The Mecklenburg Times Presents 50 Most Influential Women, 2016

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congratulates
Lillian Fahr
Congratulations for being recognized as one of

the 50 Most Influential Women of 2016 by
The Mecklenburg Times.
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a note from the editor
SHARON ROBERTS
Since we last gathered to celebrate our regions
influential women:
Two women became the first female soldiers to
complete the Armys notoriously difficult Ranger
School and one went on to become the first female
infantry officer; a third woman was the first to be
certified as an Army combat engineer.
Thirty-eight enlisted women were selected by
the Navy to serve on a submarine for the first time.
Air Force Gen. Lori Robinson became the first
woman to serve as a combatant commander.
Two women were the first to complete Nolans
14, a continuous trek up and down 14 14,000-foot
peaks in Colorado.
Beyonce became the first woman to debut 12
songs on the Billboard Hot 100.
Afghanistan appointed its first female Supreme
Court judge.
Saudi Arabia elected its first female politicians,
and Nepal elected its first female president.
And before the next time we celebrate the
accomplishments of our regions women, Bill
Clinton could become the first First Gentleman in
the White House should Hillary Clinton be the
first woman elected president.
Weve come a long way, baby.
From the armed services to entertainment to
athletics to the board room to politics, women have
never been so influential on the world stage.
And we see them in our community as well, from
the mayor to the public schools superintendent to
judges and CEOs and leaders across the spectrum
of public and private and for profit and nonprofit
institutions.
And while glass ceilings and patronizing pats may
not have disappeared completely, women now move
forward with the confidence and knowledge that
they can do anything. Anything.
And so we celebrate those who live this spirit:
Those who pick themselves up when they stumble;
who find their way around or through obstacles;
who figure out how to thrive and make a difference
in their communities.
They are entrepreneurs; they are trailblazers.

Theyre not afraid to take the heat and take on
the establishment if it means improving the odds
of success for disadvantaged children. They are
mentors, emboldening others with their wisdom
and experience, and by leading by example. They
are passionate and compassionate, giving of
their time, resources and energy to help those
less fortunate, whether in our own community,
nationally, or abroad.
They are influential women.
This is the eighth year of The Mecklenburg
Times 50 Most Influential Women awards. And
it is with honor and humility that I share with you
this special section outlining the accomplishments,
vision, and success of the 2016 honorees.
These 50 were selected by an independent
panel of judges from our community who studied
hundreds of nominations of worthy women from
across the Charlotte metropolitan area. Those
named possess outstanding qualities of business and
nonprofit leadership and civic responsibility.
Some of these women you will recognize because
of the high profile they have achieved through work
or philanthropy. Others you may not know, but
we hope in reading this section you will soon feel
that you do. Each exemplifies what most of us hope
to achieve in our careers and our lives: a legacy of
influence and support for those who follow.
We are also privileged to have again this year
partnered with a nonprofit organization, one whose
core mission offers hope, support and love to the
families of seriously ill children.
Ronald McDonald House in Charlotte is part of
what has become a global charitable network with
the mission to improve the health of children and
offer support and a place to stay for the families
who are coping with such difficult times.
Led by Executive Director Mona Johnson-Gibson,
the Charlotte home works with our local health care
institutions to assist in the whole care necessary when
a child is struck by a devastating illness.
We found the organization to be the perfect
Sharon Roberts
Managing Editor
partner for us in this celebration.
Women are mothers, aunts, daughters and sisters,
and we were children. And my hope is that even
in this small way, we are helping an organization
working to care for the entire family.
Considering the extraordinary achievements of so
many nominees, naming just 50 was no easy task.
And it was even more difficult for the judges to
determine the Woman of the Year from this class.
But that was our charge to the judges. And, as
they do each year, they came through admirably,
choosing a woman whose handiwork can be seen
across the city. And her work hasnt ended; as
youll read, her future endeavors will prove to be as
challenging as those in the past.
But its not hard to have faith in her, in our 50
nominees, in the hundreds and thousands of other
women in our community that their talents and
energy will continue to improve our life in the
Queen City.
We hope you enjoy and draw inspiration from
reading their stories.
OUR JUDGES
Tish Atkins
Southern Shows,
Inc.
Blaine Jackson
NewDominion
Bank
Cheryl Richards Jessica Rossi

Northeastern
Kimley-Horn
University
6 | FIFTY MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN 2016
Index of
Honorees
INTERIM PUBLISHER
JONI BROOKS
joni.brooks@journalrecord.com
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GARRETT / Page 18
AMY BREESE MASSEY, PE / Page 27
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James, Mcelroy & Diehl, PA
Co-Founder of One7 Ministries

Headmistress of One7 Academy
Founder/Trainer of
Christfit Fitness Ministry
DR. NICOLE P. MCKINNEY / Page 30
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ARETHA V. BLAKE / Pages 9
LESLIE GILLOCK / Page 19
TRACY MONTROSS / Page 30
LBA Haynes Strand, PLLC
CATHERINE A. BARNES / Page 8
Blake Law, PLLC
LEIGH THOMAS BROWN / Page 9

RE/MAX Executive Realty
DIANE B. BURKS / Page 10
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
MICHELLE COFFINO / Page 10
Queen City Metal Recycling & Salvage
CATHRINE COTMAN / Page 11

Cushman & Wakefield
AMY E. DAVIS / Page 11

BRG
TAMMY DeBOER / Page 14

Family Dollar
TERRI DeBOO / Page 14

Terri DeBoo Ideas@Work
MICHELE DUDLEY / Page 15

Fashion & Compassion
JADA S. GRANDY / Page 19
DIANA R. PALECEK / Page 31

Smith Moore Leatherwood, LLP
CIRCULATION
Fifth Third Bank
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PENELOPE L. HEFNER / Page 22
SHARON REED / Page 32
Sodoma Law Union
Global Girls Project
JILL HUSE / Page 22
DIANE RYON / Page 32
Society 54
Kings College
STACIE BEASLEY JACOBS / Page 23
KRISTEN SHEARIN / Page 33
First American National

Commercial Services
LINDA JAMES / Page 23
Gentiva Health Services,

An Affiliate of Kindred at Home
SUZY JOHNSON / Page 24

Employee Benefit Advisors
of the Carolinas, LLC
JULI EMMONS / Page 16
SHARON KING / Page 25
LILLIAN FAHR / Page 16
DR. CARLENE
W. KINGSTON / Page 25
Wells Fargo & Company
CAPT. DEMETRIA A. FAULKNER

-WELCH / Page 17
Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Police Department
HONORA GABRIEL / Page 17

Lash Group,
A Part of AmerisourceBergen
MELISA F. GALASSO, CPA / Page 18

Galasso Learning Solutions
ACCOUNTING & ADMINISTRATIVE
American Airlines
LORI R. KEETON / Page 24
Carolina Film Community
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Wray Ward
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Passenant & Shearin Law
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FIFTY MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN 2016 | 7
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JULIE
AYERS
PARTNER
LBA HAYNES STRAND, PLLC

As a partner with LBA Haynes Strand, a
fast-growing CPA firm, Julie Ayers led her team
through three mergers and 10 acquisitions over
the last decade. You have heard it many times,
the most challenging part of any merger is
integrating the processes, she says. However,
I argue that the culture is the most important
component. If the merging firms cultures
and values align, amazing things can happen.
Ayers, her husband and her son are soccer
super-fans. In 2014, they traveled to Brazil to
watch the FIFA World Cup, and this summer,
theyll head to France for the UEFA European
Championship.
opportunities available for women. It is a

detail-oriented profession and one that offers
similar opportunities to individuals who are
intelligent and hard workers.
You are the only female partner in your

firm. Why do you consider accounting a
great profession for women?
I think accounting is a great profession for
women because accounting is the language
of business and there are so many great
You list completing the Chicago

Marathon as one of your most significant
accomplishments. How did it change
your outlook on life and work?
It is significant because I did it. I was never
an athlete, but I got the idea that I wanted to
What inspires you to get up and go to

work each morning?
Working with my clients inspires me every
morning. Our firm works with entrepreneurs
from all sizes of companies, and it is truly a
two-sided relationship. I may offer my clients
services on a number of accounting issues, but I
also learn so much from them about how they
run their businesses.
run the marathon since such a small percentage

of the population has ever achieved that goal.
The experience confirmed for me that if you
set your mind to something and work hard you
can achieve anything.
Where did you get your love for soccer,
and describe the benefits of traveling
all over the world to watch world-class
soccer?
I watched soccer in high school and college,
but did not become a super-fan until I met my

husband. He played soccer and is passionate
about the game. Traveling to see the games in
other countries has brought our family closer
together and allowed us to see the world.
When we were in Brazil we stayed in a small
beach town and got to meet the people who
lived there and learn about their culture. Our
son even got to play soccer with the local
soccer club.
CATHERINE
A. BARNES
MANAGING PARTNER
JAMES, MCELROY & DIEHL, PA

When Catherine Barnes was 21, she
started her law career as a paralegal, but she
didnt stop there. She went to law school and
became an attorney. Today, she is managing
partner at James, McElroy & Diehl. I loved
working as a paralegal, she says. When the
possibility arose to push my career further,
it seemed like a logical and exciting next
step. While working as a full-time paralegal,
Barnes raised two daughters and put herself
through college, earning a bachelors degree
in history from Salem State University
in Salem, Massachusetts. She went on to
earn her law degree from the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School
of Law. She is active in national, state and
local bar associations and she volunteered
in her two daughters schools as they grew
up. Four years ago she learned the value of
perseverance when she participated in a
triathlon, crossing the finish line in last place.

How has your career and your
volunteer work made a difference
in your life and the lives of others?
My career has shaped who I am as a person.
It has made me more resilient and assertive,
and a better thinker. I help solve clients
problems, and help them grow their businesses.
My volunteer work has allowed me to feel as
though Im connected to my community
whether thats a school or a faith community or
a neighborhood.
What did your triathlon experience
teach you about yourself?
Well, for one thing, it taught me that I will
never make it as a professional triathlete. I
looked like a penguin running beside cheetahs.
I also learned that I truly can be proud of
myself for doing my best. You tell yourself and

your kids: As long as you try your best, etc.
etc. But it was great to sit there and realize that
in fact I was glowing with pride at finishing,
regardless of place.
What do you like to do for fun and
relaxation?
I like new experiences. I have worked with
an improv group, played in a handbell choir,
and I took a wheel-throwing pottery class. I

also like to be outdoors hiking or canoeing
with my family. I like to tackle little challenges,
too. For example, for two years, I took a picture
every day of something that made me happy.
They were big things, like trips or birthdays,
and little things like when the paper that comes
out of the printer is nice and warm. This year, I
am photographing the sky every day to remind
myself to look up.
ARETHA V.
BLAKE
MANAGING PARTNER
BLAKE LAW PLLC
Through her professional work as an attorney
and her longtime volunteer service to the
Mecklenburg Bar Foundation, Aretha Blake
strives to make the legal system available to
people who need help but may not be able to
afford it. Access to the justice system, especially
the civil courts, is a significant issue in our
community, Blake says. Growing up in rural
South Carolina, I saw firsthand the impact a
lack of financial resources can have on someones
ability to seek legal counsel, access the courts,
and advocate for their rights in a courtroom.
As managing partner of Blake Law, she leverages
her experience in human resources, community
relations and marketing, business development,
and accounting while managing a full case load.
Through the Mecklenburg Bar Foundation,
Blake created the Blake Legacy Fund to
provide grants to nonprofits and legal service
organizations for developing childrens programs
on the justice system.
Why is your work as president of the

Mecklenburg Bar Foundation meaningful
for you?
Through my professional experiences,
volunteerism and pro bono work, I have
become aware that many members of our
Mecklenburg County community are unable
to afford legal representation and could
benefit from general education about legal
rights. The Mecklenburg Bar Foundation gives
financial support to Legal Aid and legal service
organizations that provide pro bono or sliding
fee support to individuals who are facing
life-changing circumstances and need attorney
advocates to help them maneuver the court
system. As president of the Mecklenburg Bar
Foundation, I have placed particular focus on
providing strategic investment of grant dollars
in the community to help provide access to
justice for those without the financial resources
needed to advocate for their rights.
Why did you start the Blake Legacy

Fund?
My volunteer focus is on children, the
most vulnerable among us. During my first
few months as incoming president of the
Mecklenburg Bar Foundation in 2015, I
created the Blake Legacy Fund as a vehicle
through which the community could come
together to educate children about the
legal system. The Blake Legacy Fund of the
Mecklenburg Bar Foundation supports
nonprofits and legal services organizations
that advance childrens understanding of the
rule of law and the role of the legal profession,

provide children access to the legal system, and
promote education for children on legal issues.
Why did you make the leap into local

politics and what did your experience
teach you about yourself?
I leaped into local politics because I felt the
public and teachers in our county needed a
new voice, not just another politician. I was fed
up with the education legislation coming out
of Raleigh and I was fearful that we were losing
good teachers because of that. I thought being
an entrepreneur who was not afraid to speak
my mind would help me and folks would elect
someone from outside the political world. But
I was wrong. I lost that race. But Im optimistic.
Maybe I will try politics again one day.
You have published a book. How long did

that journey take you, and why did you type
it on an old-fashioned manual typewriter?
I had wanted to write a book for years, but
it was not until the summer of 2015 when
I actually settled on a topic and began to
put my thoughts on paper. I chose to write
the initial draft by using an old-fashioned
typewriter. There is something to be said
about listening to the pings and the clacks of
the keys, it is almost nostalgic. It was also less
distracting than using my desktop computer
or iPad. My book, Outrageous Authenticity,
was published last January.
Why is it important for women to

aspire to positions of leadership?
In professional, community, and civic
leadership, perspective matters. Having
women and other diverse representation in
leadership roles is essential to the development
of innovative, forward-thinking solutions
that incorporate a multitude of community
experiences, values and priorities.
LEIGH
THOMAS
BROWN
REALTOR BROKER/OWNER
RE/MAX EXECUTIVE REALTY
For Leigh Thomas Brown, selling real
estate is a family affair. I grew up on a
farm in Cabarrus County and have sold
everything from liquor, to stocks, to
chainsaws, she says. I finally found my
calling when my daddy introduced me to
real estate. She joined her fathers realty
business in 2000. Today, she owns RE/
MAX Executive Realty in Concord and is
part of one of RE/MAX Internationals 100
top-producing teams worldwide. A graduate
of the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, she holds a bachelors degree
in business administration. In 2014, she
ran for the North Carolina House of
Representatives as a Republican. Even
though she lost the election, she counts
the experience as one of her greatest

accomplishments.
You are president-elect of the
34,000-member Council of Residential
Specialists. Are you nervous?
I am excited to lead the CRS. This group is
the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National
Association of Realtors. Its sole purpose is to
equip agents with the tools and education to
ensure their success. I am a firm believer in
continuing education and feel that there are
always new ideas out there, new options to
explore, and new tactics to try. Working with the
leadership team of the CRS will be a great way
for me to channel my energies into helping make
agents the best they can be.
DIANE B.
BURKS
ATTORNEY
KATTEN MUCHIN ROSENMAN LLP

Attorney Diane Burks has spent more than
500 hours helping individuals and groups
form nonprofit organizations and apply for
their 501(c)(3) tax exemptions. People come
to me with great ideas and visions, but need
help navigating the legal framework, she says.
Their programs have provided scholarships
to local students, funded medical research
and given support to the ill and victims of
natural disasters, all tangible, objective proof
of how lives have been changed for the better.
Burks earned a bachelors degree from Duke
University and her law degree from Wake
Forest University School of Law. She handles
estate planning and fiduciary law for Katten
Muchin Rosenman.
What was the key to your success?

Building relationships. Estate planning and
fiduciary law is a relationship-driven law practice
and requires an entrepreneurial spirit to be
successful and self-sufficient. I took the initiative
to build a network of other tax, accounting, and
wealth management professionals, to speak to
community and professional groups, and author
articles and advisories on relevant topics. I have
also worked hard to build strong relationships
with my clients. As a young female attorney, I
believe I must appear twice as confident and
competent as a more seasoned attorney would
be in order to gain trust and respect. There is no
greater professional affirmation than earning the
confidence of your clients and peers.
You worked hard for nearly a decade

to grow the estate planning and probate
practice in Kattens Charlotte office.
Why are you attracted to estate

planning, probate settlement and
fiduciary law?
Most people try to avoid thinking about

death and taxes. For me, its a daily part of my
life and I enjoy it. This practice area allows me
to interact with people from all walks of life,
solve complex problems, delve deep into the
tax laws, and work with numbers. Most days, I
am part tax attorney and part counselor. I love
both the tax-driven and the human elements of
what I do.
How do you know your life and work as
a lawyer has made a difference in the lives

of others?
I counsel my clients through the highest of highs
to the lowest of lows. I have assisted clients through
the sale of the businesses they started from the
ground up and helped widows settle the estates of
spouses who took their own lives. It is never lost
on me that my clients may be facing the biggest
decisions or hardest times of their lives. If I can
make a complex situation more understandable or
manageable, then Ive done my job.
MICHELLE
COFFINO
OWNER
QUEEN CITY METAL RECYCLING & SALVAGE

As the mother of triplets, Michelle
Coffino learned the fine art of juggling
priorities early in her working life. She
started her career as a hair stylist, during
which she honed her business skills and
built an extensive professional network.
Today, she owns the successful Queen City
Metal, a scrap metal and recycling company.
The juggling comes from working off
a schedule and a time clock, she says. I
implemented time-management skills into
every aspect of my life and assembled the
best possible team for our company. Coffino
practices humanitarian endeavors by using
her recycling business to help people who
may otherwise go without a job, food, or a
roof over their heads. Her Second Chance
hiring program gives people who have been
incarcerated a job with Queen City Metal
and helps them get back on their feet.
What inspired you to start Second

Chance?
I developed the Second Chance hiring
program to give people with felony convictions
the opportunity to establish long-term
employment with Queen City Metal. As the
mother of triplets, including one child who
struggles with mental illness, Ive witnessed the
challenges of our health care system. In 2015,
I organized Recycle Metal to Recycle Lives,
to create awareness about mental illness and
homelessness in our community. The event
benefited the Crisis Assistance Ministries,
Charlotte Rescue Mission, Timeout Youth,
and The Mens Shelter of Charlotte. In 2014 we
initiated a special recycling program with local
school districts; the winner was selected based
on the final amount of material recycled and
was awarded a scholarship for their summer
programs benefitting underprivileged children.
Queen City Metal is one of the
most successful recycling facilities in

Mecklenburg County, and now you
are beginning to venture into overseas
markets. What led you to this expansion?
The current challenges facing the recycling
business have forced many yards to close their
doors. Queen City Metal has focused on
reducing the fixed costs associated with our
business model. The export market has been a
cornerstone of metal recycling during the last
decade. The current challenges facing the Asian
markets have created a new opportunity for the
export of copper bearing electric motor scrap to

Holland, initiating an additional opportunity
for the growth of Queen City Metal.
How do you know your career and
your community service have made a
difference in the lives of others?
Having so many people come through the
scrap yard, homeless, unemployed, mentally
ill, and addicted, all sharing their lives with
me. They thank me on a daily basis for the
motivation to be the best they can be.
CATHRINE
COTMAN
SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTOR
CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
After a 20-year career in corporate real
estate working in-house for large financial
institutions, Cathrine Cotman noticed a
looming paradigm shift in her industry and saw
an opportunity. I witnessed a consistent trend
in the industry of more and more firms moving
to outsourcing of the function. Firms were
shifting more and more responsibilities to their
outsourced partners, she said. So Cotman
made a transition to the service provider side
of the business. She is senior managing director
at Cushman & Wakefield, where she leads
large full-service outsourcing teams and is
responsible for 60 employees. She enjoys the
opportunity to take on new challenges and
expand her skill set.
You admit you could use another
10 hours in the day as you juggle your
career and family time. How do you
balance work and family life?

I think the term work-life balance is
outdated because things are so intertwined
these days. With everyone being hyperconnected, it isnt realistic to compartmentalize
work from the rest of our lives. That means I
am okay with jumping on the computer in the
evenings after the kids go to bed or finishing
up some things over the weekend. And I am
also okay with taking a few hours during the
workday to attend an event at the kids school
or take a sick child to the doctor. If I scored
my time investment in work versus family
priorities, I honestly would find that I am bit
out of balance on any given week.
opportunities. I am passionate about defining

paths to success and hope to inspire others to
go there with me. I specifically enjoy real estate
because there is so much diversity in the field
and many opportunities to exercise both right
brain and left brain thought processes.
What do you enjoy most about your

work?
I enjoy being challenged. I love to
solve difficult problems and go after big
You mention you have written the first

draft of a book. What has that process
been like so far?
Writing the first draft actually went pretty
quickly and I was surprised by how much I

enjoyed it and how easily the words flowed
from my brain onto the page. Im still early
in the journey and the hard part comes next
figuring out what to do with it. I need to
better define who the book is for and why
they would want to read it. And then I need
to put it out there for more people to read
and critique it. The most difficult part and
potential rewards are yet to come.
AMY E.
DAVIS
SENIOR SPACE PLANNER

BRG
Growing up, Amy Davis was a kid who
loved the arts and enjoyed her creative
outlets, which included building things and
defining spaces. She based her creations
on her own observations, using materials
she had on hand. I have a lot of memories
of various houses, buildings, places Ive
visited, she says. I have always been a
creative free-thinker. Davis wanted to
blend her artistic nature with a business
endeavor so she pursued a career as an
interior architecture and interior design
professional. She is a senior space planner
with BRG of Charlotte, where she serves
as a team leader on projects ranging from
9,000 square feet to 250,000 square feet.
What strategies do you employ
when leading diverse teams of
talented professionals to successfully
accomplish an overall project?

In any team there are varying personalities,
motivations, generational factors, and other
differences. I strive to be an adaptable leader for
that diversity, and I always try to meet my teams
where they are. I have worked with great female
mentors and those experiences help me continue
evolving into the kind of leader I want to be.
I believe it is important for anyone who
has the drive to aspire to leadership. I think it
is always surprising how far good intentions,
hard work, follow-through, and tenacity will
get you. For women especially, it is important
to not be so hard on ourselves and to have
more confidence, to lead from within, ask big
questions and take big risks, fail fast and get
back up, and find our own authentic path.
What is the most rewarding aspect of

your work?
As a corporate real estate strategist and
designer, I welcome the opportunity to work
with clients who understand the value of a
strategic portfolio and workplace decisions
as leveraging tools. Anyone who works in
corporate real estate and workplace strategy
tends to be a problem solver. I find that taking
a challenging situation, looking at it from a
different perspective and offering alternate

solutions that could make a significant impact
for our clients is very rewarding.
What is your definition of
satisfaction?
The most satisfying part of my job is when I
am able to uncover a unique aspect of a clients
company through our project process that
truly enhances their ability to outperform their
competitors.
Carolinas HealthCare System Congratulates Our
MOST INFLUENTIAL
WOMAN OF 2015
Captain Demetria A.
Faulkner-Welch
Carol Lovin
Executive Vice President and

Chief Strategy Officer
For her exemplary work and commitment

to healthcare excellence in the
Carolinas and beyond.
For being named one of 2016s
50 Most Influential Women
When you find people Who not only tolerate

your quirks but celebrate them With glad
cries of 'Me, tOO!' be sure to cherish them.
because thOse weirdOs are yOur tribe.
-NaNea HoffmaN
Special thanks to my tribe for all your love, support & encouragement.
I cherish each of you.
Love, Lori Keeton
www.onlymetoo.com
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for 2017!
Next spring, The Mecklenburg Times will host its sixth

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the economy, and in society. The
honorees represent
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education, and not-for-profit fields. The honorees will
be selected based on their professional and community
involvement within the Charlotte area.
To nominate an influential woman go to:
mecktimes.com/events/
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mecktimes.com/events/
For event information, please contact

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Tiara
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at 704-247-2901
Amanda
Johnson
at 704-247-2908 oror
Tiara.Benfield@mecktimes.com
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TAMMY
DeBOER
SVP MERCHANDISING
FAMILY DOLLAR
When Tammy DeBoer joined Food
Lion as a customer service employee
in 1989, she was still in college. Even
though her job was entry level, she was
curious about how the business operated.
I would occasionally walk through the
merchandising department, and it seemed to
be where all the action was, she says. It was
a high energy, competitive environment full
of sales and product discussions. DeBoer
decided that was where she wanted to be.
She finished her education at Appalachian
State University with a bachelors degree
in technology. Today she is senior vice
president of merchandising for consumables
for Family Dollar Stores and manages an $8
billion portfolio of products in over 8,000
stores in 46 states. In 2013 and 2014, Mass
Market Retailers newspaper named her
one of the most influential women in mass
market retail.

your job?
It is very rewarding from many perspectives:
understanding product trends, customers
changing buying habits and expectations
and working in a fast-paced, high-energy
environment.
What are todays challenges in the
retail industry given the economic
climate since the 2008 recession?
People have many more places to shop,
more brick and mortar options as well as
online options. The retail landscape is very
competitive. Its critical to know your relevance
and really understand customers expectations
in order to be in their consideration set of
where to shop especially when customers
remain extremely cautious with their spending.
What is your key for successfully
managing $8 billion in sales in over
8,000 stores across 46 states?

It all starts with a great team of highly
motivated associates. My role every day is
to set expectations and teach, guide and
motivate my team members to meet or exceed
these expectations. We only win if the entire
team is winning.
In your career, what was the turning
point that made you a success?
When I made the transition from customer
service to merchandising, there was some
doubt from leadership that I would make it.

I was told I was too nice to cut it. However,
that doubt made me more determined than
ever to be successful. I did not follow a set path
to success in merchandising. I paved the path
for my own journey to success, which included
being nice yet firm, respectful and professional.
I found that was effective for me.
If you could travel anywhere in the
world, where would you go, and why?
Id go to Iceland to see the northern lights.
TERRI
DeBOO
BUSINESS GROWTH ADVISOR

TERRI DEBOO IDEAS@WORK
After spending years studying vocal and jazz
arts, dancing and choreography, Terri DeBoo
was on her way to a show business career when
an automobile accident derailed her dreams.
I wanted to be a singer and a dancer, to
perform in musicals and of course act so
I could win an Oscar, she says. I was in a
bad car accident which buckled my spine and
ended my dancing career. DeBoo turned her
attention to marketing, and along the way she
discovered her talent for strategic thinking
and visioning. Today she uses her skills to
teach people how to grow their businesses
through Ideas@Work, the company she started
in 2012. She is a devoted volunteer leader
with the Charlotte Chamber, and, as a board
member with the Jamie Kimble Foundation
for Courage, is the founder and chair of the
Women for Courage luncheon, a fundraising
event to educate people on domestic violence.
Why is your work with the Charlotte

Chamber rewarding?
Working with the fourth-largest Chamber
in the nation is amazing. The amount of work
that gets done is quite a feat for such a small
city, and the Chamber helps push the agenda
most of the time. I like to compare Charlotte
to my hometown of Chicago because Chicago
is the city that works and nothing is impossible.
The Charlotte Chamber provides the tools and
the structure to get the job done.
Define your work as a business growth
adviser. What does this work entail?
Whether clients are existing businesses in
Charlotte and looking to take the next step
or organizations new to the area and looking
to fast-track their businesses, I help them
acclimate, assimilate, integrate and acculturate
into the business environment. I find the place
where they can get the job done and grow at

a much faster pace. I also teach people how to
utilize relationship-building to accelerate their
business growth. People call it networking
but I think that is an overused term and, quite
frankly, not done well unless you change the
process to remove your needs and actually
build lasting relationships.
What are your personal mottoes and
how do they help you?

My favorite is, Integrity is the only thing
you can own and the only thing you will take
with you to your grave. I cannot imagine
working without integrity. My second favorite
motto is, Perception is reality. This keeps me
on my toes because it harkens back to integrity.
I love Dont get hooked on the outcome,
and a personal mantra is, Happiness is not a
destination, but a journey.
MICHELE
DUDLEY
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

FASHION & COMPASSION
Michele Dudley is passionate about education
and empowering individuals to overcome
poverty and injustice. I have been inspired by the
resilience of men and women who have overcome
horrific situations I cant even comprehend, she
says. My desire is to encourage them as they
pursue dreams for themselves and their families.
To help fulfill her mission, Dudley became
involved with four initiatives: The Donahue
Charitable Foundation, Seeds of Hope, Ignite
Justice and Fashion & Compassion. While the
organizations are separate entities, they all serve
similar missions: to help educate, empower and
engage people in the fight against injustice, while
giving them pathways for helping themselves.
How do you balance your career,
charitable work and family?
Like most working moms, balancing my
work with my family is my greatest challenge.
Fortunately, my husband, Eric, and my children

are supportive. Whenever possible, I take one
of my children with me on my trips to visit our
international projects and partners. As a result,
they have insight into the world, and Africa in
particular, in a way that most teenagers do not.
Why did you help start the Blessing
School for the Visually Impaired, and
what are the rewards?
In 2009 I met a young man in Rwanda
named Bosco. His wife, Providence, became
pregnant with triplets shortly after their
marriage. Providence went into early labor and
two of the three babies died. The surviving
baby, named Hannah Blessing, was blind. The
Donahue Charitable Foundation sponsored
Bosco and three other young Rwandan leaders
to attend Business Development Training, in
the capital of Kigali, run by Regent University
in Virginia. Bosco, who had long harbored

a dream to open a school for the disabled,
discovered there are only two schools for the
visually impaired in Rwanda, so he started
the Blessing School for the Visually Impaired
in January 2015. Today the school serves 15
students. It has been a delight to be a part
of encouraging and supporting the schools
beginnings.
Why do you work so hard to empower
women?
As a woman, I felt I could have the most
impact serving women. Both genders play
essential roles in the family and in communities
around the world, and I in no way want to
downplay the critical role of men. However,
many of the women we serve at Fashion &
Compassion have been victimized by the men
in their lives, and evidence shows that women
are more likely to invest their earnings in their
childrens health and welfare than men are.
JULIE
EISELT
COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE

CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCIL
Fluent in French, Spanish and Portuguese,
Julie Eiselt has enjoyed a successful career
in commercial and investment banking
in emerging countries. In Charlotte, she
discovered her talent and interest in cultural
assimilation. She has a bachelors degree in
Spanish from Indiana University and a masters
degree in international management and
finance from the American Graduate School
of International Management in Arizona.
Born and raised in Wisconsin, she moved to
Charlotte in 1998 with NationsBank/Bank
of America. In 2007, a man tried to abduct
Eiselt at gunpoint, and that experience led
her to create Neighbors for a Safer Charlotte.
The grassroots organization spurred more
funding for the police department and the
court system, and increased accountability on
the part of elected officials. My next step was
to get involved in making changes at the policy
level, she says. So she entered local politics

and won a seat on the Charlotte City Council.
Because of her work with NSC, the CharlotteMecklenburg Police Department awarded her
a Citizen Service Award, and The Charlotte
Observer named her as one of Seven to
Watch for her work in public safety.
How did your experience as a crime
victim shape your decision to go into
public service?
After a guy tried to kidnap me at gunpoint,
the responding officer said: Lady, if you knew
what went on every day in Charlotte, you
would never leave your house. From there,
the support and responses from the police and
district attorney just kept getting worse so I felt
I needed to understand why. I formed a group
to study the issue and learned that the court
system was systematically starved of resources.
After getting the city and the county to fund

some of the critical needs that the state should
have been covering, the next step was to get
involved in making changes at the policy level,
and that meant running for office.
assume leadership roles?
Everyone should consider some form of
leadership roles in areas that are important
to them. No one gender group should be
responsible for the decisions and outcomes of

another.
What inspires you?
People who take risks and think out of
the box to create change that opens access to
opportunity to a broader range of people.
How quickly after you awaken do you
check your email?
Depends on how fast the coffee kicks in.
JULI
EMMONS
FOUNDER/PRESIDENT OF CAROLINA
FILM COMMUNITY/EXTRAS
CASTING DIRECTOR
CAROLINA FILM COMMUNITY
Though Juli Emmons has always had a
passion for film, she started her career in live
theatre. I started on the stage, trying to act in
any production I could be a part of, she says.
Simultaneously, I got involved in film acting,
and one thing led to another until I eventually
ended up working as a casting director. In
2009, the North Carolina film industry was
on a downslide. As a way to bring people in
film together for networking and collaboration
and to help create jobs, Emmons created the
Carolina Film Community. Emmons calls this
work the highlight of her career.
The film industry is hard to break into.
What advice would you give to young
women who want to follow your footsteps

into filmmaking?
The film industry can definitely be a
challenge and I would say that it is certainly
not for the easily dissuaded. Id tell any young
woman looking to make film a career to make
sure this is what you truly want to do. You
cant pursue being an actress because you like
dressing up and having your photo taken on
the red carpet. If you decide to become an
actress, it needs to be because you believe that
you were created for that purpose and nothing
else will complete you. If you want to go into
film, either acting or working behind the
camera, my advice is: Dont give up.
How do you find work-life balance?

Its not always easy to turn off the worker
part of me, but I have a supportive family
that encourages me to find the balance
I need. We love doing things together,
whether its going to the movies or playing
on the lake. These moments keep me
grounded in life and enable me to keep
things in as much balance as possible.
In your career, what was the turning
point that made you a success?

Its kind of a joke between my friends, family
and me, but my tag line is: Not the boss of
me. It is an idea I make light of in jokes and
photos, but theres a lot of truth to it. Im
not a quitter and I almost never take no for
an answer. I will always look for a way to get
the job done and Im going to do it with 100
percent of my heart. When you mix passion
with tenacity and perseverance, what can be
accomplished is unimaginable.
LILLIAN
FAHR
DIRECTOR, HEAD OF DEFEASANCE

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
Lillian Fahr credits her father and brothers
for her competitive nature. I grew up with
four boys, so I had no choice, she says. My
father was old-school and saw women as
inferior to men, which made me want to
show him that he was wrong. Even today, as a
director and the head of defeasance for Wells
Fargo & Company, Fahr works hard to prove
herself. She also exercises her competitive
spirit by running road races. She worked for
three years to save money for college, and then
moved to Seattle where she attended Highline
Community College for two years before
transferring to the University of Washington in
Seattle, graduating with a degree in psychology.
How has running impacted your life
and career?
When I run, I feel free. When I moved to
Charlotte in 2001, I ran my first Susan G.

Komen race. When my daughter was a teen,
we began to run it together and she always
beat me. Now we run half-marathons together
and I always beat her, which drives her to work
harder. Running is a bonding experience for us,
and provides a little competition. We challenge
each other, but regardless of which one of us
crosses the finish line first, the other always
offers encouragement and love.
that was the original collateral on their loan.
As head of defeasance in your

profession, what do you do?
Defeasance is a way for borrowers to clear
their commercial mortgage-backed securities
loans by substituting collateral. My team and I
help borrowers buy U.S. Treasuries that replace
the future payment stream on their CMBS
loan, then release the commercial property
How do you motivate your daughters

and other young women to succeed?
I spend a lot of time mentoring women at
work, as well as my daughters and their friends.
I tell my daughters they can be anything they
want to be, but their actions early on can affect
their future. I try not to talk at them, but I
listen and give them my opinion or advice,
without forcing it on them. I praise and

compliment them when it is appropriate. At
work, I mentor young women and give them
advice when they ask me, but I never fail to tell
them that working hard is the key to reaching
their goals. I encourage them to speak to their
boss regularly about their goals. I remind them
that they are in control of their own careers
and that they should not sit back and wait for
someone to do it for them.
CAPT.
DEMETRIA A.
FAULKNER
-WELCH
TRAINING DIRECTOR AND
RECRUITMENT DIRECTOR
CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG
POLICE DEPARTMENT
When Demetria Faulkner-Welch entered
law enforcement training, she realized her
life would never be the same. Police work is
ever changing, by the hour, by the day, and in
every situation, she says. I pray daily when I
put on my bulletproof vest, strap on a weapon
and start my tour of duty. With a bachelors
degree in criminal justice from Appalachian
State University and a masters degree in human
service from Capella University, Faulkner-Welch
is the training and recruitment director for the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. She
has served on the police force since 1992 and
has won the Chief s Award for Excellence in
Policing and the Community Relations Award.
Describe the work you did that earned

you the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police
Community Relations Award.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community
Relations Award recognizes officers from the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
who have made contributions to improving
police and community relations. The idea
of community policing, which was instilled
in me early in my career, has helped make
this community a safer place to live. I was
recognized for building positive relationships
with citizens and neighborhood groups in what
was then called the Charlie Three district.
You provided a needy young man a

stable home environment, which led
to his success as an adult. Describe this
journey and the rewards.
This was my opportunity to be influential in
shaping a young African-American male into a
man and to show him all that life has to offer. I
made a split-second decision to take Raymond
into my home so that he could have a stable
home environment. It was a transition for both
of us because I was used to living by myself and
Raymond was used to living in a very lenient
environment without rules. Ground rules were
laid out up front because if he couldnt abide
by my rules then the arrangement wasnt going
to work. At 6-foot-9, Raymond was one of
the best basketball players in the Charlotte-
Mecklenburg Schools system and had several

scholarship offers but needed to improve his
grades. He set a goal to bring up his grades so
he could go to college, and graduated from
Clemson University. After college, he enjoyed
six years of professional basketball overseas.
Today he is a teacher and coach in Charlotte.
I am the oldest of five children, and four of us

live in Charlotte. I love to cook for my family.
We have a big table of food, say a prayer, toast
with our wine and then engage in great food
and conversation. I often take a moment to just
look around the table and smile at the life weve
been afforded. My favorite time is Thanksgiving.
For the past 10 years, Ive been cooking for my
entire family and a few friends. We set the table
for about 15 people, two turkeys, and many side
dishes, and create a day full of memories.
What advice would you give other

women who embark on challenging and
demanding careers?
Make your dreams bigger than what most
people are comfortable imagining. Always
kill with competence. Demonstrate and
communicate a track record of success and
carry yourself with confidence. Maintain a
relentless work ethic.
HONORA
GABRIEL
VICE PRESIDENT,
NOT-FOR-PROFIT OPERATIONS
LASH GROUP, A PART OF
AMERISOURCEBERGEN
As vice president of not-for-profit operations
with the Lash Group, Honora Gabriel leads
a business unit that provides administrative
support for corporate-based and not-for-profit
foundation programs. We are responsible for
helping patients get access to medications they
need to fight diseases like cancer and chronic
disorders through financial assistance programs
or co-pay grants, she says. Gabriel built this
division from the ground up, and last year,
her unit provided patients with almost $800
million in co-pay support and had shipped
over 900,000 units of free medication.
experience teach you about yourself?

It taught me values, hard work and
determination. While I could absolutely count
on my family for emotional support, it was my
responsibility to support myself financially.
I learned early on how to respect what I was
being afforded, even through hard work. There
are so many people that arent given the chance
to go to college and I knew I was lucky enough
to be sitting in the classroom gaining a higher
education. As a result, I knew that I was going
to use it someday to do good, and thats what I
believe I am doing today.
studies later in life?

My favorite subject was Spanish. While
I didnt pursue this foreign language study
later in life, I think it gave me my travel bug.
Through this class I was able to see other
cultures. Today, we love to take a few trips both
domestic and global every year and appreciate
the broader world.
You worked hard and put yourself

through college. What did that
What was your favorite subject in high

school and why? Did you pursue those
What is your favorite way to spend

family time?
MELISA F.
GALASSO,
CPA
FOUNDER, OWNER
GALASSO LEARNING SOLUTIONS

As a busy mom who holds down a full-time
job as a CPA, an entrepreneur who started
a learning initiative for adults, and an active
volunteer in professional organizations and
community activities, Melisa Galasso loves
making an impact. When people leave a
seminar or a conference, I hope they leave with
something tangible to change or update, and
with the knowledge they need to implement
that change, she says. Thats why I really
love customizing learning so that it results
in actionable steps. Galasso is audit senior
manager in the professional practices group
of Cherry Bekaert of Charlotte. Harboring a
passion for education, she serves as president
of the Charlotte chapter of the North
Carolina Association of Certified Public
Accountants. Two years ago she started the
Womens Initiative to provide development

opportunities for women, promote leadership
and improve diversity. She also founded
Galasso Learning Solutions to provide
educational opportunities for CPAs.
You are still early in your career but
have already accomplished a great deal
and earned many honors. What does the
future hold?
I dont know what the future will hold. Im
pretty sure I wouldnt have predicted being
where I am today a decade ago. My biggest
inspiration is my young daughter. I really hope
to serve as a role model for her and help inspire
her to be the next generation of female leaders.
As president of the Charlotte chapter
of the NCACPA, you started the

Womens Initiative. How are your efforts
progressing?
Being active in the NCACPA has offered
me many opportunities and I am grateful
for all of them. However, despite the gains
of the past decade, the profession still lacks
diversity. Women graduate with a higher
percentage of accounting degrees than men,
but a vast majority of the top spots in firms
and companies are still filled by men. I want
to help fill that gap with a more diverse
group of CPAs. The Womens initiative
was created to support an educational
component as well as a social component.
Weve focused on soft skills like negotiation,

time management and communication,
and Im happy to report that the Womens
Initiative continues to sell out its meetings.
could make a difference with a few, it could be

big. One7 Academy now has five graduates, and
22 students this year. The school is changing
the lives of Charlottes inner-city refugee and
underprivileged children one day at a time,
and I get to be in the lives of these kids daily.
Christfit. We focus on personal training of your

mind and your body and your spirit. When you
realize that the strength of your physical body is
your core, you can become a very strong and fit
individual. It is also the same with our mental
cores and our spiritual cores.
Why did you decide to get into

personal training, and how does this
work help you in your other business
endeavors?
Personal training has absolutely changed
everything I do at One7. We have a strong focus
on mental, spiritual and physical health. And I
have started a faith-based fitness ministry called
How do you do it all? What are the

secrets to your success?
It would not be possible to juggle all I
have on my plate if it were not for God, my
personal anchor. Whether my life at times may
be choppy, stormy, windy, and at other times
beautifully sunny, my anchor holds me steady
and grounded.

family time?
Our family recently joined Weddington
Swim & Racquet Club so we could spend
quality time together and stay active. My
daughter is a stellar swimmer and enjoys tennis,
so the whole family is having fun together.
I also try to plan quarterly family vacations.
Travel is a great way to recharge and bring the
family closer.
MARY
CATHERINE
GARRETT
CO-FOUNDER OF ONE7 MINISTRIES
HEADMISTRESS OF ONE7 ACADEMY

FOUNDER/TRAINER OF
CHRISTFIT FITNESS MINISTRY
Through One7 Ministries, Mary Catherine
(MC) Garrett works to assist children
and families whose lives were impacted by
abuse, neglect, drugs, homelessness and
poverty. One7 is more than just a nonprofit
organization with a focus on community,
she says. It has become a lifestyle of love and
serving that is changing the east Charlotte
community. The One7 organization, which
Garrett and her husband formed in 2008,
offers transitional apartment housing for
homeless and disadvantaged families, a club
soccer program and One7 Academy, a small,
private Christian school. When Garrett is
not parenting her blended family of three
biological children and five foster children,

running the One7 Ministry and serving as
headmistress of the One7 Academy, she is hard
at work as a personal trainer and managing
Christfit, a fitness ministry.
How did you make the leap to becoming
headmistress at the One7 Academy?
I became the headmistress of One7 Academy
on blind faith through a vision God gave me
to change the lives of five refugee girls who
were slipping through the cracks of the school
system. In their educational setting, they were
nonreaders, they were failing, they were bullied
and they felt hopeless. We decided that if we
LESLIE
GILLOCK
VICE PRESIDENT,
DIRECTOR OF INSIGHTS
WRAY WARD
As vice president and director of Wray
Wards four-year-old Insights group, Leslie
Gillock leads a diverse team of specialists
who furnish in-house research, provide a
strategic focus and deliver on a results-driven
measurement process. I saw in this job the
perfect place for me to incorporate my skills
and interest, she says. My experience lies
in brand building, an ability to interpret
and analyze statistics and data, targeted
management techniques. Gillocks career has
taken her across a spectrum of companies and
brands including Fruit of the Loom, Springs
and Time Warner. She carved out success,
starting in 1978, when the advertising world
was male-dominated, and serves as a mentor to
other women in business.
You came into advertising on the

heels of the Mad Men era. How
did you make your way in this maledominated business?
Thanks to our parents, my siblings and I
are all strong-willed, motivated individuals.
When I graduated from college with a degree
in business management and a talent for math
and analytics, I decided to go into business. My
father told me, Youre a woman in a mans field.
Youll be in some uncomfortable situations,
but you can look for opportunity and you will
succeed. I took his advice and began a career
that put me as the minority in boardrooms and
on corporate executive teams. I was the fourth
female vice president ever at Fruit of the Loom,
and I was the only female board member during
my eight-year tenure with the board of directors
of Tropical Sportswear International, a $500
million mens apparel company. In fact, I went

on to chair the board, guided by my belief that I
could not, would not, fail.
pursue positions of leadership?
Its important for women to pursue the path
that energizes and fulfills them, whatever it may
be. We need leaders and mentors. Our children
need examples of how to grow, learn, thrive and
treat others. Our communities need leaders to
help us look to the future, and to look out for the
interests of those in need. And our companies

need examples of leadership that all can aspire to.
work each morning?
I work among a talented and creative group of
people at Wray Ward. They inspire me every day.
And I am proud of the results of this venture.
In the past year, our group has tripled in size, in
both team members and revenue. This growth
shows the value Insights brings to marketing
programs, and I am excited about our potential.
JADA S.
GRANDY
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, REGIONAL

CRA STRATEGIES DIRECTOR
FIFTH THIRD BANK
It wasnt enough that Jada Grandy was the
first person in her family to earn a college
degree. She went on to help her brother and
her cousin graduate from college, too. Grandy
obtained her bachelors degree in finance
and an MBA from Robert Morris University
in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. Today,
she is senior vice president, regional CRA
strategies director, for Fifth Third Bank. She
credits the women in her life for her drive and
determination to succeed. My grandmother
always reminded me that I can make a
difference, and she taught me the importance
of education, Grandy says. My mom instilled
in me values like hard work, independence,
treating people fairly, and the importance of
doing well in school.
You were the first person in your family

to earn a college degree. Where did you
get the drive to break a cycle of poverty,
work your way through school and help
your brother and cousin go to college, too?
My family always reminded me I could do
anything I put my mind to. The community
I grew up in was once a dangerous place and
I always knew I did not want to live in that
kind of environment for the rest of my life. I
helped my brother through school because I
knew this world can be a tough place for an
African-American male and I refused to allow
his life to be a negative statistic, so I gave him
the opportunity to make a positive impact.
Education is a way to improve our lives and
provide a future for those who will come after
us, and I believed I had a responsibility to give
back, starting at home.
Why is mentoring important?

Mentoring opens doors and provides
insights on personal and professional
opportunities that one may not know about.
Mentoring provides an opportunity to give
support and direction for others. Mentoring
played a role in my own personal development.
In middle school, a teacher believed in
me and exposed me to higher educational
opportunities.
What is your definition of success?

My definition of success is being able to do
whatever it takes to lead a productive life and
to create opportunities for others to realize
their best potential.
Describe an aspect of yourself others
would be surprised to know.
I love to dance and specifically enjoy line
dancing. I also am a balloon decorator.
arlene Heater was not

born in the Queen City,
but she has called it
home for 23 years. A
native of Kent, Ohio,
she graduated from The Ohio State
University with a degree in science.
And it would be difficult to take a good look at Charlotte
and its institutions without seeing her handiwork.
Look at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and youll see her diligence and creativity in helping our young achieve academic success through garnering the support of public, private and religious
organizations during her six years in public relations and strategic
partnerships. From recruiting tutors to soliciting sponsorships
for school-based programs to helping to launch a foundation to
support teachers and initiatives, she has made a difference.
Look at the citys increasing commitment to sustainability,
and youll see her passion and ingenuity in creating a recycling,
composting and conservation program incorporated into city
festivals and the founding of Envision Charlotte, Uptowns
sustainability program.
Look at South End and Uptown, and youll see the how her
time as vice president of Neighborhood Development and Sustainability at Charlotte Center City Partners helped to create
the Charlotte 2020 Visition Plan, South Ends Good to Great
vision plan, and the University City Area Plan, all blueprints
for the live-work-play environment that so many millennials
and empty-nesters want to call home.
Look at the rosters of most of the citys and states most
influential organizations chambers of commerce, state
and local downtown associations, the Urban Land Institute,
the Charlotte Regional Visitors Association, the Charlotte
Regional Commercial Board of Realtors, and the U.S. Green
Building Council, and youll see her name.
She is said to know everyone who matters and to be able to
put together the people with the skills, knowledge and power
to clear obstructions from the path toward the regions future.
That will come in handy in the coming years, as she takes
the helm of the University City areas efforts to guide its
growth as executive director of University City Partners, a
position she has held since 2013.
The completion of the Interstate 485 loop and the anticipation of the light-rail extension to the UNC Charlotte area will
bring opportunities and challenges. The North Tryon corridor
will be transformed; vacant land farther out will be filled with
apartments, retail, restaurants and offices. How those puzzle
pieces are cut and put into place will be visible for decades to
come, shaping how we live, travel, shop, play and work.
There is so much work to do; so much we can influence
and advocate for to build a great University City, she said.
We should all care deeply about the quality of growth and
development in the community that wraps around our University. It is one of our top economic development assets, it
provides a continuous talent pipeline to support job growth, it
is our regions center of learning and research, and it seeds and
fosters entrepreneurism.
In describing its mission on its website, University City Partners
says that building University City hasnt only been about new development, new businesses, and new road and transit infrastructure.
Its about building relationships.and building a community.
In just the past year, University City Partners has worked with
the city of Charlotte to update the University City Transit Station
Area Plan; created a Parks and Open Space Plan for the area; and
assumed responsibility for managing University Research Parks
landscaping and investments and upholding its covenants.
We put a lot of effort into reminding our community and
our partners about why its so critical to invest in University
City and that we need to maximize the value of this investment for the future of Charlotte but also for the future of
UNC Charlotte, she said.
The area has special meaning to Heater, as it is where she
and her husband raised two children, Lyndsay and Nicholaus,
both of whom attended UNC Charlotte.
University City has been my home for almost two decades, she said. Its been a great place to raise our children,
recreate, socialize and grow. Though I worked in Uptown for
20 years, University City has been our place our home.
She calls her children her greatest personal accomplishment, as well as contributing to the success of a high school
student she mentored at Independence High School.
I mentored her through her college years as an undergrad and then graduate student, Heater said. I celebrated
with her at her wedding and when she got her first job as a
guidance counselor for Project L.I.F.T. at West Charlotte.
These young adults and the remarkable individuals they have
become are my greatest personal accomplishments.
She considers her greatest professional accomplishments to be
her work at CMS and Center City Partners, specifically in working
To help Charlotte become more environmentally sustainable.
Her greatest challenges likely are on the horizon.
Charlottes University City is now on the edge of transformation, she said. The remarkable growth of UNC Charlotte
and the employment center along with the investment of the
Blue Line Extension create a perfect storm for change. So many
challenges; so much opportunity; so much responsibility.
But it is a responsibility that those who know her have no
doubt shell live up to.
Darlenes commitment to University City is only a part
of her leadership story, said Tracy Dodson, vice president of
real estate and development company Lincoln Harris, who
nominated Heater as one of the regions 50 Most Influential
Women. She is without a doubt a leader in shaping the success of our future Charlotte.
And that is why Darlene Heater is not only an influential
woman, but also our Woman of the Year.
DARLENE
PENELOPE
L. HEFNER
PRINCIPAL/ATTORNEY
SODOMA LAW UNION
Penelope Hefner believes she was born to
lead. Since I was a little girl, I have always
considered myself a leader, she says. Whether
it was serving as president of the various clubs I
participated in while in high school or starting
an organization in college, I have actively
sought out leadership roles. A busy mother of
two small sons who is active in a variety of civic
and professional organizations while heading
up Sonoma Laws Union County office, Hefner
believes the key to having it all is multitasking.
You have to do three things at once, or you
cant get it all done, she says.
You rarely say no when you are asked
to participate, sponsor, support and help
out local causes. How do you do it all?
I have found the more you say yes to
people, the more you get the word yes back.
The way I get everything done is having a lot
of help. My colleagues are amazing and always

willing to give of their time and knowledge. My
family supports all of my efforts; they watch
my children when I have commitments after
work, they give generously to the causes I am
passionate about.
What led you to become a lawyer?
I became a lawyer to help people. I love
speaking up for people who are unable to speak
for themselves. I enjoy every minute I spend
putting the pieces back together for a family
in distress. And it doesnt hurt that I am very
good at arguing my point.
your work?
I get the most satisfaction out of happy
clients, and clients who have felt disadvantaged
throughout the entire legal process. Seeing the
look of gratitude, relief and hope on a clients

face when something goes their way is priceless.
Why should women aspire to positions
of leadership?
Women should be leaders because we
bring something completely different to the
table. We can be smart and tough, but still
empathetic and sensitive. I think we have a
greater potential to put aside our egos and do
what is best for everyone involved. And we are
the ultimate multitaskers.

family time?
I love to travel with my family. Even though
our children are young, they are remarkable
travelers. I have so much fun introducing them
to new cultures, foods, people and places. Also,
when we are on vacation, I am so much more
relaxed and can have precious one-on-one time
with them.
JILL
HUSE
PARTNER
SOCIETY 54
Jill Huse describes Society 54 as her dream
job. She has always wanted to own a business,
and practiced consulting alongside a day job
for a decade until she and a partner launched
Society 54 last year. The firm specializes in
helping law firms grow their practices. It has
taken me a while to establish my network,
hone my skills, gain supplemental education
and develop the experience I needed to
be successful, she says. In 1994, she was
diagnosed with Hodgkins disease. She
underwent treatment and went into remission
for two years before the cancer returned in
1996. She credits chemotherapy and a bone
marrow transplant for her survival, and this
year she will celebrate her 20th anniversary of
being cancer free.
What led you to pursue a career in
professional services marketing?
In my first job out college, I worked
as a project management consultant for

Caterpillar. I loved the consulting side, but I
wanted to work with corporations. I moved
to Cincinnati and landed a job as a marketing
director for a regional accounting firm. I
transitioned into legal, as the business services
and professionals are very similar. I was able
to grow my skills and hone my practice while
working with very intelligent people, and
I loved managing a team. I found my true
passion is in coaching attorneys to develop
their personal books of business.
develop their leadership skills?
To change culture, we need strong women
willing to lead. I enjoy mentoring others
and being a resource for professionals who
are trying to make their way. I think it is so
important for young women to have mentors
who have excelled in their fields. I also want
my 9-year-old daughter to know how she has

the ability to do anything and be anyone she
wants to be, and I want to be a living role
model for her.
You survived Hodgkins disease. How
did that experience shape the woman you
are today?
It has had a huge impact on my life. My
father passed away from lung cancer about
18 months before I was diagnosed. To deal
with that and then face my own mortality at

such a young age really shaped me. It made
me more driven to seize the day. Sometimes
I push things to happen too quickly, and I
think that is because of my feeling of living
on borrowed time. I also think it made me
constantly re-evaluate things. If Im not happy
with a situation, I make an exit strategy and
work towards figuring out a way to either make
it better or chart a new course. Life is too short
to not be happy.
STACIE
BEASLEY
JACOBS
VICE PRESIDENT AND
AREA DIVISION MANAGER
FIRST AMERICAN NATIONAL
COMMERCIAL SERVICES
After working just a year and a half at First
American Title Insurance Co.s National
Commercial Services division, Stacie Jacobs
was promoted to vice president and division
area manager. Moving from a sales role to
management has proven to be a rewarding
challenge, she says. I am focused on creating
a strong, cohesive work environment for
our team, while growing our business.
Jacobs enjoys volunteering in the Charlotte
community and often includes her children
in her civic activities. In 2012, she headed up
a number of special events associated with
the Democratic National Convention in
Charlotte, calling it a life-changing experience.
Describe your involvement with the

Democratic National Convention in
Charlotte. What was the risk, and what
were the rewards?
I treated my involvement with the DNC as
a business venture, securing contracts directly
with the state delegations. I contacted the
executive directors of each delegation directly
and did not wait for the bidding process
through our local leaders. As a result, I was
able to contract with several states and handle
close to 50 events for the week. The risk was
failure and rejection, something we all dread.
The reward was more than monetary; it
came from working with a diverse group of
individuals, meeting legendary politicians and

listening to captivating speakers, all the while
experiencing history firsthand.
How has your involvement in civic and
nonprofit organizations enriched your
life and the lives of others?
We have a sign in our home that says, You
Get What You Give. I often hear people
say, I dont have time, I am too busy, I dont
have the money, I cant volunteer with other
kids, I dont have time for my own. In fact,
if it is important to you, you will find time.
Volunteering costs nothing but time, and
what better example to set for your children
than teaching them empathy and compassion?

While my professional success fulfills me, it is
my commitment to serving and helping others
that brings the most joy and enriches my life.
What is your definition of success?
My definition of success is when my
8-year-old says, Do not judge; a rich heart
might be under a poor coat. That is my new
favorite saying, Mom. In those moments,
you know you are getting it right.
My definition of success is how my children
go into the world and make it a better
place through kindness and giving, without
judgment.
LINDA
JAMES
ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT,

HUMAN RESOURCES
GENTIVA HEALTH SERVICES,
AN AFFILIATE OF KINDRED AT HOME
In addition to working full time as an
assistant vice president of human resources for
Gentiva Health Services, Linda James is also
a professional career coach. I offer assistance
free of charge to anyone who needs it, she says.
Over the past year, I have mentored 15 people
and assisted 10 of them in landing their next
career, promotion or face-to-face interview. In
addition to her volunteer counseling program,
James enjoys community volunteering and
is deeply involved in Teal Diva, a Charlotte
organization devoted to fighting ovarian
and other gynecological cancers, celebrating
survivors, and honoring the memories of
women who lost the fight.
Why is career coaching important to
you, and how do you balance it with your
other activities?
As a human resources manager at a former
company, internal career coaching was part of
my job. As my career evolved, I saw employees
ending their employment and coming to
me for help. Moving into career coaching as
a hobby was a natural progression for me.
Individuals reach out to me weekly and I
give them whatever assistance they need.
Sometimes balancing it all is overwhelming,
but I do the best I can to schedule my time, and
it usually works out.
Why do you feel volunteer service
is important, not only for you, but for
your sons?
Making personal connections with those
in need and giving my time always rewards
me twofold. My family is fortunate to not

need certain services from the community
and I want my sons to see the value of helping
others. I began community service efforts in
my adult life as a choice. It has influenced the
way I choose to live life and I want my sons to
understand that there is always time to give, no
matter what else is going on in their lives, and
that someone has a need greater than theirs.
You undertook a big adventure
climbing Mount Rainier. How has this
accomplishment affected your personal
and professional lives?

I climbed Mount Rainier six months after
my younger brother passed away. I set a goal
to spread his ashes at the highest point I
could, as close to heaven as possible. Setting
that goal meant I had to have a training plan
and a commitment to putting in the work to
be able to accomplish it. I climbed Mount
Rainier in 2011 and since then I have run
a half-marathon, changed careers, and am
currently pursuing a masters degree. I feel
like something is missing if I am not working
toward a new goal.
SUZY
JOHNSON
PRESIDENT AND OWNER
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT ADVISORS
OF THE CAROLINAS, LLC
Suzy Johnson credits her parents for inspiring
her work ethic and the success she enjoys as
owner of Employee Benefit Advisors of the
Carolinas. Johnsons mother was the only
woman in the engineering program at West
Virginia University in the 1950s. Later in life,
she became a certified income-tax preparer and
did hundreds of tax returns as a volunteer at
her local senior center. Johnsons father was a
financial representative at Northwestern Mutual
for 52 years and a managing director for 35 of
those years. I was lucky to have a great mother
and a great father, Johnson says. They provided
a comfortable environment for us to grow up
in, but instilled in us the tools to go out into the
world and chase our own dreams.
Describe what you do for a living.
My team and I provide guidance and
direction to 280 business clients for their

employee benefit programs, including group
health insurance, life insurance, disability
insurance, dental and vision insurance. We
work site products such as accident and critical
illness coverage. We also have an employee on
our team who is an expert in individual health
insurance and Medicare supplements.
How did you come to own your
business, and what has this process
taught you about yourself?
I have had three great mentors in my life;
my dad, who was a managing director with
Northwestern Mutual in West Virginia; my
uncle, who was the managing partner with
Northwestern Mutual in Phoenix, Arizona;
and my uncles friend, Jim Worrell, who
started an employee benefits practice in the
Northwestern Mutual network office in

Charlotte in 1991. When I was 32, Jim took a
chance on me by bringing me into his agency
and promising that if I developed the business
and hit certain targets, I would become a
partner in the firm. We were successful, and
by 1999 I had 50/50 ownership. When he
retired in 2012, I bought him out, but he is
still my mentor, and serves as a business coach
and consultant. I have learned I am at my best
and performing at my highest level when I am
providing leadership and direction, and the
rewards from good work are mine to earn.
writing allows me to connect with people on a

far deeper level than I otherwise would.
network are a huge part of why I succeed and

why I am able to pick myself up and try again
when I dont. When I volunteer, I want to be
that cheering section for others who would not
otherwise have it. Whether it is providing a
child with a new book or talking to a group of
teenagers about what it is like to be a lawyer, I
want them to walk away from the experience
feeling like someone believes in them and is
willing to invest in them and their future.
List three skills you consider to be the

most helpful for succeeding in business.
Tenacity and drive and an attitude of
resilience when defeated; willingness to
constantly learn and work on yourself to
understand your weaknesses; willingness to
hire employees who have strengths in areas you
lack so your business focuses not on its leader,
but on the expertise and services the company
delivers to clients.
LORI R.
KEETON
ATTORNEY
LINCOLN DERR
Lori Keeton describes her grandmother as
a trailblazer. She was born in a tiny town in
Mississippi and graduated No. 1 in her high
school class, but was bumped to No. 2 because
it made sense for a male to take her No. 1 spot,
Keeton says. Her grandmother went on to
become a business owner. Keetons mother retired
from teaching to pursue her dream to become
a Realtor and saw great success in Southwest
Florida. Keeton credits her grandmother, mother
and sisters for teaching her the importance of
hard work, confidence, independence, faith,
resilience and family. Keeton is a member
of Lincoln Derr, a woman-owned, boutique
litigation firm. Her practice focuses on civil
disputes in both state and federal courts.
What led you to pursue a career as a
lawyer?
I grew up with a mother who was an English

teacher, a stepfather who was dean of a law
school and two older sisters with whom I spent
more time than I care to admit debating one
subject or another. From my mother I learned
to speak and write well, from my stepfather I
learned to respect the legal system and from
my sisters I learned to argue effectively. Being a
lawyer allowed me to blend their influences.
How has your love for writing shaped
your life and your career?
I love words. When I taught a college
English class between my first and second years
of law school, I knew the key to my students
success was knowing how powerful words can
be. My love for words drove me to pursue a
career through which I can use that power to
advocate for my clients. In my personal life,
Why is it important for you to give

back through service to your community
and your profession?
When I found out I had been named one
of the 50 Most Influential Women, I called
my mother, sisters and friends to share the
good news. My cheering section and support
SHARON
KING
CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT

TAYLORS TALE
When Sharon Kings daughter, Taylor,
was diagnosed with Batten disease in 2005
at the age of 7, King immediately began her
effort to battle Taylors illness and to fight
it on behalf of those affected by this disease.
Batten is an ugly and cruel disease that
affects children, mostly, she says. Theres no
way I could sit and watch this happen to my
daughter without a fight. Batten disease is
an inherited disorder that causes progressive
neurological impairment including seizures,
blindness, dementia and the loss of motor
skills. It is fatal, but Taylor is still living with
the disease. Sharon King and her family
formed Taylors Tale to raise money for rare
disease research and awareness. Last summer,
she led a successful effort to pass legislation to
establish an advisory council on rare diseases
at the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill School of Medicine.
What are the greatest challenges and
greatest rewards of your work?
By far the greatest challenge has been

educating others about the prevalence of rare
disease. But rare is a misnomer. Rare is not
so rare. One in 10 Americans lives with one
of the more than 7,000 known rare diseases.
Because of the genetic nature of so many rare
diseases, more than 50 percent of patients are
children. The effect on human lives, our health
care system and our economy is enormous.
We can do better. As for the rewards, hope
comes in different packages. I wont likely
realize my dream of a treatment for Taylor,
but Im encouraged by the groundswell of
understanding and opportunity in recent years.
It is not yet enough, but the world is listening
and realizing that we all benefit from progress
in the rare disease space.
What advice would you give others
who have loved ones facing a devastating
disease or illness?
Take care of yourself. I havent always done
a good job of following my own advice, but
your loved ones need for you to be strong.

Taylor has the disease, but her family is also
affected. Stress and grief create their own brand
of havoc.
Describe your efforts to pass HB 823,
which establishes an advisory council on
rare diseases. How did you feel when the
bill was signed into law?
Since Taylors Tale was founded, weve
supported promising research, including a
gene therapy study in the lab of Dr. Steven
Gray at the UNC Gene Therapy Center.
As we became involved with the project at
UNC, we realized the unique opportunities

existing in North Carolina for innovation and
progress in the rare disease space. It was time
to convince our legislators that North Carolina
has already made a significant investment in
the infrastructure needed to propel our state to
a leadership position in rare disease. We needed
their help encouraging innovative ideas and
entrepreneurship and bringing the multiple
sectors together to share resources and advance
common goals. We proposed the North
Carolina Advisory Council on Rare Diseases to
help position our state as a leader in rare disease
diagnosis, research, treatment and education.
DR. CARLENE
W. KINGSTON
VASCULAR NEUROLOGY /
STROKE MEDICAL DIRECTOR
NOVANT HEALTH NEUROLOGY SPECIALISTS

When Dr. Carlene Kingston was a child, she
followed her mother around the rehabilitation
center where she worked as a nurse, caring for
patients after they suffered traumatic brain
injuries and strokes. Kingston, who enjoyed
volunteering with patients, pursued a medical
career too, and today works as a vascular
neurologist and stroke medical director
at the three Novant Health Presbyterian
Center locations in the Charlotte area. As
stroke medical director, Kingston oversees
stroke management and works to educate the
community about strokes. The greatest thing
about being a vascular neurologist is that if we
can get to the patients as soon as their stroke
symptoms occur, we can potentially save their
lives and reduce significant disability, she says.
I feel honored when my patients have good
outcomes.
How did you persevere through

13 years of education, residencies,
fellowships and internships to become a
medical doctor, and what inspired you
to stick with it for so long?
Honestly, if you look at it that way, you will
never get done! At each phase and step, you
are learning a different skill set, all with the
goal of being the best doctor possible. You
take one day at a time and know that what
you are learning will pay off. Of course there
were moments where I struggled, but I always
knew that the times I struggled the most were
the times that I need to learn from the most
as well.
Why are mentors important? Describe
your best mentoring experience either
as a mentor or as someone who had a
meaningful mentor in your own life.

Books can only teach you so much.
Mentors provide valuable experience and
knowledge to teach you how to navigate this
sometimes overwhelming profession. I think
its our duty to help guide others who want to
be physicians so they can avoid some pitfalls,
have a lending ear to vent, have a guiding
hand to stay on track and motivate when we
dont feel we are at our best. The best lesson I
learned from one of my mentors, Dr. Michael
Frankel at Emory Medical Center, is: Be the

type of doctor that you would want to have if
you were the patient.
What lessons have you learned from
your patients?
The values of this life lie in experiences.
Stay in the moment. Laugh hard and love
harder. Tomorrow is not promised but you
have the ability to touch and change lives
every day. Never take today for granted.
KIM
LANPHEAR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
APPARO
Kim Lanphear leads a life of variety. As
executive director of Apparo, she helps local
nonprofits leverage technology to enact
social change. She has traveled the world and
has served the nonprofit community as a
professional and as a volunteer. Music and the
arts have shaped her life from the moment she
took her first breath. Music and the arts are
the core of my being, Lanphear says. They have
given me joy, voice for emotion and thoughts,
and have enriched every corner of my life.
When her husbands job took him to England
for two years, she and the couples two young
children joined him there, exploring and
experiencing a different culture. Thirty years
ago, while living in Dallas, she volunteered
with PALS, a local program similar to Big
Brothers Big Sisters. She befriended a young
girl with whom she forged a friendship and
mentorship that is still going strong.
What led you to become Apparos

executive director?
I joined Apparo as a part-time program
manager for Knight Foundation grant-funded
programs intended for transforming the way
nonprofits use and understand technology. We
initiated our current pro bono intermediary
work, technology education work for
nonprofits and their employees, and our roving
tech therapy program aimed at providing
immediate support, ideas, and technology
direction. I became executive director 3 1/2 years
ago when we needed to find a way to provide
our services at no cost to that community.
Under my leadership, we have done just that.
On a budget of $1.2 million, we deliver $1.4
million worth of services, and it is growing
each month.
What has your involvement with the
Dallas PALS program meant to you over
the last 30 years?

I wanted to make a long-term personal
difference. I was partnered with a wonderful
12-year-old Latino girl, and we spent two years
together, becoming friends, supporters and
mentor/mentee. Today, we remain connected
through Facebook. Staying in touch with a
wonderful person whose background, ethnicity
and opportunities are so different from mine
has been humbling, joyous and proof of the
hope that we can all connect with each other.

aspire to leadership positions in their
communities?
Men and women are very different beings,
often with different ways of communicating,
advocating, exploring, and perceiving. These
differences bring more depth to business
decisions and to team leadership. The
marketplace is made of both men and women
in equal parts, so it is very important that
women be represented in the decisions that
bring services and products to market.
What was the turning point in your

business that led to your success?
Opening my own preschool center and
having it filled up, with a waiting list. Success
for me isnt tied to the bottom line and the
profit margin; success is knowing the public
appreciates our business, our service and our
hard work. I would also say a confirmation of
my success was opening a second school and
filling it within four months. That tells me our
business model is needed and parents respond
to our program.
You give so much to Project We Care.

What do you receive in return?
Project We Care was founded by a group
of young African-American professionals as a
way to make a difference for underprivileged
teens. I have been inspired by witnessing a group
of young people organize events and work
endless hours to make someone else believe that
they have hope for a better future. My job is
mentoring, organizing and giving the founders
of Project We Care a mature voice when needed.
In return, I receive peace knowing that I care
about something in this world beyond myself.
KYSHIA
BRASSINGTON
LINEBERGER
OWNER
CONCORD CHILDRENS ACADEMY

TEGA CAY CHILDRENS ACADEMY
Kyshia Lineberger was a licensed Realtor
and a new mother in search of child care when
she discovered the Goddard School, where she
enrolled her daughter. She fell in love with the
school and bought a franchise in Matthews.
In seven years, the school grew from 30
students to 130 students and earned a North
Carolina Division of Child Development
five-star rating. I literally fell into my lifes
work and purpose, she says. I call it the best
job in the world. Lineberger eventually sold
the franchise and started Concord Childrens
Academy, and, later, Tega Cay Childrens
Academy. Along the way, Kris Lawing, a close
friend, was diagnosed with lung cancer, and
she spent three years taking care of him and his
family. When she is not working and caring
for her family and friends, she volunteers as a
mentor with Project We Care, an organization

that supports underprivileged teenagers.
How did the care you gave the Lawing
family change your focus and your life?
It came as a shock when Kris Lawing, a
nonsmoker, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung
cancer at age 38. His wife was my longtime
childhood friend, and they had an 8-year-old
son. I developed the Kris Lawing Fund and
began to organize helpers and supporters to
raise money and to raise awareness about lung
cancer. I found there are some great people in
this world. Working with the Lawing family
changed my focus and life by making me more
aware that each day is a gift.
CAROL A.
LOVIN
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
& CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER
CAROLINAS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
As executive vice president and chief
strategy officer of the Carolinas HealthCare
System Management Co., Carol Lovin heads
the organizations planning and development,
performance enhancement, analytics, and
communications and marketing. She also leads
the companys innovation work, and in 2011
she led development of Dickson Advanced
Analytics, a data-driven system that analyzes
information to predict patient health care
needs and outcomes and provides information
for health care providers to more accurately
deliver patient diagnoses and treatment. In
2004, Lovin found herself on the patient
side of the health care system when she was
diagnosed with stage 3 metastatic melanoma.
After undergoing surgery to remove 40 lymph
nodes and a year of immunotherapy, she is
enjoying an active, productive life. Ive always
been a glass half-full person, she says. But
theres nothing like a life-threatening diagnosis

to bring you to your knees in deep reflection
and gratitude for every minute youre alive.
Describe one of your most significant
accomplishments?
An accomplishment that is meaningful to
me is having the opportunity to work with
other leaders to create and launch an advanced
analytics group at Carolinas HealthCare
System then hear its discussion as a case study
at Harvard Business School last year. Most
importantly, we are using data and analytics to
make care better for our patients.
How did your melanoma diagnosis
affect your outlook and steer your
direction in life and in your career?
Thanks to my stage 3 melanoma, I now
choose my battles intentionally and with
resolve, because some battles, like melanoma,

are worth fighting to win. I also know how
to better play the risk/reward game, because
cancer gives you lots of practice. Finally, my
melanoma strengthened my ability to dream
big when setting goals, like beating cancer, by
breaking them down in bite-size pieces and
persist until they are reached.
work in the morning?
The privilege of spending a 12-hour day
doing challenging work in a complex industry

with teams I love. And its all for one purpose
to optimize the health of every individual
and family we serve. Our industry lives right
in the middle of lifes most difficult, as well as
most joyous, events. Both are deeply personal.
Who wouldnt be inspired to get up and make
a difference? In short, I am inspired by the
millions of health care consumers in general,
by our patients, by my talented colleagues and
by my children, all who cause me to think
differently with every interaction.
AMY
BREESE
MASSEY, PE
TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER/
CONSULTANT
KIMLEY-HORN
A love of the outdoors and a thirst for
variety led Amy Massey into engineering.
My field of civil engineering is so broad
encompassing areas of environmental, water
and wastewater, roads, bridges and traffic that
it makes it a good fit, since I get a kick out of
variety and diversity and I have an appreciation
for the environment, she says. Massey earned
a bachelors degree in civil engineering
and a masters degree in engineering from
North Carolina State University and is a
transportation engineer, consultant and
partner with Kimley-Horn and Associates. She
is active in a variety of business and community
organizations including CREW, the York
County Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for
Humanity and the YMCA.

women who wish to embark on
challenging and trail-blazing careers?
I would suggest that learning the art of
communication is critical. Had I realized this
at an earlier stage, it would have benefited
me, and others, in relationships of all kinds.
Tolerating, understanding, and actually valuing
other perspectives and opinions are keys to
creating the best possible outcomes. Striking a
balance is important to feeling like a complete
person too. There are trade-offs in every choice
you make. Im so glad that I made a choice
years ago in the early days of my career, and
with young children, to ask for flexibility and a
reduced schedule at work.
Who has had the greatest influence on

your career and life, and why?
My mom and dad, Janet and Ed Breese, have
been the most influential. Family and service
to others was always at the top of their lists.
They taught me about hard work and sacrifice
through their own example, working full time
while raising five children, owning a business
and volunteering as leaders in the church,
booster clubs, scouts, and coaching our sports
teams all to support us in our activities.
More than anything, I remember the constant
encouragement that has helped me reach and
achieve all I have.
Why is it important for you to give

back through service to your profession
and your community?
Giving back is a trait I got from my parents.
Growing up, I watched and soaked it up. Even
at N.C. State, I was involved in many service
projects as a member of Alpha Phi Omega.
It has been my pleasure to share with and
encourage my own children and to help them
be successful and productive citizens. I believe
my greatest example for them could simply be
showing kindness to people.
North Carolina Lawyers Weekly will host the sixth annual Leaders in the
Law awards event in September 2016, honoring attorneys licensed and
practicing law in the state of North Carolina who go above and beyond
in their profession and their community. The honorees will represent the
most influential individuals within our states legal community.
Winners of 2015 and 2014 Leaders in the Law awards will not be considered as nominees.
Previous winners are eligible to be honored again in the third year after they received their award.
NomiNate today!
The NomiNaTioN deadLiNe iS WedNeSday, JuNe 15, 2016

nclawyersweekly.com/leaders-in-the-law
Congratulations!!
April SimpkinS
Of
HrS&S ConSulting, llC

For Being named one oF 2016s
50 most inFluential Women
For more information about this event, please contact Tiara Benfield
at (704) 247-2901 or tiara.benfield@nclawyersweekly.com
Congratulations to our Community

and Economic Development Director,
Jada Grandy, on being named
a 50 Most Influential Women Honoree.
Fifth Third Bank. Member FDIC.
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DR. NICOLE P.
MCKINNEY
REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT
CARDINAL INNOVATIONS HEALTHCARE

Despite a grueling schedule that keeps Nicole
McKinney busy, she puts her family front and
center. Shes a mother to two young daughters,
works as regional vice president for Cardinal
Innovations Healthcare and recently earned her
Ph.D. in psychology from Capella University.
Juggling high and equally competing priorities
was no easy task, but the single secret sauce
for my success has been and still is having a
supportive family, she says. At one time, she
had decided against having children, but that
attitude changed when she met her husband.
Today she considers motherhood to be her
greatest accomplishment.
You managed to start a family, work a
demanding job, and earn your Ph.D. all
at the same time. What are your secrets to
staying organized?
If it werent for my patient and encouraging
husband, I would have fallen short.

Additionally, my mom, dad and aunt are always
there to lend an ear, provide a shoulder to cry
on, or to give me a reality check when I need
it. To stay organized, I am a taskmaster, so
my simple motto is, Get it done quickly and
check it off the list so you can take on the next
task without things piling up. This motto,
along with concrete deadlines I set for myself,
has worked for me.
Who is one person in your life who
motivated you, and what did you learn?
An experience from my husbands life prior
to meeting me has motivated me more than
any other life experience. At an early adult
age, he suffered a medical condition that, if
not caught or left untreated, could have led
to his death. Instead, he completely altered
his diet and is now a pesco-vegan. This was a
drastic lifestyle change that has ensured good

health and vitality for him. This incident
and lifestyle change reminds me to treasure
each moment of life and to make health a
priority. For that reason, I have been on a
steady journey to improving my daily activity
level and overall health. As such, Ive not
eaten pork or beef for the last decade and
have recently introduced boot camp exercise
workouts to my weekly routine.

family time?
My favorite way to spend time with my
family is by traveling, both nationally and
internationally. And while I love traveling
in general, it is so much more rewarding
when I can enjoy it with my family. It
allows us to disconnect from normal
routines, share quality time and experience
new cultures.
how this business works. On any given week

I may work on issues that include taxes,
infrastructure funding, airspace design, land
use, labor, environmental, and workforce
development. I have so enjoyed becoming
an #avgeek, but it is overwhelming to think
how much I still have to learn about this
industry and the impact of public policy and
regulation on the airlines operations.
How do you balance your demanding

job while still finding time to have fun?
I surround myself with positive and selfmotivated people, who make business meetings
fun and interesting. Especially when conducted
over food and wine.
TRACY
MONTROSS
REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
AMERICAN AIRLINES
A native of Washington, D.C., Tracy
Montross feels right at home with politics.
I grew up surrounded by national politics,
politically astute parents, and other adults
interested in the role of government, she
says. Montross had just graduated from
Appalachian State University with a bachelors
degree in political science and broadcasting
when she landed her first job as executive
assistant and scheduler for U.S. Sen. Max
Baucom. She earned a masters degree in
public administration from the University of
North Carolina at Charlotte while working as
a UNCC Public Service fellow for Freedom
School Partners. She went on to serve as chief
of staff in the mayors office, serving with
Mayors Patsy Kinsey and Anthony Foxx.
She joined American Airlines as director of
government affairs in 2014. She is active in
a variety of business and civic organizations,
including a variety of chambers of commerce

along the east coast.
What led you to pursue a career in
government affairs?
While I was inspired by my favorite
characters in the TV show The West Wing
and the movie The American President,
it was definitely my experience working on
Capitol Hill and with Mayor Anthony Foxx
and the Charlotte City Council that has
best prepared me for a career in corporate
government affairs.
What is the most challenging aspect
of working in government affairs for a
major airline?
While I have learned so much about
airline operations these last two years, I have
just scratched the surface of understanding
And what are the greatest rewards?

The travel perks.
How do you feel your work and

community service has made a difference
in your own life and the lives of others?
I am so grateful to call Charlotte home. I
just hope that I can give back to this city what
it has given me.
DIANA R.
PALECEK
PARTNER
SMITH MOORE LEATHERWOOD, LLP

At the Smith Moore Leatherwood law firm,
Diana Palecek has been called a driving force
behind the firms growth. Palecek attributes
her business development skills to the art of
networking, which she has honed throughout
her career. Even when I was in in-house law
departments and did not need to develop my
own business, I made it a priority to give back
to the profession for professional fulfillment
and development, she says. Speaking at
continuing education programs, getting
involved in the bar association, mentoring
young lawyers and exchanging ideas with
colleagues led to a large network of contacts
she was able to cultivate into connections and
new clients for her firm. Palecek also enjoys
volunteering. She was living and working in
Greensboro when she was approached to help
the financially troubled Greensboro Pregnancy
Care Center. She joined the centers board of
directors, helped raise money to pay pastdue debts, hired a new executive staff, and
stabilized the organization.
Why is your work with the Greensboro
Pregnancy Care Center so rewarding?
The work with GPCC allowed me to use
my business and legal skills to support an
organization that helped women and families
whose personal situations were troubled. Every
week I would get reports from the senior staff
about the challenges of the week, including the
personal challenges faced by individual GPCC
clients, and I was reminded of how blessed I
was not to be in such dire circumstances and to
be in a position to give tangible help out of my
own abundance of resources and knowledge.
Why should women aspire to positions
of leadership?
It is fulfilling to be entrepreneurial, to
choose your work, and to be able to influence
individuals and organizations to accept your
ideas. One of the ways to achieve these things is
to be in a position of leadership and influence.
If you could travel anywhere in the
world, where would you go, and why?
If Syria were open and safe, I would love to
travel there to see the ancient treasures, and
perhaps to explore my family roots. I am a
quarter Syrian on my mothers side. Her father

died during World War II, and so we do not
know much about that part of the family other
than the general region they came from, that
they were an Orthodox Christian family, and
that they settled in Western Pennsylvania after
immigrating to the United States around 1910. I
have already traveled to Scotland and the Czech
Republic, the homelands of my other ancestors,
and I hope one day Syria will be a safe place for
its people and for travel for people like me.
FABI
PRESLAR
PRESIDENT
SPARK PUBLICATIONS
Fabi Preslar has had a long love affair
with graphic design, and through SPARK
Publications, a graphic design firm, she lives
her passion every single day. I have a passion
to create opportunities for people who have
a story, mission or knowledge to share, she
says. I also cherish great design. Preslar put
her passion into action 18 years ago when
she started SPARK Publications. She has also
turned her business into a family affair after
hiring both her husband and her daughter to
work in the business.
SPARK Publications is growing despite
the media disruption we have been
seeing over the last 20 years. How are you
accomplishing this growth?
The secret is in knowing your niche and
your target audience. Communicating to the
masses in this day and age is super-expensive
and ineffective amongst the thousands of

messages each person is exposed to each day.
When you can provide value to your audience
you build a tribe, and that tribe needs and
wants to hear your knowledge and messages.
Creative and great design is a powerful way to
share our content in a way that says, We arent
going cheap, and this message is valuable and
deserves to be beautiful.
Describe the challenges as well as the
rewards of having family members as
employees?
My husband and I have been married for
29 years. Ten years ago I recruited him to join
my company and hired him as our full-time
creative director/IT guy/coffee maker/VP.
We work very well together. Five years ago
I hired our 28-year-old daughter. She is an
amazing planner, coordinator and customer
service manager. We have defined roles and

job descriptions and Im the main tiebreaker.
I never dreamed of having my husband and
daughter working with me, but this business
has brought me so many opportunities beyond
what I was capable of dreaming.
How did the hard work shape you
into the successful entrepreneur and
businesswoman you are today?
Being a business owner gives you a blank
slate to create the life you want. Working hard

and persevering through challenges was basic
training for what owning a business brought
into my life. If you arent working from your
core purpose, there will be many times when
it will be hard to keep everything going and
even harder to face, some of those days. A dear
friend once told me to take it one minute at a
time, then an hour at a time and then day by
day. It all makes me not take things for granted.
SHARON
REED
FOUNDER
GLOBAL GIRLS PROJECT

In early 2013, Sharon Reed was divorced,
laid off from her job, and supporting her
father who had been diagnosed with stage
4 lung cancer. The successive losses felt like
a stripping away of everything I once relied
on for my sense of identity and security, she
says. It was out of the struggle itself that I
finally found my own sense of calling and
purpose. So Reed created the Global Girls
Project, a nonprofit leadership, education
and empowerment initiative for girls and
women. Today, the Global Girls Project has
reached 88 countries, and has aligned with
other organizations to create widespread
local and global engagement. Reed went
on to serve as one of UN Womens 44
global community champions for womens
economic empowerment, and today she is an
independent consultant and continues to work
with UN Women.
Just three years ago you went through

a difficult stage in your life. How did you
not only persevere, but actually thrive?
It wasnt easy. There were many days I
struggled to find my footing and the courage
and confidence to move forward. Yet I found
my internal strength and resolve to rebuild
my life from the inside out, with my faith at
the core. It also took owning my own choices,
failings, setbacks and struggles to shift from a
mindset of victim to victor.
Why is it important to take risks? How
has risk paid off in your own career?
Risk is essential to growth. Its how we
learn, even when were failing. When I was
laid off and ultimately decided to step out of
my comfort zone and into my own voice and
advocacy, I had to fight through fear and the
temptation to stay on the safe and familiar
path. Luckily, the safe path never materialized

and I had no choice but to jump into the
womens and girls empowerment conversation.
When I started the Global Girls Project, I was
determined to listen, learn and stay open to the
journey itself. It is from taking these early risks
and opening up to the inevitable vulnerability
that comes with risk and the possibility of
failure that I began to grow.

satisfaction?
I am most satisfied when my choices and
action reflect and align with my inner values.
For me, that means living an authentic life of
integrity, focused as much on serving others as
myself. I used to never be satisfied unless things
were perfect, but these days Im much more
patient and focused on making incremental
progress, however long it takes.
working with children and youth. This career

has been very fulfilling for me and I am so
blessed to have been led into the field of
molding our young people for the future.
Parkway. I enjoy hiking, cooking over a bonfire,

having picnics on the top of our mountain,
and riding the ATVs around the trails. In the
summer, we fish in the ponds on our property
and in the hunting season we hunt together. I
hunt with a compound bow, black powder gun,
and my .260 Remington rifle. I am proud to say
that I have many whitetail buck trophies on my
wall and, two seasons ago, I got a 250-pound
black bear with my black powder gun.
DIANE
RYON
DIRECTOR
KINGS COLLEGE
Education is more than a job for Diane
Ryon; it is her lifes work. I absolutely love
working with young people to provide them
with the education and training necessary
to become successful professionals in their
chosen careers, she says. It fills my heart with
joy to see these students grow academically.
In the 38 years she has worked for Kings
College, her career has taken her from her
first job as admissions representative to her
current role as college director. She has served
in top leadership roles for national and state
education associations and she serves on a
variety of advisory boards.
Why is your involvement in all levels
of education and related organizations
important to you?
As a professional, the need to be involved in
related organizations is extremely important in
order to support your career. As an educator,

I want to be involved in these organizations
to keep up-to-date in my profession and my
professional development. I believe being
just a member does not give you the depth
of experience for your growth. I have always
believed the more you put into something,
the more you will get out of it. I have gained
tremendous experience by taking a leadership
role in these organizations and have benefited
greatly in support of my career.
What advice would you give a
young person entering the education
profession?
You can make such a difference in our
society by teaching and coaching the younger
generation. The field of education is both
rewarding and challenging. There is a need
for great educators who are passionate about
What do you enjoy doing for fun and

relaxation?
My favorite thing to do is to go to the
mountains with my family and friends. We
own 400 acres and a log home in the Virginia
mountains overlooking the Blue Ridge
KRISTEN
SHEARIN
MANAGING PARTNER, ATTORNEY

PASSENANT & SHEARIN LAW
As a certified divorce financial analyst,
family law attorney Kristen Shearin helps her
female clients navigate their budgets, assets,
and debts, and set financial goals. I really
enjoy empowering my clients to understand
and take control of their finances, she says.
There is nothing easy about a divorce, but
I think my most significant professional
accomplishment is empowering women to be
financially independent. Shearin, who earned
her law degree from the Charlotte School of
Law in 2011, is managing partner at Passenant
& Shearin Law.
What are the biggest challenges women
face in leadership roles, and what are the
greatest rewards?
The biggest challenge I think anyone in a
leadership role faces, whether they are a man
or a woman, is time management. It is difficult
for women to prioritize work over family,
so I think women in general are just more

conflicted about that. The biggest reward of
being in a leadership role is simply being in
a position where I get to make those choices
rather than having them made for me.
your work?
I love educating women about their
finances and helping them to be as financially
independent as possible.
Describe a meaningful mentoring
relationship in your life. How do you pay
it forward as a mentor yourself?
I have had the benefit of some great
women mentors in my life. Its so important
to surround yourself with a strong support
network both professionally and personally.
I mentor a number of young women, and I
really enjoy those relationships. They keep
me on my toes with their questions and help

me to maintain a youthful perspective, so it is
mutually beneficial.
What advice can you give other women
in their efforts to achieve work-life
balance?
I dont try to maintain balance. I choose my
family, they win every time. I only have a finite
period of time with my kids while they are
little and Im not willing to miss it. I start with
their schedule and build from there. Obviously
there are occasions when thats not possible,

but that is the exception rather than the rule. I
would advise other women to attempt to create
a professional situation where you can be in
charge of your own schedule so you have the
opportunity to coordinate your commitments.
As a college undergrad, what was your
favorite subject?
I was an English major, so I love to read and
write.
APRIL
SIMPKINS
PRESIDENT
HRS&S CONSULTING, LLC

April Simpkins could not imagine her life
without music. A Charlotte businesswoman,
Simpkins attended college at Jackson College
in Michigan, on a full music scholarship. She
maintained a 3.8 grade point average while
adding a second major in accounting, working
a part-time job and juggling her responsibilities
as a wife and mother. She started her own
human resources consulting firm in 2001,
and still turns to music for relaxation and
inspiration. When I was 12 years old, a
neighbor gave me an old upright piano, she
says. That piano became my closest friend and
gave me peace like nothing else. As founder
and president of HRS&S Consulting, she is
celebrating her 15th anniversary in business
this year. Simpkins started running seven years
ago, and last year logged more than 83 miles
racing 5K races and half marathons.
What rewards to you derive from your

career in human resources and in having
your own business?
I work almost exclusively with small
businesses. Working with and for entrepreneurs
who reach out to me for help with their
businesses is rewarding. Spending a morning
developing a retention strategy for a restaurant
client and my afternoon developing a recruiting
initiative for a nonprofit is just another day in
the life of this HR professional.
Why did you start running, and how
did you come to the decision to run 75
miles worth of races?
I started distance running after I had my
sixth child. Many days, the only time I had
peace and quiet was when I put my two
youngest kids in a stroller and took them
for a walk. I walked farther and faster each
week until one day I decided to start running.

In 2009 I set my first goal to run a 5K race.
I placed third in my age division. I got a
rush setting that goal and running past the
finish line. The following year, I set a goal
to complete six 5K races. I kept setting race
goals that would keep me either running or
in training mode. I get an amazing feeling of
accomplishment when I cross that finish line.
Why is community service work

important to you?
I grew up watching my grandmother
serve in church and in the community. My
mother also serves in church and in the
community. So naturally, at a young age, I
felt compelled to serve too, and it is a way
of life. It makes me happy to be focused 100
percent on giving with no expectation of
receiving.
AMY
SULLIVAN
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT
ECS CAROLINAS, LLP
After working in commercial real estate
for major companies for almost two decades,
Amy Sullivan joined Engineering Consulting
Services Charlotte office as business
development manager. While I knew
commercial real estate backwards and forwards,
I knew very little about the engineering side,
so I made it my mission to learn, she said. In
less than a year, I was promoted to director of
business development. As a way of bonding
with her mostly male clientele, Sullivan took
up the sport of clay shooting. This year, she is
chairing the Boy Scouts of America Sporting
Clays Tournament in Mecklenburg County.
What are the biggest challenges faced
by women in leadership roles?
I believe we limit ourselves, and we shy away
from taking on extra roles and trying new
experiences based upon stereotypes that society

has placed upon us.
Describe your role as director of
business development. As a woman in a
male-dominated business, what are the
challenges and what are the rewards?
My role is to be the connector of people and
project opportunities between the commercial
real estate world and ECS Carolinas. Not
being an engineer is a challenge, but 18 years
of commercial real estate contacts and being
a supporter of our industry for so many
years provides me with an advantage. I feel
rewarded when a true connection is made and
a relationship is developed.
What has led you to pursue adventure,
from hiking the Appalachian Trail to
raising money to fight cystic fibrosis to

climbing Mount Washington, fly fishing
and shooting clay pigeons? What have
you learned about yourself?
Being an active person, I dont shy away
from new experiences, and I love being outside.
It was the extreme hike on the Appalachian
Trail for cystic fibrosis that made me open my
eyes and realize that life is short and instead of
talking about it, I should be about it. Sporting
clays have offered me an alternative to playing
golf. Im not great, but I have fun and the sport
has opened up a new networking world for me.
to spend with him and taught me the value of

getting involved.
it is not popular; being honest with yourself

and with others even when it is uncomfortable;
living out the moral values that my husband
and I have instilled in them.

work each day?
Connecting people and discovering new
opportunities.
If money were no object, what would
you like to do?
What I do now. It never feels like work. I
love meeting people, making true connections
and building relationships.
MARY
SUMMA
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
BELMONT ABBEY COLLEGE
Mary Summa credits her father, District
Judge Robert Potter, with influencing her
in almost every aspect of her personal and
professional life. In 1991, he presided over
the tax-fraud trial of TV evangelist and PTL
founder Jim Bakker. Summa followed her
fathers footsteps into the legal profession and
politics, though she has not held elective office.
She worked as U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms legislative
assistant for five years before taking a job as an
assistant district attorney for the 26th Judicial
District in Charlotte, then moved on to work
as a writer and independent adviser to the
North Carolina Family Policy Council. Today,
she is an adjunct professor of criminal justice
at Belmont Abbey College and is active with
the Republican Party on the local, state and
national levels. From my father I learned that
one person can make a difference, she says. It
is important to have the courage to stand up

for what you believe in, and politics should be
solely about serving people.
What influenced your decision to get
involved in politics not as an elected
official, but as a worker and supporter
within the Republican Party?
My father influenced me. He served on his
local county commission from 1966-1968
and took pride in spearheading efforts to run
water and sewer to the entire county. Before my
fathers efforts, poorer neighborhoods lacked
these basic necessities. He decided against
running for a second term because he felt his
work on the commission took too much time
away from my brother, my sister and me. In
the 1970s, Dad worked for Jesse Helms and
Ronald Reagan. Tagging along gave me time

I am pretty gender-blind when it comes to
leadership. Everyone, male and female, should
be leaders.
Having said that, I have taught my four
daughters that they can do or be anything they
want. I have also taught them leadership means
standing up for what you believe in, even when
What do you enjoy doing for fun?

I enjoy having all my children together,
which is only once or twice a year these days.
I also enjoy sailing, snow skiing, traveling and
reading. Of course, politics would have to go
on that list as well.
STACEY
VANDIFORD
MEMBER
MOORE & VAN ALLEN, PLLC

Stacey Vandiford, a partner with Moore &
Van Allen and an integral member of the firms
finance team, grew up admiring female lawyers
who were involved in community service
activities. Today she follows in their footsteps.
She leads MVAs annual fundraising campaign
benefiting Thompson Child & Family Focus
and last year raised $14,000 for the organization.
She also volunteers with the Citizen Schools
Mock Trial apprenticeship, an afterschool
program that teaches students from low-income
communities about courtroom procedure while
developing their reading comprehension and
public speaking skills. Our community is a
constant work in progress, and it is important to
be involved in supporting the change we desire
to see, Vandiford says.
What led you to pursue a career as a
lawyer?
Growing up, I had two strong female role
models. One was a small-business owner with a

successful family law practice and one worked
in corporate America using her law degree
as a way to help friends and family and be
involved in her community through the local
bar association. One similarity between these
two women was their community involvement.
While I was attracted to the challenge of law
school and the diversity of career options
available with a law degree, I was attracted to
the community contributions led by lawyers.
Why is community involvement
important to you, and how do you
maintain balance?
Both the support of MVA and the
encouragement of my family have been
essential to my ability to be involved in
the community. MVA not only encourages
attorneys and staff members to get involved
in the community, it brings opportunities
for involvement into the workplace and

creates important community connections.
It took me time to understand this, but
community involvement is not an all or
nothing proposition. At times in life, you
may have more time and money to give
than at other times. The important thing
is to acknowledge at what level you can be
involved, and then be involved.
How do you know your life and work as
a lawyer has made a difference in the lives

of others?
One of the most fulfilling aspects of my
job is being able to see the tangible results of a
financial transaction. If you have benefited from
the opportunities provided by the construction
of an educational facility, the services offered
as a result of a new nursing facility, the
entertainment of a new sporting venue or the
convenience of a new shopping center, you likely
have a finance attorney to thank.
IRENE
VOGELSONG
DIRECTOR OF INTERIOR DESIGN
AND PRACTICE AREA LEADER (NC)
OFFICE CO-LEADER (CHARLOTTE)
PERKINS+WILL
A native of El Salvador, Irene Vogelsong
developed a love for design and architecture
when she discovered Legos at the age of 4. I
was constantly trying to design the perfect
playhouse, she says. By the time Vogelsong
was a teenager, she had decided to become an
interior designer, and her affinity for structure
led her to study architecture as a way to blend
design with the use of space. She earned her
bachelors degree in technology at the New
York Institute of Technology and her masters
degree in technology from Syracuse University.
She is director of interior design and practice
area leader for Perkins + Will of Charlotte.
Active in the business community, she serves
on the Charlotte Chambers Executive
Committee. She is the founder of VV Threads,
a nonprofit organization that partners with
artisans of El Salvador to create handmade
resort wear.
How did your relationship with your

native country influence you to start
vvthreads.com, and why are you inspired
to give back?
I grew up in El Salvador surrounded by
natural beauty and the love and support
of bright, creative, eternally optimistic and
friendly people. However, it is also a country
with high poverty and low economic mobility
rates. Our people are a blend of indigenous and
of European descent, and have always expressed
their talents through arts and crafts as a means
of income and survival. As someone who has
always been painfully aware of my countrys
economic struggles, starting VV Threads was
an opportunity to use my passion for design to
employ local craftspeople and deliver a muchneeded quality product.
Why is important and rewarding for
you to serve on the Charlotte Chambers

Executive Committee?
I believe diversity in business, whether
it is company size, gender or ethnicity, is
crucial. My involvement is two-fold. First,
as a practice leader at Perkins+Will, I am a
voice for small- to medium-size businesses. As
a Latina businesswoman, I can offer a fresh
perspective and insights on business policy
and culture as Charlotte continues to grow
and attract other businesses.
Discuss how your diverse background
influences your professional aspirations
and why it is important for businesses

and communities to embrace diversity.
Throughout my career, I have used my
diverse background to influence my design
work. Living in different countries such as Italy
and El Salvador, as well as a melting pot city
like New York, has heightened my awareness
and sensitivity to people, business and culture.
satisfaction?
Satisfaction to me is the sense that I truly do
have it all a great career, husband, daughter
and life.
DENISE
WATTS
LEARNING COMMUNITY
SUPERINTENDENT
CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS
PROJECT L.I.F.T.
As a child of poverty growing up in a singleparent home, Denise Watts turned to her
teachers and coaches for support, and credits
them for steering her toward the professional
success she enjoys today. Watts is the learning
community superintendent for CharlotteMecklenburg Schools Project Leadership and
Investment for Transformation, a publicprivate partnership designed to provide
underachieving students with a strong
educational foundation. When I look into
the faces of students, I see myself, Watts says.
I believe there is promise in every child, and it
is the role of public education to help students
discover and cultivate that promise.
What is project L.I.F.T.?
The achievement and opportunity gaps that
separate economically disadvantaged, minority
youth from their peers is unacceptable.

Project L.I.F.T. aims to ensure all children
have access to a quality education. Through
a public-private partnership with CharlotteMecklenburg Schools, Project L.I.F.T. works
to strategically coordinate the resources and
support for nine schools in the west Charlotte
corridor, focusing on talent, time, technology
and community and parent support.
What is the most challenging aspect
of your work, and what are the greatest
rewards?
In the schools I serve, there are high
concentrations of children with challenges
stemming from economic disadvantage. As
an educator and leader of Project L.I.F.T. it is
my job to create the conditions in which these
children see beyond their current circumstances
into a future where there is endless promise and

possibilities. It can be challenging to breathe
hope and success into children that have
never experienced it. Over the last four years
of Project L.I.F.T., I have seen lives changed.
Children that had given up and were on the
brink of dropping out are now high school
graduates and have moved on to college and
career opportunities that were beyond their
reach just a few years ago. I see students who
were academically disenfranchised that are now
motivated to learn and grow. I have seen schools
transform from dysfunction to environments
where students and teachers thrive. These are
the rewards that bring me joy and pride, and

validate my career choice.
The key to The Scone Shop was my friends

and family, who were relentless in voicing their
support and prodding to take my scones to
market. They believed in me and my product. To
go from hobby to full-fledged business, I had to
expand past Charlotte to see how the rest of the
state would receive the scones. I also needed to
see if this could be a sustainable endeavor.
risks in life and at work? What are the

rewards?
The balance of life to me is seeing opposites
sweet and savory, success and failure, fear
and strength, sadness and joy. My faith creates
the foundation and vehicle to ride through
the rough times knowing there will be a
balance to create a richness of character and an
interwoven life, leaning on friends and digging
within myself for confidence.
What role does passion play in your life

and your career?
In my work, challenges can feel
insurmountable. Doubt can creep in and hold
me hostage. Passion allows me to overcome
these things. Passion brings me energy and an
unwavering commitment. Passion creates the
ambition that drives me to give 110 percent.
Passion makes me a lifelong learner, and makes
up for my shortcomings. Passion is what turns
impossible into possible.
FIELDING
WILLIAMS
OWNER
THE SCONE SHOP

Fielding Williams, a former pre-school
teacher, wanted to teach her 5th-grade son
the value of money and home cooking, so
they spent a holiday season in 2007 selling
homemade cookie dough to people to use as
gifts. Her son used his earnings to fund a trip
to Canada. The next Christmas, Williams
dusted off her cookie dough recipes and
added frozen, ready-to-bake scones to the
menu, and they outpaced the cookie dough
sales. The Scone Shop was born. I love to
create from scratch, appreciating the fullness
of flavor, using all natural ingredients, she
says. Scones were just getting popular, and I
wanted to offer something people wouldnt be
able to do for themselves as easily. Williams
holds a bachelors degree in studio art from
the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill. She is a passionate advocate for literacy
and spent the early part of her career helping
children and adults learn to read.

Why is your work promoting literacy
important to you?
I was the stereotypical child with my nose
in a book and a stack with bookmarks on
my nightstand. I loved living through others
experiences and understanding people from
different cultures and time periods. Reading
is breathing to me, so finding people that
dont have access to that magical world was
unacceptable. Working with adults and
children and seeing their faces light up when
they realize reading can be a delicious pastime
versus a chore is priceless.
What was key to your success with
The Scone Shop and what influenced
your decision to expand throughout
North Carolina?
Why is it important for people to take
GAIL
WILLIAMS
SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR

BUSINESS TODAY
Gail Williams entered the advertising world
in 1968, when times were turbulent and
television advertising was a male-dominated
world. Back then, women were typically hired
as secretaries, nurses, and teachers, or they
became homemakers, she says. I aspired to be
an executive secretary, as I was interested in the
business world and loved to type. Her fatherin-law, who was a partner in a small advertising
agency in Atlanta, steered her to a secretarial
position at a local television station where
she worked for seven ad salesmen. Within
four years, she had been promoted to account
executive, and with support of the salesmen
and her determination to pave the way for
other women to follow in her footsteps, she
flourished. Today, she is an award-winning sales
and marketing director for Business Today and
Cornelius Today.
Why is it important for you to

serve as a leader in local chambers of
commerce and the American Advertising
Federation?
I believe visibility breeds success. Chambers
and industry associations allow us to become
well-known, respected and visible. It is human
nature to want to deal with the people we
know and those who have demonstrated
leadership. Chambers and business
organizations provide great networking
opportunities, plus you meet really nice people.
How did the illness and death of your
husband, combined with your publishers
serious illness, affect your outlook on life
and work and shape who you are today?
I discovered my strengths, and learned I
could accomplish much more than I ever
believed. I uncovered a sense of being resolute
and simply forging ahead. There was no other

way to handle it. I had to manage my husbands
life and medical arrangements, and I had to
collaborate with my co-workers to keep our
newspapers thriving. What else was there to
do? Give up? Not in my book of options.
The disruption of traditional media
makes publishing challenging. How
are you dealing with these changes and
continuing to thrive in your career?
We have had to re-evaluate what types of

print are surviving, and these are obviously
not daily newspapers. Targeted publications
are surviving even thriving and generally
neighborhood newspapers are doing well, so we
have focused and amplified the niche nature of
our publications. Business news demands a print
format, as it must remain durable and referable.
Weve also added a strong web component,
which improves the availability of information
and offers advertising revenue growth.
JUDY
WISHNEK
CHARLOTTE REGIONAL PRESIDENT

PARK STERLING BANK
Judy Wishnek considers her appointment
as Park Sterling Banks Charlotte regional
president as her most significant professional
accomplishment. Shes proud of the banks
growth, and attributes her success to hard
work, long-term relationships and community
involvement. I have always had a natural
aptitude for math, so majoring in accounting
made sense, she says. After college, I quickly
learned that I preferred working with people
than numbers. Wishnek parlays her leadership
and people skills into her role chairing the
Charlotte Regional Partnerships board of
directors. She is the second woman to lead
the organization in its 25-year history. She is
also passionate about helping other women
succeed, serving on the Women Executives
board, and she is a past honoree in the
Charlotte Business Journals Top 25 Women in
Business recognition program.
What advice would you give young

women who are embarking on
demanding and challenging careers?
I am lucky to do what I love and always
recommend to those just getting started in
their careers to do the same. Then, it doesnt
really seem like work. Also, focus on your
strengths, surround yourself with a great team
and find a supportive mentor.
You serve in leadership positions
on a number of civic and professional
organizations. Why is it important
for women to aspire to positions of
leadership in their communities?
We are fortunate to live in a thriving city
with many opportunities for community
involvement. It is important not just for women
but for everyone to lend their time and talents
to organizations and causes they feel passionate

about. Its a great way to pay it forward.
Why do you consider learning to play
golf as your most significant personal
accomplishment, and how has it helped
you in your professional career?
As much as I always wanted to play, golf
intimidated me for many years since I had
not played organized sports growing up and
Im not very athletic. Becoming moderately
successful at it, enough to hold my own

in charity tournaments, gave me great
confidence and inspired me to try other new
things, like yoga.
What do you enjoy doing for fun and
relaxation?
In addition to spending time with family
and friends, I love supporting my Panthers
and other Charlotte sports teams. To relax, I
practice yoga, hike and hit the driving range.
REBECCA
WOFFORD
ATTORNEY
KRUSCH & SELLERS, P.A.
FOUNDER
THE LUNCH PROJECT
In 2011, Rebecca Wofford was a law
professor at the Charlotte School of Law
when she and her students visited Tanzania
and discovered that although the country had
developed public schools for all students, the
schools were overcrowded and money was
not available to buy food. Students went to
school all day on an empty belly, Wofford says.
When we told folks in Charlotte that 9 cents
would buy a hot meal for a student attending
school in a developing country, they wanted
to help. Young children in Charlotte had real
empathy for the struggling Tanzanian students,
which led Wofford to start The Lunch Project,
a global community-run lunch program in
Tanzania and an empathy education program
in Charlotte schools. Today, Wofford is a
practicing attorney with Krusch & Sellers and
chairs The Lunch Projects board of advisers.

How do you balance managing The
Lunch Project with your busy career as
a lawyer?
I gave up my law career when my son needed
surgery at 4 months old. When he was three,
I became a law professor, which led me to
found The Lunch Project. I served as the first
volunteer executive director until we had funds
to hire an executive director. Last January, I
returned to practicing law.
How did your father influence
your career and your commitment to
community service?
My father was a minister in a small town,
and he was called to serve the community
in many ways. He allowed my sister and me

to play a part in his community service. For
every pancake breakfast fundraiser, we helped
serve the pancakes. We delivered gifts to the
older people in our neighborhood during the
holidays. We learned we did not need a lot of
things, but giving to others made us feel valued
in a way that receiving things did not.
women who have demanding careers yet
have passions outside the confines of
their jobs?
You will figure out how to have a career

and fulfill your passions. You may take an
indirect route, but that usually means you
have something to learn that will get you to
the next step. I apply my skill sets to each task
I undertake. Teaching law students helped me
teach volunteers. Advocating for clients in a
courtroom helped me advocate for the kids in
Tanzania. Let change happen rather than fear
it because change will be the means to success.
Finally, share your dream with the people you
work with. You will be surprised at how many
people will support you.
Congratulations to the 2016 Honorees of
Celebrate your achievements

with a personalized plaque!
Professionally display a custom-designed
plaque of your honoree biography in your
office, reception area or home.
This is the perfect way to remember your achievements for your important
role in the greater Charlotte region, in the economy, & in society.
For more information contact Andrea Mounts

704-817-1346 andrea.mounts@mecktimes.com
make any moment
a Celebration
FREE
Bundtlet
with the purchase of a bundtlet
Expires 6/30/16. Limit one coupon per guest Cannot be combined
withany other offer Redeemable only at the bakery listed. Must be
claimed in-bakery during normal business hours. No cash value.
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601 S. Kings Drive

(704) 909-4577
nothingbundtcakes.com
CREW Charlotte
Congratulations to each of our members
for being honored as a Mecklenburg
Times 50 Most Influential Woman.
The mission of Teal Diva is to celebrate

victories, honor memories, empower
women, educate the community and
fund diagnostic research for ovarian
and other gynecologic kancers.
Julie Ayers
LBA Haynes Strand, PLLC
Amy E. Davis
Lillian Fahr
Wells Fargo & Company
First American National

Commercial Services
M /tealdiva
N /tealdivanc
S /tealdiva
Q /tealdivanc
Kimley-Horn
Diana R. Palecek
Smith Moore
Leatherwood, LLP
BRG
Stacie Beasley Jacobs
tealdiva.org
Amy Breese Massey, PE
Amy Sullivan
ECS Carolinas, LLP
Irene Vogelsong
Perkins+Will
www.crewcharlotte.org
The Ronald McDonald House Charity
ive years ago this month,

the doors were opened to
a home away from home
for families of children
stricken with serious illnesses.
As of May 3, 11,402 people from
2,750 families have come through
the doors of the Ronald McDonald
House of Charlotte.
And because, guided by its local
board of directors, the House
has made itself a home to so
many, The Mecklenburg Times
has chosen it to be our nonprofit
beneficiary.
The comfort and support that
the Ronald McDonald House

offers to the families of severely
ill children is so invaluable at
such a difficult time, said Joni
Brooks, interim publisher of
The Mecklenburg Times. Were
grateful to be able to help in some
way. The staff and volunteers
deserve so much support in their
critical mission.
And, like the women we
celebrate at our annual 50 Most
Influential Women event, they
contribute in such a significant
way to making the Charlotte
community a better place. Weve
selected the Ronald McDonald
House because they, like our
honorees, are integral to the
spirit, passion and commitment
that make the Queen City such a
special place to be.
The 35,000-square-foot brick
building on East Morehead Street
is more than a place for families
to rest their weary minds. With
a paid staff of 13 and a daily
volunteer force of about 30, it
offers families who must travel
great distances for pediatric
medical care connections to
physical, spiritual, educational
and emotional support; activities
for siblings; meals; and holiday
and birthday recognitions.
It is estimated it costs about
$89 a night for a family to stay at
the House, said Mona JohnsonGibson, the Houses executive
director and a former 50 Most
Influential Women honoree. This

money will help us continue our
mission of providing a home
away from home for families of
seriously ill children.
The first Ronald McDonald
House opened in 1974, the
result of a quest by Philadelphia
Eagles football player Fred Hill
to help support families who
are supporting their hospitalbound children. Hills daughter
Kim, 3, had been diagnosed
with leukemia. As Hill and his
wife slept on waiting room
chairs and ate from vending
machines, they saw other families
doing the same. Hill rallied the
football team, and in partnership
McDonalds restaurant and Dr.
Audrey Evans, who had dreamed
of opening a temporary residence
for such families, they opened the
first Ronald McDonald House.
Today, there are 357 Ronald
McDonald Houses, with more
than 10,000 bedrooms, in 57
countries around the world.
The need for a House in
Charlotte, the fifth in the state,
became apparent when Carolinas
Medical Center opened its 240bed Levine Childrens Hospital and
Novant Health Hemby Childrens
Hospital expanded.
Now, families from throughout
the Southeast who travel to
Charlotte for specialized health
care can find safe, affordable
and supportive housing for
short-term or extended stays.

The House has 28 rooms
and suites, each of which has a
private bath and accommodates
one family. It has a community
kitchen, great room, learning
center and computer room,
playground, playroom, sitting
porch and laundry room. It
is staffed 24 hours a day by
professional and volunteer
staff, and meals are donated by
generous Charlotteans.
The cost to operate these houses
comes primarily from individual and
corporate donations. Families who
use the house are asked to make
a modest donation, but are never
turned away due to inability to pay.
We always need volunteers to
help us take care of the families,
to attend and support fundraisers,
to provide wish list items to the
House, said Johnson-Gibson.
That is why The Mecklenburg
Times has chosen Ronald
McDonald House of Charlotte
as its nonprofit partner. The
organization will receive a portion
of the proceeds from each paid
seat at the awards program, as
well as all proceeds from the
events auction of an elegant
diamond bracelet worth $3,000.
And we want to extend our
heartfelt thanks to Diamonds
Direct SouthPark, our 2016
Diamond Partner in this event,
which generously donated the
beautiful earrings auctioned.

The Mecklenburg Times Presents 50 Most Influential Women, 2016

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6 | FIFTY MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN 2016

SHARON ROBERTS | Managing Editor

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MARY CATHERINE (MC)

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James, Mcelroy & Diehl, PA

Co-Founder of One7 Ministries

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LBA Haynes Strand, PLLC

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Queen City Metal Recycling & Salvage

CATHRINE COTMAN / Page 11

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TERRI DeBOO / Page 14

MICHELE DUDLEY / Page 15

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Fifth Third Bank

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University City Partners

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Sodoma Law Union

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