Chris Budnick, MSW, LCSW, LCAS, CCS, is the executive director at Healing Transitions and has worked in addiction treatment and recovery since 1993. Mr. Budnick became a certified substance abuse counselor in 1998. He graduated from East Carolina University in 2000 with a Master of Social Work. He has been fully licensed as a licensed clinical addiction specialist since 2001, a licensed clinical social worker since 2002, and a clinical certified supervisor since 2003. He was an intern from 1999 to 2000 with Healing Transitions and has been employed with them since 2000. Mr. Budnick has been an adjunct instructor with the North Carolina State University Department of Social Work since 2002. Mr. Budnick has conducted training and presentations nationally and internationally. Some of his most rewarding work has been collaborating with Mr. William White and Mr. Boyd Pickard on the history of mutual aid recovery fellowships.

Tripp Johnson is a leader who is passionate about entrepreneurship and living an examined life. He is the owner of Green Hill Recovery, and is the founder and CEO of AIM: Advaita Integrated Medicine. Both companies are values-based, purpose-driven healthcare organizations based out of Raleigh, NC. Mr. Johnson is an avid student of organizational psychology, leadership, and contemplative practices, specifically meditation and yoga. Prior to founding Green Hill, Mr. Johnson was a law student, infantry officer, and division one athlete. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point where he was a four-year letterman on the men's tennis team. After graduation, he was commissioned as an infantry officer and completed U.S. Army Ranger School, Airborne School, and Air Assault School. He deployed once to southern Afghanistan as an infantry platoon leader. In addition to his work at Green Hill, Mr. Johnson enjoys consulting with entrepreneurs and business leaders to turn their passions into viable, values-based, and purpose-driven enterprises. His main areas of expertise are strategic planning, culture building, and change management.

Daniel Alexander currently serves as the program director for Mission Triangle. In this role, he teaches, consults, and supports over 200 nonprofit organizations in strategic planning, board development, fundraising, organizational measurement, staff leadership, marketing, and communications. In addition, he is the lead curriculum designer and content creator for workshops, PathWay, and various speaking engagements. From 2011- 2018, Mr. Alexander served on the staff of Jobs for Life, where he worked in various roles, including area director, regional director, and interim CEO for the national nonprofit serving those on the “margins” of society. In this role, he worked with leaders and students engaged in the issues of addiction, re-entry, depression, and joblessness. Additionally, he led workshops on gang prevention, poverty alleviation, and employment. He currently serves on the board of directors for Trinity Academy and previously served on the board of directors for Oak City Academy.

Maggie Kane, first and foremost, has a passion for loving people. Full-on hype queen, she is a speaker, entrepreneur, and Executive Director with a special focus on nonprofits and small, killer coffee shops. 8 years ago, Maggie founded A Place at the Table, Raleigh’s, NC’s pay-what-you-can nonprofit cafe, which has fed thousands of humans incredible food and an even better community. She believes strongly in the power of unconventional communities and shows everyone she meets that they have a place at the table. She is a proud member of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance Board, Band Together Advisory Board, Wake Monarch Academy Advisory Board, and Feed the Pack Food Pantry Advisory Board at NCSU. She lives in Raleigh, loves jumping rope, and eats a lot of peanut butter. She loves hiking in the mountains and hour-long tattoo appointments. You’ll find her watching movies at the theaters in those big comfy chairs, skydiving, or breaking away for a quick 2-day weekend trip.

Rebecca Wenrich Wheeler has worked in the field of education for over 20 years where she began her career as a teacher in 1999 at Southeast Raleigh High School. In 2014, Ms. Wheeler became a health educator at the Poe Center for Health Education focusing on substance use prevention and suicide intervention, and in 2019 she returned to the schools as an elementary school counselor at Magellan Charter School. She currently serves as School Based Care Coordinator for Alliance Health and a college adjunct instructor in the psychology department for Baker University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, MEd in curriculum and instruction, and a Master of Arts in professional counseling. Ms. Wheeler is also a registered yoga teacher, a certified prevention specialist, and a licensed clinical mental health counseling associate. She frequently facilitates workshops on stress management and mental health promotion and has been a youth mental health first aid trainer since 2015. She is particularly passionate about helping children and adolescents develop coping and stress management skills

Dr. Scott Ralls became the fourth president of Wake Technical Community College on April 11, 2019. Before coming to Wake Tech, he served as president of Northern Virginia Community College from 2015-2019, president of the NC Community College System from 2008-2015, and president of Craven Community College in New Bern from 2002-2008. He has also worked from the NC Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Department of Labor. A native of Charlotte, Dr. Ralls grew up in western North Carolina. He earned his bachelor’s degree at UNC-Chapel Hill and master’s and doctorate degrees in Industrial and Organization Psychology from the University of Maryland. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Distinguished Public Service Award from the North Carolina Chamber, and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest civilian honor.

Lisa Bauer is on the discipleship team at Seven Marks Church in Raleigh, NC. She also serves as director of Next Steps & Outreach; leading others to find their giftedness and passion for connecting and serving in the church and in the city. Mrs. Bauer seeks to partner with people and organizations that are actively making a difference and impacting lives. She and her husband, Dave, reside in the Garner area. They have three adult married sons who along with their six grandchildren keep life active and exciting. Life is at its best when traveling, boating, motorcycling, or walking along the seashores of North Carolina.

Rick Shrum, MBA, MHA Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer, WakeMed Rick Shrum, Sr., is a member of WakeMed’s executive leadership, serving as Chief Strategy Officer. In this role, Rick is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and executing market opportunities and strategic initiatives to help WakeMed achieve its mission and aspirational goals. He also has operational

responsibility for all Behavioral Health Services, WakeMed Innovations, and Corporate Planning

divisions. During his tenure at WakeMed, Shrum has led efforts to expand and form the WakeMed Behavioral Health Network (WMBHN)– a collaboration to connect the community and better address mental health and substance use issues. He also played a key role in developing WakeMed Innovations and their inaugural pilot project, a collaboration with UPS, FAA, and NCDOT to use drones to transport medical packaging specimens across our market, as well as WakeMed’s new novel Walk-in Primary Car service, MyCare 365, along with many other strategically important innovations. Rick Shrum has over 25 years of leadership experience in acute and behavioral health care. Before coming to WakeMed, he was the chief operating officer of Diamond Healthcare Corporation in Richmond, Va. Rick holds master’s degrees in Health Administration and Business Administration from Xavier University.

DescriptionTwanna Joyner Jones has dedicated her life to serving others through more than 25 years of advancing the missions of social impact organizations. She has an extensive background in leadership development, being a motivational speaker, fundraising, and building strategic partnerships.

Jones is the President and Founder of The Help Center NC, an organization that serves the underserved population within NC. During her tenure as a Community Liaison and Founder of the Help Center NC, she has implemented several strategic initiatives, including developing a case management study program for the United Way.

Previously, Jones was the Director of Resource Development for the American Red Cross. Her core focus was Emergency Services. While there she also directed the fundraising efforts for the Kerr-Tar region. Twanna has a long, stellar history in the nonprofit sector and a strong knowledge of poverty, hunger, and homelessness's effects on families.

For over two decades, Will has served successful individuals, businesses, and charities. His practice specializes in Estate Planning, Investment Management, Tax Strategy, and Charitable Plan Design. Will aims to be a trusted partner for individuals who want to discuss their goals and intentions before handing over the execution to a qualified professional team.

He leads a group of over a dozen advisors at Capitol Financial Solutions and is responsible for the firm’s development training program. He is a proud graduate of Hampden-Sydney College. He has executive education certificates from Duke University (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional) and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (CERTIFIED PRIVATE WEALTH ADVISOR practitioner).

He is the Investment Committee Chairman for the Wake Tech Community College Foundation. Will lives in the Five Points area of Raleigh with his wife, Summer, their two sons, Jack and Ben, and boxer, Caddy. When not being a husband, Dad, business owner, or volunteer, he spends his time on the golf course at Raleigh Country Club or in Southern Pines, NC.

DescriptWendi M. Watson is the Executive Director and Founder of Empowered Citizens, a nonprofit(501c3) organization located in Zebulon North Carolina. Wendi founded the organization in 2015 while pursuing her undergraduate degree at North Carolina Central University. The mission of the organization is to provide substance use and mental health support, prevention, education, and intervention among youth, families, and communities. The Alternative Peer Group (APG) program works with at-risk youth between the ages of 13-21 who struggle with mental health and substance use issues. Wendi has worked in the Substance Use and Mental Health profession for the last 16 years. Wendi graduated with honors from the BSW and MSW program at North Carolina Central University where she is now a full-time Clinical Lecturer in the Social Work department. Wendi currently serves as the Advisor for the NCCU Nu Gamma Phi Alpha Honor Society. She is a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS) and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSW-A). Wendi is currently a candidate for the Ph.D. program at Walden University with an expected graduation date of 2024. Wendi’s passion and commitment to working with youth who struggle with substance use and mental health is motivated by her own personal life experiences. Wendi was born in Columbia, SC and later moved to Atlanta, GA where she spent most of her adult life. Wendi relocated to North Carolina in 2005 where she then decided to pursue her purpose to use her experience to help others. Wendi is the mother of one biological son age 25 and two step children 15 and 17. Wendi is happily married and both she and her husband Jeffery Watson reside in Zebulon, NC.

Description goes Attorney Jon Powell is a law professor at Campbell University in Raleigh, NC and serves as the director of the Restorative Justice Clinic. The Restorative Justice Clinic receives referrals from the juvenile justice system, adult criminal courts, and Wake County Schools. The clinic involves law students in all aspects of Restorative Justice which include Victim/Offender Dialogue in schools and court cases as well as victim impact work through restorative circles in prisons. Prior to working at Campbell University and the Restorative Justice Clinic Jon practiced law in Wake and Harnett counties. Jon’s primary focus was in criminal defense. Mr. Powell received his law degree from Campbell University in 1998. Prior to attending law school, Jon worked for Carolina Power and Light Company, during which time he received his B.A. in Communication from North Carolina State University.