TRIAD

February 29, 2024

Join Carolina Small Business Development Fund this February as we gather in Greensboro to celebrate North Carolina's strong ecosystem of Black entrepreneurs.

This exciting event will feature networking opportunities and a panel that will engage and inform Black-owned small business owners on the opportunities and resources available to help them grow their business!

Our Black Entrepreneurship Night is SOLD OUT! We appreciate all who registered and look forward to celebrating with you.

Title Sponsor

Platinum Sponsor

Our Speakers

Host and Welcome Panel

Carlos Davis

Carlos Davis is the founder and CEO of I Stand and Deliver, LLC, a global professional development firm based in Charlotte. He is the author of Open Says Me: THE System That Can Open Any and All Opportunities in Your Career. Carlos teaches a course on professional networking skills development to PhD candidates at the UNC-Charlotte's Urban Education Collaborative, and he serves on the board of directors of the Steele Creek YMCA. Carlos has been awarded the Black Enterprise Modern Man Award from Black Enterprise Magazine and has been a finalist for the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Young Professional Entrepreneur of the Year.

Lisa Hazlett

Lisa Hazlett is the President of the Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship where she is responsible for development, day to day operations of the Center. 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. Lisa is officially sanctioned by the estate of Patsy Cline. A proud Rotarian, Lisa served as President of her club during the 2019-2020 Rotary year. She was awarded the Governor’s Platinum Club Award and achieved the Highest Membership Growth Award out of 50 clubs in District 7690. 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.

Public Sector Panel

Moderator -- Kevin Dick

Kevin Dick began as President & CEO with Carolina Small Business Development Fund in February 2020 after decades of professional experience working in economic, community, and workforce development at the local government level. He leads a team of approximately 37 full-time employees and has accountability for a $20m loan portfolio with $34m in assets under his management. Since joining CSBDF, Kevin has helped to bring about a resurgence of the organization as a community and economic development entity with a statewide focus.

Cynthia Barnes

Cynthia Barnes has more than three decades of industry experience in design, construction, and facilities management and 20 years as an MWBE advocate. She is currently the MWBE Coordinator for the City of High Point. In this role, she is responsible for developing and administering the City's minority and women-owned economic development program to increase business opportunities for Historically Underutilized Businesses for construction and goods and services. She has been instrumental in developing and assisting with implementation of HUB initiatives, policies, and practices that have been utilized by various institutions throughout the state of North Carolina. She is a graduate of NC A&T State University.

Eric Eley

Eric Eley joined the City of Greensboro in November 2023 as Senior M/WBE Program Manager. Eley comes to the City from Johnson Controls LLP a global technology company headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, where he most recently served as the Customer Success Manager, supporting existing and new digital solutions customers and business operations from eastern Canada to Florida. Prior to Johnson Controls, he was the principle in his own company Business Answers LLC, a strategic business services firm focused on marketing and operations projects. Eley also held marketing and sales leadership positions with Colliers Turley Martin Tucker (Cushman Wakefield), Indianapolis Zoological Society, and United Technologies-Carrier Corporation, all in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Dr. Julius Monk

Dr. Julius Monk is the Deputy Superintendent of Business and Operations for Guilford County Schools (GCS). GCS is the third-largest school district in North Carolina, employing over 10,000 employees. In his role, Dr. Monk leads human resources, finance, transportation, school nutrition, safety and security, building services, and other departments critical for operating a school district. Dr. Monk has garnered vast experience in his more than two decades of operational leadership in the K-12 industry; creating innovative, inviting, and equitable learning environments in two of the largest districts in North Carolina.

Shaunne Thomas

Shaunne Thomas serves as Director of the MWBE Department for Guilford County and is passionate about creating opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses in government contracting. During her year tenure, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners has adopted the county’s first Disparity Study, their first MWBE Policy and Procedure documents, and purchased their first subcontractor payment monitoring software. Shaunne specializes in fact-based and evidence-driven strategic inclusion programs that are good business for everyone. She is looking forward to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to bring a nationally recognized MWBE program to the citizens of Guilford County.

Private Sector Panel

Moderator -- Marvin J. Price

Marvin J. Price serves as the Executive Vice President, Economic Development for the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, representing Guilford County and Greensboro. He has been instrumental in fostering economic growth, having facilitated more than $15 billion in capital investment and the creation of more than 9,900 jobs. He has collaborated closely with corporate executives, site selectors, and real estate developers. Prior to his role, he served as the Vice President of Economic Recruitment for the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance. He also managed Business Development for Spire and served as Project Manager for the Birmingham Business Alliance.

Peter Bishop

Peter Bishop serves as the Director of Economic Development for the City of High Point. In this role, Peter leads the City's industrial recruitment and retention activities, small business and entrepreneurship, grants and incentive programs. Peter began his career in the private sector in commercial real estate before transitioning to the public realm and economic development. Prior to joining the City of High Point, Peter was the City of Burlington's first Director of Economic Development, launching the office in 2016.

Danny Brown

Danny Brown created United Maintenance Group (UMG) in 1996 and became a partner of GE Construction in 2023. A past recipient of the Greater Greensboro Chamber of Commerce 'Small Business of the Year' award, as well as the City of Greensboro 'Small Business of the Year' award and Spectrum's first national 'Pay It Forward' award, Danny is a Certified Constructor and leader in Commercial/Industrial Construction. UMG Has been contracted by FEMA in NC, TX, LA, MS, and AL. Other major projects include Harris Teeter, Proctor and Gamble, National Register of Historic Places, PTI Airport Authority, and the City of Greensboro. Danny sits on several boards, is the NC representative for WIC (Women in Construction) and enjoys mentoring people of all ages.

Geoff Foster

Geoff Foster serves as the President and CEO of Core Technology Molding Corporation in Greensboro. He earned multiple degrees from North Carolina A&T State University as well as an MBA from Wake Forest University. He founded Core Technology Molding Corp. in 2006, an injection molding solutions provider that competes in the medical device, automotive, biological pharmaceutical, heavy truck, and outdoor lawn equipment markets. His company ships to more than 150 countries and works with companies such as Pfizer, Merck, BMW, Volvo, Mack Trucks, and more. He was named Greensboro Entrepreneur of the Year in 2020, and Core Technology was named the 2022 Small Business of the Year by the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce.

CC Lamberth

Cornelius "CC" Lamberth is the President and Owner of C2 Contractors, LLC, an unlimited licensed commercial general contractor and telecommunications firm which he founded in 2007. In 2013, C2 Contractors was awarded the Good Faith Effort Awawrd by the North Carolina Administration Office of Historically Underutlized Businesses for outstanding achievements as a HUB business. CC is a former owner and Executive VP of CoMor Corporation. He is currently a member of the Executive Board of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce as well as the past Chairman and current member of the Governor's Advisory Council on Historically Underutilized Businesses for North Carolina. He is the Chairman of the Economic Development Committee for the Greensboro Branch of the NAACP.

CSBDF Panel

Reggie Jones

Reggie Jones serves as the Business Solutions Director for Carolina Small Business Development Fund. In this role, he works to proactively build relationships with small business owners, lenders, and community partners. Reggie has nearly 20 years in lending and has held several leadership roles with commercial banks in his career. Government guaranteed lending has been a large part of his experience and he has held several roles with SBA and USDA loan departments. He is a graduate of East Carolina University and holds a Broker's License through the North Carolina Real Estate Commission.

Madison Potter

Madison Potter serves as a Business Solutions Officer for Carolina Small Business Development Fund, with a regional focus on the Triad. Madison lives in Greensboro NC and is an alumna of UNC-Greensboro. She has been in the financial industry for over a decade and loves helping small businesses be successful and owners become financially literate through support and education.