Fayetteville NEXT Advisory Commission hosts its annual Business Summit on Thursday, May 8 at Fayetteville Technical Community College’s Horace Sisk Gymnasium, 2114 Hull Road, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is the perfect opportunity for area business owners and professionals, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. The summit will focus on “career development, business innovation, and economic opportunities.” Attendees will be able to network, learn from a panel of industry experts, and ask questions to gain new insights on growing and maintaining their own business. Attendees will “gain insights and advice from
industry leaders and entrepreneurs, network with professionals, business owners, and like-minded peers, enjoy a catered networking lunch provided by a Next Gen Summit alum, and discover career and business opportunities in various fields, and learn about emerging business trends and strategies for success.” Event registration starts at 8 a.m., and the event starts promptly at 9:15 a.m.
Business Summit Itinerary
9:15 a.m.- 11 a.m. How Did You Get That Career?
This panel consists of professionals from several different industries. They will discuss how they came to hold their positions, the barriers they faced, and how they excel. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask the panelists questions and gain more insight. Hosted by City Councilman and community leader, Malik Davis, and local business owner Sylvia Glanton.
Featured Panelist:
David Scott – Communications Manager for the City of Fayetteville & Social Media Instructor at
FTCC
Jonelle McLeod – Marketing and communications specialist
Anna Meyer – Executive Director, Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra
Chaka Jordan – Marketing and Communications professional at Cape Fear Valley Health
Gabriel Evans – Manager of Ticket Operations, Fayetteville Woodpeckers
Kendra Hancock – Professor at Fayetteville State University
Dymond Spain – Professor and Attorney at FTCC
11 a.m.- Noon Munch & Mingle
Everyone loves to eat, and this portion of the summit is just for that. Attendees will be treated to a catered lunch by the local food activist and founder of Er’body Eatz, J’Kwan Fulmore.
Noon to 2:30 p.m. Next Gen Entrepreneur and Innovation Panel
This panel will “explore the intersection of entrepreneurship and innovation.” Attendees will hear the stories of successful entrepreneurs, including their strategy, funding, and barriers they’ve faced.
Featured Panelist:
Brad Crawford – National sports journalist with CBS Sports
Denise Woodard – Founder and CEO of Partake Foods, a nationally recognized brand offering
allergy-friendly snacks, and the first Black woman to raise $1 million for a packaged food startup
Grant Bennett – Visionary social impact strategist and community builder at Google, spearheading partnerships and creative production for Google’s LEAD Events & Experiences. Founder of The Two-Six Project, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering marginalized youth in Fayetteville, NC. His work spans collaborations with the NBA, NFL, HBO Max, and Adobe AMPED, earning recognition from Forbes and President Bill Clinton.
Kwame Molden – Founder and CEO of Springbreak Watches, a lifestyle watch brand dedicated to inspiring people to enjoy the present moment
Christina Pacheco – Startup leader specializing in AI-driven solutions for Amazon, helping develop and support innovative AI-driven startups
Candice Kirtz – Director of Supply Chain at PWC, overseeing strategic sourcing and supplier diversity initiatives
Derrick McArthur – Economic and development professional for the City of Fayetteville Fayetteville NEXT Advisory Commission has worked diligently to bring the community this free event. Registration can be done online at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeRQdQsc65Gl1eEmDv3M-hRTZpGp8uYh7ofnIsY9i7DdJ7iYA/viewform.