The mission of the Women’s Business Leaders Forum is simple – Unleash the Potential of Women Business Leaders, propelling the Defense Industry forward with a vision that embraces:

• Purposeful Growth: We seize every opportunity to drive our business to new heights.
• Entrepreneurial Vision: We work strategically on our business, nurturing its expansion.
• Empowered Leadership: We continuously refine our skills, becoming dynamic and influential leaders.
• Innovate to Thrive: Embracing the bigger picture, we implement cutting-edge business practices.
• Stronger Together: We uplift and support each other, fostering a community of growth.
• Connecting Trailblazers: Elevating women by leveraging our diverse network.
• Forge Collaborative Pathways: Creating unrivaled networking and partnership opportunities.
• Ignite Creative Excellence: We adapt imaginative sales and marketing strategies that set us apart.

Agenda

9-9:30 a.m.
Arrivals, Check-in, Badge Pick-up, Networking Coffee and Breakfast Pastries provided by Apple Annie’s Bakery

9:30-9:40 a.m.
Welcome & Recognition of Distinguished Guests
Tammy Everett, Executive Director, Defense Alliance of North Carolina
Topic: The diverse makeup of the Defense Alliance of North Carolina including women in the military, government agencies, academia, associations and professional services.

9:40-10 a.m.
Welcome
Natalie English, President & CEO, Wilmington Chamber

10-10:20 a.m.
Opening Remarks
Iris Phillips, President/CEO Grace Federal Solutions, LLC., Women in Business Leaders Forum Chair, Defense Alliance of North Carolina
Topic: How women can and are supporting the defense industry in various leadership roles.

10:20-10:40 a.m.
Special Guest Speaker
Elaine Marshall, Secretary of State
Topic: Overcoming obstacles to become the first woman ever elected to a statewide, executive branch office in North Carolina. A true activist for women’s issues winning numerous state and national awards for women’s leadership.

10:40-11 a.m.
Special Guest Speaker
Loree Blue, Director of Marketing and Communications, NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions (IES)
Topic: Impacting the defense industry and supporting the warfighter.

11-11:30 a.m.
Featured Author, “All That I Am Now That I Know”
Teresa Spangler, Founder & CEO, Plazabridge Group
Topic: 17 Life Lessons for Entrepreneurs on Winning Big, Failing Big and Dusting Off Your A#S to Do It All Over.

11:30 a.m.-noon
Networking Break & Book Signing
“All That I Am Now That I Know”

Noon-12:30 p.m.
Catered Lunch by Pine Valley Market

12:30-1 p.m.
Keynote Lunch Speaker
Machelle Baker, Secretary of the NC Department of Commerce
Topic: “You can’t be what you can’t see.”
As a native North Carolinian and mother of twin daughters, she is passionate about improving the status of women in our state. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum and OnBoard NC. Some of her work includes creating a Women’s Innovation Network at Biogen and the Lady Cardinals STEM Program for High School students while at North Carolina Department of Administration. “Improving the status of women in North Carolina is not just a woman’s issue — it is a family, poverty, and economic issue.”

1-1:15 p.m.
Closing Remarks

1:15-2 p.m.
Networking

2 p.m.
Event Concludes

Presented by:

Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DANC) and NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) Defense Industry Initiatives

defensealliancenc.org	ies.ncsu.edu