Richard Stroupe is an entrepreneur with a track record of building and exiting companies in the Tech space. From his early days as a software engineer, to scaling a business to 60 employees and a successful exit, Richard shares key lessons from his journey. Today, he focuses on venture investing, advising founders, and helping leaders grow through his “Elevate” program here in the Greater Wilmington Area.

1. Richard has investments in over 50 companies; runs his own family office and real estate portfolio
2. What it’s like building a business from zero to exit, on a real scale
3. The realities of life after exit

Richard Stroupe | LinkedIn

Elevate – Cape Fear Venture Capital

Laura Brogdon-Primavera is is the VP of Leadership Development at the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce . Laura and her team have built a career and leadership development academy, which touches every single 7th grader in New Hanover County. Laura also oversees several other programs focused on Leadership Development in our region.

Did you know CLDA scaled from just 41 students to nearly 1,800 seventh graders in only a few years?

In this episode, we explore:

• How the Career & Leadership Development Academy launched in 2022 and quickly expanded to reach every 7th grader in New Hanover County Schools.

• Why 7th grade is the “sweet spot” for career exploration and early leadership development.

• What students are learning through industry visits, leadership skills, and exposure to local career pathways.

• How partnerships between schools, businesses, and the Chamber are helping build a stronger future workforce in our community.

Laura Brogdon-Primavera, M.Ed.,CCLP | LinkedIn

Career and Leadership Development Academy - Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, NC

Jason Andre is the Production Designer at Wells Insurance, where he leads the company’s creative and content efforts. After earning a degree in Marine Biology, Jason began filming surf edits and documentaries, which led him to launch his own production company, Seven Season Films, before bringing his creative experience into a growing business environment.

Did you know Jason has been working on a documentary for over a decade?

In this episode, we explore:

1. His work through Seven Season Films and inside a corporate creative role.
2. The decade-long documentary project If the Ocean Could Talk with Plastic Ocean Project — focused on telling solution-oriented stories about ocean health and inspiring action.
3. How growing up in Hatteras shaped his grit and perspective.
4. The lessons surfing teaches about focus, humility, and resilience — and how they translate into life and business.

From surf films to corporate creative leadership — and everything in between!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonandre/

https://www.sevenseasonfilms.com/

https://plasticoceanproject.org/

Dr. Umar Bowers is a physician, entrepreneur and owner of Dawson Med - a Primary Care and Urgent Care practice based in Wilmington, NC. Additionally, he serves on several boards and associations, primarily focused on health care talent development and general community development. Dr. Bowers embodies all the characteristics of a leader, and we dive deep into leadership on different levels; specifically in the medical world and in our community.

1. Did you know Dr. Bowers started a Home Security business fresh out of college?!
2. Yes, we talked about the idea of preventative care vs addressing symptoms, the issues we face with Health Insurance and the Big Business mentality of America’s health care system, and how Sleep, Nutrition and Exercise can dramatically increase individual health.
3. How Dr. Bowers took his experience from working in a large medical system in Charlotte and boiling that down in an independent practice.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/umar-bowers-md-1b41a2210/

https://www.dawson-med.com/

Jeanette Cofer is the founder and owner of JCo., an executive leadership and organizational development firm based in Wilmington, NC. Jeanette spent 15 years in the banking industry, followed by a stint of various consulting and fractional roles in technology startups. She is also a Six Sigma Green Belt. In the latest podcast, Jeanette shares her story along with the mission and vision of her firm.

1. How Jeanette’s experience and career path has led her to starting her own firm.
2. What is executive coaching? And what is the difference between coaching and consulting? What are the intersections of executive coaching and life coaching
3. Learn about Jeanette’s 5 step process, and her strategy for building her practice.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanette-cofer/

https://jeanettecofer.com/

Grey Vick is the Founder and Owner of Grey Outdoor, a mid-size billboard company operating in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Grey is a UNCW alumni and resides in Wilmington, NC with his wife and kids. Grey is an avid surfer, a family man and a key contributor in our local community.

1. Grey’s journey into entrepreneurship started with a real estate investment while he was working in Public Accounting. Step by step, this led him to co-founding his first billboard business in 2007.
2. Grey Outdoor primarily focuses on helping small, local companies grow their brands through billboard advertising
3. How Grey’s education and background in accounting, finance and business law helped him navigate the recession in 2008-2009, working with banks and other financial partners.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/grey-vick-21051130/

https://www.greyoutdoor.com/

Didier Rabino is a Lean Management and Continuous Improvement expert with over 30 years of practical experience and leadership.  We discussed the history and core philosophy of Lean Management and what it means for small businesses.  Specifically, debunking the negative connotations of “lean” and explaining lean as a philosophy that can be applied in all aspects of life.

• Lean Management is rooted in the Toyota Production System (TPS) which began in the late 1800s by Sakichi Toyoda. The original motivation for TPS was to simplify work to alleviate the pain experienced by Toyoda's mother and sisters, who were using looms, not to increase production for profit.
• Lean management is a philosophy built on principles like:

-Leading with humility

-Providing constancy of purpose and continuous improvement

-Respecting every individual and believing they have infinite potential

-Embracing scientific thinking and eliminating problems at the source.

• For small businesses, starting the continuous improvement cycle means:

-Defining the target: "Where do you want to go? Where are you now? What is in your way?".

-Paying deep attention to the process, observing details, and eliminating what is in the way.

-Understanding the Voice of the Customer (external and internal) to ensure the organization is creating value and satisfying needs.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/didierrabino/ 

https://leanmanagementsystems.net/

Kenneth “Ken” Waldroup, PE is the Executive Director of the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA), a special-purpose unit of local government created by the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County.  Ken shares the history and the formation of the CFPUA, and the vital role it plays in our community and our local economy. 

• Did you know that CFPUA delivers some of the highest quality water in the nation (Sweeny Water Plant) utilizing a granular activated carbon filtration system?!?  It has become a benchmark for best-in-class water quality.
• Our water system includes 1,200 miles of water line and a similar amount of wastewater line, 24,000 manholes, and 8,100 fire hydrants.  It is a $1B asset, with a replacement cost of $6B.
• CFPUA has $577 million in projects currently underway and another $612 million planned over the next 10 years, totaling $1.2 billion for infrastructure replacement and expansion.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-waldroup-pe-60361329/ 

www.cfpua.org

Kevin Hicks is a Fractional Chief Operating Officer (COO) based in Wilmington, NC.  He works with small businesses and non-profits to find their “rhythm” and bring strategy to action. Prior to this role, he was a banker with RBC Centura Bank and the COO of a privately owned business.

• What is the difference between a consultant and a Fractional Executive?
• Three major signs when a Fractional COO is needed: 1) Losing good people, 2) Strategic Plan not being executed, 3) Asking “Is there an easier way to do this?”
• Defining the difference between urgent and important.

https://www.aususpartners.net/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/khicks/

Meaghan Dennison is the Founder and CEO of The Forward Fund, a Non-Profit organization that creates upward economic mobility opportunities by providing interest free loans and financing for short term training and education programs.  Meaghan shares the story of how the Forward Fund was created and lots of details on the process and financing programs.

• The first loans originated in January 2025, as of this drop date, over $1M in funding and 100 loans has been deployed!
• The loan program helps upskill our workforce, and also helps the candidates build their credit score and other financial skills to support financial prosperity.   
• The loan max is $10k.  What types of training and education programs are eligible for this financing and how can one apply?  What educational institutions are providing the training programs?

https://theforward.fund/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/meaghan-dennison/