2025 Community & Economic Engagement Summit

Presented by the N.C. A&T Office of Community Engagement. 2025 Community & Economic Engagement Summit. Legacy In Motion: Fueling Wealth, Innovation & Transformational Impact. Wednesday, Oct. 8, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Elm & Bain. 620B S. Elm St., Greensboro, N.C. 27406. To register: http://bit.ly/ncatceesummit. Keynote Speaker: Kwame 09. Co-Founder of SPGBK Watches. Special Guest Speaker: Roderick Harvey. Founder of StarStruck Clothing Line. Author of "The Favored Felon." Entertainment by: Victor Solomon '22. International Performing Artist Seen on NBC's The Voice and American Idol

 

REGISTER TODAY

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

 

Elm & Bain

620B S. Elm St., Greensboro, N.C. 27406

 

Early Bird Ticket - $35

(Until Oct. 1)

Register Here


 

8 a.m.
Registration Check-In & Continental Breakfast

9-9:30 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Oliver M. Thomas, Ph.D. '06 - Associate Vice Chancellor of External Affairs
Chancellor James R. Martin II, Ph.D., North Carolina A&T State University

Introduction of City & County Officials
Allyson Cobb, ’10, Director of External Partnerships, N.C. A&T

9:30-10:35 a.m.
Panel Discussion | Legacy in Motion: Reentry Pathways to Workforce and Community Impact

Moderator
Melissa S. Smith ‘12 - Director- Workforce Development Solutions, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce

Panelists:
Celina McCrea – Community & Business Engagement Manager, Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina
LaQuinta Downey – Reentry Coordinator, StepUp Greensboro
David Williams – President, Lorac Academy
Shawn Jackson - Community Health Worker, Triad Adult and Pediatric Medicine


10:45-11:45 am
Morning Address Speaker
Roderick Harvey, Owner & Founder, StarStruck TM and Author, “The Favored Felon”

11:50 a.m.-1:25 p.m.
Lunch & Special Presentations by Blackstone Launchpad
Antwon Foreman ‘13 - Professor of Entrepreneurship, Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics and Director - Blackstone Entrepreneurship Launchpad,
N.C. A&T

A&T Student Participants: Nhojony Torres '26, Patrick Cooper '27, Arielle Primus '26 and Philemon Emmanuel '26

Aggie Innovators Pitch Challenge
Sean G. L. Johnson, Director of the Center of Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, N.C. A&T
Guest Judges: Kwame Molden, Geoff Foster, and Interim Provost Catherine Edmonds

1:30-2:30 p.m.
Panel Discussion | Measuring Impact: NC A&T’s Role in Promoting Regional Economic Development and Innovation

Moderator/Panelist:
Alfredo Romero, Ph.D. – Associate Professor/Chair, Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics, N.C. A&T

Panelists:
Cephas B. Naanwaab, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics, N.C. A&T
Kenrett Jefferson-Moore, Ph.D., Professor & Chairperson, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, N.C. A&T

2:45-3:45 pm
Keynote Address and Fireside Chat
Kwame Molden ’09, Founder/CEO of Spring Break (SPGBK) Watches
Q&A with Kwame Molden – Willie A. Deese ‘77, retired pharmaceutical executive of Merek & Co., Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Pharmaceuticals, PLC

3:45-4:15 pm
Wrap-Up & Closing Comments
Lovelle McMichael - Director of Community Engagement, Division of Strategic Partnerships and Economic Development, N.C. A&T

4:15 p.m.
Mix ‘n Mingle Networking Mixer
Victor Solomon '22
International Performing Artist and Finalist on NBC’s The Voice® and contestant on ABC’s American Idol®

Speakers

Legacy in Motion: Reentry Pathways to Workforce and Community Impact

 

Melissa S. Smith '12
Melissa S. Smith '12 - Moderator

Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
Director of Workforce Development Solutions
 
LaQuinta Downey
LaQuinta Downey

Step Up Greensboro
Reentry Coordinator
 
Shawn Jackson
Shawn Jackson

Triad Adult and Pediatric Health/NC FIT 
David Williams
David Williams
 
Lorac Academy
President
 
Jessica Schultz
Jessica Schultz

Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina
Vice President of Career Services
 

 

  • Advance regional community engagement and economic development activities during N.C. A&T Homecoming Week.
  • Inform, train, and educate the public on topics of community and economic engagement.
  • Facilitate mutually beneficial conversations between the university and its community partners.
  • Create opportunities for participants to network and learn how to build personal wealth.
  • Influence policy makers and advocacy leaders to support underserved communities.
  • Inform impact of event with pre- and post-event assessment iinstrument.