25 minute read
Meet the 2021 Movers & Shakers
Meet the 2021
COMPILED BY AMBER KEISTER | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JONATHAN FREDIN | ART DIRECTED BY LAUREN EARLEY
WHAT IS SUCCESS? The answer is different for every leader: a trusted team, a client’s smile, a challenge met or a student’s achievement.
We know, because we asked 24 young professionals about their challenges, their accomplishments and their inspiration. These Movers & Shakers are shaping the future of our community in many different ways. They are entrepreneurs and educators, bloggers and authors — even a veteran and a veterinarian.
And while we applaud their successes so far, we may be even more excited about what is to come.
Shane Barry
teacher, Athens Drive Magnet High School
AN INTRODUCTION: I am a science teacher at Athens Drive Magnet High School, the STEM energy and Sustainability Academy coordinator, and the varsity swim coach.
ORIGIN STORY: Tutoring fellow students while in college helped me realize that education was my passion and where I wanted to devote my efforts. Inspiration: Seeing growth in my students, whether it’s in the classroom or in the pool.
A PROUD MOMENT: In spring 2020, 12 solar panels were installed at Athens Drive, through a grant from NC GreenPower Solar+ Schools. Our focus is on energy and sustainability, and solar panels fit both those. We had a student (Rocco Nociti) interested in a grant that he saw, and we supported him through the writing of the grant, through the fundraising process, and through the installation of the solar array. It was quite the process, to get all that done and installed. But when you see a student who’s that interested in the things that you’re teaching them, to go above and beyond outside of the classroom, then you put in the extra effort.
Matt Bettinger
co-owner, SideBar & Hank’s Downtown Dive
ORIGIN STORY: Like a lot of people, I got into hospitality because I needed a job and I enjoy people. I like didn’t have to hang out. It’s an anything else opportunity to throw a going on. A party every day, and to buddy of mine me that sounds like a was working at good time. a restaurant and said, “We need some servers.” … It was a good fit from the get go. INSPIRATION: Being able to be part of a community is the part that I enjoy the most. …Seeing people leave really, really happy is great. A PROUD MOMENT: The moment that we realized SideBar was really going to take, and we decided to start exploring something else… It was about a year after SideBar was open. It I try to have the model wasn’t necessarily an aha moment, but of ‘Be the person that I it was over a couple of weeks. needed at that age.’ With Hank’s, we wanted to offer a full service restaurant, and that’s something I really wanted to get back into. I’ve been doing spirits and bars for a decade plus, which is wonderful, but there’s also something to be said for providing the full experience, a place where people can bring their family and sit down and eat.
Erin Bircher
owner, Foundations 4 Change
AN INTRODUCTION: I am a dually licensed psychotherapist and a certified personal and professional development coach. My expertise is Watching my clients in helping individuals uncover their own break through barriers, capacity to ultimately work through difficult build a solid, healthy situations, set boundaries foundation for the and work to explore any successful life they limiting belief systems desire, is the most that may be preventing rewarding part of my job. them from leading the life they truly desire. ORIGIN STORY: I really didn’t know what I wanted to do after high school. I decided to take one class at a community college, and it was a psychology course. I can remember sitting in the middle of the class and thinking, “I know what I want now. I want to be a therapist.”
RECENT CHALLENGE:
In a profession that typically relies on subtle body language cues, or even simply offering a safe space for someone to come and cry without family members in the next room, it was an uncomfortable adjustment to completely transition to a virtual platform. ... It was refreshing to see how even in non-ideal settings, the value of a therapist’s session can still be life-changing. director of marketing and client relations, Bost Custom Homes
AN INTRODUCTION: I’m a jack-of-all-trades peopleperson with a diverse background of experiences that has helped me connect with people of different perspectives and cultures. Some of my friends have given me the nickname Evan “45 minutes” Bost, because I often end up connecting with strangers for extended periods of time, inadvertently holding my friends up in the process.
ORIGIN STORY: I joined the family custom home building business after an interesting stint growing and selling produce for an urban farm. At Bost Homes, I’ve found passion in home design, client management and land planning.
INSPIRATION: It’s hard not to be excited about home building and development when our market is a Top 10 growth area of the country! In addition to the excitement from the influx of new clients, I enjoy learning about construction, land planning and how to make our cities (and homes) more pleasing to inhabitants, flora and fauna.
I hope to be a reflection of truth and an instrument of encouragement for others.
TRUE FACTS: I married my high school sweetheart, and we recently went skydiving for my 30th birthday in Key West. What a surreal experience!
Mycal Brickhouse
executive pastor, Cary First Christian Church
AN INTRODUCTION: I am a pastor, educator and community builder, dedicated to spreading the gospel to empower others to see God’s call for humanity to have an intimate relationship with God and to love all of creation. … (M)y ministry has been to cultivate and nurture the spiritual empowerment, social development and economic equality of the community that I am called to serve.
INSPIRATION: Being a part of change in my community. I’m excited about developing and implementing opportunities for families to have access to nutritious food. I’m excited about advocating for affording housing and seeing those plans approved and developed. I’m excited about sponsoring job development programs and seeing participants increase their earning potential.
RECENT CHALLENGE: My biggest recent challenge has been continuing to serve while journeying through my own grief. We never know what people carry, but we should be aware that we all carry something. Since November 2019, I have carried the tragic loss of my sister. In July 2020, added to that burden was the loss of my grandmother to COVID-19. Grief is not a momentary experience; it is a reorienting of life.
I hope that my book inspires people to not only be financially savvy, but to follow their dreams and passions. If I can do it, you can too.
No opportunity to make a difference is too small, and each one gives me joy.
author and founder, FACTS for Youth nonprofit
AN INTRODUCTION: As the head swim coach at Holly Springs High, I interact with a number of high-schoolers and to be honest, many students are worried about their finances. …These kids had
a deep desire to learn but limited resources and no place to gather the information.
In 2018, I founded FACTS for Youth, a nonprofit to provide financial literacy to teens, athletes and young adults through workshops and partnerships with schools. INSPIRATION: I am seeing teens and young adults grow in their confidence surrounding money, which is incredibly rewarding.
A PROUD MOMENT:
My proudest accomplishment is writing my first book. I have always wanted to become an author, but after my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, I used my anger as fuel to write. Some days it was so hard for me to keep working on it. … When I had those tough days, I thought about my mom. I thought about making her proud. “The Money Club: A Teenage Guide to Literacy” was published Jan. 1, 2020.
Nicole Case
founder, Nicole Case Consulting
AN INTRODUCTION: I am a career and leadership coach, personalbrand and job-search strategist, and recovering HR professional.
After a decade in corporate human resources roles, partnering with top executives in tech and pharma companies, I launched my coaching business. I saw too many women struggling to break through to meaningful leadership roles or staying in toxic environments because they were afraid to start over.
ORIGIN STORY: This pandemic has really opened up people’s hearts and minds on what is most important to them.
Women were coming to me a lot, wanting help, saying, “I don’t like my job, and I want to do something different,” or “I want to do something better, something that supports my skills, and I can support my family better.”
INSPIRATION: Just knowing that I’m helping women, not only elevate their career, but upgrade their lives. What could the world be like, if everyone went to work and loved work and felt incredibly fulfilled, and then could shut it off and come home to their families?
AN INTRODUCTION:
Davenport is a midwife at UNC who catches babies and takes care of women throughout their lives. She works at the new UNC OBGYN clinic at Panther Creek and is the postpartum Medical Director at UNC Hospitals.
INSPIRATION: The U.S. healthcare system is in crisis, and so being a provider in that system is hard sometimes. But the thing that brings me back is I just love what I do. I love the families I take care of. ...To be able to be there and get to do this every day is hard, but it’s so wonderful and so rewarding.
RECENT CHALLENGE:
We’ve seen more postpartum depression and more anxiety and depression in pregnancy, just because the whole population is experiencing that. For some people, at the beginning (of the pandemic), coming to their visits was the only time they had human contact.
TRUE FACT: I worked in food service for a long time, and I loved it. ...My retirement plan is to have a cafe-bookstore.
I joke that my job has made small talk really hard. … I have really intimate conversations 10 to 20 times a day. It’s really important to have — even if you can’t have them physically around you — a really strong support system. A group of cheerleaders around you is really important.
certified nurse-midwife, UNC-CH OBGYN
style influencer and blogger, The Prepford Wife
AN INTRODUCTION:
I’m a strategist by day and a blogger by night. The Prepford Wife is a North Carolina blog that focuses on all things home, travel, fashion and the magic of doing it yourself.
ORIGIN STORY: My husband, Marcus, and I wanted to document our lives and experiences as a way of saying, “We were here.” That turned into a blog when Marcus peer-pressured me into creating one years ago — when there was no money to be made and no one was watching — because we weren’t seeing and hearing anyone quite like us.
A PROUD MOMENT: I recently received a call from
“Country Living Magazine asking if I wanted to renovate our second home with them in a series called
Makeover Takeover. So for the last six months, we’ve been doing just that. It’s been an incredible partnership and a whirlwind adventure.
TRUE FACT: I’m a huge Harry Potter fan: Harry Potter wedding, dogs named after Harry Potter, wedding bands engraved with
Harry Potter quotes. AN INTRODUCTION: Recently I started a nonprofit called DEGA Mobile Veterinary Care (Determined for Everyone to Gain Access to Veterinary Care). I provide free basic veterinary care to low/ no income and homeless pet owners.
INSPIRATION: Being able to provide care to pets who otherwise would not receive it... Not only does this help reduce the number of unwanted pets in shelters, but it gives owners a sense of fulfillment and happiness that they are able to take care of their loved ones. For homeless pet owners, their pet may be the only aspect of their lives that keeps them going.
RECENT CHALLENGE:
Our biggest challenge with DEGA is identifying pet owners who are truly in need. This is why we work with other charitable organizations to identify pet owners who could use our free services. We need to advertise our free clinics, so we can help as many pets as possible. At the same time, we cannot make it public, since we are reaching out to a select group.
People online have become our community. They welcomed us into their lives and their homes by way of a little set of nine pictures on Instagram.
Dr. April Gessner Deddens ,
founder, DEGA Mobile Veterinary Care nonprofit
I have been interested in animals and how I could save them since I was a little girl.
founder, SMI Financial Coaching
AN INTRODUCTION: I’m a business coach, finance expert, author and speaker who helps small business owners grow profitable businesses by focusing on systems, cash flow, and building multiple income streams.
ORIGIN STORY: My father was a hospital pharmacist and owned several Chinese restaurants in the Triangle, and my mother was an accountant. I saw the best of both worlds — a steady paycheck working as an employee for someone else’s company, as well as the benefits of passive income from owning a small business. I always knew that I wanted to work in the financial services industry and start my own business.
A PROUD MOMENT: I realized that new and experienced entrepreneurs were making financial mistakes that were costing them time, money and stress. I decided to take all the lessons I had learned, including real-life stories from clients and colleagues, and write a book to help entrepreneurs with their business finances.
In less than six months, I wrote my first book, “Small Business Finance for the Busy Entrepreneur – Blueprint for Building a Solid, Profitable Business.”
I love helping clients save money, make more money, and be able to pay themselves a consistent owner’s draw or salary.
founder, The Bowerbird Agency
I legitimately get pumped up chatting with an entrepreneur about their work, their products, their craft.
AN INTRODUCTION:
Jenssen is the founder of The Bowerbird Agency, a creative agency with a mission to champion small businesses, and she is the president of the Apex Downtown Business Association. Since 2018, she has also managed the Apex Farmers Market, bringing in new vendors and strengthening the market’s relationship with the Town of Apex.
INSPIRATION: My business allows me an unfiltered view of the passion, drive and heart behind every independent business owner. Their fire and passion for their work is like fuel for me.
RECENT CHALLENGE: We exclusively represent locally owned and operated, independent businesses, many of which have been significantly impacted by the pandemic. ...(S)upporting those “pivots,” everyone keeps talking about what has been really challenging.
We worked around the clock and launched a member-based online learning platform for a local preschool in less than three weeks. We created the area’s only contact-free, pre-order platform for a local farmers market over a weekend. We created a tutorial to help small businesses sell gift certificates so they could continue to receive some income with closed doors.
Virginia H. Johnson
Town Clerk for Cary
AN INTRODUCTION: I’m honored to serve the community as town clerk for Cary. It has been a pleasure to be in that role for the last four years, out of the eight years I have been with Cary. I’m a curious person who loves strategic thinking and participating in new learning opportunities. I strive to face each day through a servantleader mindset.
A PROUD MOMENT: I am appreciative to be leading a team of dedicated and creative staff members and volunteers working on the Cary150 celebration. Together we have planned a memorable and fun year to celebrate this ceremonial time in our community’s history. The planning continues, as our activities will last all 2021. I continue to be amazed by the creativity of this group as we had to shift from in-person events to virtual celebrations and interaction opportunities. It has been wonderful to see how the community has embraced the year as well. … (M)any people found ways to celebrate Cary by learning about our past, celebrating the present and getting excited about the future.
I watch our students support and cheer one another on, and that just makes my heart so incredibly full.
From the everyday tasks to longterm projects, each action taken and interaction has the opportunity to leave a positive impact on someone.
Alicia Jurado
founder, Pura Vida Studio
AN INTRODUCTION: I am the founder and owner of Pura Vida Studio, an aerial, yoga and wellness studio located in Cary. My studio offers classes for all ages and levels as well as summer camps. ...I am also the co-founder of Carolina Circus Festival, a circus festival for all circus performers in North Carolina to showcase their talents free to the public.
A PROUD MOMENT: I came from a low-income area, growing up with a lot of financial and family hardships thrown in my direction. It led me to being forced out of my home at 17 years old... Yoga and aerial changed my life, and now I am a small business owner at 28! My personal hardships are why this studio means the world to me.
RECENT CHALLENGE:
Transitioning my business virtually was incredibly hard but had some wonderful parts too! Some of our virtual classes or private lessons ended up reaching people all over the world — Israel, Australia and California.
TRUE FACT: I have been skydiving, twice! It was the coolest experience ever.
Camille Kauer
creator, “The E-Spot with Camille”
ORIGIN STORY: I grew up in a film family. My father is film producer
Dwight Williams, and my mom,
Olivia Gatewood, is a noted artist and retired stunt woman.
As an actor myself, I needed a way to stay connected with my film community, so in March 2020, I started live-streaming my radio segment, “The
E-Spot with Camille” as a video podcast. …(M)y first guest was Rose Bianco of the Netflix
award-winning hit “Cobra Kai.”
INSPIRATION: My guests!
They share their triumphs and how they’ve overcome some pretty public “challenges.” They really inspire me to keep working harder and to keep dreaming bigger.
RECENT CHALLENGE: The pandemic forced me to make the leap, to create my own show solo. I was terrified at first, to be out on my own. I am the producer, host, I interview guests guest booker, marketer, who encourage editor, publicist, and I others to pursue couldn’t be happier.
their passions,
how to handle the TRUE FACT: I starred inevitable noes, on “Dawson’s Creek” as and inspire us to Betty the cheerleader with stick with it. Michelle Williams.
Tim McLoughlin
partner, Cofounders Capital
AN INTRODUCTION: I joined Cofounders Capital in late 2015 and became a full partner in 2018 when we raised our second fund. We now manage over My biggest $45 million in seed capital and have challenge as a invested in over 30 companies. venture capitalist is
having to say, ‘No,’
INSPIRATION: First, we have the 99-plus% of the time opportunity to help entrepreneurs when companies achieve their dreams by giving ask us for money… them the capital resources (and It is always a some advice along the way) difficult thing they need to execute their to do. plan. During that journey, the capital we can provide will create jobs and value for all stakeholders. Second, there is an opportunity to create life-changing or even generation-changing wealth for founders who have spent years sacrificing to accomplish something they are passionate about. A PROUD MOMENT: In 2018, my partner, David Gardner, and I closed a $31 million Venture Capital fund focused on investing in N.C.based software companies. It was a year’s worth of hard work, a lot of meetings, and convincing investment partners to join us in creating a vision that didn’t yet exist. That money is going to help a lot of entrepreneurs.
motivational speaker and owner, Revive Therapeutic Services
My love of the mental health field keeps me excited about continuing to help people (find) new ways to deal with stress and anxiety.
AN INTRODUCTION:
I am a mental health speaker and have been in the mental health industry for 10 years. I help my audience get to the heart of the matter in a short amount of time, regardless of the issue we are discussing, whether depression, anxiety or effective communication. I help them be successful.
ORIGIN STORY: I noticed that I had a knack for speaking in church. I was the church announcer and noticed I would get a positive reaction from the congregation when I read the announcements. Some people would visit the church just to hear me read the announcements!
People began to invite me to speak on mental health topics at community events, which expanded into me speaking for corporations. I partnered with Cigna to discuss mental health, substance abuse issues and work-life balance. I enjoy being able to connect with people on a large scale.
A PROUD MOMENT: My proudest moment was being invited to partner with Cigna. They are a mental health corporation, and they take mental health very seriously.
Andy Munn
co-founder, EQV Strategic
AN INTRODUCTION:
I have spent my entire career working in or with state, local and federal government. My business partner and I started EQV Strategic in March 2020 and have quickly grown into one of the largest private lobbying firms in N.C. Most importantly, I am a husband and father of three young sons!
ORIGIN STORY: I fell backwards into a job working on a congressional campaign in 2000, ...the Bush versus Gore election year that introduced us to hanging chads. That’s when the political bug bit me! Shortly after that election, I moved to Washington and worked on Capitol Hill for six years.
A PROUD MOMENT: Perhaps one of the more relatable victories that I am proud of was being part of the team that passed North Carolina’s “Brunch Bill” (allowing alcohol sales before noon on Sundays). You’re welcome!
TRUE FACT: I once drove a vehicle in Vice President Dick Cheney’s motorcade during a visit he made to Charlotte 20 years ago.
Our ability to navigate the complex network of state government to affect meaningful change for our clients … is the most rewarding part of my job.
founder, 3 Bluebirds Farm nonprofit
AN INTRODUCTION: I’m the founder of 3 Bluebirds Farm, and my husband, Colm and I are parents to three really great children, our “3 Bluebirds.” Marcus, our middle bluebird,” is 16 years old and was diagnosed with severe autism at the age of 3.
Our family made the extremely difficult decision in July 2015 of placing Marcus in assisted living, due to his severe and dangerous aggression. He has adjusted relatively well, but our bumpy and bittersweet journey has made certain matters even more crystal clear: Our nation as a whole is not doing enough for our adults with special needs.
The seed of an idea began to sprout in the back of my mind — a planned residential farm community for adults with autism, along with track-out programs, summer programs, and respite care for children and adults with autism.
A PROUD MOMENT: When we closed on 28 acres of beautiful farmland, after nine extremely challenging years of working and fundraising for the perfect piece of property in Wake County — our vision and dream.
During COVID-19, (we) turned our recreational Camp Bluebird into a virtual learning center for our clients. Our clients were in need, so we changed our services.
Hillary Parnell
founder, Academy for the Performing Arts
Our driving force is knowing that the work we do with our dancers is so much more than teaching dance.
AN INTRODUCTION:
In addition to owning the Academy for the Performing Arts and Preschool for the Arts for the past 20 years, I am also an author, growth coach and consultant for the Dance Studio Owners Association, where I provide business advice to over a thousand dance studio owners.
ORIGIN STORY: I started in the dance industry in 2001, after the company I was working for closed... I had no idea what to do next. I had always planned on owning a dance studio, but I didn’t think I could pull it off at only 21 years old. Luckily, I have extremely supportive parents, and I dove in headfirst.
RECENT CHALLENGE: Dance is an outlet for so many of our students, a therapy. The last thing our dancers needed during (the pandemic) was to stop dancing. We did everything we could to provide that therapy for our students, because their mental health and well-being depended on it. My staff and I knew that we needed to be strong and positive role models for our students.
Matthew Poling
engineering director, Town of Fuquay-Varina
AN INTRODUCTION: I graduated in 2005 from NC A&T State University with a B.S. in civil engineering. I began working for the Town of
Fuquay-Varina in May 2014 and became the engineering director in January 2021.
INSPIRATION: I get to practice civil engineering in a rapidly expanding community. Whether it’s transportation, environmental
Issues, or water and sewer infrastructure, there are always diverse problems to solve and projects to build.
A PROUD MOMENT: Being part of a team that is working to deliver over $30 million worth of roadway improvements to the Fuquay-Varina area. In addition, the engineering department has six more federal highway grants totaling over $8 million that will go towards multimodal projects that are to be constructed within the next 18 months.
RECENT CHALLENGE: Not being able to have face-toface interactions with coworkers and citizens has been challenging at times.
TRUE FACT: In 2009, I became the undefeated MidAtlantic MMA Champion. My ring name was Matt “OnePunch” Poling.
Clients’ smiles and new-found confidence keep me excited and passionate about what I do. The people I get to work with on a day-to-day basis keep me excited. They are amazing, hard-working professionals who make me look better than I should!
co-owner, Bella Vita Home + Lifestyle and Avail Aesthetics
AN INTRODUCTION: My first career began at age 8, when my dad put me behind the wheel of a gocart. After quickly climbing the ranks, I qualified to race in the NASCAR Truck Series in 2003, making me the first openly gay driver to compete in a NASCAR National Series. I also owned two restaurants in my hometown of Goldsboro, which I eventually sold after making the decision to move to Maui.
I moved back to NC after a sponsor approached me about restarting my racing career. Ultimately, I didn’t start racing again after moving to Charlotte, but I did meet my fiance, Nathan Davis. We now own Bella Vita Home + Lifestyle, a home decor and gift store in downtown Raleigh, and Avail Aesthetics, an award-winning MedSpa, in Cary. ORIGIN STORY: The idea for Avail Aesthetics started after I began having a tattoo removed.
PROUD MOMENTS:
Reaching the top ranks of NASCAR and opening one of the best MedSpas in the Triangle are my proudest professional accomplishments.
Calin Riley
president and CEO,
Riley Contracting Group
AN INTRODUCTION: I grew up in the Triangle and in the family commercial construction business. I’m a veteran,
Army Officer of the
Infantry and Special
Operations. I re-joined the family business here at Riley Contracting
Group after my last deployment to Afghanistan.
INSPIRATION: I love bringing in new clients and doing a fantastic job on their projects. I really love hearing the great things our clients say about us after we do what we do.
Every day is different, and we have new and exciting opportunities and challenges each day at RCG.
A PROUD MOMENT: My proudest professional moment is that this company has survived even after the sudden death of its founder, my dad in 2016. But my biggest accomplishment by far is that I have a great family, a loving and supportive wife, Amy, a fantastic son, Liam, and my amazing little girl, Jane.
It is incredibly rewarding to get an athlete back in the game, help a new mom or dad pick up their child without pain, or help someone begin a more active lifestyle.
I’m a very lucky guy, I have a loving family support system, a truly fantastic team, and our clients are amazing.
AN INTRODUCTION: I am a chiropractor with a specialty designation of certified primary spine practitioner. This specialty within chiropractic and physical therapy allows me to be the primary provider for conservative treatment for spine-related disorders.
I also function as the point of contact for coordinating care for patients who need more significant evaluation and treatment like imaging, injections, and surgery. My goal is to create positive outcomes and, ultimately, resolutions for those with spinerelated disorders.
GREATEST
CHALLENGE: My daughter, Brynlee, was born prematurely and spent six weeks in the WakeMed Raleigh NICU. Ultimately, she needed a feeding tube placed, so she could safely come home from the hospital. Like many mothers who deliver premature babies, this was an enormous mental, emotional and financial challenge for my family and me.
Fortunately, the incredible community we work and live in rallied around my family. Our network put on a benefit for our daughter, patients and friends brought us meals, and so many people supported us.
