2023 Class of Leadership Wilmington

Carson Porter

Wilmington Hammerheads Youth FC, Executive Director

McKay Siegel

East West Partners, Project Manager

Amy Schaefer

Lee Kaess, PLLC, Attorney

Ashley Wells

University of North Carolina Wilmington, Associate School Director, School of Health and Applied Human Sciences

I serve in the role of Associate School Director for Quality Assurance and Associate Professor of Practice in the School of Health and Applied Human Sciences within the College of Health and Human Services at UNCW.  In this role I support our faculty, students, and staff with program development and quality assurance, community engagement strategy, and DEI goals.  Prior to this role I served as the inaugural Assistant Dean for Community Engagement in the College of Health and Human Services at UNCW.  I began my professional journey in 2005 at the University of Georgia and am a proud triple-Dawg, having earned three degrees from my beloved alma matter!  I am thrilled to now be in North Carolina and enjoy all that our coastal environment has to offer!

Brian Rector

Coastal Beverage Co., Inc., CFO

Corey Douglas

Clancy & Theys Construction Company, Project Manager

Zedrick Applin

nCino, Head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Community

I currently serve as the Head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Community for nCino.  In my role, I am in charge of our corporate DEI strategy & implementation, as well as all community service and philanthropy.  

Heather McWhorter

UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Executive Director

Heather is the Director of the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) (uncw.edu/cie). CIE nurtures high-impact startups with education, connections, and incubation and collision space, and accelerates the entrepreneurial ecosystem in southeastern North Carolina as a vibrant hub of innovation.

Josh Hallingse

Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, VP, Small Business Retention & Expansion

Suzanne Jalot

Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry, Chief Development Officer

Graham Elmore

Vantaca, Director of People + Culture

Graham Elmore is the Director of People + Culture at Vantaca. Vantaca is a fast-growing, Wilmington based, fintech company that provides a cloud-based software solution that supports over 20,000 homeowner associations and 2.5 million homeowners. As the Director of People + Culture, Graham supports and drives initiatives that provide a world-class employee experience.

Prior to working with Vantaca, Graham spent over a decade as an educator in the roles of Teacher, Coach, Assistant Principal, and Principal for New Hanover County Schools.

Graham is a two-time graduate of UNC Wilmington and holds a Masters of School Administration and an undergraduate degree in Middle Grades Education, with a concentration in Math and Science. Graham is also a North Carolina Principal Fellow and North Carolina Teaching Fellow.

Tony Hamric

Liberty Senior Living, Financial Manager

Erin Easton

Cape Fear Community College, Workforce Training Coordinator

Kevin Crane

WHQR Public Radio 91.3 FM, General Manager

Marien Stark

Live Oak Bank, Business Banking Manager

Amber Walters

Monteith Construction Corp., Integrated Marketing Manager

Alex Bouknight

The Carousel Center, Finance Manager

Matt Bramstedt

LS3P Associates LTD., Architect + K-12 Sector Leader

William Brown

GE Aerospace, Lead Manufacturing Specialist

Paul Ragan

GE Hitachi, Sr Quality Manager - Business Process Management

Paul Ragan is a Wilmington, NC native and attended Laney High School.  After earning his Industrial Engineering degree from North Carolina State University, he relocated back to Wilmington to begin his career with GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy.  He has held various roles within GE Nuclear and is currently a Senior Quality Manager, Business Process Management supporting the advanced nuclear business.  Paul & his wife Katie have two children, Trey (12) and Rebecca (8).

As a Wilmington native, Paul is excited to learn about initiatives and efforts impacting the city and engage in service that will help benefit the community that played a huge part of his life.

Matthew Tulipani

Piedmont Service Group, Business Development

Patrice Faison

New Hanover County Schools, Chief Academic Officer

I am the Chief Academic Officer for New Hanover County Schools. My primary responsibilities include overseeing academic programs and policies. Before this role, I served as an Executive Leadership Coach for Wake County Schools. I am currently in my twenty-seventh year in education. Throughout my career, I have found pleasure in serving my community by enhancing students’ lives. 

Kirsti Smith-Reives

Novant Health, Director of Business Partner Consulting, Coastal Market

Julian Williams

StepUp Wilmington, Senior Talent Manager

Jason Lovelace

Thomas Construction Group, LLC, Project Executive

Hunt Harris

Law Firm Carolinas, Associate Attorney

Thom Moton

City of Wilmington, Deputy City Manager

Max Nunez

New Hanover County Public Library, Librarian

Leslie Irving

City of Wilmington, Lieutenant/Public Information Officer

Kellie Lewis

Customers Bank, VP Commercial Relationship Manager

Dory Weiss

VIIZR , Head of Product

Mallorie Moore

Wayne LaBar

Julian Williams

Michele Bennett

Corey Douglas

Rodgers

Emma Ericksen

Thomas Construction Group, LLC, Marketing Coordinator