Business Leadership Conference

2025 Keynote Speaker: Taylor Chappell, CPA

Controller, Nucor Steel Marion – Nucor Corporation

Taylor Chappell is a Certified Public Accountant and currently serves as the Controller at Nucor Steel Marion, a division of Nucor Corporation. A proud alumna of East Carolina University, Taylor earned both her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting (2019) and her Master of Science in Accounting (2020).

Taylor is deeply committed to service and leadership within her alma mater and professional community. She chairs the Audit Committee for the East Carolina University Foundation Board and serves as an Alumni Advisor for Beta Alpha Psi. Her dedication to alumni engagement is further reflected in her roles as Communications Coordinator for the ECU Charlotte Alumni Chapter and as a member of both the Honors College Young Alumni Council and the College of Business Young Alumni Council. Additionally, she contributes her financial expertise as the Finance Advisor for Alpha Omicron Pi.

Taylor’s commitment to excellence and community has been recognized through several honors, including the ECU Creed Award for Citizenship and the Accounting Department’s Outstanding Senior Award.

Livestream Keynote Session – Taylor Chappell

2025 BLC Student Registration

2025 BLC Guest Registration

Date: October 23, 2025
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Location: Main Campus Student Center

Schedule

SESSION 1 10:00 – 10: 45 AM

  • From Campus to Corporate: Turning Lessons Into Leadership 
    Hope Grubb, Senior Analyst, Motorola Solutions Inc. Jenna Mallberg, Associate Program Manager, Internet2
    Location: Ballroom A
  • The Attitude of a Winner: Turning Leadership Values into Daily Action 
    Fulton Sprigg, Senior Process Specialist, Amazon
    Location: Room 249
  • Move beyond transactions: discover the power of authentic connections that inspire loyalty, trust, and lasting impact. 
    Erin Brooks, General Manager, Bentwinds Country Club
    Location: Room 253
  • Talking Up: Connecting Across Generations with Confidence 
    Chandler Ward, Client Executive, Sentinel
    Location: Room 125

SESSION 2 11:00 – 11: 45 AM

  • What Could Possibly Go Wrong? 
    Gabby Banks, Insurance Company Examiner, NC Department of Insurance Allison Pigora, Assistant Vice President, Amwins Madison Taylor, Senior Account Manager, Towne Insurance Agency
    Location: Ballroom A
  • Getting Started in Wealth Management 
    Richard Sanford, II, President, Whitener Capital Management, Inc
    Location: Room 249
  • Beyond Talent: How Determination Shapes Achievement 
    Richard Hourigan, Director of Internal Audit, Dollar Tree
    Location: Room 253
  • Values-Informed Leadership: Driving Culture and Performance 
    CAPT Joseph Ford, MSC, USN, Director of Mental Health, II Marine Expeditionary Force
    Location: Room 125

SESSION 3 12:00 – 12:45 PM

  • Supply Chain Conversations & Communications 
    Jake Boltz, Industrial Account Manager, Border States
    Sydney Farmer, Fulfillment Manager, Kinexo
    Andrew Page, Sales Specialist, Elite Truck
    Jessica Pupa Cooper, Category Inventory Planner, Carhartt
    Location: Ballroom A
  • The Show Must Go On 
    Alto Gary, Board of Directors, WISE Women in Sports & Events, WISE (Women in Sports & Events)
    Location: Room 249
  • No Quarter Leadership: A Pirate’s Perspective 
    Robert Main, Cybersecurity State Coordinator – North Carolina, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency
    Location: Room 253
  • Resilience: The road to strength, grit, and power in the workplace. 
    Angela Sutton Furniss, Director, National Accounts, Managed Markets, Dexcom Location: Room 125

Networking Reception/Career Fair 12:45 PM – 3:30 PM

Location: Ballrooms B & C

Download the Pirate Experience App for conference schedule Tap the top left corner to switch between the Campus Hub and the Business Leadership Conference.

Conference Presenters and Affiliated Companies

  • Gabby Banks, NC Department of Insurance
  • Jake Boltz, Border States
  • Erin Brooks, Bentwinds Country Club
  • Sydney Farmer, Kinexo
  • CAPT Joseph Ford, II Marine Expeditionary Force
  • Alto Gary, WISE (Women in Sports & Events)
  • Hope Grubb, Motorola Solutions Inc.
  • Richard Hourigan, Dollar Tree Stores
  • Robert Main, North Carolina, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency
  • Jenna Mallberg, Internet2
  • Andrew Page, Elite Truck
  • Allison Pigora, Amwins
  • Jessica Pupa Cooper, Carhartt
  • Richard Sanford, Whitener Capital Management
  • Fulton Spriggs, Amazon/F.D. Ventures
  • Angela Sutton Furniss, Dexcom
  • Madison Taylor, Towne Insurance Agency
  • Chandler Ward, Sentinel

Career Fair Participants

  • Aramark
  • Auto Owners Insurance
  • BPR Properties
  • CapTrust
  • Carolina County Club
  • CMC Hotels
  • Concord Hotels
  • Coral Bay Club
  • Crown Travel Management
  • Dignity Memorial
  • Fastenal
  • Greenville Yard Gnomes
  • Hilton Garden Inn – Greenville
  • Hyster-Yale
  • Jason’s Deli
  • Narsi Hotels
  • NC Dept of Insurance
  • NC Office of State Auditor
  • Opal Hotels
  • Parks Hotels
  • Performance Food Group
  • Risk Placement Services
  • Rocky Mount Sports Center
  • Toshiba
  • Towne Bank & Insurance
  • Visit Greenville
  • Waffle House
  • Wilson Warbirds