Bradley Ballou
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Chief of Staff
Elizabeth Forte
Novant Health
Manager of Community Health & Community Health Education
Lindsey Hallock
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority
Executive Administrator
Cedric Harrison
Support The Port Foundation, Inc
Director
Gustavo Rodea
Mattress Furniture Liquidators / Muebleria El Nido
CEO
Gustavo Rodea has lived in Wilmington since 2008. He is married to Lupe Duran. Together
they have two boys, Anthony, age 13 and Leonardo, age 3.
Gustavo Rodea is an entrepreneur who has 18 years of experience in the retail business world. Having
moved to the United States from the largest city in the world, Mexico City, Rodea began his career at
the tender age of 22 and became a successful entrepreneur. He attributes his success to the seminars,
books and continuing education that he pursued along the way, as well as his self-taught abilities
through trial and error. During the national economic recession of 2008, Rodea’s dream of becoming a
business owner were put on hold as he was forced to sell his company as part of a wise business
strategy to stay ahead.
they have two boys, Anthony, age 13 and Leonardo, age 3.
Gustavo Rodea is an entrepreneur who has 18 years of experience in the retail business world. Having
moved to the United States from the largest city in the world, Mexico City, Rodea began his career at
the tender age of 22 and became a successful entrepreneur. He attributes his success to the seminars,
books and continuing education that he pursued along the way, as well as his self-taught abilities
through trial and error. During the national economic recession of 2008, Rodea’s dream of becoming a
business owner were put on hold as he was forced to sell his company as part of a wise business
strategy to stay ahead.
Brooke Skipper
Salt Air, Inc.
Owner
Alexandra Lysik
Cavik Insurance
Owner
Alexandra is a double graduate of UNCW, with an undergrad in Political Science and a master’s degree in Public Administration. She is licensed in multiple states, including NC, SC, GA, VA, SD, TN and FL. Alexandra's specialty is helping business owners consolidate their personal & business insurance under one agency as a "one stop shop".
As an active member in the community, Alexandra was a WILMA Women to Watch finalist in 2017, as well as 2020 Star News/ILM Chamber 40 under 40 Honoree. She has served on the Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry Board from 2017 to 2022, and co-chaired the 2017/2018 annual Cape Fear Literacy Council Gala.
Shannon Swiger
Novant Health Brunswick
Internal Communications Manager
Andy Almeter
Novant Health
Manager of Business Operations for Regional and Specialty Services
Astrid Keusseyan
Novant Health
Laboratory Manager of Pre-Analytical & Client Services
David Anderson
Anderson Family Foods dba McDonalds
Owner
Kevin Lackey
Brunswick Business & Industry Development
Business Development Professional
Tiffany Jones
Jones Sunset Sauce, LLC
Owner
Emilie Hart
Catholic Charities of the Cape Fear Region
Regional Director
Cedric Boney
CB Fitness and Athletic Training
Owner
Elizabeth Cooper
Christ Community Church
Director of El Cuerpo
Steven Barger
City of Boiling Spring Lakes
Mayor Pro Tem
Derek Schmidt
DesignLoud and Swell Systems
Founder and CEO
Jordyn Hughes
Feast Down East, Inc
Local Motive Program Director
William Gwathmey
Gwathmey Residential Group, LLC
President and CEO
Josh Tucker
Novant Health
Director of Radiology
Alison Baringer
North Carolina Azalea Festival
Executive Director
Kerri Allen
NC Coastal Federation
Coastal Advocate
Katelyn Mattox
NourishNC
Program Director
Katelyn was born and raised outside of Atlanta, GA and moved to North Carolina to attend Appalachian Statr University. She fell in love with the mountains while completing her degree in Social Work and then moved to Asheville, NC. She moved to Wilmington in November 2017 and, after learning about NourishNC, knew she wanted to be a part of it!
NourishNC has a team of only 3.5 employees, so as Program Director, Katelyn wears a lot of hats. She handles the majority of NNC’s communications (social media, newsletter, website), schedules volunteer groups, maintains their donor database, tracks the kiddos on their programs, and is the point of contact for all families and social workers who participate in the Backpack Program. Katelyn was honored last year as 40 Under 40 and was named a Rising Star in the Wilmington Biz 100!
NourishNC has a team of only 3.5 employees, so as Program Director, Katelyn wears a lot of hats. She handles the majority of NNC’s communications (social media, newsletter, website), schedules volunteer groups, maintains their donor database, tracks the kiddos on their programs, and is the point of contact for all families and social workers who participate in the Backpack Program. Katelyn was honored last year as 40 Under 40 and was named a Rising Star in the Wilmington Biz 100!
Emma Baltezore
One Christian Network
Executive Director
Olivia Dawson
Pender County
Tourism Assistant
Robert Carroll
RE/MAX Southern Coast
Broker in charge and partner
Jessica Reed Williams
Southeast Area Health Education Center
Director
Caroline Fisher
Swahili Coast
Co-Founder and Creative Director
Chandler Davis
Thalian Association Community Theatre
Artistic Director
Jessica Edwards
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Realtor / Global Luxury Ambassador
Nicholas Suggs
Voxpopme
Client Services Director
Bobby Garcia
New Hanover County Schools
New Teacher Mentor, Science Teacher, Community Act
Aaron Granseur Dick
Wilmington International Airport
Facility Director
Aricka Sidbury
City of Wilmington
Detective at WPD
Alyson Smist
