Business Advisory Council

The College of Business works closely with its Business Advisory Council, a group of alumni and friends who provide valuable expertise, guidance, and support for the continuing development of high quality business programs at East Carolina University. Its role is advisory to the dean and faculty. The Business Advisory Council also helps the College of Business foster ongoing relationships with the larger business community. It formally meets two times per year. In the interim, members work with the College of Business, singly or in groups, based on individual skills and interests.

Board Nomination Form

2023-2024 Business Advisory Council Members

  • Paul Adkison, Entrepreneur
  • Sanford Bailey, Real Estate Development
  • Player Barefoot, President – SouthTech Orthopedics
  • Connally Branch, President – Clark-Branch, Inc. Realtors
  • Sharon Bryson, CEO – NC Association of CPA’s
  • Wanda Hayes Burgamy, Program Manager – Service Now
  • Col. (Ret.) Worth Carter, Deputy Program Manager – Missile Defense Agency
  • James (Jim) Chesnutt, Chairman of the Board – National Spinning Company, Inc.
  • Mary Cloninger, CEO – Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates
  • Tonya Cockman, President – Clear Defense, LLC
  • Charlie Coggins, Multifamily Project Manager – Professional Builders Supply, LLC
  • Jerod Cohen, VP Employee Benefits – Snipes Insurance Services Inc.
  • Karl Deonanan, CFO – Synteract
  • Denise Dickens, Retired Accounting Faculty – ECU’s COB
  • M. Scott Diggs, President/Partner – Lift It Rentals, LLC
  • Grant Edwards, CFO – LiveToBeHappy, Inc.
  • Dave Englert, Retired – Southern Tile Distributors, Inc.
  • V. Robert Jones, President/CEO – Union Bank
  • Rodney Mallette, Special Advisor to the Chairman – International Auto Logistics
  • Kevin Monroe, VP/Financial Advisor – CapTrust Financial Advisors
  • James Morgan, Senior VP – Towne Insurance
  • Anthony Patterson, CEO – Indigo Holdings
  • Donna Phillips, Sr Economic Developer Manager – Duke Energy
  • Benson Porter, VP Sales & Account Management – United Healthcare
  • Jim Smith, VP – Contec, Inc.
  • Damon Stafford, CEO/President – Alpine Intel
  • Heather Stepp, CEO/Team Leader – Keller Williams Realty New Bern
  • **Ranse Stokes, Senior Vice President, Investments – Wells Fargo
  • Robbie Strickland, President – Strickland Insurance Group, Inc.
  • *Angela Sutton Furniss, National Account Director – Dexcom, Inc.
  • Allen Thomas, Managing Partner – TIDE Development LLC
  • John Ward, Regional Market Executive – Wells Fargo
  • William Yarborough, Retired CEO – US Postal Service Federal Credit Union

*Chair
**Vice-Chair

Emeritus Members

  • Charles Atwater, CFO – Hydro Services & Supplies, Inc.
  • Lisa Benton, Senior VP Human Resources – Wells Fargo
  • Robert Bird, Retired Executive Director – Independent Insurance Agents of NC
  • Donald Boldt, Retired President – Wall Lenk Corp & Retired Assistant Dean – COB Grad Programs
  • David Bond, CEO – Dynamic Benchmarking
  • Bonnie Brown, Retired Partner – PWC Management Services LP
  • Hilton (Chip) Chesson, Owner – Trinity Builders
  • Matt Crisp, Entrepreneur & Private Investor
  • William (Bill) Furr, Retired – Cumulus Fibres
  • Alvin Hutzler, CEO – Cliff Weil, Inc.
  • Van Isley, CEO – Professional Builders Supply, LLC
  • W. Guy Lucas, VP/Sr Portfolio Manager – Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
  • J. Fielding Miller, CEO/Managing Partner – CapTrust Financial Advisors
  • Harry Moser III, Retired VP – Capgemini
  • W. Howard Rooks, Owner/Real Estate Consultant – Rooks Morris Real Estate
  • Lynn Schubert, Retired President – The Surety & Fidelity Association of America
  • Phillip Tetterton, Retired CFO – Cox Industries
  • James Walker, Retired Chairman – The Advisory Group
  • James Ward III, Managing Member – Ward Holdings LLC
  • Robert Ward, Retired Executive VP – Unifi, Inc.