2016 – Woodard, Doug

About Our Speaker

No media or recording devices are permitted at NACEO meetings

2015 – Colopy, Joe

Sept. 14, 2015

Joe Colopy, Founder & CEO – Bronto Software

Joe Colopy is Founder and CEO of Bronto Software. Bronto provides a cloud-based commerce marketing automation platform to mid-market and enterprise organizations worldwide. Bronto is the number one ranked email marketing provider to the Internet Retailer Top 1000, with a client roster of leading brands, including Armani Exchange, Timex, Samsonite, Theory and Vince Camuto.

In 2002, Joe founded Bronto out of his house with Chaz Felix and grew it to employ over 280 people in its headquarters in Durham, North Carolina and across its offices in London, Sydney, New York and Los Angeles. In June 2015, Bronto was acquired by NetSuite (NYSE: N) for $200 million, making it one of the largest acquisitions ever of a bootstrapped cloud-based company.

Joe is a past winner of Triangle Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Carolinas. Earlier in his career, he was an online marketer for Red Hat and a teacher in the U.S. Peace Corps (Seychelles Islands). He earned an AB in Computer Science from Harvard University and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

2015 – Newton, Paul

May 11, 2015

Paul Newton, State President – North Carolina, Duke Energy

Paul Newton is president of Duke Energy’s utility operations in North Carolina, serving approximately 3.2 million electric retail customers. He is responsible for advancing the company’s rate and regulatory initiatives and managing state and local regulatory and governmental relations, economic development and community affairs. He assumed his current position in January 2013.

Newton previously served as senior vice president and special advisor to Duke Energy’s chairman, president and CEO. Prior to that, he served as senior vice president of strategy, rates, wholesale customers, commodities and analytics for Duke Energy. Before that, he had more than 18 years of experience serving as legal counsel for the company’s utility operations.Newton began his career with Duke Power in October 1990 as a senior attorney. Since then, he has assumed increasing legal responsibilities, as well as corporate accountabilities following Duke Energy’s formation with the merger of Duke Power and Pan Energy in June 1997. In August 2001, he was named vice president and general counsel for Duke Power, with responsibility for delivering legal advice and solutions, and managing the company’s legal staff and budget. Following the merger between Duke Energy and Cinergy in April 2006, Newton was named senior vice president and general counsel for Duke Energy’s U.S. Franchised Electric and Gas organization. In December 2008, Newton joined the U.S. Franchised Electric and Gas business segment to become senior vice president of strategy, rates, wholesale customers, commodities and analytics.

A native of Eden, N.C., Newton earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also completed the Harvard Advanced Management Program. Newton is a member of the state bars of the District of Columbia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and New Mexico.

Newton currently serves on the executive committee of the North Carolina Chamber and is a member of its foundation board. He is a member of the CEO Advisory Council for the N.C. Center for Nonprofits. He is also a member of the board of directors for Leadership North Carolina. Newton has served in a number of industry leadership posts, including past chair of the Southern Chapter of the Energy Bar Association. He is a past member of the Planning Committee of the Edison Electric Institute Lawyers Committee, the Nuclear Energy Institute and the American Corporate Counsel Association. He was named to Business North Carolina Legal Elite, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Newton was born in 1960. He and his wife, Melanie, have three daughters and a son.

Duke Energy, the largest electric power company in the United States, supplies and delivers electricity to approximately 7 million customers in the Southeast and Midwest. The company also distributes natural gas in Ohio and Kentucky. Its commercial power and international businesses operate diverse power generation assets in North America and Latin America, including a growing renewable energy portfolio. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 250 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK.

2015 – Landguth, Michael

March 9, 2015

President and CEO Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority

Michael Landguth serves as President and CEO of Raleigh-Durham International Airport. He assumed the position on November 14, 2011. As President and CEO, Michael is responsible for RDU’s overall staffing, budgeting, strategic planning and operations. He arrived in North Carolina with more than 17 years’ experience in the aviation industry.Under his leadership, airport staff developed a strategic business plan to guide the organization’s activities and support its growth. Major activities for the organization include the $80 million renovation of Terminal 1. Michael also launched the airport’s first asset management program that will culminate in a five-year plan for maintaining the airport’s $1.2B in physical assets.

In his first two years at the helm, RDU reached its goal of increased access to the West coast with the launch of non-stop service to San Francisco and expanded service to Los Angeles. Locally, RDU was recognized as the 4th healthiest employer in the region. Fitch Ratings also reaffirmed the airport’s AA- rating and maintained its stable outlook for the airport.

Prior to joining the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, he served as CEO and President of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority. In this position he secured more than $70 million in grant funding for airport infrastructure development, led the community effort to raise matching funds for a Small Community Air Service Development Grant and secured three new airlines and eight new non-stop destinations. Michael is an Accredited Airport Executive and a member of the board of directors of the American Association of Airport Executives. He also serves as the chairman of Airports Council International-North America’s Medium Hub Caucus. Landguth is a commercial pilot and certified flight instructor. He holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Aeronautical Sciences from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

>Michael and his wife, Page, have two daughters, Ashley and Jennifer.

2015 – Schmitt, Harvey

November 9, 2015
President Emeritus Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
Harvey Schmitt, president emeritus of the Greater Raleigh Chamber, has been a tireless advocate for improving the community’s economy and quality of life. His fingerprints can be found on almost every major community initiative over the past 20 years.

Before retiring from the Chamber in June, Schmitt spent 21 years as president and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Chamber and 43 years as a chamber professional.

During his tenure, the Raleigh Chamber played a role in building the market by:

• Building the PNC Arena and attracting the NHL Carolina Hurricanes to the market
• Establishing and funding five consecutive five-year strategic economic and community development programs. These initiatives have generated billions of dollars in economic growth.
• Creating the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, the catalyst for much of downtown’s renaissance
• Recruiting Red Hat and RBC (now PNC) to downtown Raleigh
• Building the Raleigh Convention Center
• Creating the Regional Transportation Alliance to advocate for transportation investments to coincide with the market’s growth.
• Constructing the Triangle Expressway, the first modern toll road in North Carolina and the largest road construction project in the state’s history
• Passing over $3 billion of school construction bonds, including major bond campaigns in 2006 and 2013

Prior to his role in Raleigh, Schmitt was president of the Greater Tampa (FL) and the Greater Greenville (SC) Chambers, general manager of the Jacksonville (FL) Chamber, and executive vice president of the Dubuque (IA) Chamber. Schmitt has served on a number of professional and civic boards, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, St. Augustine’s University, Kids and Community Foundation, Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives and many more. Some of Schmitt’s recent awards include The Order of the Long Leaf Pine from the State of North Carolina (2015); Vernon Malone Friend of Education Award from the Wake Education Partnership (2015); Lifetime Achievement Award from the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (2015); Triangle Commercial Association of Realtors Community Foundation Award (2015); Lifetime Legacy Award from the Occoneechee Council Boy Scouts of America (2015); Impact Award from the Triangle chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women (2015); Distinguished Leadership Award from the Downtown Raleigh Alliance (2014). William Peace University awarded Schmitt an honorary doctorate of business in 2012, and a scholarship was endowed in his honor Saint Augustine’s University in 2015.

2015 – Roberts, Lee Harris

Feb. 19, 2015

Lee Harris Roberts, Budget Director State of North Carolina

On Wednesday, August 6, 2014, Governor Pat McCrory appointed Lee Roberts State Budget Director. The state’s budget director oversees the development of the spending and revenue plan the governor presents to the N.C. General Assembly. The plan recently agreed upon by both legislative chambers totals more than $21 billion.

Roberts, 45, is the former managing director of Piedmont Community Bank Holdings in Raleigh and also served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of VantageSouth Bancshares. Roberts also founded a real estate investment and advisory firm called Coley Capital and has worked for Morgan Stanley & Co., Cherokee Investment Partners and as an associate with Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld.

Roberts grew up in the Washington, D.C., area, earned a degree in political science from Duke University, then a law degree from Georgetown University. He has lived in Raleigh for eight years. He is on the board of Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy and has also served on the Board of Trustees for the Ravenscroft School and is vice president of the Duke Alumni Association.

2015 – Wilson, Brad

January 12, 2015
President and CEO Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina

Brad Wilson brings to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina a passion for health care, a deep commitment to community, and involvement and expertise in business and public policy. As president and CEO of sthe state’s largest health insurer, with 3.8 million customers, Wilson is dedicated to improving North Carolina’s health care system, making health care more affordable and helping BCBSNC to adapt in a changing health care environment.

Wilson serves as chair of the National Institute for Health Care Management to address health care challenges at the national level.  He also serves as a director of the Bllue Cross and Blue Shield Association, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), BCS Financial Corporation and Prime Therapeutics, among others.

This work continues in North Carolina, where he chairs the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carollina Foundation – an independent charitable organization that has invested nearly $90 million in community-based health and wellness efforts.  He is also treasurer of the North Carolina Chamber, board member of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, and a past chair of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors.

Wilson, who joined BCBSNC in 1995, held a range of senior-level positions before being tapped to lead the organization in 2010.  A life long North Carolinian, he previously practiced law and served as general counsel to Gov. Jim Hunt, directing the governor’s legislative strategy and heading his legal department.

2014 – Demby, Claude Z.

October 23, 2014

Claude Z. Demby

The pursuit of an ever-higher mark and drive for excellence are traits that Mr. Demby has brought with him to every employer and to every professional challenge in his career. Known for being a transformational leader linking the power of talent, culture and innovation with the spirit of entrepreneurialism, his history of success in turning around and growing companies on a global is extensive.

At L&L Products, a manufacturer with operations and technical and sales offices in 14 countries spanning four continents, in his role as president and COO, Mr. Demby was a visionary and a driving force for the fastest revenue and growth period in the company’s 50-year history, helping grow revenue more than 100% while concurrently raising profit margins to 300% that of the industry benchmark.

More recently, as the president and CEO of Noël Group, an international group of manufacturing businesses employing people in locations across the U.S., China, and Europe, his change leadership and contributions continued. Mr. Demby took the company through a 180-degree turnaround. Faced with a failing business that was in complete disarray, saddled with untenable debt and increasing financial losses, he pulled the company back from the edge of bankruptcy and transformed it into a growing, vibrant, healthy company well poised for continued profitable growth in the future.

Mr. Demby began his career as a process engineer with Proctor & Gamble and as a production manager with GE Plastics where he quickly distinguished himself as a leader when he gained buy-in from GE Company’s CEO for some major capital investment projects—projects that once implemented saved the company $1.5 million per year. Mr. Demby holds a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware and an M.B. A. degree in Rensselaer Polytechnic University.

Deeply respected in both the business and local community, Mr. Demby currently serves as the Chair-Elect for the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and is Chairman of the Board for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond—Charlotte Branch. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for Duke-Raleigh Hospital.

Striving consciously to make a positive difference in the lives of the people he touches, and with a passion for learning and education, Mr. Demby and his wife are co-founders of Valour Academy, a private school that seeks to enfranchise a population of young men who otherwise have a less than 50% graduation rate from local public schools. Mr. Demby also embraces opportunities to apply his talents for speaking, teaching, leading, and motivating and has presented to audiences of young people as well as business people on the topics of “The 5 Secrets to Living an Extraordinary Life” and “The Extraordinary Lives of Ordinary People.”

Parents of five children, the youngest now in college, Claude Demby and his wife of more than 25 years currently live in Raleigh, North Carolina. Mr. Demby encourages connections through LinkedIn (www.linkedin/in/claudedemby) and can be reached at 248-495-3330 or by email claude@claudedemby.com.

2014 – Messier, Ric

November 10, 2014

Champlain College, Patrick Leahy Center for Digital Investigations

Ric Messier, GSEC, CEH, CISSP serves as Program Director, Cyber Security & Digital Investigations with the Patrick Leahy Center for Digital Investigations located and operated as a Center of Excellence at Champlain College, as well as teaching undergraduate studies in the area of Digital Forensics and Cyber Security at Champlain College. In the role of Program Director, he oversees all Cyber Security & Digital Investigations programs, including the development of new courses, evaluating existing course content to insure that it is timely and leading edge, and expansion of new certificates and degrees as warranted. Messier recruits, evaluates and manages adjunct staff, as well as monitoring and directing the overall quality of courses, degrees and certificates within the program.

He is a published author of such works as the SANS GIAC Security Essentials Certification Guide through McGraw-Hill, as well as Collaboration With Cloud Computing through Syngress/Elsevier Publishing. His other works include articles in Hakin9 magazine, among others.

Since the early 1980’s, Messier has been involved in the networking and security arena obtaining experience with worldwide networking on the BITNET, a network of primarily IBM mainframes, that was a precursor to what is now the Internet.

Since that time, he has been involved in a wide range of information security positions, including leading a team of engineers on implementing security in a next generation data center for a large hosting company, as well as leading a team of engineers developing managed security products at a Tier 1 service provider.

Most recently Messier has been consulting with large and medium sized companies on security issues, which includes performing network and application penetration tests, as well as developing security architecture for a large regional bank and incident response for a large Florida metropolitan government. In the last year, he has been designing and creating solutions for a financial services company to improve the security of customer facing network infrastructure.

2014 – Almay, Ted