ABOUT US
“It is so important that we recognize the women trailblazers in our state’s entrepreneurial community who have made this possible. Our goal is to empower women to open and grow businesses, as well as advocate for women as significant contributors to the business community in our state.”
“It is so important that we recognize the women trailblazers in our state’s entrepreneurial community who have made this possible. Our goal is to empower women to open and grow businesses, as well as advocate for women as significant contributors to the business community in our state.”
Over the past two decades, the number of women entrepreneurs in NC has risen 114%, according to the American Express State of Women Owned Business Report, and according to a 2021 study by SmartAsset, five towns throughout NC ranked in the top 50 places where women are most successful, including Cary, Durham, Raleigh, Charlotte and Greensboro.
Launched in 2018, the North Carolina Women Business Owners Hall of Fame honors North Carolina’s most successful female entrepreneurs and advocates who have made significant and enduring contributions to impact women’s entrepreneurial development in North Carolina.
Board of Directors
OFFICERS:
Wendy Coulter - Founder/President
CEO at Hummingbird Creative Group Inc.
Stephanie Kissel - Vice President
Co-founder, COO at Supportedly.com
Johnny Bass - Treasurer
Operational & Financial Advisor at Bass Business Solutions
Sarah Glova - Secretary
Founder, CEO at Reify Media
DIRECTORS:
Elizabeth Cantino
Vice President | Senior Relationship Manager at Bank of America
Katie Gailes
Senior Director, Membership and DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) at National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE)
Brenda Harris
CEO at BPN Staffing Solutions
Gena Messer-Knode
Dean; Career Services & Business Innovations, Executive Director of The Eastern North Carolina Center for Business and Entrepreneurship at North Carolina Wesleyan College
2022 Selection Committee
Johnny Bass - Chair
Operational & Financial Advisor at Bass Business Solutions
Member of NFIB/NC Leadership Council & NFIB USA/DC Leadership Trust
johnny@bassbusinesssolutions.com
Stephany Connelly
Director Of Strategic Partnerships - Covenant Holdings, LLC
South Atlantic Region Director for National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC)
Gena Messer-Knode
Dean; Career Services & Business Innovations, Executive Director of The Eastern North Carolina Center for Business and Entrepreneurship - North Carolina Wesleyan College
Pamela Prowten
Business Development Manager, VP at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
SCORE Mentor
Shanon Madrid
Broker/ Owner- Sunbelt Business Brokers
President Elect- NAWBO Greater Raleigh
Melinda McVadon
Re-Branding Strategist - The McLynn Group
President Elect- NAWBO Charlotte
Board of Directors
OFFICERS:
Wendy Coulter - Founder/President
CEO at Hummingbird Creative Group Inc.
Stephanie Kissel - Vice President
Co-founder, COO at Supportedly.com
Johnny Bass - Treasurer
Operational & Financial Advisor at Bass Business Solutions
Sarah Glova - Secretary
Founder, CEO at Reify Media
DIRECTORS:
Elizabeth Cantino
Vice President | Senior Relationship Manager at Bank of America
Katie Gailes
Senior Director, Membership and DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) at National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE)
Brenda Harris
CEO at BPN Staffing Solutions
Gena Messer-Knode
Dean; Career Services & Business Innovations, Executive Director of The Eastern North Carolina Center for Business and Entrepreneurship at North Carolina Wesleyan College
2022 Selection Committee
Johnny Bass - Chair
Operational & Financial Advisor at Bass Business Solutions
Member of NFIB/NC Leadership Council & NFIB USA/DC Leadership Trust
johnny@bassbusinesssolutions.com
Stephany Connelly
Director Of Strategic Partnerships - Covenant Holdings, LLC
South Atlantic Region Director for National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC)
Gena Messer-Knode
Dean; Career Services & Business Innovations, Executive Director of The Eastern North Carolina Center for Business and Entrepreneurship - North Carolina Wesleyan College
Shanon Madrid
Broker/ Owner- Sunbelt Business Brokers
President Elect- NAWBO Greater Raleigh
Melinda McVadon
Re-Branding Strategist - The McLynn Group
President Elect- NAWBO Charlotte
Pamela Prowten
Business Development Manager, VP at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
SCORE Mentor
Board of Directors
OFFICERS:
2022 Selection Committee
Wendy Coulter - Founder/President
CEO at Hummingbird Creative Group Inc.
Johnny Bass - Chair
Operational & Financial Advisor at Bass Business Solutions
Member of NFIB/NC Leadership Council & NFIB USA/DC Leadership Trust
johnny@bassbusinesssolutions.com
Stephanie Kissel - Vice President
Co-founder, COO at Supportedly.com
Stephany Connelly
Director Of Strategic Partnerships - Covenant Holdings, LLC
South Atlantic Region Director for National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC)
Johnny Bass - Treasurer
Operational & Financial Advisor at Bass Business Solutions
Gena Messer-Knode
Dean; Career Services & Business Innovations, Executive Director of The Eastern North Carolina Center for Business and Entrepreneurship - North Carolina Wesleyan College
Sarah Glova - Secretary
Founder, CEO at Reify Media
Shanon Madrid
Broker/ Owner- Sunbelt Business Brokers
President Elect- NAWBO Greater Raleigh
Katie Gailes
Senior Director, Membership and DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) at National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE)
Melinda McVadon
Re-Branding Strategist - The McLynn Group
President Elect- NAWBO Charlotte
Brenda Harris
CEO at BPN Staffing Solutions
Pamela Prowten
Business Development Manager, VP at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
SCORE Mentor
Gena Messer-Knode
Dean; Career Services & Business Innovations, Executive Director of The Eastern North Carolina Center for Business and Entrepreneurship at North Carolina Wesleyan College
Board of Directors
OFFICERS:
Wendy Coulter - Founder/President
CEO at Hummingbird Creative Group Inc.
Stephanie Kissel - Vice President
Co-founder, COO at Supportedly.com
Johnny Bass - Treasurer
Operational & Financial Advisor at Bass Business Solutions
Sarah Glova - Secretary
Founder, CEO at Reify Media
DIRECTORS:
Katie Gailes
Senior Director, Membership and DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) at National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE)
Brenda Harris
CEO at BPN Staffing Solutions
Gena Messer-Knode
Dean; Career Services & Business Innovations, Executive Director of The Eastern North Carolina Center for Business and Entrepreneurship at North Carolina Wesleyan College
2022 Selection Committee
Johnny Bass - Chair
Operational & Financial Advisor at Bass Business Solutions
Member of NFIB/NC Leadership Council & NFIB USA/DC Leadership Trust
johnny@bassbusinesssolutions.com
Stephany Connelly
Director Of Strategic Partnerships - Covenant Holdings, LLC
South Atlantic Region Director for Nationa Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC)
Gena Messer-Knode
Dean; Career Services & Business Innovations, Executive Director of The Eastern North Carolina Center for Business and Entrepreneurship - North Carolina Wesleyan College
Shanon Madrid
Broker/ Owner- Sunbelt Business Brokers
President Elect- NAWBO Greater Raleigh
Melinda McVadon
Re-Branding Strategist - The McLynn Group
President Elect- NAWBO Charlotte
Pamela Prowten
Business Development Manager, VP at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
SCORE Mentor
