mf2019-email-header

Congratulations to This Year's Award Winners

The Women’s Business Center of North Carolina has selected Andrea Harris as this year’s Person of the Year.  The Person of the Year award is presented to the person we recognize as being a support, a leader, a friend, and an advocate, and who tirelessly gives of themselves to improve, enhance, educate and support women in business.  Andrea Harris has embodied these qualities, year after year, to build up area businesses and advance the careers, and dreams, of women across the Triangle.

Photo of Andrea Harris

Person of the Year: Andrea Harris

The Women’s Business Center of North Carolina has selected Angela Brown Cameron as this year’s Rising Star.  The Rising Star award is presented to the person we recognize as showing grit, determination, organization, and follow through on a tangible path to business success.  Angela has embodied these qualities, showing great strides in building and growing her business this year. 

---------------

Angela B. Cameron is the owner of An Event Lady Production, LLC is a Triangle-based event planning, event design and coordination company that offers a diverse selection of services to help you plan a special event.  An Event Lady Production, LLC offers Corporate Planning, Event Management, Social, Wedding and Event Design.

Angela has worked in the political arena for over ten years, working for Organizing for America and Enroll America as Regional Director.  During her time in these positions she became the go-to person for all corporate planning when Angela started planning several corporate events, conferences, fundraisers, and over one hundred public engagement events. 

Angela’s event planning started in her earlier years.  As a little girl, her love for tea parties set the tone for the rest of her life.  She would create tea parties in the sandbox with her black patent leather shoes, bag, and ruffles sock.  According to her mother, she was a born planner.  Angela became the go-to person for planning all special occasions from baby showers, family and friends’ weddings and birthday celebrations.  After years of doing events as a hobby, with the support of her family and friends and a little push, she stepped out on faith and An Event Lady Production, LLC was born. 

Angela attended University of Maryland, University College studying Business Management and Administration.  She is a member of International Live Events Association (ILEA), received her Certification in Event  Designer from IWED, and Corporate Planning at QC Event school. 

An Event Lady Production, LLC holds the following certification: MBE|DBE|MWBE| HUB|WOSB|ACDBE|EDWOSB

Angela is married to Kenny L. Cameron and has three children:  Bianca, Garrington and Kendric.  Her hobbies include a love of the color pink, parties, movie night with family, traveling and shoe shopping.  Her motto: Life is an Event. Make it Memorable.

Rising Star: Angela Brown Cameron

The Women’s Business Center of North Carolina has selected Fifth Third Bank as this year’s Community Award winner. The Community Award honors an organization that supports its community in a tangible, meaningful way. Those representing the organization commit their time, dedication, and talents to their community with hope in their hearts.

Community Award

The Women’s Business Center of North Carolina has selected Carolyn Thurston and Wisdom Senior Care as this year’s Client of the Year.  The Client of the Year award is presented to the business that has persevered and grown, not only in revenue and employees but in its understanding and knowledge of business management.  Additionally, the Client of the Year demonstrates continued learning, gives back to the community, and has staying power.  Wisdom Senior Care has embodied these qualities this year, setting an example of businesses across the Triangle. 

------------------

Carolyn Thurston is the CEO and founder of Wisdom Senior Care, and has 25 years of experience in healthcare. During the last ten years, she trained more than 250 senior care agency owners on regulations and procedures. By sharing her passion for seniors with likeminded and passionate individuals in the family of Wisdom Business Owners, she believes we can keep more seniors in the comfort of their homes.

Carolyn received her BA degree from North Carolina Central University and her BSN degree from Winston Salem State University. After graduating from college with her nursing degree and passing the nursing boards, she started her journey to explore all the ins and outs of the industry. Wisdom Senior Care today has served more than 500 seniors in the state of North Carolina.

In 2009, Carolyn was honored to become one of three qualified trainers to teach the one-day state-mandated homecare provider course for the state of North Carolina for anyone interested in owning or operating a home care agency. It gave her the opportunity to assist over 300 potential business owners get started in the industry. The needs of caregiving for seniors in industry prompted her to launch Wisdom Health Academy in 2013 to provide quality training to our aides and Certified Assistant Nurses.

Carolyn Thurston is happily married and blessed with two daughters who are following their footprint in the industry.

Client of the Year: Carolyn Thurston & WIsdon Senior Care

The Women’s Business Center of North Carolina has selected Carolina Small Business Development Fund as this year’s Resource Partner award winner.  The Resource Partner award honors an organization that demonstrates partnership, commitment, and collaboration with the Women’s Business Center.

Resource Partner

Meet the Speakers of this Year's Conference

Award winning interior designer and inspiration strategist , Carnela Renée Hill, is the CEO and Principal Designer of CR Hill Design Group (CRHDG), LLC. CRHDG provides professional interior design services (residential and commercial), staging and special event design and planning for almost 20 years. She was recognized in 2018 as one of the Top 10 Designers in the Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill area. Her firm’s work can be found in many places including the movie “There’s My Angel.” In 2015, Carnela was selected to decorate at the White House for Christmas, which included a surprise interview and spotlight appearance on HGTV’s Christmas at the White House and other media outlets.

Carnela has been identified in The Wall Street Journal as "One of the 111 Most Promising Business Leaders. She has two satellite radio programs, serving as cohost on “Faith, Motivation & Leadership” and the host of “Not Your Typical Design Show.” She is the author of “Walking Afraid,” which chronicles Carnela’s journey from corporate America to full time entrepreneurship. She also is an interior design instructor at Living Arts College. 

Carnela is an action-oriented thinker and speaker. While in the corporate world, she was in charge of several million dollar projects. She has served in the political arena as an operations manager, campaign and fundraiser manager for Congressman GK Butterfield and advised other elected officials. She is often lending her time to mentoring and coaching others, especially potential business owners, youth and college students. To add to all she does, Carnela is currently in the Master’s Program at Duke University’s Divinity School. She definitely walks by faith. She has an electric way of attracting people to her. In 2018, Carnela was recognized by Launch Raleigh and Action 4 Success for her outstanding servant leadership and sharing her savvy business knowledge. Her mission is to help others WIN. She is a community leader and agent of change often volunteering with various organizations in the community.

Keynote Speaker: Carnela Renee Hill

Elyshia Brooks is President of BrandNiquely™ You! Inc., a Personal and B2B Brand Strategy Boutique Offering Consultancy and Education that works with High-Achieving Leaders, either as a Corporate Professional, Business CEO or Ministry Leader to Define, Develop, and Design a Unique Leadership, Lifestyle or Transformational Brand that Speaks to The Core Of Who They Are. Her sincere Intentions are to Increase Brand Equity, Enhance Engagement and Build Authentic Relationships; All While Growing in Profit or Promotability! 

She works with High-Achieving Purposed Individuals to EMPOWER, ENGAGE and EDUCATE you to BE & LIVE Your BRAND™ through her Personal Brand Intelligence™ Programs, which speaks to your centered core through her Elite 1-on-1 Coaching, VIP Days, BrandNiquely™ You! 2-Day Advancement and her BrandNiquely™ You! Academy, a 5 and 10-Month Program!

Elyshia is a mentor to hundreds of women locally and abroad on personal mastery, self-love and specifically topics on Abuse through Domestic Violence and Mental Wealth.

Elyshia received her Bachelors of Science from Albany State University (1996) in Albany, Georgia and her MBA from Strayer University in 2005. She is a Doctoral Candidate for D.B.A. from Walden University, all of which are in Marketing. She has one adult son who plays professional basketball overseas.

Elyshia Brooks

Payal Nanjiani is a globally acclaimed motivational leadership speaker, executive and business coach and CEO of Success Is Within Leadership, Inc whose global platform has reached and served numerous people. Her speaking and coaching ignite and strengthen a leader's inner-self which enables them to become game changing leaders and entrepreneurs. As a result companies and business owners are seeing a massive shift in their actions and results.

Her techniques  inspire people worldwide and has impacted countless leaders and entrepreneurs globally to break through, and discover their infinite potential. She also works with organizations and CEO ’s to develop world-class leaders and create a culture that improves both productivity and profits. Her work can be seen in Fortune 500 companies as well as in small medium business houses.

She has been featured on CW, Women's business cover page, newspapers, magazines, radio talk shows, podcast and more. She is a regular guest speaker on America’s WKNC 88.1FM. 

Payal lives with her motto- 'Success Is Within' and believes that success can be achieved with speed and serenity in any economy.

Payal Nanjiani

Sue Malone, President of Strategies for Small Business

Sue has funded businesses all a cross the country, under, SBA Export Express and SBA SLA v.2 and Veterans Advantage beginning in 2001. Since then, Sue has helped fund over 41,000 SBA loans, which include Patriot Express loans, Export Express, Community Express, private loans and Small Lender Advantage v.2 and became the largest SBA lender by volume.  Her goal is to fund 100,000 small businesses. 

She travels the nation meeting, promoting and funding small business owners especially minority, women and veteran owned businesses.  She is fueled by her passion to help small business owners pursue their dreams. Sue has received numerous awards for her contribution to the success of small businesses around the nation. She has been the number one lender to minority owned business by volume under SBA. In addition, Sue is involved with private equity and investment funding  Sue continues to develop new financing and funding programs since “Not every business owner wears the same size shoe.”

Sue sits on several national boards focused on veterans and entrepreneurship.  Including, the President of the nonprofit, American Economic Empowerment.  And co-founder of Women’s Military Exchange: Operation Next Step.  In addition, Sue is one of the founders of VetPower.org and Vet-Power.org., both focusing on giving veterans an opportunity for entrepreneurship and job seeking.   Plus, a board member of National Forum on Diversity in Construction and The Institute, economic development.

Sue is the President and CEO of the on-line company www.nationallienlaw.com which helps contractors across the nation with easy and cost-efficient lien forms.  NLL arose from the contractors who were funded and needed extra services to continue their success.  Along with a risk management program so they can make sure they are paid for their services.

Sue’s Background

For over ten years, Sue served as the CFO and Vice President of a commercial and industrial real estate firm in Northern California.  In addition, Sue was the first woman-parking operator in the United States.  Sue is a serial entrepreneur and has started over seven businesses.   She holds an MBA from St. Mary’s College. In addition, she makes sure small businesses voices are not forgotten in Washington DC, after all, America is great because of small businesses! 

Sue Malone

George Edward Timberlake, Jr. is Vice President, Small Business Community Lender at Fifth Third Bank. He creates economic growth opportunities for diverse businesses throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. Edward also conducts educational outreach programs and events with strategic partners to expand financial awareness in commercial lending, capital, and credit management among small business owners.

Prior to joining Fifth Third Bank in 2017, Edward worked as Lending Director at Carolina Small Business Development Fund (formerly The Support Center) in Raleigh, North Carolina. He supervised the loan division, as well as prepared and executed strategic growth initiatives in key target markets across the Carolinas.

Edward earned a B.A. in political science and finance from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University in Greensboro. He has more than fifteen years of experience in commercial lending, retail banking management, new business development, and community educational outreach.

George Edward Timberlake, Jr.

Roberta McCullough was recently named the new Executive Director of the Women Business Center of North Carolina, where she leads a staff to empower women owned-led businesses in 52 counties by offering tools to support and establish new business, stabilize their companies, generate sustainable profits, strategize for future growth and contribute to the growth and economic development of their communities. In doing so, she is galvanizing her vast statewide network of business advocates to initiate and maintain local and regional partnerships that create business environments that are welcoming to women entrepreneurs and allow them to thrive.

For the past 30 years, Roberta McCullough has continually served in leadership roles in the non-profit and financial institution industries to implement programs that addressed structural and systemic economic injustices.  She has worked non-stop throughout her career to contribute to community and economic development growth across the state to create economic freedom for small business owners, women and minority entrepreneurs, homeowners and other individuals.  

She is a graduate of Shaw University, BS in Mathematics, and is a Certified Economic Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council.

Roberta McCullough

Dannie Frey, Associate Director, Western Women’s Business Center. Dannie has enjoyed being an entrepreneur since she was in middle school with her babysitting business. She sold Avon in high school and throughout her adult life she has had entrepreneurial and traditional employment depending on what else was happening in her life. After working on her own business, Ready Set Go – Leveraging Your Time as a business development coach and a certified Best Year Yet Partner, she decided to turn her consulting with Western Women’s Business Center to a more serious commitment as the Associate Director. It is a perfect combination for a recovering social worker who is also a speaker, trainer, and writer to assist women entrepreneurs and small business owners through training, events, conferences, technical assistance and access to capital.

Dannie Frey

JurLonna Walker Hermon is a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina.  She is a graduate of University of Phoenix and North Carolina A&T State University and holds a MBA in Human Resources Management and BA in Psychology.  Further certifications and trainings include Global Leadership & Certified International Health Coach.  She has 15 years of experience in leadership and management; grant funded projects such as U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Commerce of Economic Development Administration, and Small Business Administration.  JurLonna has been pivotal in business development for various industries including agriculture, renewable energy and defense contracting.  She is an entrepreneur at heart.  She owns a personal and professional development company and author of “Follow Your Breadcrumbs” self-help book. 

Since joining the Center for Economic Empowerment and Development (CEED) in 2018, she has been persistent and passionate as the Director of CEED’s Women’s Business Center to help women owned businesses.

JurLonna Walker Hermon

Natalie Williams is a native of NJ and moved to Charlotte Metrolina area 10 years ago.  She recently joined the Institute team as the Executive Director of the Women’s Business Center of Charlotte May of 2016.   She is a professional leader with extensive knowledge and experience in effective execution and implementation of policy, procedure, and programs; and has over 15 years of financial, organizational development, and operational management.  Natalie worked for the Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council for over eight years where she served as the Director of Operation

As the Director of the WBC-Charlotte she will continue working in collaboration with resource partners to strengthen training programs for women entrepreneurs across a 12 County Region of Charlotte.  She is responsible for providing strategic direction and guidance on the WBCC vision, developing training & counseling programs, managing staff, and overseeing WBC Charlotte’s budget. Natalie has served on several nonprofit boards and enjoys giving back to the community.  She holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business Management.

Natalie Williams

Patrice Gilmore has over sixteen years of experience in the construction industry. As Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion for Holt Brothers Construction (a certified minority owned business), Patrice manages the firm’s diversity program and assists in business development efforts. Patrice’s work in diversity has been recognized by various state and local agencies. In 2015, Patrice was selected as one of Triangle Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. Patrice is a graduate of North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management.

Patrice Gilmore

Tammie Hall was recently selected to the position of Division Director and Assistant to the Secretary for HUB Outreach for the State of North Carolina. She began service on June 1, 2017. Tammie will be responsible for developing policy and guidelines for the State’s HUB program. She will serve as the authority in the field of minority business development and public sector M/WBE and HUB Programs. Responsibility also includes working with inter-agencies.

Most recently, she comes back to state government as an entrepreneur and having worked in corporate America as the Senior Regional Supplier Diversity Manager for Lend Lease Construction. In this role, she had HUB/MWBE program and compliance oversight for North Carolina, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and San Francisco. She spent over eight (8) years as a Congressional Staffer.

Tammie is a proud graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Finance. She serves on the National Alumni Association Board of Directors where she is the Immediate Past President. Tammie has been a long time member of the NC MWBE Coordinators Network where she serves on the Board of Directors and is the Immediate Past President. She serves on the NC State HUB Advisory Committee and as a Board Member at Global Scholars Academy in Durham, NC. She is an active member of Union Baptist Church.

Tammie has two adult children Brittanye and Brandon and one lovely granddaughter, Alaina Marie. Tammie has one pet, a Yorkshire Terrier, TeeTee.

Tammie Hall

Vicki Lee Parker currently serves as the Executive Director of the North Carolina Business Council (NCBC), a statewide non-profit business association with a mission to connect, empower and influence business leaders to build a vibrant economy that protects our natural resources, sustains local communities and benefits all North Carolinians. 

Prior to joining NCBC, Vicki served as the Development & Communications Director at the Carolina Small Business Development Fund that provides small business loans to companies in underutilized markets. She managed its marketing, communications and funding initiatives for five years. Through her fundraising activities, Vicki helped to secure more than $11 million in funding that was used to provide loans to hundreds of small businesses in underserved communities across North Carolina.

Vicki was also a business writer for the News & Observer in Raleigh for nine years covering small business, the mortgage crisis, manufacturing industry, technology, and consumer finance issues. Vicki has also written for the Wall Street Journal covering commercial developments in major cities, and the Black Enterprise Magazine covering personal finance issues. She specializes in strategic business planning and program funding development.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors for North Carolinians For Redistricting Reform and the Advisory Council of the Croatan Institute.

Vicki has a Master of Business Administration from Meredith College in Raleigh and a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from American University in Washington, D.C.

She enjoys reading a good book, taking scenic walks and aerobic exercising.

Vicki Lee Parker

Tawruss serves is a partner of the UP Community Fund.  He is responsible for underwriting and fund operations.  Tawruss is also responsible for the operations of Urban Advisors.

Prior to Urban Advisors, Tawruss was a management consultant at The Boston Consulting Group, and began his career underwriting senior debt with Wachovia Bank’s Loan Syndications group.  He also served as a Vice President with Urban Advisors before attending business school, and worked towards chartering a NC-based community bank.  Tawruss earned a MBA from University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and a BA degree from Morehouse College.

Tawruss Sellars

As president and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, Adrienne Cole head the Triangle’s largest non-profit business membership organization representing two-thirds of the private sector employment in Wake County.

Previously, Adrienne served as the Chamber’s senior vice president of Economic Development and executive director of Wake County Economic Development where she led her team to recruit new businesses, support existing industries, market Wake County and the Triangle region and help companies attract and retain the talent needed to grow and thrive.

In her current role, Adrienne and the Raleigh Chamber work to create a thriving economy, support business friendly public policy, encourage investments in transportation and education infrastructure, foster entrepreneurship and grow Wake County’s future leaders.

Adrienne is a graduate of Meredith College and received a master’s degree in public administration from Appalachian State University.

Adrienne and her husband Walt, live in Raleigh and have three children.

Adrienne Cole

Amber is the EVP, Chief Operating Officer for Carolina Small Business Development Fund, managing our social impact investment portfolio. She has over 12 years of experience working in the nonprofit, business lending and banking sectors. She is responsible for managing strategic partnerships at the national and state level to further the mission of the organization. She also is responsible for developing and leading the implementation of strategic priorities and plans that drive operational efficiency, growth, expansion and innovation. In prior roles with the organization, she has served as Vice President of Business Lending, Underwriting & Credit Director and Senior Loan Underwriter. Prior to coming to Carolina Small Business, Amber was a senior credit analyst with Mechanics and Farmers Bank where she served as credit liaison and analyst for the bank’s syndicated loan portfolio. Amber earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration – Finance from North Carolina Central University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She also has a certificate in community development finance.

Amber Banks

Shelby Scales is the newly appointed Director of Civil Rights for the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). As Director, she oversees and guides several units including Utilization, Contract Compliance, EEO, ADA, Title VI, and Business Opportunity Workforce Development. Prior to NCDOT, Scales served as former President & CEO of the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC), an organization established nearly 30 years ago to promote the full participation of minorities and women in the aviation and airport contracting environment. Taking on this important role since August 1, 2011 and serving until February 2016, Scales served as the organization’s first CEO from an airport’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program Office. She leveraged her leadership skills among the AMAC board of directors, its staff and members, and airports executives, affiliated organizations, and legislative leaders. Scales worked to improve program policy, legislation and business practices to increase the participation of women and minorities seeking employment and contractual opportunities throughout aviation and all modes of transportation.

Scales’ tenure as a minority business advocate includes Small Business Program Officer for Raleigh Durham International (RDU) Airport, the nation’s 38th largest airport. She began the airport’s Historically Underutilized Business Program serving minority- and women-owned businesses, and the Small Emerging Business Assistant Loan Program for airport concessionaires.

Scales is recognized for her consulting in the areas of business development, community engagement, diversity inclusion, strategic planning and training for professionals and corporate clientele. She is a recognized diversity program professional in the areas of business development, government contracting, supplier diversity and fundraising. Over the years, she has contributed as keynote speaker, panel presenter, and moderator on a board range of topics, including “Doing Business in Airports,” and “How to Increase Minority Participation,” to “Certification Training and Contract Compliance.” Scales has developed and implemented numerous training courses for all types of businesses of various sizes and industries.

She is the recipient of numerous honors including recognition from the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation for her leadership in promoting improvements for the DBE Program’s. She cherishes being honored by COMTO for “Women Who Move the Nation”. 

Scales is part of a diverse family of business professionals, holding active memberships with the American Association of Airport Executives, Airports Council International, Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, American Contract Compliance Association, National Minority Supplier Development Council, North Carolina Minority and Women Business Coordinators’ Network.  Among her greatest points of pride is her role as mom to four-year-old Danielle, and being married to Danny Scales, of Burlington in North Carolina. 

Scales earned a BA in Communications at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She has completed the Women’s Executive Education Leadership Program sponsored by the North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development at the Center for Creative Leadership along with many other continuing educational industry courses. Scales was born in Martinsville, Virginia, and supports numerous youth charities and scholarship programs.

Mantra:  I’m here to leave a positive footprint in the sand of time.

Shelby Scales

Anna Tefft, Senior VP and Director of Lending

Anna joined NCIF in October 2009 and is based in Winston-Salem, NC. Anna comes to NCIF with considerable financial analysis, lending and business development experience. She has primary responsibility for supervising NCIF’s business lending and marketing, deal origination, underwriting and due diligence for NCIF’s lending. Immediately prior to joining NCIF, she was a senior lender with Self-Help Ventures Fund, one of the country’s most successful and largest CDFIs, and a strong NCIF partner. During her nearly ten years at Self-Help, Anna originated SBA 504 loans for small business owners for large fixed-asset financing (buildings and equipment), as well as originating SBA 7A and microloans. She also spent three years at the North Carolina Office of State Budget & Management where she provided budget oversight for several state agencies. Anna holds a Masters’ Degree in Public Administration from Duke University’s Sanford Institute of Public Policy and a B.A. in Political Science and Spanish from Wake Forest University.  Anna has served on the Board of C7a and SG Atkins CDC.

Anna Tefft

Alyssa Mako, Project Coordinator & Finance Manager

U.S. DOT Small Business Transportation Resource Center
A program of the NC Institute of Minority Economic Development (the Institute)

Alyssa Mako is the Project Director for the South Atlantic Region Small Business Transportation Resource Center, a program operated by the Institute.  Alyssa provides technical assistance to small business clients, coordinates the Bonding Education Program contractor-readiness education classes on behalf of U.S. DOT, and is responsible for implementing the DOT’s newest program, Women in Transportation Initiative. 

Before joining the Institute, Alyssa worked for MBNA America Bank, holding various roles from customer service to risk analysis and new credit acquisition.  Alyssa received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Business Administration from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and holds numerous certifications including Certified Global Business Professional from NASBITE International.

Alyssa Mako

Alicia Hylton-Daniel was a paralegal studying to take the LSATs in the winter of 2002 when a house fire caused by a faulty fireplace to her new Durham home changed everything. The infuriating process of dealing with less than honest insurance claims folks and mostly “good ‘ol boys” contractors compelled her to take her career in another direction. She had spent her formative years obsessed with Art and Architecture but did not have that mentor or available resources to help guide her to this career path. After much research, she decided Interior Design would be a perfect fit. She enrolled at Meredith College to pursue a 2nd degree in Interior Design and a Minor in Studio Art. Upon graduating during the 2008 economic crash, she was fortunate to land a position as an Interior Designer with HagerSmith Design in Raleigh. Her projects included mostly commercial office interior design along with local restaurants. Within 3 years of working at HagerSmith, she developed a small client base and worked primarily for 2 large corporate companies creating their design standards along with construction project management. She remained at HagerSmith for 7 years. In 2014, she took the position of Project Manager/Interior Designer at MHA Works in Durham. The decision was also personal as MHA Works was located within 6 walking blocks from her 1930s home she purchased a few years earlier. During her time at MHA Works, she became a Licensed General Contractor as she and her husband had purchased a few lots in Durham and wanted to be able to design and build them from the ground up. She left MHA Works in her 3rd year to start her own Design/Build Company: Hylton Daniel design + construction. Her company is entering it’s 3rd year in business and are completely booked with client work for the year. She has designed 2 modern spec houses in Durham that have been featured in NC Modernist Home tours with one being nominated for the George Motsumoto Prize. She was featured on the cover of the October/November 2017 issue of Durham Magazine in the “Art of Design” issue. Her company has also done 2 build-outs for the HGTV show: Love It or List It.  When not engaging in design and construction, Alicia enjoys spending time at wonderful local establishments in the Bull City with her family.  Roger her husband, Chelsea and Chloe her daughters, and Malcolm, her yellow Labrador retriever, round out a life well lived. 

Alicia Hylton-Daniel

Jeané Powers have over 15 years of experience in the construction industry. As a project manager at Gilbane Building Company, she manages day-to-day operations on construction sites for both public and private clients, ensuring that the needs of the client are met and the building is being constructed safely and of the highest quality. Jeané is currently participating in Leadership Raleigh, Class 38 and is involved in charitable organizations such as Girls on the Run and Models for Charity. Jeané has also sat on the ACE Golf Tournament planning committee helping to raise money for the ACE Mentor Program. On top of all of her activities and daily job, Jeané has two children, an 8-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son. Jeané is a graduate of Union College with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

Jeané Powers

Teri is a fervent advocate for exceptional architectural design within each community she has
served. For over 20 years, she has thoughtfully and efficiently guided award-winning projects
from pre-design through construction administration. As a Project Manager, she carefully guides
key stakeholders through the development of esteemed projects for their communities by crafting
a unique design process for each of her clients. For Teri, coupling her ability to communicate
design ideas with meaningful community engagement is essential to her role in the design
process.

Teri’s talent for leading the architectural design process has been recognized and celebrated
throughout her career. After graduating from North Carolina State University. She became one
of the first five African American women to become a Registered Architect in the state of North
Carolina. In 2007, Teri joined the Freelon Group and rapidly advanced to Senior Associate as a
result of her exceptional client management skills. After serving as Lead Project Manager on
award-winning projects like the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and Emancipation
Park, she was selected to participate in Perkins+Will’s Leadership Institute and appointed to the
firm’s Diversity Council.

As an insightful mentor to young architects, Teri shared her personal and professional
experiences as a minority architect during the 2015 National Organization of Minority Architects
conference as a seminar panelist. She has also shown her commitment to her community as a
Preservation Durham Executive Board Member, a Durham Rotary Club Member, a Minister for
Stephen Ministries and a volunteer with Big Brother/Big Sister of Durham.

Teri Canada

Thank You to Our Sponsors & Partners

Sponsorship opportunities for this year's conference are still available.
Download this year's sponsorship package here.
For more information on sponsoring this year's event,
contact WBCNC Executive Director Roberta McCullough.