Phil is founder and President of Alfano & Associates, a financial advisory company. Previously he had been a CFO for over 25 years with public and private companies during which time he raised capital in public and private markets, led successful M&A activities, and spearheaded strategic planning initiatives. He has also directed corporate risk management, tax strategies, cash management and accounting operations. He is on the Board of Directors of Easter Seals/UCP of NC, and a member of National Association of Corporate Directors, ACG-RTP, AICPA, NYSSCPA and Piedmont Triad Entrepreneurial Network. He has a BBA in Accounting from St. Bonaventure University and is a CPA.

Slee Arnold, VP of Marketing
Slee is the CEO and Publisher of Women’s Edge magazine. She has been in the publishing business for over 17 years as the Managing Editor of a regional business magazine and as a Publisher with Primedia, a Fortune 100 company. An active member of the community, she is a board member of the United Arts Council, NC State University College of Management Entrepreneurship Education Initiative and ACG Research Triangle. Slee is a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners and Raleigh Professional Women’s Forum and is also involved in the Raleigh Boychoir and Boy Scouts.

David Cook, Treasurer
David is President of Southfield Partners, LLC, a real estate investment and financing company. Prior to joining Southfield, he was CFO for Alliance Hospitality Management, LLC, a private company managing 50 hotels in 23 states. David has over 24 years of financial management experience, public and private, in various industries including real estate, healthcare and manufacturing. He began his career with public accounting firm Deloitte Haskins & Sells (currently Deloitte & Touch). He has a BS degree in Business Administration from East Carolina University and is a CPA.

Patti Gillenwater, Past President
Patti is the CEO of Elinvar and a leader in the Triangle business community. She is recognized for sustaining a highly regarded professional services firm while contributing to the community and actively partnering with clients to promote the success of their businesses. With over eighteen years of search experience including many CFO and other top non-financial positions and extensive training and experience in building high performing teams, Patti is a valued business advisor to friends as well as to clients. Her board experience includes ACG Research Triangle, National Association of Corporate Directors, Wake Education Partnership, Communities in Schools of Wake County, Raleigh-Wake Human Resource Association and AAFA.

Loren is Principal of Kennedy Advisors, LLC, a public finance and real estate consulting firm. He serves companies in arranging public finance and incentive packages. The total value of his public finance work exceeds $185M. He has also negotiated real estate transactions as large as $83M. His public finance clients have included Progress Energy, City of Durham/Capital Broadcasting, Tweetsie Railroad, Patheon Pharmaceuticals, Nationwide Insurance, US Gypsum and Consumers Energy. Loren is Secretary of the Carolinas Chapter of the Counselors of Real Estate. He is also an investor in early-stage companies including Paragon Commercial Bank, Pozen, Inc., Orbit Energy, Inc., HQ Companies and TechShop.

Jack McGlinn, VP Capital Connection
Jack serves as a Director of CapitalSouth Partners Funds, a Charlotte based private equity fund with over $500 million under management through multiple committed funds. Jack manages the Raleigh, North Carolina office for the Fund. Prior to joining CapitalSouth Partners, he was President and CFO of Triangle Biomedical Sciences, Inc., a medical products manufacturer with over 50 employees and worldwide operations. During his tenure, TBS grew 250% and was named 4 times to the North Carolina Technology Fast 50. Prior to TBS, Jack worked for Price Waterhouse in Boston.

Bruce Oberhardt, Ph.D., Director
Bruce is known for promoting outside-of-the box thinking and has been involved in consulting and biomedical technology incubation. He led and/or participated in a number of first-of-a-kind technological developments including “CoaguChek” and founded Cardiovascular Diagnostics: a successful IPO. He served in management for major multinational medical products manufacturers and developed technologies to help in diabetes, blood diseases, cardiovascular disease, and cancer – products based on these technologies are currently saving patients’ lives daily. He has served as an elected officer of the Atlantis Group and of TARDC. He is author or co-author of 50 published articles and abstracts and inventor or co-inventor on 174 issued patents, worldwide.

Jennifer Terry, VP Membership
Jennifer is Senior Vice President of Paragon Commercial Bank.  She was a former executive with RBC Centura responsible for the Personal, Business, and Professional Banking in Central North Carolina and Hampton Roads, Virginia.  As part of an Army family, she has lived in all parts of the U.S. and Japan.  Jennifer has a B.A. in History from Trinity University in Washington, D.C.

Jim is Assistant Branch Manager and First Vice President –Investments in the Raleigh office of Davenport & Company LLC, a regional full service investment and financial advisory firm founded in 1863 and headquartered in Richmond, Va. He has over 14 years experience in the industry. Jim’s seven year career as a CPA provides a base of knowledge that allows him to work comprehensively with his clients and their other advisors to address the unique wealth management issues that are important to their families. Jim has been active in his church and community, having served as Grand Knight and Operation LAMB chairman for the Our Lady of Lourdes Knights of Columbus council, on the Stewardship and Strategic Planning committees of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, as Pro-Am chairman for the Nike Carolina Classic, and Co-chair of the Boys and Girls Club camper-ship drive. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University and is married with three children.

Tom Stevens, Secretary
Tom is known for his expertise in change, human behavior, and leadership. A former counselor and CEO of a family services agency, in 2001 he founded Esquare Leadership LLC, a leadership and organizational development consultancy. Global corporations, universities, business owners, and enterprising non-profits alike engage Tom as a speaker, facilitator, and executive coach to accelerate performance. Tom is a professional member of the National Speakers Association, a charter member of the Society for the Advancement of Consulting, the publisher of THINK! e-zine, and in 2005 was elected Mayor by the citizens of Hillsborough, NC. Tom maintains a web site of leadership resources.