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Bridges to Business

Month: March 2014

Susan Eaton with the Wilmington NC Convention Center and TJ Dunn with Wilmington Fashion Weekend

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Susan Eaton– The Wilmington NC Convention Center

Susan Eaton has lived in Wilmington for over 4 years and serves as General Manager of the Wilmington Convention Center of behalf of SMG, the world largest private management firm for public assembly facilities.  Susan oversees the day to day operations of the Center and the in-house food & beverage operation, along with the outdoor event space. Susan has had a 29 year progressive career in Managing, Marketing, Sales, and Operations in five Convention Centers to include: Rochester, NY,   Miami Beach,  McCormick Place in Chicago and Knoxville, Tennessee, Wilmington, NC.

Susan’s education includes a B.S. Degree in Business majoring Hotel  & Tourism Marketing from the RIT in Rochester, NY  and an Associates degree from SUNY New York in Food Administration.

Connect with Susan Eaton on Facebook

TJ Dunn– Wilmington Fashion Weekend

Tj is the Executive Director / Founder of Wilmington Fashion Weekend. TJ is a style consultant from Atlanta, GA who regularly contributes to Coast 97.3 and Men, Ink. Magazine. He has helped numerous local boutiques and ateliers with style strategy and guidance. Visit tjdunnsc.com to learn more.
Wilmington Fashion Weekend will begin on April, 3rd 2014. This four day event will highlight emerging designers, local talent, accessory ateliers, and local boutiques. We have a series of special access events lined up including an opening night Cirque Du Soleil Social, a Block Party at Lumina and a host of community-focused events, with fashion at the pulse. We plan on attracting hundreds of visitors to Downtown Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach, helping our industry grow and continue to develop.
Connect with TJ Dunn on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn

Allen Quigley with Lawson Gray LLC and The Dixie Grill and Chris George with PNC Bank

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Allen Quigley

Allen Quigley grew up in Poughkeepsie, NY and attended Duke University.  He is a retired US Naval Flight Officer on P3C anti-submarine aircraft. He has over 30 years as a sales and marketing professional experience in metropolitan NYC working in a diverse set of industries, primarily technology related.  He has managed direct and indirect sales channels with focus on building strategic partnerships. Allen is also a co-owner of The Dixie Grill restaurant.

Allen currently owns Lawson Gray Consulting, LLC, a business broker and consulting firm. He works with profitable businesses to find qualified buyers in Eastern North Carolina, and innovative sales and marketing executive specializing in creating and executing new sales channels to accelerate revenue growth. Utilizing a “one-to-many” approach, mutually beneficial relationships are created that leverage the existing customer base while uncovering new business relationships. A strong business acumen through vast experience across many industries and disciplines. He is comfortable working from the field sales level up to the board room. The goal is to find new revenue streams where they didn’t exist before. Allen is a member of Rotary International, Wilmington Downtown Inc, and a Pilates instructor at the YMCA.

Connect with Allen Quigley on LinkedIn and with The Dixie Grill on Facebook

Chris George

Chris George, based in Wilmington, N.C., serves as senior vice president and Retail regional manager for PNC Bank, where he oversees consumer banking for more than 15 branches in Wilmington and surrounding areas.  With nearly three decades of experience in the banking industry, Chris has served PNC Bank and its predecessors for more than 20 years in various leadership roles across North and South Carolina including Retail, Investments and Commercial Banking.  He received his bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Montana.  A long-time Wilmington resident with his wife and three children, he is actively involved in the local community, including leadership roles with the Boys & Girls Club, Boy Scouts, the Chamber of Commerce and other volunteer service projects.

Connect with PNC Bank on Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube

David Rizzo with NC IDEA and Laura Baverman with Exit Event

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David Rizzo- NC IDEA

David serves as the President and CEO of NC IDEA, and is also a Venture Partner with NC IDEA Funds, the organization’s affiliated venture fund. David brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in general management, strategic planning, acquisitions and divestitures and corporate finance and investment within technology-based business environments. In addition, David has established a proven track record of entrepreneurial success. He has keen insight and knowledge of interplay among technology, economics and public policy.

David is recognized nationally as a visionary for technology-led economic development. This passion led him to a position as President and CEO of MCNC, a private, non-profit created to be a catalyst for technology-based economic development throughout North Carolina. David strategically realigned the company into three separate organizations – including the creation and leadership of MCNC Ventures. David also led the company through a restructuring that resulted in the spin-off of MCNC Research & Development Institute (now NC IDEA).

David is actively involved in North Carolina’s technology community and has held numerous leadership positions with civic and professional associations. He currently serves on the boards of NC IDEA, CED (Council for Entrepreneurial Development), STI TechInventures, Affinergy, Strikeiron and Ziptronix. Previously, David served as Chairman of NCTA (North Carolina Technology Association) and on the boards of Chorus Systems, Unitive Technologies, the Kenan Institute’s Center for Entrepreneurship, Intervolve and the Governor’s Board of Science and Technology.

David received a B.A. in Economics from the College of William & Mary. He also studied at the Wharton School’s Financial Services Institute and The Brookings Institute’s Public Policy Issues in the Financial Services Industry.

Connect with David Rizzo on Facebook and Twitter

Laura Baverman- Exit Event and Capitol Broadcaster

Laura Baverman is the editor of ExitEvent, a two-year-old Triangle-based news site covering early stage startups and entrepreneurs. She’s also a freelance columnist for USA Today, writing the Startups and Entrepreneurs column every two weeks for print and online.  Before taking the role at ExitEvent in February 2014, Laura spent more than a year covering entrepreneurship as a freelance journalist for USA Today, Upstart Business Journal and a handful of North Carolina news media. Before that, she spent eight years as a daily business reporter for the Cincinnati Enquirer, where she initiated its coverage of startups in 2010, and the Cincinnati Business Courier. She’s covered Fortune 500 companies, real estate, technology, retail and sustainability. But startups and small business have been a real passion for Laura, the daughter and granddaughter of entrepreneurs.  The Cincinnati native and Miami University of Ohio graduate moved to Raleigh in October 2012 and lives downtown with her husband, Clark, and cat, Monkey.

Connect with Laura Baverman on Facebook, Twitter (personal), Google+ and LinkedIn

Jim Binion with Atlantic Therapeutic and Sports Massage and Just Perfect’s Jessica Pirone and Partner Rebecca Dawson

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Jessica Pirone and Rebecca Dawson- Just Perfect!

Jessica Pirone and Rebecca Dawson are sisters that own Just Perfect! and Pomp Event Furnishings. Jessica started Just Perfect! in 2007 to fulfill a need in a local real estate industry. Since then, they have been helping home sellers get more for their homes and quickly sell so they can move to the next phase of their lives. The company grew from a home office to a 7500 sq-ft warehouse and a team of telented employees. With numerous awards locally and nationally. these sisters, their team and their companies are constantly pushing the envelope and to improve their business and services offered. Just this year, they were a top 10 finalist for RESA’s Best Occupied Staging and RESA’s Best Redesign, as well as top 5 finalist for RESA’s Company of the Year, and a finalist for BEA Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Watch out this spring for the launch of Just Perfect! Home Collection and Shop Just Perfect!

Connect with Just Perfect! on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn

Jim Binion- Atlantic Therapeutic & Sports Massage

Jim Binion graduated from the University of Akron with Bachelors in Business, Graduated from Miller Motte College with honors in Massage and Bodywork Therapy. Has held a certification in Personal training and Sports Nutrition for over fifteen years.

Connect with ATSM on Facebook

 

Matthew Schuler with 9 Bakery and Lounge

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Matthew Schuler- 9 Bakery and Lounge

Established in 2013, 9 strives to provide an enjoyable relaxing atmosphere. In the morning they create a cafe ambiance providing doughnuts, coffee, and homemade pastries. Once nightfall hits, 9 transforms our cafe into a tapas bar and lounge, where they provide you with great drinks and delicious food in a comfortable setting.  Always featuring jazz and blues music, 9 is sure you will have an enjoyable visit!

Connect with 9 on Facebook and Twitter