Women's Empowerment Luncheon

WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT LUNCHEON 
Closing the Gender Gap

DON'T MISS OUT! 
 

SHARI MASSENGILL ? General Manager, Holly Springs Salamanders


 

Massengill?s experience in baseball includes most recently serving as Assistant General Manager for eight seasons with the Gwinnett Stripers (Triple-A; International League). Prior to her time in Gwinnett, she worked in the Carolina League with the Kinston Indians for 15 years, serving as Assistant General Manager for nine seasons before being promoted to the role of General Manager in 2004.During her time in Kinston, Massengill was recognized as the recipient of the Rawlings Female Executive of the Year in 2007, in addition to earning Carolina League Executive of the Year honors that same season.

MARYBE MCMILLAN ? First Female President, NC State AFL-CIO



MaryBe McMillan is serving her second term as President of the North Carolina State AFL-CIO. With her initial election to this position in 2017, she became the first female president in the history of the organization and, as of October 2021, is one of twelve women leading state AFL-CIO federations in the country. Prior to her election as President, she served 12 years as Secretary-Treasurer?again the first woman to serve in that position. Before working for the NC State AFL-CIO, she worked for the national AFL-CIO?s Union Community Fund, as Research Director for the Common Sense Foundation, and as State Policy Analyst for the Rural School and Community Trust. MaryBe grew up in Hickory, North Carolina. She became involved with union organizing as a student and is passionate about organizing workers in the South. MaryBe frequently speaks to groups around the country about the importance of building a strong labor movement in the South. MaryBe graduated with honors from Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. She also holds a Master of Arts degree from UNC-Greensboro and a doctorate degree in sociology from NC State University. MaryBe is a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 465 in Durham, North Carolina.
 
MIKKI PADADIS, Founder / CEO PDI Drywall, Inc.



Mikki Paradis, founder, CEO and President of PDI Drywall, Inc. Mikki is like a real-life Captain Marvel. While Mikki may not fly or have superpowers, she created PDI before graduating from NC State University in 2005. She also developed her own proprietary computer software and, at 35, she broke the elusive $1 million sales barrier. The cherry on top is that she did this in the construction industry?which has a long history of machismo and male domination. One scene in Captain Marvel offers insight into Mikki?s business acumen, prowess, and take no prisoner attitude. (Spoiler alert.) In the movie, Captain Marvel recalls memories from her youth... when she crashes a go-cart, fails to hit a home run and falls off a rope climb during basic training. She is then harshly ridiculed for trying to do ?boy stuff.? What is finally revealed is that, despite repeatedly being knocked down, Captain Marvel refuses to be defeated. She persists. Mikki faced similar challenges throughout her career.  About starting out in the construction industry, she says: ?It never occurred to me that I would fail... but the most difficult challenges in my career were my gender and my age. Early on, people didn?t want to give me a chance. Oh, maybe they would let me do one house? but a whole apartment complex? They didn?t think a ?girl? could do that... And I loved nothing more than proving them wrong.? And prove them wrong she has. Since 2010, Mikki has increased PDI?s revenue from $100,000 to over $1 million. Today she is considered an industry leader and innovator in drywall recycling by constantly searching for ways to reduce her company?s carbon footprint. Growing PDI wasn?t without challenges and failures. ?My mentor helped me realize that my failures ultimately give me the strength I need to move forward,? Mikki says. ?Now my failures have become my best learning opportunities.? Mikki is not all drywall and nail guns. She has served as a keynote speaker for the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce, the Queen's Foundation, and The Women?s Advantage, and she represented small business owners on tax reform at the White House. She is involved in non-profit, volunteering, and philanthropic endeavors?locally and internationally, most notably working with organizations that support youth initiatives. Mikki has volunteered for The Miracle League of the Triangle and traveled to Turks and Caicos to assist with post-hurricane rebuilding efforts. In her own words, ?It?s just the right thing to do.?
 
SHAWNA C. LEMON, J.D., Ph.D. ? Patent Attorney, Angel Investor and Diversity Advocate



Shawna C. Lemon, J.D., Ph.D., is a patent attorney, angel investor and diversity advocate.  She is a co-founder of xElle Ventures, an early-stage angel fund for women founders by women founders, executives and investors. Shawna is also co-founder of Stanek Lemon Crouse + Meeks, PA, a majority woman-owned intellectual property law firm. She is admitted to practice law in North Carolina and New York.  As an experienced patent attorney and board director, Shawna brings more than 20 years of legal and business experience to various organizations.   Shawna?s board service has included: RTP Capital Associates; Dress For Success Triangle; North Carolina Arts in Action; R.O. Harrell Trucking, Inc.; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Board of Visitors; and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Health Foundation. Shawna is a recipient of the 2020 Triangle Business Journal Women in Business Award and has been listed in Best Lawyers of America (2015-2022), North Carolina Legal Elite (2014, 2021 and 2022) and Super Lawyers (2021 and 2022). Shawna has a B.S. from Wofford College, a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina and a J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Sharon Delaney McCloud - Director of Corporate Communications UNC Health



Sharon Delaney McCloud is an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, Certified Diversity Executive CDE®, TEDx speaker, adjunct professor and executive coach who helps leaders and teams drive business results through strategic communications and professional development programs.  Prior to her role as Director of Corporate Communications at UNC Health, Sharon led video production and leadership development initiatives at Walk West, a 3-time INC 5000 agency she co-founded in 2008.  She began her career as a television journalist covering everything from NASA to politics to the Super Bowl at stations across the country. She?s been featured in numerous publications, including Sheryl Sandburg?s Option B digital platform, Thrive Global, Enterprising Women and is co-author of the book, Keep Going, Memoirs of Strength, Courage & Perseverance.  McCloud earned a bachelor?s degree in Communication from Florida State University and toured the world with the Department of Defense?s U.S.O. program before kicking off her career in TV news. In the community, Sharon serves on multiple Boards of Director and volunteers for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, St. Baldrick's Foundation and the American Heart Association. Sharon and her
husband Mike McCloud have three children and live in Raleigh.


Thank you to our Women?s Empowerment Luncheon Sponsors
 
VIP Sponsor
FujiFilm Diosynth Biotechnologies
 
Breakout Rooms Sponsor
Coastal Credit Union
 
Auction Sponsor
Thrive Skin and Wellness
 
Swag Bag Sponsor
First National Bank
 
Award Sponsor
Nash Atkins State Farm
 
Program Sponsor
Ting
 
Gift Sponsor
Serasana Holly Springs
 
Community Partners
Duke Energy
UNC Rex Health Holly Springs
 
Table Sponsors 
Thrive Skin and Wellness
Silver Lake Construction Company