The Mid Carolina Workforce Development Board is thrilled to announce the appointment of Xavier DeBrough as Chairman and Candace Howell as Vice Chair of the Mid Carolina Workforce Development Board. Their extensive experience and commitment to community development promise to drive the board toward new achievements.

Xavier DeBrough: Chairman

Xavier DeBrough is an accomplished leader with a strong background in operations and management and a dedicated contributor to various community initiatives. With over 10 years of problem-solving experience, he consistently brings a positive, solution-focused mindset to every challenge. As the Executive Director of DeBrough & Co., Xavier excels in strategic planning, compliance, and building meaningful relationships. His military service as a Drill Sergeant demonstrates his exceptional leadership abilities and keen attention to detail. 

Beyond his professional achievements, Xavier is deeply committed to serving and developing the community with a focus on excellence. He serves as Chairman of the Mid Carolina Workforce Development Board and is an active member of the Fayetteville Cumberland Reentry Council, Genesis Christian School, The Money Box Academy, and the Fayetteville NEXT Advisory Commission. Xavier’s multi-faceted involvement highlights his dedication to making a positive impact on both professional and community levels.

Candace Howell: Vice Chair

Candace Howell is a Fayetteville native and proud military B-R-A-T! A graduate of mathematics from Duke University, she enjoys being a part of the heartbeat of her local community as owner and operator of the Candace Howell State Farm Insurance Agency. With more than 10 brave corporate relocations under her belt, Howell is happy to be back home and serving in her native Fayetteville.

Resilience is most definitely within Howell’s core with over 37 years of experience in the insurance industry, Howell is a veteran of creating and managing business impact as her teams excel in working with executives, strategic thinking leaders, and businesses across all

industries to assist them in their legacy building efforts locally and internationally.

Howell is seasoned in small business consulting, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, organizational development, administrative and financial operations, marketing and business automation planning. With an assertive “client -first” philosophy, Howell’s greatest passion is helping people adapt to their changing worlds as they prepare for retirement, protect their families and create lasting endowments. 

The appointments of Xavier DeBrough and Candace Howell mark a significant milestone for the

Mid-Carolina Workforce Development Board. With their leadership, the organization anticipates a future of robust economic development and enhanced workforce opportunities.