Laurie Braxton serves as SVP, Head of North Carolina Operations for FUJIFILM Biotechnologies. Laurie brings over two decades of leadership experience from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), where she held pivotal roles spanning large and small scale manufacturing operations, external supply, third-party sales, and business development. Most recently, as VP and Site Head at GSK's Rocksville, MD location, Laurie focused on positioning the facility for future growth, achieving FDA approval for a new facility startup. Prior to this, while serving as VP and Site Head at GSK's Zebulon, NC facility, Laurie played a crucial role in supporting the production of life-saving respiratory medicines through the COVID pandemic as well as the facility's period of growth. Laurie's leadership exemplifies her ability to drive transformative change, elevate operational standards, and foster a culture of manufacturing excellence. At the heart of Laurie's leadership philosophy lies a commitment to fostering excellence through empowerment, collaboration, and strategic vision. With a deep-rooted belief in the power of people, Laurie leads by example, taking great satisfaction in inspiring her teams to reach their fullest potential. By cultivating a culture of trust and accountability, Laurie fosters an environment where innovation thrives, and challenges spur growth and development. Laurie first moved to North Carolina after college and quickly decided it was where she was meant to be. She is married with 2 teenage daughters with whom she loves to spend time - preferably near the water, at a concert or with her 2 dogs by her side.

Fork enters his second season as the CEO of Hurricanes Holdings, LLC. In his role he supervises all business units of Hurricanes Holdings, LLC, including the Hurricanes, Lenovo Center, the mixed-use real estate development district surrounding Lenovo Center and other business interests of the company. Fork joined the organization in July of 2024. He previously spent the better part of six years with the North Carolina General Assembly, serving as Chief of Staff to NC Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger from December 2020 to July 2024, following two years as Senate General Counsel. Fork is a member of the five-member NC Economic Investment Committee, which approves state economic incentive grants. Prior to joining the legislature, Fork was a Raleigh-based partner at two law firms, K&L Gates, LLP and Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey and Leonard, LLP. His 13 years of private law practice focused on commercial restructuring and bankruptcy, real estate and business disputes, and commercial litigation. He is a graduate of Davidson College, where he was a member of the football team, and the UNC School of Law. Before attending law school, he worked as an assistant football coach at Davidson, coaching running backs and wide receivers. Fork was named to Triangle Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2015.

Janet Cowell is the 63rd Mayor of Raleigh. She has close to two decades of executive leadership experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Cowell comes from a tradition of public service: her father was United Methodist minister and her mother was a school teacher. Cowell served in public office from 2001-2016, including on the Raleigh City Council, as a NC State Senator, and as NC State Treasurer. Prior to being elected mayor in 2024, Cowell served as President & CEO of the Dix Park Conservancy. Cowell started her career as a stock analyst in Asia. In recent years, she served as corporate director for two publicly-traded companies. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School of Business.

Chuck Flink, FASLA is the Howard C. and Margaret G. Bissell Director of the Pappas Real Estate Development Program at NC State University. Flink is an award-winning author, planner and landscape architect who has completed work in 250 communities, 35 states, and in Europe, Asia, and South America. He is the recipient of four dozen national, regional and local planning and design awards. In 2023 he was awarded the American Society of Landscape Architect’s Alfred B. LaGasse Medal in recognition of his 40-year career devoted to the management and conservancy of natural resources and public landscapes. Flink is a Fellow in the American Society of Landscape Architects, he is the 2006 Distinguished Alumnus of the NC State University College of Design, and a 2019 recipient of the NC State University Watauga Medal, the University’s highest non-academic award. Chuck is the author of three books with his most recent “The Greenway Imperative: Connecting Communities and Landscapes for A Sustainable Future." LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-flink-01742b1b/

Jim is an infill developer and development advisor based in Sonoma County, California. Known for his aspirational but practical approach, he works with a range of tools and best practices to communicate the value of inspired design and sustainability within the realities of market norms. With over forty years experience as an urban designer, land planner, sustainability strategist and now infill developer, he brings a broad range of perspectives and skills to the discussion about how communities can – and should – grow. Trained as a landscape architect, he received a Masters in Real Estate Development from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as way to more effectively integrate economics, development and design thinking. Continuing his role as an innovator and proponent of ‘doing development different’, Jim founded and runs a national program focused on small scale incremental development. His Small Developer Forum is recognized throughout the industry as one of the most unique and empowering gathering of small developers who join together to learn, support one another and help advance the art and science of Building Small. Drawing on his own experience and the work of others seen during these programs, he authored Building Small: A Toolkit for Real Estate Entrepreneurs, Civic Leaders and Great Communities. Published in 2021 by the Urban Land Institute, Building Small has become a seminal textbook and source of inspiration for a diverse audience looking to build community, not commodity. Jim works seamlessly with multi-disciplinary teams, bringing his design and real estate training to resolve complex challenges – focusing on enduring solutions catalyzed by initial, immediate steps. With an emphasis on high quality communications, Jim works to build deep understanding for the ‘how and why’ of decisions – rather than just creating consensus. His collaborative, integrative, and effective team leadership is recognized through his participation or chairmanship of over 15 Urban Land Institute Advisory Service Panels – in places as diverse as Napa, CA; Ft Lauderdale, FL; Toronto, Ontario; and Moscow, Russia. A sought after speaker for his energy, clarity and provocative ideas, Jim was a featured TEDx speaker in 2022. He has keynoted conferences and symposia across the U.S. where audiences are looking for inspired ideas and new approaches to how to shape the built environment with practical methods. Originally born in Pittsburgh, PA; Jim credits the diversity of places he has lived and worked – Springfield, Vermont; New Orleans; Denver; Phoenix; Boston; and San Francisco – for shaping his appreciation of how the built environment impacts quality of life, and the importance of regional identity for creating more interesting places. Now living in the idyllic community of Healdsburg, California he shares these insights with clients and audiences across the globe.