The Connectors: The real-world networkers who bring together people and resources to get things done.
Rhonda Bellamy
President & CEO, Arts Council of Wilmington & New Hanover County
As its founding executive director, Rhonda Bellamy has led the arts council since 2012.
Why she’s a connector: In 2024, Bellamy completed a two-year term as chair of Arts NC, a statewide arts advocacy organization. The council administers two grants on behalf of the N.C. Arts Council, including the Grassroots Arts Program Grant (for New Hanover County organizations) and Artist Support Grants (for artists in New Hanover, Pender, Brunswick, Columbus and Bladen counties). In addition, the council received a $200,000 grant from the New Hanover Community Endowment to pass on through subgrants to New Hanover County arts organizations.
This year, the council also rebranded the Wilmington Arts Summit to the Southeast Arts Summit, a two-day conference for arts leaders that was expanded to include the Carolinas, Georgia and Virginia. The local organization also oversaw the commissioning of exterior artwork for the Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic on Greenfield Street.
Reason for applause: The council presented the 11th Wilmington Theater Awards on March 20. The awards program featured nominations in 21 categories from more than a dozen production companies in Southeastern North Carolina.
Laura Brogdon-Primavera
VP of Leadership Development, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
Laura Brogdon-Primavera developed the chamber’s Career and Leadership Development Academy for local seventh-grade students.
Why she’s a connector: The program served 1,800 children in 2024, and one of Brogdon-Primavera’s future projects is to scale the Career and Leadership Development Academy (CLDA) so it can also be offered to older students.
The program started a couple of years ago with 43 seventh-graders and then 88 students, before expanding to its current size with the help of $2.8 million in state funding. The 10-month program allows kids to explore local career clusters at no cost to the students.
The chamber and the CLDA were awarded the 2024 Association in Leadership Programs Excellence in Innovation Award. The recognition “celebrates outstanding creativity, uniqueness, and impact within community leadership programs. The Career and Leadership Development Academy was selected for its groundbreaking approach to bridging the gap between traditional education and real-world career preparation, directly addressing the critical need for a skilled workforce in the Wilmington, North Carolina area,” according to a news release.
Also because of her work with the CLDA, Brogdon-Primavera was chosen to participate in the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s prestigious Education and Workforce Fellowship Program. “This program is designed to equip leaders from state and local chambers of commerce, economic development agencies, and trade associations with the resources and networks necessary to tackle critical education and workforce challenges,” a release stated.
Other chamber projects involving Brogdon-Primavera: Leadership Wilmington and Work on Wilmington
Rob Burrus
Dean, UNCW Cameron School of Business
Rob Burrus is responsible for all matters related to the Cameron School of Business budget, programs, personnel, fundraising and curriculum.
Why he’s a connector: Burrus leads an institution that has an all-time enrollment high of nearly 3,200 students, and the school recently completed a five-year strategic plan.
Burrus became dean in 2015, having joined UNCW’s faculty in 1998. Prior to taking on the dean role, Burrus was interim dean, associate dean of undergraduate studies and the chair of the department of economics and finance. Burrus earned a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in economics from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in mathematical economics from Wake Forest University.
This year, he was named Dean of the Year by the University Sales Center Alliance.
Goals and plans: “The Cameron School plans to greatly expand student involvement in business consultancy over the next three years,” Burrus said. He also said the CSB is working on plans to expand the home of the business school, Cameron Hall, in the near future.
Chakema Clinton-Quintana
Director, Channel
Chakema Clinton-Quintana has been leading Live Oak Bank’s small business center, Channel, since its founding in 2021.
Why she’s a connector: Channel promotes inclusive business, supporting entrepreneurs with an emphasis on minority-owned businesses. Clinton-Quintana counts among her responsibilities: providing guidance and execution in the development of comprehensive incentive and engagement programs to diversify the city’s economy; focusing on strengthening and supporting inclusive small business growth in the community through research, job creation programs, capital allocation, mentorship and programming; supporting economic development programs and partnering with local business, academic, government and nonprofit community development activities; and designing programs to support minority-owned small businesses in the area.
Recognition and training: In January, Clinton-Quintana completed the certification for NC IDEA’s Certified Entrepreneurial Mindset Facilitator designation and Leadership for Inclusive Communities in partnership with the YWCA USA. She received the 2022 New Hanover County Equity Award for Business and the 2022 JC Community Award.
Bill Early
Executive Director, Brunswick Business & Industry Development
With more than three decades of economic development experience, Bill Early is at the helm of Brunswick Business & Industry Development (BID), an organization that aims to recruit new businesses and keep existing ones in Brunswick County.
Why he’s a connector: Last year, Brunswick County witnessed one of the largest economic development announcements in the region’s history when India-based firm Epsilon Advanced Materials announced its plans to invest $650 million in a 1.5-million-square-foot facility that would produce graphite for lithium-ion electric vehicle batteries.
Early played a leading role in bringing Epsilon to the area. The project planned for the county’s Mid-Atlantic Industrial Rail Park is expected to create 500 new jobs in Brunswick County.
Over this past year, Early has worked with Epsilon to finalize its site plans and engineering and to submit permit applications needed for the project. Brunswick County has taken steps to ensure the site meets Epsilon’s infrastructure needs, including the expansion of the industrial park’s water tower and the extension of water and sewer service.
Brunswick BID is also working with a private developer to expand industrial space within the International Logistics Park, a megasite in Brunswick and Columbus counties. The organization has long advocated for the construction of speculative buildings to help meet industry needs in Brunswick County.
Room to grow: Even with the planned Epsilon facility, roughly 950 acres remain available for development in the county’s Mid-Atlantic Industrial Rail Park.
Dana Fisher
Executive Director, North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce
As the top executive and only employee of the North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce, Dana Fisher supports the business community across northern Brunswick County. The chamber’s primary service area includes Belville, Leland, Navassa, Northwest, Sandy Creek, Town Creek and Winnabow.
Why she’s a connector: In her role, Fisher organizes ribbon cuttings, business networking and other events that give Brunswick County residents and business owners the chance to make connections.
Fisher runs all of the chamber’s day-to-day operations, doing everything from billing chamber members and preparing tax forms to putting on events. She also leads the chamber’s member recruitment efforts and helps facilitate sessions for Leadership Brunswick County.
The organization’s mission is to lead and advance the economic development of the area and promote business activity that enhances the quality of life for all residents. The chamber also has a 15-member board of directors.
Fisher plays an active role in promoting Brunswick County as a member of tourism boards for both Brunswick County and the town of Leland. She also sits on the board of the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern North Carolina and volunteers with several other organizations.
Fisher is already looking ahead to 2025 as she works to plan chamber events and budget for the organization.
Housing help: If Fisher could start any business or organization, she would provide housing for the less fortunate in the Cape Fear region.
Jim Flock
General Manager, HSM Machine Works
Jim Flock oversees the daily operations of HSM Machine Works at its Leland factory. The company manufactures highly complex, close-tolerance components for fighter jet and military helicopter landing gear. Flock also plays an active role in convening the area’s manufacturing sector and promoting workforce development.
Why he’s a connector: In 2020, Flock served as a founding member of the Cape Fear Manufacturing Partnership and, since then, has chaired the organization’s steering committee.
The partnership was formed to address industry-wide challenges in improving and growing the manufacturing workforce in Southeastern North Carolina. Flock led efforts to launch the partnership and has helped grow its membership to about 70 companies. Because of his work with the manufacturing partnership, Flock was elected chairman of the Cape Fear Workforce Development Board in 2021, a position he still holds today.
Earlier this year, Flock was invited to attend the annual National Association of Workforce Boards conference in Washington, D.C. There, he informed a national audience about the manufacturing partnership’s work in the Cape Fear region. He also has advised other workforce organizations in several states about how to form their own partnerships.
At HSM Machine Works, Flock is working to integrate several new products into the company’s work scope along with developing several new experimental prototypes for one of the company’s leading defense contractors.
Future growth: Flock wants to see the Cape Fear Manufacturing Partnership expand its influence in the coming years, growing into a statewide or even national organization.
John Gillespie, Kate Groat & Lisa Leath
Co-Chairs, Tech Talent Collaborative
John Gillespie is chief technology officer for MegaCorp Logistics. Kate Groat is director of corporate philanthropy for Live Oak Bank. And Lisa Leath is chief people officer for Vantaca. Together they served as co-chairs of the local Tech Talent Collaborative, a consortium of about two dozen employers.
Why they’re connectors: The Tech Talent Collaborative launched to build a pipeline of skilled technology professionals, a necessity if the area is to continue to attract technology and other businesses, Leath said. The group identified the most-needed technology jobs locally: front-end and back-end software engineers, data engineers and Salesforce administrators. It also pinpointed the skills tech employees need to perform those jobs.
The collaborative is using both traditional and nontraditional educational paths to grow Wilmington’s tech talent pool and ensure its future tech personnel needs are met.
One program the collaborative has brought to the area is Stiegler EdTech’s Careers in Technology Apprenticeship Cohort (CTAC). CTAC provides expedited, high-quality tech training.
Offerings: Stiegler EdTech launched its first Wilmington-based CTAC in May, according to collaborative officials. The 24-week paid training initiative received over 800 applications for just 35 seats, providing participants with a $17,000 stipend and a curriculum tailored to local employer needs.
Johnny Griffin
Director, Wilmington Regional Film Commission
Johnny Griffin may be a one-person operation at the Wilmington Regional Film Commission, but that doesn’t diminish the effectiveness of his organization. His efforts over the past 25 years have ensured that film activity continues to have a major impact on the local economy.
Why he’s a connector: While success in the film industry has often been attributed to a “Who you know, not what you know” culture, Griffin has both.
A Certified Film Commissioner, he has helped make Wilmington a film destination because of his deep knowledge of the industry, his familiarity with Southeastern North Carolina and his extensive contacts at film studios, the state legislature and film hubs throughout the state. Working from his office on the Cinespace Studios lot, Griffin connects producers with opportunities and resources, including the N.C. Film Grant Program.
On the upswing: After strikes halted many film projects in 2023, Griffin helped attract several to the area once activity resumed. Among the productions this past year:
The Summer I Turned Pretty, Merv, The Waterfront and
The Runarounds. Total local spending by film projects as of this fall was about $200 million.
Christina Haley
President & CEO, Wilmington Downtown Inc.
Christina Haley earned a promotion to lead the economic development agency Wilmington Downtown Inc. in June.
Why she’s a connector: Haley has a hand in many aspects of downtown Wilmington’s economic health. In 2024, she led the creation and release of a request for proposals to select a contractor for an economic impact study of city-owned venues Live Oak Bank Pavilion, Greenfield Lake Amphitheater and the Wilmington Convention Center. The second portion of the study will assess hotel needs in the Central Business District and evaluate a city-owned site for redevelopment as a hotel, Haley said.
She also serves on the city of Wilmington’s strategic planning committee to support development and initiatives within the greater downtown area and on the Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau’s strategic planning committee, contributing to the long-term vision for the county through its 10-year master planning effort. She is also leading the expansion of the downtown holiday lighting display, with long-term planning for the continuation and growth of the initiative through 2026.
Looking at the future: A goal is to “finalize our comprehensive overview of downtown development progress, ongoing projects and opportunities for future growth,” she said.
Kim Hufham
President & CEO, Wilmington and Beaches CVB
Kim Hufham has worked for the CVB for more than 30 years and this year is working on the first-ever 10-year Tourism Master Plan (TMP) for New Hanover County. The TMP “will align the direction and responsible development of tourism with the community’s needs. The process will include individual community tourism plans for our island beaches,” Hufham said.
Why she’s a connector: Hufham acts as a liaison between visitors and businesses that provide goods and services to the tourism industry, a spokesperson for the impact and importance of tourism in New Hanover County and an advocate for local and state tourism.
She is currently focused on Wilmington Riverwalk holiday lighting and events promotion; a Wilmington Riverwalk wayfinding/signage study; new strategies to increase meetings and sports events; and the continuation of the CVB’s out-of-state awareness campaign.
Hufham sits on the N.C. Travel Industry Association Board of Directors.
Tourism stats: Visitor spending in New Hanover County topped $1.1 billion in 2023, Hufham noted. Room occupancy tax collections also saw another record-breaking fiscal year at nearly $25 million, and tourism employment was up 3% for 2023 (6,790 jobs).
Alexis Hunter
Community Liaison, Wilmington Health
In her role at Wilmington Health, Alexis Hunter fosters connections between the independent physician group and the public, focusing on business development and community outreach.
Why she’s a connector: She has played a role in Wilmington Health’s growth, particularly through projects such as expanding the Wilmington Health Direct Service Line, a program helping regional employers find direct access to care for employees.
Hunter also focuses on community events, such as the Ironman 70.3 North Carolina, of which Wilmington Health is the race’s official medical partner, and Hunter leads efforts for three medical tents throughout the course.
In addition to her work at Wilmington Health, Hunter is involved in leadership roles in the community. She is president-elect for the Lower Cape Fear Human Resources Association, is a Wilmington Chamber of Commerce board member, sits on the WILMA Leadership Advisory Board and serves as the celebrations committee chair for the Leadership Wilmington class of 2024.
Early role: Hunter joined Wilmington Health two weeks after the pandemic started in 2020, and her first project in her role was to bring COVID testing to the area’s film industry.
Velva Jenkins
President & CEO, YWCA Lower Cape Fear
Velva Jenkins leads an organization that’s evolving with the addition of new programs and the expansion of its reach to more members of the community.
Why she’s a connector: In her role, she oversees all YWCA sustainable programs and community outreach programs that empower and advocate for women and people of color. Those programs include the Grandparent Support Network, New Choices Economic Empowerment, Early Parenthood Program and What’s Wrong with Different, Early Childcare Development and Aquatics. She is responsible for grants and identifying long-term financial security for the YWCA. Currently, she manages a $2.2 million budget, and the YWCA has 3,500 members.
The YWCA partnered with New Hanover County Schools and the YMCA for the Schools in Pools Initiative, which teaches swimming and water safety to second graders. The program successfully served 13 schools in 2024, Jenkins said. “In the next year, the partnership plans to expand to all elementary schools,” she said.
The YWCA also graduated its first class of Leadership for Inclusive Communities, a program for senior leaders in the nonprofit, public and business sectors.
Capital campaign: The YWCA has secured over $4.1 million towards a $9.8 million goal. The funding will be used to enhance the organization’s Health and Wellness Aquatic Center and to sustain outreach programs, Jenkins said.
Janet Kane
CEO, Cape Fear Realtors
Janet Kane began leading the region’s largest Realtors’ association, Wilmington-based Cape Fear Realtors (CFR), in 2024.
Why she’s a connector: Kane and CFR have helped association members navigate multiple changes introduced to the real estate industry this year as a result of lawsuit settlements over commissions and other practices, providing free training to help them understand the new policies.
She said she’s also fostered strong relationships with CFR association alliances, including the Business Alliance for a Sound Economy, the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and the Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association.
Current projects: CFR is collaborating with nonprofit Cape Fear Collective on an updated housing affordability study to help elected officials make “sound decisions on housing assistance and ways to improve housing attainability.” Additionally, Kane serves as the corporate secretary for Wilmington Realtors Foundation, which was recently awarded $1.2 million from the New Hanover Community Endowment to develop a workforce housing project, Pierson Pointe.
Katrina Knight
Executive Director, Good Shepherd Center
For the past 20 years, Katrina Knight has led the evolution of Wilmington’s Good Shepherd Center. The organization serves as a safety net for those in crisis, providing food, housing and medical care to hundreds facing homelessness each year.
Why she’s a connector: Knight oversees Good Shepherd’s efforts across three sites to link homeless individuals and families with the needed resources.
She’s also led the creation of SECU Lakeside Reserve, a supportive housing community geared toward chronically homeless individuals with significant disabilities. In late 2024, the Good Shepherd Center breaks ground on another 32 units of supportive housing on the site of a former fire station on Carolina Beach Road.
Knight heads up the organization’s multi-million-dollar Home for Good Campaign, which will help fund a family shelter, expanded homeless services campus and up to 30 new housing units planned for 812 Martin St.
Knight also sits on the City/County Workforce Housing Advisory Committee, which recommends strategies to ensure housing access for those earning up to 120% of the Area Median Income.
Housing trust: Since 2004, Knight has advocated for the creation of a local housing trust fund. The fund allows communities to leverage private and public support to preserve and develop affordable housing. Wilmington is the only “sizable community” in North Carolina without a housing trust, according to Knight.
Sheri Leavens
Assistant Dean for Student Success and Academic Advising, UNCW CHHS
Sheri Leavens is part of the leadership team at the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s College of Health and Human Services.
Why she’s a connector: Leavens implements programs and services for about 5,000 students in the School of Nursing; School of Social Work; and School of Health and Applied Human Sciences. She oversees two Student Advising Success Centers and Pre-Health Programs while supporting college recruitment efforts, campus orientation, student advising and instruction. She also leads a team of 27.
Her key contributions include mentoring entry-level advisers, teaching 200 students annually and securing annual grant funding of over $200,000 for the CHHS to promote recruitment, exposure, retention and community engagement in health care careers through workshops and resources.
She also co-authored a $2.5 million scholarship program for nursing students and oversees six health care pipeline/pathway initiatives for the CHHS and Southeastern North Carolina.
Community ties: Off campus, Leavens is co-founder of 3LW, Three Ladies in Wilmington, to create casual but meaningful opportunities for Black professionals in the area. She also serves in local board roles for the WILMA Leadership Advisory Board and the Willie Stargell Foundation.
Heather McWhorter
Director, UNCW CIE
Heather McWhorter served as interim director for a year before being named to the permanent Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) director position in July 2022.
Why she’s a connector: McWhorter strives to connect entrepreneurs with resources and ideas and help make Wilmington an innovation hub. Her primary director responsibilities include entrepreneur services development and capacity building; entrepreneur advising and consulting; community and team leadership; strategic planning and sustainability; and funding strategy.
UNCW won a University Economic Development Association Award of Excellence after McWhorter submitted “Climate Change and Coastal Resiliency – Turning Knowledge to Action.”
McWhorter’s submission showcased UNCW’s impact through initiatives such as the Alliance for the Blue Economy, the Ocean Innovation Conference, Idea Test Lab and NC EcoTech, the release stated.
This summer, McWhorter earned the highest level of certification for those in her field: Entrepreneurship Center Management, or ECM, from the International Business Innovation Association.
Year of outreach: The CIE worked with more than 175 entrepreneurs this year through programs, events and mentoring.
Cameron Moore
Executive Officer, Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association
Cameron Moore has been the executive officer for the WCFHBA since 2014.
Why he’s a connector: Moore manages the not-for-profit trade group and is responsible for day-to-day association leadership and governance, member services, finance, staff supervision, association community event planning, marketing and legislative and regulatory affairs.
With just four employees, the organization is the fourth-largest HBA in the United States. WCFHBA is also the second-largest group of its kind in North Carolina and the largest in Southeastern North Carolina.
Achievements: Moore helped shape the state’s first stormwater permit transfer process and is currently a New Hanover County Planning Board member. He has been an American Institute Certified Planner since 2008 and is a certified continuing education teacher for the N.C. Licensing Board for General Contractors.
Girard & Tracey Newkirk
Co-Founders, Genesis Block
Girard and Tracey Newkirk lead the day-to-day operations of Genesis Block Labs, a business incubator they cofounded in 2019. Genesis Block supports small business owners, entrepreneurs and startups with a focus on ventures led by minorities and women.
Why they’re connectors: Through Genesis Block, the Newkirks help create pathways for underrepresented entrepreneurs to realize their dreams of small business ownership.
Current programs include the Block Academy and its Jumpstart Academy Cohorts, the Block Eatz food incubator on Cape Fear Community College’s north campus and Conversations to Contracts, an event that gives small and diverse-owned businesses opportunities to commercialize their products and services.
Tracey Newkirk oversees the operations of Genesis Block Foundation, a nonprofit advancing entrepreneurship in underprivileged communities. In the next year, the foundation will help stand-up programming for the Block Eatz food incubator in partnership with Genesis Block and CFCC. In 2025, Genesis Block also plans to establish pop-up shops for microbusinesses in downtown Wilmington.
In addition to their leadership at Genesis Block, the Newkirks sit on various community boards, including the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Business Alliance. Tracey Newkirk is also a founding member of the N.C. Network of Incubator Kitchens.
Building a pipeline: Genesis Block has secured a contract with the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Office of Civil Rights to build a pipeline of diverse contractors for the department’s District 3, an area encompassing much of Southeastern North Carolina.
Yolanda Pollard
Director, UNCW Swain Center
In 2024, Yolanda Pollard completed her first year as a leader in a higher education setting with UNCW, following more than 25 years in power industry roles with GE and Entergy Corp.
Why she’s a connector: Pollard leads a team of professionals and expert facilitators who design and deliver leadership development programs and consulting services for businesses and organizations in the region.
“Most of my time and effort during the year focused on connecting with UNCW stakeholders and Swain Center’s current and potential client base,” Pollard said. “I’ve enjoyed site tours to learn about local business operations and time well spent simply getting to know community leaders through conversations over coffee. Many of these leaders attended the annual Economic Outlook Conference organized and hosted by Swain Center in October to hear from regional, national and international economists.”
Future project: “For 2025, I’m excited about the opportunity to build on the foundation of leadership programming offered at Swain Center, to include additional strategic planning, executive coaching and operational effectiveness projects that support businesses and organizations across the region,” Pollard said.
Bernice Sanders Johnson
Senior Project Manager, CFPUA
Bernice Sanders Johnson has worked at Cape Fear Public Utility Authority since the agency opened in 2008. Before joining CFPUA, she served as a project manager for New Hanover County.
Why she’s a connector: As a senior project manager in CFPUA’s engineering department, her primary role is to review commercial and residential subdivision plans submitted by engineers on behalf of developers. She also works with internal and external customers, developers and engineers to determine whether CFPUA water and sewer services are available to their property. Her tasks often includes working with New Hanover County and various CFPUA departments daily to research and answer water and sewer questions.
This year, she helped implement the Rockhill Residential Connection Pilot Program to extend water service to many of the residents in the Rockhill Road neighborhood.
Community ties: Sanders Johnson graduated from the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Wilmington program. She also was appointed to the N.C. Azalea Festival’s board and is involved with groups such as Beta Sigma Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. and the Wilmington chapter of Jack and Jill of America Inc.
Scott Satterfield
CEO, Wilmington Business Development
Since 1995, Scott Satterfield has been at the helm of Wilmington Business Development, an organization that leads the recruitment of new businesses to the greater Wilmington area and works to retain and grow existing employers.
Why he’s a connector: Satterfield helps guide prospective companies through the site selection process, provides industrial expansion and relocation services and acts as a liaison between businesses and local government leaders.
This year, Satterfield helped bring Protocase, a Canadian rapid manufacturing and prototyping firm, to the area. The firm selected Wilmington for its U.S. headquarters and its first-ever expansion. Protocase officials are working to establish offices downtown, and within five years, the company plans to build a manufacturing facility that could employ about 400 people.
Wilmington Trade Center, a master-planned industrial park from Edgewater Ventures, also secured $3.3 million in incentives from New Hanover County this year to support its continued expansion along U.S. 421. The growing industrial park will serve as a recruitment tool for Wilmington Business Development, helping the group attract new companies and grow others with an existing presence in the Cape Fear region.
Site spotlight: This year, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina identified Holly Shelter Business Park in Castle Hayne as one of the state’s top 15 industrial sites under 1,000 acres. Sites identified in the Selectsite Readiness Program Report could receive increased development and marketing support from the state and the economic development partnership.
Sandy Spiers
SVP & Market President, First National Bank
In her banking role, Sandy Spiers leads the commercial team in Southeastern North Carolina and serves as market president for First National Bank (FNB). The bank employs more than 60 people locally.
Why she’s a connector: Spiers also has worked with and led many volunteer organizations in the community, often serving as board chair. She was the first female chair for the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Foundation and the Cameron School of Business advisory board.
She also has chaired events for other local nonprofits, including the American Heart Association’s Heart Ball and Heart Walk as well as hospice, JDRF, and The Children’s Museum of Wilmington events.
Spiers currently is involved with Beacon Education/GLOW Academy, StepUp Wilmington, Meals on Wheels and the UNCW Foundation.
Mentoring maven: Spiers has spent countless hours mentoring in the area. She has volunteered with both the Cameron Executive Network and WILMA in their mentoring programs since 2001. “I love guiding young students and business professionals as they begin to work on leaving their footprint in their career of choice,” she said, “while helping them navigate challenges they may face, and to offer guidance to maintain a manageable work/life balance.”
Barnes Sutton
Economic & Community Development Director, Town of Leland
Barnes Sutton leads efforts to plan and implement initiatives that promote economic, community and tourism development in the town of Leland.
Why he’s a connector: Sutton’s role involves forging relationships with business leaders, industrial developers and community organizations. He serves as the point of contact for businesses and industries looking to establish themselves or grow in the Leland area.
This year, the town of Leland put a particular focus on attracting businesses in the life science and medical technology sectors. The town’s strategic plan identifies both sectors as opportunities to bring high-paying, quality jobs to the area. Sutton organized and hosted the town’s inaugural Life Science and Medical Technology Summit in April. The industry-specific focus appears to be paying off. Sutton said he recently helped a manufacturer in the marine biology sector expand into Leland.
Sutton is also overseeing efforts from the Leland Tourism Development Authority to update the town’s Tourism Development Strategic Plan, which will help guide future investments in placemaking and marketing to promote Leland. Those efforts aim to help the town attract and retain visitors and businesses alike.
Looking ahead, Sutton wants to expand the town’s capabilities to support entrepreneurs and business development.
Leland call out: Sutton said people should know Trish Farnham, the community organizer behind the nonprofit We Live Here Leland. The group aims to improve the area through neighborhood clean-ups, tree plantings and promoting neighborhood connectivity.
Lydia Thomas
Program Manager, UNCW CIE
As program manager at UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Lydia Thomas focuses on connecting businesspeople with each other and the public.
Why she’s a connector: This year, Thomas worked on the Ocean Innovation Conference, which drew over 300 attendees and focused on fostering innovation in sustainable ocean technology. It featured keynote speakers, panel talks, an innovation fair and networking events. Next year, she plans to work on the Ocean Innovation Conference’s expansion to increased national and international attendance to highlight the state’s Blue Economy hub.
She also created EcoInnovate Weekend, a startup weekend for a range of groups – students, retirees and startup owners – interested in sustainability and entrepreneurship to foster creative solutions to climate issues.
Thomas launched and ran two cohorts of an early-stage accelerator called Idea Test Lab to push forward ideas and help founders. One cohort included 10 female founders/women-in-tech, and the other cohort included nine bluetech/climatetech founders.
$10,000 was awarded to six of the entrepreneurs across the cohorts.
In the round: Thomas implemented and facilitated the Wilmington Founders Roundtable for later-stage startups to have a space to discuss challenges of being a founder.
Linda Thompson
Chief Diversity & Equity Officer, New Hanover County
In 2020, Linda Thompson became chief diversity and equity officer at the then-newly formed NHC Office of Diversity and Equity, after a long stint working in community and media relations for the Wilmington Police Department.
Why she’s a connector: The mission of Thompson’s office is “to promote an inclusive and fair work environment and build a culture and community where employees and residents are respected, valued, and understood for their own identities,” according to the county’s website as of November.
Events and programs: The office continued its Equity Awards event in 2024 to highlight and honor individuals in the region for their efforts in expanding and elevating equity and diversity. Additionally, New Hanover County hosted Cape Fear MED Week, the local program of the national initiative, Minority Enterprise Development Week. In November, the office’s web page highlighted events marking the 126th anniversary of Wilmington’s 1898 Massacre.
Steve Unger & Gene Merritt
Co-Founders, Eastern Carolina Rail
Steve Unger and Gene Merritt are Wilmington entrepreneurs who are working together to promote the return of passenger rail service to the Port City through Eastern Carolina Rail, a nonprofit organization.
Why they’re connectors: Unger and Merritt want to connect Wilmington to Raleigh via passenger rail as a way to not only provide public transportation but also boost the economies of the cities and towns on the route. Eastern Carolina Rail has hosted a series of public events on the topic in Eastern North Carolina as Unger and Merritt work to help secure additional federal and state funding.
Unger is an athletics management professional with fundraising and journalism experience. He runs TopAds advertising agency and is active in the local soccer community as a referee, coach and clinician. He is also a yoga and wellness instructor with a variety of local organizations, including O2 Fitness and YMCA. Merritt, who owns GMC Real Estate, is a developer, appraiser, broker and economic development consultant. His past accomplishments include leading efforts to extend Interstate 40 to Wilmington in the 1980s.
Making progress: The project for which Unger and Merritt are advocating has some financial backing already. A proposed route that would follow the N.C. Railroad Company lines, running between Raleigh and Goldsboro then continuing to Wilmington, received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation in December 2023.
Cynthia Walsh
CEO, Brunswick County Association of Realtors
Cynthia Walsh has been CEO of the Brunswick County Association of Realtors since 2005.
Why she’s a connector: Walsh’s organization advocates for Realtors and the industry in one of the fastest-growing counties in the state and nation. Her responsibilities include ensuring BCAR is “the model for advancing the real estate industry and providing members with tools and services to support their success.” She has the Certified Association Executive and Realtor Certified Executive designations and is a recognized speaker on association management. She is also a state- and national-level committee member.
Walsh has facilitated more than 25 volunteer opportunities for association members to give back to the community, including a major partnership with Fran’s Fans resulting in collecting more than 3,100 fans, a record-breaking amount.
Current projects: As of November, Walsh was working to grow and promote BCAR’s new real estate education licensing school and holiday giving drives and stay current with constant changes to the real estate industry in the market.
Cierra Washington
Executive Director, Northside Food Co-op
Cierra Washington leads efforts to bring a grocery store to the longtime food desert on Wilmington’s Northside. Washington worked with the co-op as a volunteer before joining the organization full time in 2021. The next year, she was appointed to its top role.
Why she’s a connector: Washington’s work revolves around fostering connections across the Northside community in an effort to promote food access in the area. The co-op holds regular events on the Northside, including Frankie’s Outdoor Market and Northside Community Dinners.
Washington has also worked directly with local government leaders to secure the funding and land needed to make the food co-op a reality. Earlier this year, New Hanover County leaders approved an agreement outlining the county’s commitment to financially supporting the food co-op’s launch and early years of operation. The co-op also secured a $6.8 million grant from the New Hanover Community Endowment this year, and the city of Wilmington donated land for the future grocery store in 2022.
Food co-op leaders recently partnered with seven roots, a consulting team that will provide design and operational expertise as the grocery store develops. The co-op kicked off the development process this summer with a series of community listening sessions.
In the works: The Northside Food Co-op aims to complete designs for its grocery store by the end of the year and break ground on the project next spring with completion scheduled for 2026.
Heather Wilson
Executive Director, Cameron Art Museum
Heather Wilson led the Cameron Art Museum (CAM) through one of its most successful years to date. This year, the museum saw an 11% increase in attendance and its highest membership level since 1962.
Why she’s a connector: Wilson helps curate the art museum’s exhibitions, programs and educational opportunities, linking Wilmington residents with unique cultural and artistic experiences. She recently received the 2024 Southeastern Museums Conference Museum Leadership Award.
Wilson is leading work on an accessibility plan to ensure CAM is open and accessible to all. The museum has expanded access by offering American Sign Language tours and sensory bags. It’s also extending access to vulnerable populations through grant-funded programs for cancer patients and those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
CAM also shares its exhibitions with other U.S. art museums. The museum, for example, recently loaned a work of art to an exhibition at New York City’s Whitney Museum of American Art, and CAM officials are working on a traveling exhibition featuring work by Wilmington artist Minnie Evans.
Wilson is currently working on a book that documents CAM’s history and collection. She’s also preparing for “We Belong Here,” an exhibition from the Gutierrez Collection that features an array of significant artworks from well-known artists. The exhibition will open in April.
Creative economy: In its past fiscal year, the museum had an economic impact of more than $6.9 million in New Hanover County.
Landon Zimmer
Managing Partner, Zimmer Development Co.
Landon Zimmer is the managing partner at Zimmer Development Co. (ZDC), a member of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s board and an N.C. Wildlife Resources commissioner.
At ZDC, he oversees a company with 40 employees and has contributed to significant infrastructure and development projects, including mixed-use and student housing in Florida and Ohio.
Why he’s a connector: This year, Zimmer worked with previous NCDOT Division 3 Division Engineer Chad Kimes in securing $242 million in federal grants for the project to rebuild the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, the largest road infrastructure grant in the state’s history.
He is also focused on key infrastructure projects with NCDOT, such as construction of the Hampstead Bypass and the widening of NC 211. That widening is currently the most expensive project in NCDOT’s Division 3 history at $215 million, as of press time.
At Zimmer Development, he is working on projects in Tallahassee, Florida, and Huntsville, Alabama. The company this year moved its headquarters office from downtown to the Mayfaire area.
Road ahead: NCDOT Division 3 priorities for Zimmer include working with the division’s new engineer, Trevor Carroll, and working with the WMPO board to finalize plans for the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. Next year, construction on the widening of Gordon Road from Interstate 40 to Market Street is slated to begin.
Read more about the 2024 WilmingtonBiz 100 honorees by clicking here.