Top N.C. business leaders will gather at Pinehurst summit

By Scott Nunn, posted Aug 11, 2021 on BizFayetteville.com

**Sepi Saidi, founder of the rapidly growing Raleigh engineering firm SEPI, is a featured speaker at Business North Carolina’s upcoming CEO Summit in Pinehurst. (Photo courtesy of SEPI.)**

Even when the unprecedented disruptions and challenges caused by COVID-19 are gone, it still won't be business-as-usual for corporate and other leaders.

Well before the pandemic took over, the “me-too” movement had many c-suite leaders re-evaluating how women are treated -- and mistreated -- in their companies. The Black Lives Matter protests in the summer of 2020 expanded that same topic to racial and ethnic minorities.

So it should be no surprise that two upcoming leadership conferences in the Fayetteville area both are focusing -- at least partly -- on inclusion and diversity.

In a somewhat paradoxical twist, Business North Carolina’s upcoming CEO Summit is exclusive to CEOs and presidents. Set for Sept. 13-14 at Pinehurst Resort, the annual conference “brings together some of the best and brightest decision-makers in the state,” according to the website for Business North Carolina, a Charlotte-based magazine and website that’s long covered the business issues in the Tar Heel State.

“The 2021 NC|CEO Summit will be filled with impactful presentations on relevant topics for CEOs looking for ideas, information, and shared experiences to continue building their companies,” the promotional brochure says. “Come listen to fellow CEOs and Presidents speak on the challenges they have faced, and the success and lessons learned in the process.”

Some of the speakers include Charles S. Baldwin, IV, a partner at Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, one of the state’s largest and oldest law firms; Jimmy Goodmon, Jr. president and CEO of Raleigh-based Capitol Broadcasting; Jim M. Hansen, Raleigh-based regional president of PNC Bank; Kim Henderson, chief of staff of Novant Health; Sepi Saidi, founder of Raleigh’s SEPI Engineering & Construction, Inc.; Paula Brown Stafford, a veteran biopharmaceutical services executive and leadership consultant; and Gary Salamido, president and CEO of N.C. Chamber and formerly the group's chief lobbyist at the General Assembly.

Agenda topics include: “An employer's obligation and opportunity to create a place where talented women want to work, grow and lead”; “It’s a National and International Sandbox: How to Play Well with Others”; “The Value of Candor” and “The War on Talent.”

In addition to the chance to play the renowned Pinehurst golf courses, those attending will get some sports face time when they hear from three North Carolina university athletics directors:

Jimmy Bass, UNC Wilmington; John Gilbert, East Carolina; and Boo Corrigan, N.C. State.

Last year’s CEO Summit was canceled due to the pandemic. If you are a president or CEO and interested in attending, visit businessnc.com/ceosummit

Later that week, the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business at Campbell University will host its annual Leadership Summit, focusing on women in business and entrepreneurship.

According to the business school’s website, students, community members, business professionals and alumni will have an opportunity to connect and network with business owners and community members, grow their business and become a stronger leader in any field.

"We didn't hold it last year but we are looking forward to this year's event," Business NC publisher Ben Kinney told the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal on Wednesday. "The CEO Summit is where we bring together the state's business leaders to 'talk shop', engage and share ideas and best practices in a relaxed and informal environment."

The summit, set for Sept. 17 at the Oscar N. Harris Student Union on the main campus in Buies Creek.

Speakers include Bryan McGann, director and professor of law at Duke University’s Start-Up Ventures Clinic; and Mike Minter, head football coach at Campbell. Topics include the following:

Modern Entrepreneurship
Social Entrepreneurship
Paying it Forward: It Takes a Village
Leadership, Women in Business

The Campbell Leadership Summit has a unique twist on golf. The last session of the day, “Golf for Business,” will be held at nearby Keith Hills Golf Course and provide basic instruction on golf for those in business professional settings.
“Hands-on experience will give you tips for your long and short golf game from our Professional Golf Management staff,” the summit website says.
Learn more at business.campbell.edu/about/leadership-summit.

Copyright © 2025 Enhanced Media Management Inc. dba Greater Fayetteville Business Journal
This story may be displayed, reformatted and printed for your personal, noncommercial use only and in accordance with our Terms of Service located at https://bizfayetteville.com/useragreement.