Thursday, Oct. 15
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7:00 am - 10:00 am
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Registration and Check-inTBD
Registration and Check-in
7:00 am - 10:00 amTBDAdd To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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7:00 am - 7:45 am
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Art Trail StrollHylah BirenbaumTBD
Art Trail Stroll
7:00 am - 7:45 amTBDHylah BirenbaumAdd To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Speaker Details
Hylah Birenbaum
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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Yoga by Mill PondKristin JacksonTBD
Yoga by Mill Pond
7:00 am - 7:45 amTBDKristin JacksonAdd To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Speaker Details
Kristin Jackson
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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8:00 am - 9:00 am
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Breakfast with Presentations & Annual Meeting (for ALL NC CORD members)NCCCF Team Member, Hylah Birenbaum, Jennifer Dail, Emily Hare, Stephanie LakeTBD
Breakfast with Presentations & Annual Meeting (for ALL NC CORD members)
Presentations
NC Community College's Foundation National Campaign Update
History of NC CORD & How to Get Involved
This presentation will explore the evolution of the North Carolina Community College Resource Development (NC CORD) association and its ongoing impact across the state’s community college system. Attendees will gain insight into how the organization supports grant seeking, institutional advancement, and professional growth through statewide collaboration. Finally, the session will detail practical ways to get involved, from active membership and annual conferences to available scholarships and awards.
Annual Meeting
This is a quick meeting for ALL NC CORD members. We will vote on new Board Members and announce next year's conference location.
8:00 am - 9:00 amTBDNCCCF Team Member, Hylah Birenbaum, Jennifer Dail, Emily Hare, Stephanie LakeAdd To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Speaker Details
NCCCF Team Member
Hylah Birenbaum
Executive Director of College AdvancementHaywood Community College
Bio
Jennifer Dail
Senior Director of DevelopmentSandhills Community College
Bio
Jennifer Dail is a native North Carolinian born and raised in Cary. She earned her undergraduate degree in Communications from UNC Pembroke and is currently pursuing her Master's in Public Administration.
Jennifer started her early career at Sandhills Community College in 2008 as the Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Student Services. She is currently the Senior Director of Development with the Sandhills Community College Foundation. Since assuming her role at the Foundation, she has grown the scholarship program from $9 million to $23 million and helped donors establish over 350 named scholarship and program support funds. Jennifer has also helped oversee a $15 million capital campaign. In 2017, she received her Certificate in Fund Raising Management from the Lily School of Philanthropy. Jennifer also serves on the Board of Directors for the Weymouth Center for Arts & Humanities, and as an ex officio member of the North Carolina Community College's Foundation Board.
Jennifer currently lives in Pinehurst with her two rescue dogs named Charlie and Casey, and a cat named Luci. When she's not at work or doing homework, Jennifer loves thrifting, spending time with her adult daughters, and hiking with her dogs.
Emily Hare
Executive Director of the FoundationCentral Carolina Community College
Bio
Higher education administrator in the institutional advancement and fundraising field. Strong background in fundraising, public relations and marketing. Student first mentality who wants to provide support to students seeking to achieve their educational goals.
Stephanie Lake
Chief Operating OfficerWake Tech Foundation
Bio
Stephanie Lake is responsible for developing private fundraising and donor retention strategies in an effort to build lasting relationships with community partners to benefit Wake Tech. She also provides administrative oversight of the Foundation's programming, including scholarships, and day-to-day operations. Stephanie has been with the Foundation since 2004.
Prior to joining Wake Tech, Stephanie was Executive Director of the Johnston County Arts Council and worked in Development for the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County. Stephanie has served in the nonprofit sector for 20 years. Her experience includes program management, public-private partnerships, fundraising, grant management, donor relations and communications.
Stephanie is past president of the North Carolina Council for Resource Development, the statewide association serving community college development and grants officers. She is an ex-officio member of the North Carolina Community College System Foundation Board of Director and current Leadership North Carolina participant.
Stephanie lives in Fuquay-Varina, NC with her husband and three children.
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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9:15 am - 10:15 am
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Resilient Fundraising in Uncertain Times: How to Thrive in 2027Hank Dunbar, SVPTBD
Resilient Fundraising in Uncertain Times: How to Thrive in 2027
9:15 am - 10:15 amTBDHank Dunbar, SVPAdd To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Speaker Details
Hank Dunbar, SVP
Manager, Philanthropic and Charitable ServicesFirst Citizens Bank
Bio
Hank Dunbar joined First Citizens in 2014 as Manager of the Philanthropic and Charitable Group. His extensive experience, including service on numerous charitable boards, gives him a unique perspective from all sides of philanthropic giving. Prior to First Citizens, Hank spent 15 years developing and leading charitable and philanthropic institutions. Earlier in his career, he also served as Campbell University's Director of Alumni Activities, Director of Estate Planning and General Counsel.
In every role, he developed an industry-leading skill set with expertise in donor relationship management, endowment fund recordkeeping and planned-giving consultation for individuals and institutions. Hank is passionate about helping institutions fulfill their fiduciary duties - to both donors and beneficiaries of their services. He brings a comprehensive, holistic approach to charitable asset development and management. With this broader point-of-view, he sees solutions and opportunities where others only see problems and barriers.
Hank earned his undergraduate degree in Government, and his law degree from Campbell University.
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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GrantsDr. Chanell ButlerTBD & Virtual with Ticket
Grants
9:15 am - 10:15 amTBD & Virtual with TicketDr. Chanell ButlerAdd To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Speaker Details
Dr. Chanell Butler
Director of Grants, Executive DivisionNorth Carolina Community College System
Bio
Dr. Chanell Butler became the first Director of Grants in the Executive Office of NCCCS in July of 2024. Previously, she served as Chief of Staff in the Office of the President at Catawba Valley Community College. Since 2012, she has served as an innovative community college leader dedicated to making a difference in the community, serving students, collaborating with fellow colleagues, and empowering others to succeed. She has worked with federal, state, and private grant sources for nearly two decades. Dr. Butler's expertise lies in higher education leadership and successful grant administration. She has been a resident of Hickory, North Carolina since 2011. She is a proud NYU alumna and a certified Chief of Staff through Harvard Business School.
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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Building Tomorrow's Foundation: Launching a Transformative Legacy Giving Program from ScratchAllison Crouch Gilbert, Molly NicholsonTBD
Building Tomorrow's Foundation: Launching a Transformative Legacy Giving Program from Scratch
Starting a planned giving program can feel overwhelming, especially when you're already juggling annual campaigns, scholarships, and board meetings. In this session Allison Gilbert (BrightDot), and Molly Nicholson (Mitchell Community College) share how Mitchell and BrightDot joined forces to build an active legacy giving program from the ground up. We will dive straight into what works: spotting hidden bequest prospects among your loyal donors, getting your board on board, rolling out a meaningful legacy society, and structuring simple, donor-friendly gift options. Whether you're starting with zero planned gifts or trying to refresh an old initiative, you'll walk away with practical takeaways, realistic next steps, and the confidence to secure long-term gifts for your college.
9:15 am - 10:15 amTBDAllison Crouch Gilbert, Molly NicholsonAdd To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Speaker Details
Allison Crouch Gilbert
Senior Vice President / PartnerBrightDot
Bio
With over 30 years of nonprofit fundraising experience, Allison has dedicated her career to helping nonprofit organizations grow and flourish.
Allison began her fundraising career at Meredith College, leading major gift cultivation and capital campaign planning. She went on to serve in fundraising roles at nonprofits across North Carolina, eventually joining NC State's College of Veterinary Medicine, where she became Executive Director of the Foundation and secured its largest major gift to date. In 2018, she transitioned to consulting, supporting organizations like United Way of the Lowcountry and Bluffton Self Help.
In 2020, Allison joined the BrightDot team as Senior Vice President and Partner to work alongside her father, BrightDot CEO Bill Crouch in transforming nonprofit organizations through The Art of Fundraising. Allison helps teach and train nonprofit leaders and their teams through mentorship, donor cultivation, and organizational assessments. Allison is passionate about sharing her knowledge and using the power of creative thinking and storytelling to strengthen nonprofit organizations, motivate clients, and build lifelong relationships with donors.
During her spare time, Allison and her husband, Walter, can be found fishing and exploring the beautiful South Carolina Lowcountry waterways with their beloved golden retriever, Oliver.
Molly Nicholson
Executive Director for Advancement and College RelationsMitchell Community College
Bio
Molly Nicholson serves as Executive Director for Advancement at Mitchell Community College, combining a deep passion for the community college mission with over a decade of higher education experience. A proud community college graduate, she earned her associate degree from Mitchell before completing her bachelor's at UNC-Chapel Hill and master's at Appalachian State University. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Community College Leadership at NC State. As a past president of NC CORD, Molly loves building connections and fostering meaningful collaboration across North Carolina's Great 58.
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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10:30 am - 11:30 am
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Miscellaneous Questions and Answers to include a Discussion of Windfall GiftsHank Dunbar, SVPTBD
Miscellaneous Questions and Answers to include a Discussion of Windfall Gifts
10:30 am - 11:30 amTBDHank Dunbar, SVPAdd To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Speaker Details
Hank Dunbar, SVP
Manager, Philanthropic and Charitable ServicesFirst Citizens Bank
Bio
Hank Dunbar joined First Citizens in 2014 as Manager of the Philanthropic and Charitable Group. His extensive experience, including service on numerous charitable boards, gives him a unique perspective from all sides of philanthropic giving. Prior to First Citizens, Hank spent 15 years developing and leading charitable and philanthropic institutions. Earlier in his career, he also served as Campbell University's Director of Alumni Activities, Director of Estate Planning and General Counsel.
In every role, he developed an industry-leading skill set with expertise in donor relationship management, endowment fund recordkeeping and planned-giving consultation for individuals and institutions. Hank is passionate about helping institutions fulfill their fiduciary duties - to both donors and beneficiaries of their services. He brings a comprehensive, holistic approach to charitable asset development and management. With this broader point-of-view, he sees solutions and opportunities where others only see problems and barriers.
Hank earned his undergraduate degree in Government, and his law degree from Campbell University.
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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Navigating a Challenging Federal Grant LandscapeRobert SaundersTBD & Virtual with Ticket
Navigating a Challenging Federal Grant Landscape
10:30 am - 11:30 amTBD & Virtual with TicketRobert SaundersAdd To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Speaker Details
Robert Saunders
PartnerBrooks Pierce
Bio
Bob Saunders is a tax and business lawyer with extensive experience in the nonprofit sector. He counsels primarily tax-exempt organizations, both charitable and non-charitable, on a multitude of federal and state tax controversy matters, estate planning, and tax-exempt financing. He is also a skilled advisor regarding regulatory compliance regarding charitable solicitation laws and regulatory review of assets transfers by nonprofit organizations.
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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The Board is a Section of the Fundraising Orchestra You are ConductingJeff HutchinsTBD
The Board is a Section of the Fundraising Orchestra You are Conducting
Getting them to practice, show up for rehearsal, and perform is an essential (and sometimes not necessarily easy) part of the gig.
10:30 am - 11:30 amTBDJeff HutchinsAdd To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Speaker Details
Jeff Hutchins
CEOHutchins Advisory Services
Bio
Jeff Hutchins is the founder and principal of Hutchins Advisory Services, located in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Jeff has more than 25 years of leadership experience including 19 plus years working at the C-Suite level. He believes in a person-centered approach to his work in coaching and walking alongside people and organizations of all levels of experience, leadership, and roles.
Jeff "grew up" in long-term care, working the floor in a nursing home at the age of 16 to completing his career as the CEO of a non-profit retirement community for 19 years. Assuring the art and science of mission implementation involved a multitude of leadership, business, people, and life lessons, all which can be shared with others well. In addition to his coaching practice, he has served organizations in interim leadership roles.
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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11:30 am - 1:00 pm
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Lunch with entertainment by the HCC Lumberjack Team along with a presentation by Germaine Elkins (Sponsored by TBD)Germaine Elkins, HCC's Lumberjack TeamTBD
Lunch with entertainment by the HCC Lumberjack Team along with a presentation by Germaine Elkins (Sponsored by TBD)
Lunch time entertainment will be provided by the HCC Lumberjack Team
Understanding Community College Development Efforts and Managing Revenue-Generating Enterprises
Understanding Community College Development Efforts and Managing Revenue-Generating Enterprises explores how community college foundations can align fundraising strategies with institutional mission, vision, and strategic priorities. Drawing on findings from my statewide Delphi study of North Carolina Community College Chief Development Officers, this session examines the role of development leaders as boundary-spanners who connect donor interests with college needs while maintaining institutional autonomy. Participants will gain practical insights into strategic fundraising alignment, relationship-based philanthropy, creating a culture supportive of philanthropy, and leveraging revenue-generating enterprises as engagement opportunities. The presentation offers actionable recommendations for presidents, foundation leaders, and campus stakeholders seeking to strengthen fundraising effectiveness, community engagement, and long-term financial sustainability.
11:30 am - 1:00 pmTBDGermaine Elkins, HCC's Lumberjack TeamAdd To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Speaker Details
Germaine Elkins
Vice President, Engagement and Executive DirectorSandhills Community College
Bio
Dr. Germaine Brandt Elkins is the Vice President of Engagement at Sandhills Community College. Germaine has been a member of the Foundation staff for over 18 years and Foundation Executive Director since 2015. In her current role, she has oversight of the Sandhills Community College Foundation, Inc., the Bradshaw Performing Arts Center (BPAC), the Sandhills Horticultural Gardens, Flyers Athletics, personal enrichment and lifelong learning programs, community and cultural engagement in Moore and Hoke counties, global and international programs, and college-wide marketing and website. In 2017, Germaine earned her Certificate in Fund Raising Management from Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, and subsequently obtained her Certified Fund Raising Executive status from CFRE International. She has an MBA from UNC Pembroke, BA in Sociology from UNC Wilmington, and her Associates in Arts from Sandhills Community College. In May 2025, she graduated with her doctorate in Adult and Community College Education from North Carolina State University's School of Education and the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research.
HCC's Lumberjack Team
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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1:15 pm - 2:15 pm
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Art of MattershipBill CrouchTBD & Virtual with Ticket
Art of Mattership
1:15 pm - 2:15 pmTBD & Virtual with TicketBill CrouchAdd To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Speaker Details
Bill Crouch
CEOBrightDot Fundraising Advisors
Bio
Bill Crouch, CEO of BrightDot Fundraising Advisors, has spent 40 years helping nonprofits and organizations reimagine fundraising from a transactional process into a catalyst for lasting change through the Art of Fundraising – BrightDot’s guiding principle that blends creativity, storytelling, and human connection with data-backed fundraising strategies. As a former college president and fundraising expert, he has trained leaders nationwide to create a ripple effect of generosity that fuels impact far beyond a single donation. A published author and Honorary Fellow at Oxford University, Bill’s work is rooted in the belief that giving isn’t an obligation, it’s an opportunity to change lives.
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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Unlock ATE Funding: Free Mentors, Proven SuccessDaphne Lewis, Pamela SilversTBD & Virtual with Ticket
Unlock ATE Funding: Free Mentors, Proven Success
1:15 pm - 2:15 pmTBD & Virtual with TicketDaphne Lewis, Pamela SilversAdd To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Speaker Details
Daphne Lewis
Director of Institutional Grants Johnston Community College
Bio
Daphne Lewis is the Director of Institutional Grants at Johnston Community College (JCC) and has over 27 years of experience in community colleges, including 25 years in North Carolina through Foundation support and grants development at Forsyth Tech CC, Rowan-Cabarrus CC, and Johnston Community College (JCC). Working collaboratively with faculty and staff, she has helped secure more than $50 million in grant funding (not counting $14.2 million in HEERF funding), with over $20 million of that raised at JCC. Before joining JCC in August 2017, Daphne served for two and a half years as an administrator at Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City, Missouri, where she was part of the Grants Finance and Compliance team and served as fiscal lead for a statewide $19.7 million DOL TAACCCT grant. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and holds an M.A. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG).
Pamela Silvers
Principal Investigator (PI), Mentor, and Director of PI 101Mentor-Connect
Bio
Pamela Silvers is the Principal Investigator (PI), Mentor, and Director of PI 101 for the Mentor-Connect initiative. She began her involvement as a Mentor Fellow and Mentor, later becoming co-PI of Mentor-Connect Forward in 2023. In December 2024, she assumed the role of PI.
Before joining Mentor-Connect, Silvers served as PI for three NSF Advanced Technological Education (ATE) projects focused on student recruitment and retention. She retired after a 31-year career at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, where she taught computer technology and held various leadership roles.
Silvers holds a bachelor's degree from UNC Asheville and a master's degree from Western Carolina University. She enjoys the beauty of Western North Carolina and is a devoted Disney fan.
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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Community Foundations Shifting EnvironmentsKesa JessupTBD
Community Foundations Shifting Environments
1:15 pm - 2:15 pmTBDKesa JessupAdd To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Speaker Details
Kesa Jessup
Director, Access to Postsecondary EducationWinston-Salem Foundation
Bio
Kesa Jessup, EdD serves as Director of Access to Postsecondary Education at The Winston-Salem Foundation, where she works at the intersection of philanthropy and higher education to expand educational opportunity for students across northwest North Carolina. Her work includes leading scholarship strategy, cultivating donor partnerships, and serving as staff liaison for Youth Grantmakers in Action, a youth philanthropy program that empowers high school students to make philanthropic investments and develop as civic leaders.
With more than 18 years of experience spanning community colleges, universities, and philanthropy, Kesa has dedicated her career to advancing student success, enrollment management, financial aid, scholarship strategy, and economic mobility. She is also a higher education policy advocate, having served as a Policy Fellow with the Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), where she engaged with federal policymakers on issues related to college affordability and student success.
Kesa earned her Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership from North Carolina State University. Her research explores adaptive leadership among community foundation scholarship professionals and reflects her commitment to strengthening the connection between philanthropy, policy, and higher education. She is passionate about building partnerships that create equitable pathways to education and expand economic mobility for students and communities.
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
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Copy, Borrow, StealEmily Hare, Stephanie LakeTBD
Copy, Borrow, Steal
2:30 pm - 3:30 pmTBDEmily Hare, Stephanie LakeAdd To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Speaker Details
Emily Hare
Executive Director of the FoundationCentral Carolina Community College
Bio
Higher education administrator in the institutional advancement and fundraising field. Strong background in fundraising, public relations and marketing. Student first mentality who wants to provide support to students seeking to achieve their educational goals.
Stephanie Lake
Chief Operating OfficerWake Tech Foundation
Bio
Stephanie Lake is responsible for developing private fundraising and donor retention strategies in an effort to build lasting relationships with community partners to benefit Wake Tech. She also provides administrative oversight of the Foundation's programming, including scholarships, and day-to-day operations. Stephanie has been with the Foundation since 2004.
Prior to joining Wake Tech, Stephanie was Executive Director of the Johnston County Arts Council and worked in Development for the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County. Stephanie has served in the nonprofit sector for 20 years. Her experience includes program management, public-private partnerships, fundraising, grant management, donor relations and communications.
Stephanie is past president of the North Carolina Council for Resource Development, the statewide association serving community college development and grants officers. She is an ex-officio member of the North Carolina Community College System Foundation Board of Director and current Leadership North Carolina participant.
Stephanie lives in Fuquay-Varina, NC with her husband and three children.
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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RI + AI = Grant Success, The Ethical Use of AI in GrantwritingGinger Keller-FergusonTBD & Virtual with Ticket
RI + AI = Grant Success, The Ethical Use of AI in Grantwriting
2:30 pm - 3:30 pmTBD & Virtual with TicketGinger Keller-FergusonAdd To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Speaker Details
Ginger Keller-Ferguson
Owner & Founder Keller-Ferguson & Associates
Bio
Ginger is the owner and founder of Keller-Ferguson & Associates, a national grant writing consulting firm established in 2010 and located in Johnson City, Tennessee. Ginger holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in technical writing and a Master’s degree in business administration from East Tennessee State University.
Over the past two decades, Ginger has secured tens of millions dollars in private, corporate, state, and federal grants for her employers and her consulting clients. Her employers and clients have included Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, East Tennessee State University, Kingsport City Schools, Northeast State Community College, the Niswonger Foundation, the Coalition For Kids, and many others.
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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Legal, AI Strategy, MOU's, What Foundations Are Expected to Pay ForRobert SaundersTBD
Legal, AI Strategy, MOU's, What Foundations Are Expected to Pay For
2:30 pm - 3:30 pmTBDRobert SaundersAdd To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Speaker Details
Robert Saunders
PartnerBrooks Pierce
Bio
Bob Saunders is a tax and business lawyer with extensive experience in the nonprofit sector. He counsels primarily tax-exempt organizations, both charitable and non-charitable, on a multitude of federal and state tax controversy matters, estate planning, and tax-exempt financing. He is also a skilled advisor regarding regulatory compliance regarding charitable solicitation laws and regulatory review of assets transfers by nonprofit organizations.
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
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Building a Stewardship PlanSara Holmes, Stephanie LakeTBD
Building a Stewardship Plan
3:45 pm - 4:45 pmTBDSara Holmes, Stephanie LakeAdd To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Speaker Details
Sara Holmes
Director of Foundation Communications & Donor RelationsWake Tech Foundation
Bio
Sara Holmes leads donor relations and communications for the Foundation, overseeing initiatives such as donor recognition, gift acknowledgements, special events and projects, and digital content across social media and web platforms. She also manages the Foundation's monthly e-newsletter and coordinates the Employee Campaign, including Employee Tuition Assistance.
Since joining the Foundation in August 2012, Sara has contributed more than 18 years of experience in fundraising and donor relations, bringing a strategic and thoughtful approach to engaging and stewarding donors.
Sara is a proud graduate of Appalachian State University and North Carolina State University, and she holds a Nonprofit Management Certificate from Duke University. She is also active in the community, serving on the board of the Garner Chamber of Commerce and supporting initiatives that make a difference locally. Outside of work, you can often find her on the baseball field cheering on her favorite player or exploring with her family.
Stephanie Lake
Chief Operating OfficerWake Tech Foundation
Bio
Stephanie Lake is responsible for developing private fundraising and donor retention strategies in an effort to build lasting relationships with community partners to benefit Wake Tech. She also provides administrative oversight of the Foundation's programming, including scholarships, and day-to-day operations. Stephanie has been with the Foundation since 2004.
Prior to joining Wake Tech, Stephanie was Executive Director of the Johnston County Arts Council and worked in Development for the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County. Stephanie has served in the nonprofit sector for 20 years. Her experience includes program management, public-private partnerships, fundraising, grant management, donor relations and communications.
Stephanie is past president of the North Carolina Council for Resource Development, the statewide association serving community college development and grants officers. She is an ex-officio member of the North Carolina Community College System Foundation Board of Director and current Leadership North Carolina participant.
Stephanie lives in Fuquay-Varina, NC with her husband and three children.
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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Why Can't AI Just Do It? Defending Your Position in the AI EraGinger Keller FergusonTBD & Virtual with Ticket
Why Can't AI Just Do It? Defending Your Position in the AI Era
3:45 pm - 4:45 pmTBD & Virtual with TicketGinger Keller FergusonAdd To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Speaker Details
Ginger Keller Ferguson
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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Storytelling & Marketing 101Ethan HallTBD
Storytelling & Marketing 101
3:45 pm - 4:45 pmTBDEthan HallAdd To Calendar
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Speaker Details
Ethan Hall
TBD - Digital Content SpecialistCaldwell Community College and Technical Institute
Bio
Ethan Hall is a Digital Content Specialist at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (CCC&TI) in Hudson, NC, where he leads digital content strategy, video production, marketing, and podcasting. Since joining CCC&TI in 2024, he has produced content spanning enrollment marketing, student and program storytelling, and hosts the college's podcast, Cobra Convos.
Ethan began his higher Ed journey as a student at Haywood Community College before transferring to Lenoir-Rhyne University, where he earned his B.A. in Multimedia Communication and received a video achievement award for excellence in film quality and for helping fellow students learn the craft. He later returned to Haywood Community College as Coordinator of Student Life before transitioning into his current role.
Outside of his role at CCC&TI, Ethan runs Ethan Hall Films, his personal video production brand. His career has centered on marketing, filmmaking, photography, and broadcast, and he's built his approach around a simple belief: the strongest marketing starts with a good story. At NC CORD's 2026 conference, Ethan will share how community colleges can use storytelling to make their marketing more authentic, memorable, and effective at connecting with the students, donors, and communities they serve.
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
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Dinner at Cataloochee Ranch (Sponsored by First Citizens Bank Wealth Management)Cataloochee Ranch, 119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley, NC 28751
Dinner at Cataloochee Ranch (Sponsored by First Citizens Bank Wealth Management)
Cataloochee Ranch is a historic, luxury mountain resort set at 4,800 feet elevation on 825 acres in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, right along the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Founded in 1933, it blends high-country cowboy-chic lodging with upscale farm-to-table dining as a member of Relais & Châteaux.
119 Ranch Dr.
Maggie Valley, NC 287515:30 pm - 7:30 pmCataloochee Ranch, 119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley, NC 28751Add To Calendar
This schedule is subject to change. Events added to your personal calendar will not update automatically—please check back here for the latest schedule.
Haywood Community College Campus Map
185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
Open as PDF
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This schedule may be subject to change.