hundreds of florists across the Southeast. Amy’s work reimagines how flowers move from field to florist, empowering local farms and modernizing the industry.

Shemekka Ebony

Black Girl Magic Market

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Shemekka Ebony, the founder of Shemekka Ebony LLC, leads with authenticity, empathy, and a commitment to continuous learning. Shemekka is a celebrated, award-winning author, recognized for her book, While I’m Getting Naked. Shemekka is the visionary behind initiatives like Black Girl Magic Market, I Am Brilliant, and the CROWN Campaign, all rooted in empowerment, equity, and advocacy. As a Certified Community Champion and seasoned public speaker, her insights have been featured in The New York Times Magazine and several global equity publications.

Stormie Forte

Mayor Pro Tem

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Stormie Forte was elected as one of two at-large Raleigh City Council members in 2022. Prior to that, she was appointed to represent District D on the Council in 2020. She serves as Vice-Chair of the Growth and Natural Resources Committee and is a member of the Economic Development and Innovation Committee. She currently serves as Mayor Pro Tem.

Council Member Forte is a licensed attorney in the State of North Carolina and in the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina Federal Court. She is also a licensed Real Estate agent. She earned her undergraduate degree in sociology and master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling and psychology, both from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law.

Council Member Forte was born and raised in Raleigh. She has volunteered for the Rex Hospital Open, SAS Championship, Hopscotch Music Festival, Oak City Marathon, and many other events in the area. She also is an advisory board member for the following organizations: Clarence Lightner Y Achievers within the Triangle Area YMCA, Preparing to Soar Program in Johnston County, North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities Ethics Bowl, My Brother’s Keeper of Wake County, and Friends of the NC State Science Museum Board. In addition, she is a commissioner on the North Carolina Commission for Racial and Ethnic Disparities.

Council Member Forte is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and hosts a Saturday morning weekly radio talk show called “The Art of Listening with Stormie Forte” that airs on 92.1 FM. She enjoys watching Tar Heel basketball and playing with her dogs.

Jason Grill

Right to Start

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Jason Grill is the Chief Government Affairs Officer at Right to Start. Jason leads all public policy engagement, government affairs efforts and strategy on the local, state and federal level throughout the United States for the organization. Jason’s leadership and work at Right to Start has led to 22 US states moving forward with over 65 pieces of legislation on a host of different topics to expand entrepreneurial opportunity, reduce barriers to starting a business, streamline new business processes, cut red tape, and grow young businesses. Many of these 22 US states have signed into law or implemented by executive action, many of Right to Start’s policy recommendations, including Nevada, Missouri, Indiana, New Mexico, Kansas, Texas, Michigan and Colorado. Additionally, legislation based on Right to Start policy recommendations has passed in states including North Dakota, Arkansas, Hawaii, Arizona and Oklahoma.

Carol Anne Hankinson

Roanoke-Chowan Community College

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Carol Anne Hankinson is the Director of Library Services at Roanoke-Chowan Community College, where she brings her background in business to connect students and community members with essential entrepreneurial resources. She collaborates closely with the college’s Business Department and Small Business Center, developing research instruction and leading efforts such as a dedicated business subject guide and local small business bootcamps. Passionate about uniting library services with economic empowerment, Carol Anne believes libraries can play a vital role in supporting new business owners, especially in rural communities.

Conaway Haskins

Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation

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Conaway Haskins has spent over 20 years helping public and private sector organizations navigate opportunities and challenges in economic development, government affairs, and strategic communications at the local, state, and national levels. He currently serves as Vice President for Entrepreneurial Ecosystems at the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) where he leads the organization’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Strategic Initiatives teams. In this role, he manages, advises, supports, and funds statewide and regional technology-based and innovation-led economic development initiatives.

Prior to joining VIPC, Conaway spent six years as a university economic development executive at Virginia Tech where he designed, executed, and led a variety of technical assistance, applied research, teaching, and public engagement initiatives to advance economic growth and community vitality through entrepreneurship, innovation, placemaking, and sustainability.

Conaway has also served in a variety of leadership positions with the Virginia Community Economic Network, Virginia State University, the Council on Foundations, United States Senate, and The Cameron Foundation. Conaway is an active member of the Virginia Economic Developers Association, International Economic Development Council, and Startup Champions Network. He earned a Masters of Regional Planning degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a B.A. with honors & distinction in Government and Politics from George Mason University.

Lisa Hazlett

Linkedin

The Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship

Lisa Hazlett is the President of the Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship where she is responsible for development, day to day operations of the Center and communicating the Vision of the CEO, Sam Funchess. Prior to the Nussbaum Center, Lisa spent 7 ½ years in healthcare and almost 30 years managing her own business as a professional singer and actress. Fun Fact: Lisa is officially sanctioned by the estate of Patsy Cline. Lisa is a graduate of the Guilford Non-Profit Consortium’s Executive Leadership Academy and recently completed the Scaling a Business: How to Build a Unicorn certification at the Wharton School of Business.

Kyle Hearns

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

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Kyle Hearns is an Adult Services Librarian at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, where he specializes in information and knowledge management, research, and community engagement. Kyle is committed to raising awareness of the library as a vital, often untapped, resource for small business owners and entrepreneurs. He believes libraries have the power to deliver the information, support, and connections that help local businesses thrive.

Jeffrey Kaplan

Optimist Ventures & Venture Asheville

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Jeffrey Kaplan is the CEO of Optimist Ventures and Director of Venture Asheville, where he’s pioneering a new model for resilient regional entrepreneurship in the wake of Hurricane Helene. His focus is on tech-enabled lifestyle businesses — the small but scalable ventures that sustain the mountain economy and define life in Western North Carolina. Through Optimist Ventures, Jeffrey is introducing a groundbreaking fund vehicle built around Shared Profit Agreements (SPA) Notes — a founder-friendly, investor-aligned mechanism that bridges the gap between traditional debt and equity, complemented by matching grant funds.

A frequent speaker on entrepreneurship, ecosystem development, and economic resilience, Jeffrey believes optimism is more than attitude — it’s strategy. Through Optimist Ventures and the SPA Note model, he’s proving that when philanthropists, investors and entrepreneurs grow together, entire communities rise.

Troy LeMaile-Stovall

TEDCO

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Troy A. LeMaile-Stovall currently serves as CEO for TEDCO, the economic engine for Maryland’s technology- and life science-based startups, and Strategic Advisor for Hunter Lewis, LLC, an investment management advisory firm.

Troy founded the management consulting firm LeMaile-Stovall, LLC and co-founded GulfSouth Capital where he was the first President and CEO. As he continued his career, he has led/co-led over $3B in debt and equity offerings with over a dozen exits with double digit returns.

Troy continues to be recognized by industry peers; he selected for the Leadership Greater Washington Signature Program Class of 2019, DC Chamber Chairman’s Award, Baltimore Business Journal Leadership Trust (2020), Washingtonian “Tech Titan” (2022 and 2024), The Daily Record’s Most Admired CEOs (2022), the 2023 class for the NACD Accelerate Audit Committee Pipeline program, a 2023 Inductee into the Baltimore Dealmakers Hall of Fame, Baltimore Business Journal’s Power 10 honoree (2023), BPM Global 100 (2024) and AfroNews Who’s Who in Black Baltimore honoree (2024).

Additionally, Troy is a NACD Certified Director, serving on numerous Boards including University of Maryland School of Medicine, World Trade Center Institute, Parkway Properties, Archipelago Learning, Internet America, SchoolStatus, EpiCor Software, Harkins Builders, LIM College, Southern Methodist University Dept. of Electrical Engineering, UDC Foundation, and Landover, MD-based Zion Church, led by Sr. Pastor Keith Battle.

Prior to TEDCO, Troy served as COO at the University of the District of Columbia; Interim President of Zenith Education Group; Principal at Butler Snow Advisory Services; Executive Vice President and COO of Howard University; and Senior Vice President and CFO at Jackson State University, where he was awarded the Thurgood Marshall HBCU CFO of the Year.

Troy holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Southern Methodist University, a master’s degree in computer science from Stanford University, and an MBA from Harvard University.

Britney McCoy

ECMC Group

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Britney McCoy leads the Bold Path Fellowship—a program expanding access to entrepreneurship as a career pathway by providing startup capital to under-resourced innovators.

She has more than a decade of experience launching ambitious philanthropic initiatives, managing social impact programs and partnerships for the Steve Jobs Archive, the Obama Foundation, the National Football League and multiple nonprofit organizations. She is a native of Durham, North Carolina, and a proud Tar Heel, with both a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication and an MPA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Jennifer McDonald

The Institute for Justice's Cities Work Initiative

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Jennifer McDonald is IJ’s Director of Activism and leads IJ’s Cities Work initiative, which partners with cities across the country to make it cheaper, faster, and simpler to start a small business by identifying and rectifying regulatory barriers facing small business owners. Jenny engages with policymakers, regulators, and activists to achieve needed reforms at all levels of government. Through research, legislative advocacy, coalition building, and working with the media, she defends every entrepreneur’s right to earn an honest living. Prior to joining the Activism team, Jenny was an IJ senior research analyst, where she authored IJ reports on topics such as civil forfeiture, municipal fines and fees, government transparency, occupational licensing, and home-based businesses. Her work has appeared in multiple academic journals and her research results have been cited in national media outlets such as the Washington Post, New York Times, Politico, and Los Angeles Times. She holds a Master of Public Administration from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a bachelor’s degree in history from California State University San Marcos.

 

Jay Mixter

HATCHwnc

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Jay Mixter is helping to expand HATCHwnc’s support for early-stage entrepreneurs in Western North Carolina. He is building out the Hatch Mentor Network, regularly hosts pitch parties, and is working to expand the impact of Hatch’s new EIR program. Jay also works as a Strategic Advisor and Fractional CxO, focused on improving the success of companies entering new markets, developing new products, or commercializing new technologies. As a serial entrepreneur, and a former professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Boston University and Tufts University, he is a strong advocate for new and better ways to support innovation and entrepreneurship. Since receiving his MBA from the Tuck School at Dartmouth, Jay has enjoyed playing an instrumental role in the evaluation, development, planning and launch of hundreds of new products and services.

Rachael Newberry

RIoT

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Rachael Newberry leads innovation programs and public sector support at RIoT, a technology-based economic development organization. Rachael launched the RIoT Accelerator Program in 2018, leading growth to five locations and advising 150+ startups that have created 500+ jobs and generated more than $150 Million in revenue. Rachael also acts as a liaison between public and private sector partners to spur collaboration in the smart cities space and support entrepreneurial ecosystem development. Previously, Rachael built and ran a behavioral science-focused startup program at Duke University (though she is a proud UNC alum), where her work was featured at Google and in Forbes and Inc. Magazine.

Ryan Patrick O’Donnell

Sunlight Group, LLC

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Ryan ODonnell is a serial tech entrepreneur and former foster parent on a mission to use technology for good. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, he serves as the CEO and Founder of Sunlight, the creators of Your Case Plan, a start-up committed to strengthening America’s social safety net, starting with our broken child welfare system.

He brings over a decade of experience starting and scaling technology start-ups, where he has helped over 30,000 people get jobs, build two national fundraising platforms, and broke the Guinness World Record for the largest food drive in 24 hours at a single location. He is a proud graduate of the NC School of Science and Mathematics and N.C. State University.

Jonathan Ortmans

Global Entrepreneurship Network

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Jonathan Ortmans is the founder and president of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), a Washington, D.C.-based organization operating programs and chapters in 200 nations to support entrepreneurs and foster healthier entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Raised in the United Kingdom, Ortmans trained as an economist, worked on Capitol Hill in Washington, and served as the CEO of a health care and trade policy think tank. His career has also included two successful startup exits.

Ortmans built GEN through its cornerstone initiative, Global Entrepreneurship Week, where he assembled a broad multi-disciplinary coalition of partners and communities in 200 countries that now serve as the backbone of GEN operations around the world, including entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, researchers, and entrepreneurial support organizations.

Ortmans oversees GEN’s grantmaking and has developed GEN operations in entrepreneurship research and public policy, ecosystem building, and all of its programs directly supporting entrepreneurs and investors. He also chairs the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) and serves on the boards of dozens of GEN affiliates and entrepreneurial support organizations around the world.

Charles W. Pemble IV, PhD

Tetran, LLC

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I am an award-winning executive leader with a proven record of building and scaling technology startups from inception to commercialization. Across multiple CXO roles, I’ve combined entrepreneurial grit, scientific discipline, and creative vision to drive growth, innovation, and measurable impact.

Curiosity is at the core of how I lead: I challenge assumptions with well-reasoned arguments and thrive on learning across disciplines. My career began as a PhD-trained structural biologist and biochemist, but my passion for discovery evolved into entrepreneurship—turning bold ideas into solutions with lasting value.

I love seeing innovation take shape and working alongside great teams to bring it to life. Progress isn’t just about breakthroughs—it’s about people, collaboration, authenticity, and the joy of the process (because a good laugh goes a long way).

Bridget Phifer

Living Better Life LLC

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Bridget Phifer is the Founder and Program Lead of Living Better Life LLC, an organization dedicated to empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs through training, mentorship, and access to funding. With over 20 years of experience spanning engineering, real estate, ministry, and education, Bridget brings a unique blend of technical expertise and community-centered leadership.

Since launching Living Better Life in 2017, she has developed programs such as the Better Business Bootcamp and Better Business Accelerator, which have enabled entrepreneurs and nonprofits to secure over $4.5 million in funding. Her work focuses on bridging gaps in rural and historically excluded communities by providing digital literacy, grant support, and business development resources.

Bridget is also the author of Crown Yourself: The 7 Pillars of Living Better, a book that blends personal lessons with practical strategies for living with purpose and resilience. She serves on several boards and coalitions, including the NC Digital Equity Coalition and the Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits, and is an active partner with NC State’s Institute for Emerging Issues. Her passion is rooted in turning barriers into bridges and helping entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses that uplift entire communities.

Catherine Read

Right to Start

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Catherine Read is the Senior Director of Field and Campaign Strategy at Right to Start, where she leads a national movement to make entrepreneurship a civic priority. She designed and launched the organization’s first national advocacy “Statement of Principles” campaign and has built and scaled Right to Start’s state-based “Starters Coalitions,” bringing together entrepreneurs, entrepreneur support organizations, policymakers, and community partners to remove barriers to starting and growing a business.

Under her leadership, the organization’s grassroots infrastructure now spans nine states, a 16-person team, and has helped to drive policy reforms that reduce costs and expand opportunity for new business owners. Catherine is also the Co-Founder of Points True North Consulting, a mission-driven firm that supports public and nonprofit leaders with strategy, advocacy, and community engagement. She previously led statewide partnerships for Upstream USA, where she built bipartisan support for expanding access to contraception, and before that, directed the first state-based truth commission on U.S. interrogation practices.

Earlier in her career, she ran the Washington Offices of two international human rights organizations. Across all her work, Catherine is known for building inclusive, participatory frameworks that connect grassroots and institutional power to drive lasting change. She lives in Raleigh and is passionate about strengthening North Carolina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through community-driven collaboration.

Jim R. Roberts

WALE Angel Network

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Jim is the founder of the Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington and the WALE Angel Network and both organizations are now 10 years old. WALE has now made 20 investments.

Jim was the inaugural Executive Director at the UNC Wilmington Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Within 12 months of opening, the CIE won a grant from the SBA at the White House as one of the top 50 incubators in the country.

Roberts started the first tech entrepreneur council in Charlotte called FirstRound during the technology boom in 2000. He was then recruited to the Asheville region to start the Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council (BREC) and Blue Ridge Angel Investor Network (BRAIN). Jim also worked for the NC Department of Commerce and COIN (Center of Innovation for NanoBiotech, a program of the NC Biotech Center.

Mitch Smith

SCRA/SC Launch

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Mitch, a lifelong South Carolina resident, has founded four technology companies over the past three decades, successfully exiting three. Currently, he serves as Senior Investment Manager at SC Launch, where he provides business coaching, advisory, grants, and investments to South Carolina-based tech firms. Passionate about entrepreneurship, Mitch is dedicated to helping innovative ideas scale. A graduate of The Citadel and a veteran, he enjoys the outdoors and resides with his wife in Chapin, SC.

Tom Snyder

Executive Director, RIoT

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Tom Snyder is Executive Director of RIoT, supporting technology-based economic development in the areas of AI, IoT, and the Data Economy. Under Tom’s leadership, RIoT has launched the RIoT Accelerator Program, RIoT Studios, which includes the RIoT Underground Podcast, and RIoT’s Education series. He has grown RIoT from a Research Triangle-focused organization to one with international reach. In his spare time, Tom co-instructs Product Innovation Lab, a Forbes award-winning multidisciplinary course in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at NC State. Prior to joining RIoT, Tom held an executive leadership role at the ASSIST Center, a National Science Foundation-sponsored effort to create wearable electronics for healthcare monitoring. Previously, he spent two decades in product development, innovation, and technology incubation for multinational technology companies and is an inventor on more than 25 US patents.

Leah Townsend

Center for Entrepreneurial Development (CED)

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Leah Townsend, Ph.D., currently serves as Founder in Residence at CED, providing guidance and mentoring to early-stage companies, especially university-based spin-outs. She also supports initiatives to improve the commercialization pipeline of university-based IP.

Townsend has a broad skill set in life sciences, medical devices, translational medicine and business consulting in a range of therapeutic areas, most recently neurotechnology. She has a deep understanding of early-stage companies and university IP, taking a faculty-founded startup from university lab to acquisition in ~2.5 years. Additionally, she has a track record of successfully building and leading teams to achieve strategic objectives in complex organizations with legacy systems.

She is also passionate about graduate education and professional development, serving as adjunct faculty at UNC-CH, advising student professional development clubs, and mentoring numerous students as they navigate transitions to careers in industry.

Carl Webb

Provident1898

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Carl Webb is a Durham, NC native and a serial entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience in marketing communications, public relations, and real estate development. In 2019, he co-founded Provident1898, a coworking and entrepreneurship hub located in the historic NC Mutual Life Insurance Building. Provident1898 honors the legacy of Durham’s Black Wall Street by providing a space where today’s entrepreneurs can collaborate, grow, and build community wealth. Carl is a graduate of the Art Institute of Atlanta, has served on numerous boards, and completed executive programs. He and his wife, Bridgette, have been married for over 40 years and have three children.

Emily Wells

Gig East + Greenlight Community Broadband, City of Wilson

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Emily Wells is the Greenlight Community and Engagement Manager for the City of Wilson, North Carolina. Over the past five years, she has led communications and marketing for both Greenlight and Gig East, Wilson’s innovation ecosystem. In her role, Emily oversees strategic storytelling, brand development, and community engagement initiatives that highlight Wilson’s leadership in broadband and innovation. She also supports programming and outreach for the Gig East Exchange, the city’s coworking space and entrepreneurship incubator, connecting local entrepreneurs, creatives, and tech enthusiasts to resources and opportunities for growth.

Dr. David Whitmire

WRC

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Dr. David Whitmire is the Director of Federal Programs at the Wireless Research Center of North Carolina, where he leads efforts to accelerate innovation in advanced wireless, quantum, and defense technologies. He also serves as Fractional Chief Growth Officer for Black Cape, Inc. and as an independent board advisor to XPV Water Partners, supporting growth, M&A integration, and strategic execution across global markets. A former CEO, COO, and President in both commercial and federal sectors, Dr. Whitmire has guided organizations through employee ownership transitions, acquisitions, and market expansion. His clients have ranged from Fortune 50 corporations and federal contractors to international technology and security firms.

Dr. Whitmire holds a Ph.D. in Psychology with research focused on technology’s influence on organizational culture, along with four graduate degrees spanning business, strategy, and administration from UNC–Chapel Hill, Central Michigan University, and the School of Advanced Military Studies. A certified Birkman professional, Denison culture consultant, and PMP/Scrum Master, he specializes in building high-performing teams and adaptive organizational systems. A decorated U.S. Army Special Operations veteran of Iraq, Afghanistan, and other theaters, Dr. Whitmire brings decades of leadership experience bridging the battlefield and the boardroom to strengthen America’s innovation ecosystem

Scot Wingo

Tweener Fund

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Scot Wingo, is a 5-time serial entrepreneur having started five companies: Stingray Software, AuctionRover, ChannelAdvisor/Rithum, Spiffy and ReFiBuy. Scot also co-hosts a top ecommerce podcast with Publicis’ Chief Commerce Officer, Jason Goldberg (Jason and Scot Show) and his new podcast and substack is Retailgentic where he discusses the latest Agentic Commerce trends. He started the Triangle Tweener List in 2015 to highlight the up-and-coming Triangle startups. The Tweener Fund was launched in 2022.

Leonardo Williams

Mayor of Durham, NC

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Mayor Leonardo (Leo) Williams is a visionary leader dedicated to Durham’s prosperity, drawing on his diverse background as a two-time Durham Public Schools Teacher of the Year, public school administrator, and entrepreneur. His journey from the classroom to City Hall highlights a deep commitment to community.

A proud North Carolina Central University alumnus, earning degrees in Music Education BA and Education Leadership MA, he met his wife, Zweli, at NCCU, and they are the parents of son, Izaiah, who attends Duke University.

Elected to the Durham City Council in December 2021 and sworn in as Mayor in December 2023, he leads a rapidly growing city of nearly 320,000, overseeing a $755 million city budget and championing policies that significantly enhance quality of life. His influence extends nationally; he was a featured speaker at the 2024 Democratic National Convention and has welcomed Presidents and Vice Presidents to the Greater Triangle region over 25 times, showcasing Durham’s vibrant culture of innovation and economic opportunity on the world stage.

Carlos M. Zepeda

Prospera

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Carlos Zepeda is a Sr. Small Business Consultant at Prospera in North Carolina and has been with the organization since September 2019.

He was born in Managua, Nicaragua and arrived in Miami in the early eighties.  He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and International Affairs from Florida International University and has nearly completed a DBA with concentration in entrepreneurship science with concentration on ecosystem building. He has more than 25 years of experience in business and nonprofit development and has assisted close to 400 impact makers in thirteen different countries in Latin America, Europe, and Africa.

Since 2019 at Prospera in Charlotte, he has shared his experience with over 250 Hispanic business owners and entrepreneurs seeking help to start, improve, or expand their business. He is a proud father of two young men and in his spare time he enjoys participating in open water swimming races, trail running, and photography. He is happy to call the Queen City his new home.

W. Michael Buckovich

VisionToVenture

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W. Michael Buckovich serves as Executive Director of VisionToVenture.org, where he leads initiatives to strengthen North Carolina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and accelerate small-business creation. Under his direction, Vision to Venture has recently partnered with Greater Winston-Salem Inc., Winston Starts, SPARQ @ Innovation Quarter, Center for Creative Economy (Kinetic and Velocity Programs), and other innovation-driven organizations to help idea/early-stage founders to validate concepts, connect to resources, and de-risk their businesses before and after seeking capital.

A veteran of over 30 years in digital strategy, marketing, and software development, Mike has developed and implemented customer-experience and product strategies for Fortune 500 firms and emerging startups from Chicago and New York to Washington, Richmond, and the Carolinas.

By connecting entrepreneurs, educators, investors, and civic leaders, he is helping position North Carolina as a national model for how inclusive entrepreneurship drives job creation, community vitality, and long-term economic resilience.

Krista Covey

First Flight Venture Center

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Krista Covey, MBA, is the CEO & President of First Flight Venture Center, Krista’s passion is serving high-impact entrepreneurial ventures and helping them achieve success. She has been supporting the development and growth of early-stage companies through her work building and leading award-winning innovation hubs in Florida, Texas and North Carolina. She has an extensive background in banking and finance and has experience in business incubation and acceleration, strategic management, business development, marketing, economic development, economic gardening for high-growth science / tech companies, and public relations.

A serial entrepreneur at heart, she also grew a successful finance business with a profitable exit. She is proud to serve on the Board of Directors for NC IDEA, to help people achieve their entrepreneurial potential across NC. Krista is a certified Business Incubator Manager with the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) and served as past Chair of the InBIA Executive Board of Directors. Krista is a regular speaker on topics relating to business innovation, technology transfer, incubation, acceleration, mentoring programs, economic development, funding vehicles and other programs designed to transition ideas into profitable ventures that significantly impact our nation. Krista holds a B.S. in Business Marketing from Southeastern University and her Master’s in Business Administration from Saint Leo University.

Molly Hemstreet

Textile Innovation Engine of North Carolina

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Molly is Co-Deputy CEO of The Textile Innovation Engine, where she leads workforce development and regional engagement initiatives. She is also Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of The Industrial Commons, supporting more than 2,500 workers through a collaborative, member-led network of textile manufacturers and workplace development programs.

Through her experience and leadership, she has organized economic development initiatives across rural Western North Carolina, founded Opportunity Threads, which has grown into the largest U.S.-based worker-owned cut-and-sew facility, and co-founded the Carolina Textile District in 2013, a strategic value chain focused on revitalizing textile manufacturing across the Carolinas.

Molly has also contributed her leadership on a national scale, serving on the board of the Democracy at Work Institute (DAWI) and as a founding board member of the North Carolina Employee Ownership Center (NCEOC). A graduate of Duke University and native of Morganton, NC, Molly remains deeply rooted in her hometown, where she lives, works, and raises her family.

Christine Laucher

Mountain BizWorks

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Christine Laucher is the Strategic Partnership Manager at Mountain BizWorks, a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution. Mountain BizWorks’ mission is to build a vibrant and inclusive entrepreneurial community in Western North Carolina by helping small businesses start, grow, and thrive.

With a passion for nurturing thriving rural communities, Christine piloted the first WNC Investment Framer Training in 2023 to build local capacity for driving economic development and investment in rural areas, and brought it back to WNC in 2025 with support from NC IDEA. Christine serves as the Chair of Spark Tank, the Western North Carolina-based collaborative of entrepreneurial support organizations.

At the completion of this session, she will happily delight you with pictures of her giant fuzzy dog and two handsome kiddos.

Heather McWhorter

UNCW CIE

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Heather McWhorter is a passionate leader dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability. As Director of the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), she leads initiatives that connect academia, industry, and community to grow southeastern North Carolina into a vibrant hub of impact-driven innovation.

Under her leadership, CIE has become a catalyst for high-impact startups and blue economy solutions, offering programs such as the Idea Test Lab and the Ocean Innovation Conference, and launching innovations like the UNC Wilmington Blue Economy Index—the first global tool to track growth and impact in the sector.

Heather currently serves in advisory and governance roles across North Carolina, including as a Board Director with NC IDEA, Vice Chair of the Leland Economic Development Committee, and Southeastern North Carolina Biotechnology Advisory Committee Member.

With degrees in chemical, energy, and environmental engineering from Penn State, Heather blends technical expertise with strategic vision. Heather believes thriving entrepreneurial communities create more than businesses—they create opportunity, resilience, and lasting impact.

Anjanette Miller

Echo

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Anjanette Miller is the Chief Executive Officer of Echo, where she leads community centered entrepreneurship ecosystem building across Durham and the greater Triangle region. With more than 20 years of leadership experience including founding an educational advocacy center, directing Audacity Labs, and now guiding Echo, she has championed programming that supports entrepreneurs of all ages and stages. Her work focuses on breaking down systemic barriers by developing inclusive youth and adult led initiatives that strengthen community agency and drive economic equity.

Outside of work, Anjanette serves on the board of Carolina Achieve, a charter school dedicated to innovation and design thinking. She is also an avid explorer, having visited all of North Carolina’s state parks and five national parks.

Stan Parker

WSPR Fund

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Stan Parker has served as the president of Winston Starts since 2021 and as a General Partner of the WSPR Fund since 2024.

He has served in C Suite and executive leadership roles in strategic planning, brand strategy, marketing management and communications across multiple industries and operating models and has experience working with startups and scaling businesses domestically and internationally.

Stan holds an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Belmont Abbey College, where he was a scholarship athlete.

Paula Pingel

Crelucin Business Coaching & Consulting

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Paula Pingel, MS, MBA, leverages three decades of global expertise in business development, strategic planning, commercialization, marketing, and operations. She excels in launching products, services, and startups while crafting innovative strategies for both for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Her diverse experience spans industries such as healthcare, energy, digital imaging, technology, pharmaceuticals, and consumer products across regions including the U.S., Canada, Japan, China, the UK, Southern Ireland, and South America. With expertise across fourteen functional areas, Paula delivers impactful solutions that drive growth and innovation. She holds an Executive MBA from the University of Rochester, an MS in Industrial Hygiene/Toxicology, and a BS in Pre-Medicine.

Vania Ramos Ponce

Right to Start

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Vania Ramos Ponce is a seasoned financial services professional with over two decades of experience in accounting, tax strategy, and community lending. With a strong foundation in both corporate and nonprofit finance, she has worked extensively with CDFIs, SBA-aligned institutions, and small business clients to promote equitable access to capital and financial education.

In addition to her financial advisory work, Vania co-founded and successfully managed Sweet Mango Frozen Yogurt in Mexico for over seven years. Through this hands-on experience, she gained firsthand insight into the challenges entrepreneurs face, deepening her commitment to supporting small businesses through practical, culturally relevant guidance.

A former senior tax specialist at PwC and finance lecturer for more than a decade, Vania brings analytical rigor, cross-cultural fluency, and a passion for financial inclusion to every project she undertakes. She opened and led Prospera’s first office in North Carolina, directly supporting over 200 entrepreneurs, and has presented internationally on financial cooperatives and economic development.

Now based in North Carolina, Vania serves as a tax and business advisor to entrepreneurs, an Entrepreneur Advocate with Right to Start, and a consultant advancing inclusive economic development. She has led financial operations in both public and private sectors, developed tools to improve efficiency, and helped business owners strengthen their models and access funding.

Vania holds a Ph.D. in Political Economy of Development, an MBA, and a Bachelor’s in Accounting. She is fully bilingual in English and Spanish and is in the final stages of CPA licensure, having passed all four exams.