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.”
Wendy Coulter
Founder of the NC Women Business Owners Hall of Fame
Wendy Coulter
“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.”
Wendy Coulter
Founder of the NC Women Business Owners Hall of Fame
Wendy Coulter

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 headshot

Wendy Coulter - Founder/President
CEO at Hummingbird Creative Group Inc.

Stephanie Kissel headshot

Stephanie Kissel - Vice President
Co-founder, COO at Supportedly.com

Johnny Bass headshot

Johnny Bass - Treasurer
Operational & Financial Advisor at Bass Business Solutions

Sara Glova headshot

Sarah Glova - Secretary
Founder, CEO at Reify Media

DIRECTORS:

Elizabeth Cantino Headshot

Elizabeth Cantino
Vice President | Senior Relationship Manager at Bank of America

Katie Gailes headshot

Katie Gailes
Senior Director, Membership and DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) at National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE)

Brenda Harris headshot

Brenda Harris
CEO at BPN Staffing Solutions

Gena Messer-Knode headshot

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

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 headshot

Wendy Coulter - Founder/President
CEO at Hummingbird Creative Group Inc.

Stephanie Kissel headshot

Stephanie Kissel - Vice President
Co-founder, COO at Supportedly.com

Johnny Bass headshot

Johnny Bass - Treasurer
Operational & Financial Advisor at Bass Business Solutions

Sara Glova headshot

Sarah Glova - Secretary
Founder, CEO at Reify Media

DIRECTORS:

Gena Messer-Knode headshot

Elizabeth Cantino
Vice President | Senior Relationship Manager at Bank of America

Katie Gailes headshot

Katie Gailes
Senior Director, Membership and DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) at National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE)

Brenda Harris headshot

Brenda Harris
CEO at BPN Staffing Solutions

Gena Messer-Knode headshot

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

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.

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

DIRECTORS:

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


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