2021 MED Week Speakers

Jerry Coleman, director of CFCC’s Small Business Center, has decades of experience in business and consulting, having owned his own consumer products manufacturing company in Wilmington NC. Jerry is committed to helping other small business owners succeed. “Starting, managing and growing a small business can be a daunting task. At CFCC’s Small Business Center, we help entrepreneurs plan and navigate the startup process; getting off to a good, solid start is essential. We really do become a partner and are always available to act as a coach and cheerleader for our clients. We will work with them as long as necessary to keep them going and help them achieve their goals and be successful in the long run.” Jerry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from East Carolina University, and Master of Business Administration at UNCW. He earned his certificate in Project Management from UNCW and has secured multiple patents.

Heather is passionate about empowering individuals and communities to succeed through entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability. She is the Regional Center Director of the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC), which serves a large multi-county region in southeast NC with free and confidential assistance to help businesses start, grow, and prosper. She is also the Interim Director of the UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which connects, leverages, and ignites regional strengths and university expertise to create innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to global challenges.

Patrick Brien currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Cape Fear Collective, a collective impact and social innovation nonprofit organization based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Prior to his work with CFC, Patrick served as the Director of Strategy Implementation for the University of Global Health Equity, a new health sciences university in rural Rwanda and an initiative of the global health nonprofit, Partners In Health. Before transitioning to his work in Africa, Patrick served in senior level positions at Boston Medical Center and led organizational development and program management for the global lifestyle and event company, Spartan Race. Patrick began his career in the United States Army where he spent nearly a decade leading infantry units in combat operations in Afghanistan. Patrick holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Rochester and is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP).

Don has been with SBA 13 years providing service to Eastern North Carolina. His previous capacity was Executive Officer for the US Department of Defense Schools in Europe. He is happily married to the love of his life, Elena, a Russian national, for 16 years.

Chief Empowerment Officer, Stefanie Adams, has an M.Ed. in Multicultural Education, and 15 years experience leading and training in corporate, non-profit, and educational settings. She worked as an organizational consultant in the Southeast for Johns Hopkins University School of Education (Baltimore, MD), served as Director of Customized Training for Cape Fear Community College (Wilmington, NC), and led the corporate training function for CastleBranch (Wilmington, NC). Stefanie is a member of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, and Lower Cape Fear HR Association. She serves on Boards for the Community Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA Youth Services Board, and formerly served on Communities in Schools and WILMA's Women to Watch Advisory Board. Stefanie is a mother, wife, and small business owner; she has been a Wilmington resident since 2008. She enjoys the beach, yoga, and cheering loudly for the Philadelphia Eagles.
 

Managing Partner of Harris Whitesell Consulting LLC. Lynn is a Human Resources Executive providing world-class service in assessments, talent optimization, employee engagement, strategy, development, and organization culture effectiveness. Lynn is a certified and accredited executive, leadership, team, and performance coach. Lynn helps leaders, teams, and employees improve behaviors, leadership skills and competencies, and develop roadmaps to be more successful and effective employees, team members, and leaders - maximizing excellence, optimizing talent, organizational effectiveness, and business results!

Melanie Diehl is a digital marketing expert specializing in the fields of email marketing, social media marketing, and training and education for small business owners and DIY marketers.

Jose Alvarez is the vice president of Prospera North Carolina, a nonprofit focused on providing bilingual and in-culture support and consulting to Latino entrepreneurs looking to start or expand their businesses in North Carolina. Jose's current responsibilities include promoting the mission and upholding the values of Prospera by overseeing general management, statewide operations, strategic planning and the implementation of the organization’s program. This includes spearheading fundraising efforts, managing staff, helping in identifying programmatic priorities, playing leadership roles within the state and the broader field of economic development, actively listening to and learning from partners and communities across the state to ultimately assist the Latino community assimilate into our communities while increasing economic opportunities through entrepreneurship.

A wife, mother, and dog-lover who enjoys seeing goals reached by others, Tangie Fleming has designed websites for over 20 years and opened TGF Consulting, Inc. in 2013. Tangie obtained her B.S. in Technology Education with a minor in Graphic Communication and a M.A. in Liberal Studies with a minor in Business Management from NC State University. She also has a Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC-Chapel Hill, adding to her diverse educational background. She has an employment and consulting background that includes her serving as a statistician at NCAA basketball tournament games, managing research and professional development conferences, researching the school-to-prison pipeline, and working with groups that encourage students to pursue graduate education. In each endeavor, the experiences involved an opportunity to help others in some way, which is the driving force behind TGF Consulting, Inc.

With over 20 years of online marketing experience, Logan has built several businesses and technologies that have led him to innovating across multiple industries. As the Owner of Awesome Internet, Logan aspires to educate and empower as many small businesses as possible with the power of the internet.

Tiffany D. Tucker is a “superstar in college athletics” as the Deputy Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator at UNCW. She is also a facilitator, keynote speaker, consultant and president of Tiffany Transforms, LLC. Tiffany believes that polishing your presentation skills, refining your leadership style and implementing strategic collaborations is the foundation to creating the transformation you deserve. She has served as a keynote speaker, panelist, and/or mentor for the Head Coach Training Center, Women’s Coaches NEXT UP, Coaches Inc., Women Leaders IAA, NACDA, MOAA, NACDA, MOAA, WBCA and NABC. Tiffany is a graduate of Hampton University with a Master of Science in Sport Administration with a specific interest in Organizational and Sport Business Leadership and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s in philosophy.