Governor's Advisory Council on Small and Historically Underutilized Businesses Announced | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    Raleigh, NC     The Office of Governor Pat McCrory announced the following appointments to the Advisory Council of Small and Historically Underutilized Businesses:

   •  Wayne Branch (Duplin County) - Branch is the founder of LSG (Large and Small Graphics). He attended Fayetteville State University. Branch worked for the North Carolina Highway Patrol as a state trooper prior to joining the printing business. Branch fills an at-large seat and will serve as chairman of this council.

   •  Lucia Griffith (Mecklenburg County) - Griffith is the CEO of Metro Landmarks. She attended the Universidad Particular Ricardo Palma in Lima, Peru. She is a member of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. Griffith fills the seat requiring a representative of a minority owned business enterprise.

   •  Nicholas Perkins (Mecklenburg County) - Perkins is the president of Perkins Management Services. He attended Fayetteville State University for his undergraduate degree. Perkins is a member of the NAACP and Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Perkins fills the seat requiring a representative of a minority owned business enterprise.

   •  Marsha Wyly (Pitt County)- Wyly owns the firm Wyly Landscape Architecture in Greenville. She is a professional landscape architect and currently serves as the chair of the city of Greenville's Public Transportation and Parking Commission. Wyly fills the seat requiring a representative of a woman-owned business enterprise.

   •  Bridget Chisholm (Guilford County) - Chisholm is a managing partner of a private equity group overseeing a $20 million multi-unit dining and restaurant franchise. She founded the Institute for Women's Empowerment and has also served as a Shelby County's commissioner. Chisholm fills the seat requiring a representative of a woman-owned business enterprise.

   •  Douglas Ehmann (Mecklenburg County) - Ehmann is a partner with North American Landscape. He attended Belmont Abbey College and is a member of the college's board of trustees. He was awarded alumni of the year for the school in 2008. Ehmann fills the seat requiring a representative of a small business enterprise.

   •  Marlene Sanford (Guilford County) - Sanford is the president of TREBIC (Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition). She attended Wake Forest University, is a member of the Greensboro Rotary Club and serves on the NC Home Builders Association Legislative Committee. Sanford fills the seat requiring a representative of a small business enterprise.

   •  Joseph Marchesani (Union County) - Marchesani is the president of Markee Distributors LLC. He is also the co-founder of NC VetBiz. Marchesani attended the University of Central Florida. Marchesani fills the seat requiring a representative of a physically disabled business enterprise.

   •  Mark Haupt (Wake County) - Haupt is the president of Converged Services, LLC. He attended Duke University. Haupt is involved with the NC Veterans Business Association. Haupt fills the seat requiring a representative of a physically disabled business enterprise.

   •  Rakesh Agarwal (Henderson County) - Agarwal is the CEO of Rug & Home, Inc. He attended the Indian Institute of Technology in India. Agarwal is on the board of Four Season's Hospice and serves as the chairman of the board for Vision Express. Agarwal fills an at-large seat.

   •  Mark Dent (Mecklenburg County) - Dent is the vice president and general manager of Turner Construction Co. He attended Bowling Green State University. Dent is involved with the Charlotte Minority Economic Development Initiative and a board member of Boy Scouts of America. Dent fills an at-large seat.

   •  Julius Smith (Wake County) - Smith is the president of Fred Smith Company's Construction Division in Raleigh. He lives in Raleigh with his wife Alisa and their four children. Smith fills an at-large seat.

   •  Reginald Layton (Milwaukee County) - Layton is vice president of Supplier Diversity & Supply Chain for Johnson Controls, Inc in Wisconsin. Johnson Controls has branches in Raleigh, Charlotte and Greensboro. In his role, Layton monitors and provides supplier diversity training and support to encourage these branches to partner with small businesses across the state of North Carolina. Layton serves on the board of directors for the National Minority Supplier Development Council. He fills an at-large seat.

    The council promotes the recruitment and utilization of small and minority businesses. It assures access to purchase and contract opportunities for small businesses, and for businesses owned by a minority, or a woman, or a disabled person in an efficient and effective manner.


    Contact: Crystal Feldman
       govpress@nc.gov