2025 Community & Economic Engagement Summit

Sponsors

 

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Agenda

8 a.m.

Registration Check-In & Continental Breakfast

9-9:30 a.m.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Oliver M. Thomas, Ph.D. '06 - Associate Vice Chancellor of External Affairs

Chancellor James R. Martin II, Ph.D., North Carolina A&T State University

Introduction of City & County Officials

Allyson Cobb, ’10, Director of External Partnerships, N.C. A&T

Amos L. Quick, III
N.C. House of Representatives, Democratic Whip, District 58 and Chair, Guilford County Delegation to the N.C. General Assembly
Melvin “Skip” Alston
Chair, Guilford County Board of Commissioners, District 8
J. Carlvena Foster
Vice Chair, Guilford County Board of Commissioners, District 1; and Senior Vice President, Carl Chavis YMCA
Nancy B. Vaughan
Mayor of Greensboro
Victor Isler
Guilford County Manager

9:30-10:35 a.m.

Panel Discussion | Legacy in Motion: Reentry Pathways to Workforce and Community Impact

Introduction of the Moderator: Cyril Jefferson, Mayor of High Point

Moderator

Melissa S. Smith ‘12 - Director- Workforce Development Solutions, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce

Panelists:

Jessica Schultz, Vice President of Career Development Services, Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina
LaQuinta Downey – Reentry Coordinator, StepUp Greensboro
David Williams – President, Lorac Academy
Shawn Jackson - Community Health Worker, Triad Adult and Pediatric Medicine

10:35-10:45 a.m. 

Sponsor Spotlight and Announcement

Leslie A. Garvin, Executive Director, North Carolina Campus Engagement

Allison Walker, Director of Community Partnerships and Experiential Learning, Wake Forest University

Bryle H. Hatch, Ph.D. ’08, ’10, ‘18, Senior Deputy Director, Division of Human Resources, NC Department of Health and Human Services

10:45-11:45 am
Introduction of the Morning Speaker

James Jeter, Vice President of Business and Community Development, Skyla Federal Credit Union
Morning Keynote Speaker
Roderick Harvey, Owner and Founder, StarStruck ™ and Author, “The Favored Felon”
Q&A with Roderick Harvey - Manuel Dudley, Ph.D. ‘11, Chief Officer, Strategic and Industry Partnerships, Guilford Technical Community College

11:45 -11:50 a.m.

Sponsor Spotlight and Announcements

11:50 a.m.-1:25 p.m.
Lunch & Special Presentations by Blackstone Launchpad
Antwon Foreman ‘13 - Professor of Entrepreneurship, Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics and Director - Blackstone Entrepreneurship Launchpad,
N.C. A&T

A&T Student Participants: Nhojony Torres '26, Patrick Cooper '27, Arielle Primus '26 and Philemon Emmanuel '26

Aggie Innovators Pitch Challenge
Sean G. L. Johnson, Director of the Center of Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, N.C. A&T

A&T Student Participants: Justice Watson, Isaac Lewis, Anjali Kumari and
Cori Brown

Guest Judges: Kwame Molden, Geoff Foster, and Interim Provost Catherine Edmonds

1:30-2:30 p.m.
Panel Discussion | Measuring Impact: NC A&T’s Role in Promoting Regional Economic Development and Innovation

Introduction – Mac Sims ’74 President, East Greensboro NOW 

Moderator/Panelist:
Alfredo Romero, Ph.D. – Associate Professor/Chairperson, Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics, N.C. A&T

Panelists:

Cephas B. Naanwaab, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics, N.C. A&T
Kenrett Jefferson-Moore, Ph.D., Professor & Chairperson, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, N.C. A&T

2:45-3:45 pm

Sponsor Spotlight
Michelle Eley, Ph.D., ’96, Assistant Professor of Practice - Community & Economic Development, Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T, North Carolina A&T State University

Keynote Address and Fireside Chat
Kwame Molden ’09, Founder/CEO of Spring Break (SPGBK) Watches

Q&A with Kwame Molden – Willie A. Deese ‘77, retired pharmaceutical executive of Merck & Co., Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Pharmaceuticals, PLC

3:45-4:15 pm
Wrap-Up & Closing Comments
Lovelle McMichael - Director of Community Engagement, Division of Strategic Partnerships and Economic Development, N.C. A&T

Immediately after the Summit Ends 
Mix ‘n Mingle Networking Mixer
Victor Solomon '22
International Performing Artist and Finalist on NBC’s The Voice® and contestant on ABC’s American Idol®

Parking Information

Parking at the Community and Economic Engagement Summit is available at the gravel parking lot at the intersection of S. Elm St. and West Gate City Blvd. For secondary parking, attendees can park at Union Square Campus, located at 124 E. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro, N.C. 27406. Overflow parking is located at New Zion Missionary Baptist Church, located at 408 Martin Luther King Jr Dr., Greensboro, N.C. 27406.

 

All of these locations are walking distance to Elm and Bain located at 620B S Elm St, Greensboro, N.C. 27406

 

Click to Download Parking Map

Speakers

University Leadership

 

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	James R. Martin, II Chancellor North Carolina A&T State University
	Catherine Edmonds, Ed.D. '92 Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor North Carolina A&T State University
	Willie A. Deese '77 Retired Pharmaceutical Executive, Merck & Co., Inc. Former Chair of the N.C. A&T Board of Trustees (2011-2013)
	Lovelle McMichael, M.Div., M.Ed. Chair of the Community Economic and Engagement Summit   Director of Community Engagement
	Oliver M. Thomas, Ph.D. '06 Associate Vice Chancellor for External Affairs

 

Speakers

Elected Officials

 

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	Amos Quick, III N.C. House of Representatives, Democratic Whip, District 58, and chair of Guilford County Delegation to the N.C. General Assembly
	Melvin "Skip" Alston Chair, Guilford County Board of Commissioners, District 8
	J. Carlvena Foster Vice Chair, Guilford County Board of Commissioners, District 1; and Senior Vice President, Carl Chavis YMCA
	Nancy Vaughan   Mayor of Greensboro
	Cyrill Jefferson Mayor of High Point
	Leonardo Williams Mayor of Durham
	Victor Isler Guilford County Manager

 

Speakers

Keynote Speakers and Performer

 

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	Roderick Harvey Morning Keynote Speaker The Starstuck Collection and author of  "The Favored Felon:
	Kwame Molden '09 Afternoon Keynote Speaker Co-Founder and President of Springbreak (SPGBK) Watches
	Victor Solomon '22 Finalist on NBC The Voice and Top 20 on ABC American Idol

 

Speakers

Legacy in Motion: Reentry Pathways to Workforce and Community Impact

 

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	Melissa S. Smith '12 - Moderator Greensboro Chamber of Commerce Director of Workforce Development Solutions
	LaQuinta Downey Step Up Greensboro Reentry Coordinator
	Shawn Jackson Triad Adult and Pediatric Health/NC FIT
	David Williams   Lorac Academy President
	Jessica Schultz Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina Vice President of Career Services

 

Speakers

Blackstone Launchpad: Student Service and Student Development through Entrepreneurship and Innovation

 

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	Antwon Foreman '13 Professor of Entrepreneurship, Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics and Director, Blackstone Entrepreneurship Launchpad, North Carolina A&T State University
	Sean G.L. Johnson Director of the Center of Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, North Carolina A&T State University

 

Speakers

Panel: Measuring Impact: NC A&T’s Role in Promoting Regional Economic Development and Innovation

 

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	Alfredo Romero, Ph.D. - Moderator Associate Professor/Chairperson, Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics, North Carolina A&T State University
	Cephas B. Naanwaab, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics, North Carolina A&T State University
	Kenrett Jefferson-Moore, Ph.D. Professor & Chairperson, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, North Carolina A&T State University

 

Speakers

Program Participants

 

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	Allyson Cobb ’10 Director of External Partnerships, North Carolina A&T State University
	Manuel Dudley, Ph.D. ’11 Chief Officer, Strategic and Industry Partnerships, Guilford Technical Community College
	Michelle Eley, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Practice - Community & Economic Development, Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T
	Geoff Foster ’90 & ’96 CEO and President, Core Technology Molding Corporation
	Leslie A. Garvin Executive Director, North Carolina Campus Engagement
	Bryle H. Hatch, Ph.D. ’08, ’10, ’18 Senior Deputy Director – Division of Human Resources, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
	James Jeter Vice President of Business and Community Development, Skyla Federal Credit Union
	Mac Sims ’74 President, East Greensboro NOW
	Allison Walker Director of Community Partnerships and Experiential Learning, Wake Forest University

 

Community Partners

Business High Point
C2C Contractors
Carl Chavis YMCA
City of Greensboro
D-Up Inc.
East Greensboro NOW
Forge Greensboro
GivePulse
Greater New Hope Baptist Church
Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
High Point Market
Kappa Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
NCInnovation
N.C. A&T Aggie Start Up
N.C. A&T Blackstone LaunchPad

N.C. A&T Center of Excellence in Entrepreneurship & Innovation
N.C. A&T Library Services
N.C. A&T Office of Career Services
New Zion Missionary Baptist Church
Piedmont Business Capital
Pinnacle Financial Partners
SBTDC
Sit & Stay Doggy Care and Resort
Success Hope Center
Triad Business Journal
United Way of Greater Greensboro
Visit High Point
Volvo
Welfare Reform Liaison Project (WRLP)

2025 EVENT GOALS

• Advance regional community engagement and economic development activities during N.C. A&T Homecoming Week.
• Inform, train, and educate the public on topics of community and economic engagement.
• Facilitate mutually beneficial conversations between the university and its community partners.
• Create opportunities for participants to network and learn how to build personal wealth.
• Influence policy makers and advocacy leaders to support underserved communities.
• Inform impact of event with pre- and post-event assessment iinstrument.