Leadership Council

WakeEd’s Leadership Council provides guidance and strategic input to the Board of Directors. While it is primarily an advisory body, the Leadership Council is made up of members who are deeply involved in public education. 

2023-24 Leadership Council

EMMA BROWNING | WAKEED BOARD CHAIR

Emma Browning is the Founder and Managing Director of Paradox Consulting Partners, a management consulting company based in the Triangle that aligns talent strategy with business strategy. She founded Paradox after almost a decade with a national consulting firm to create impact in the community where she lives. Prior to business school, she worked as Director of Communications and Director of Social Enterprises at an arts education nonprofit in Washington, D.C. She is passionate about innovation and creating equitable opportunity. She has a BA from Wake Forest University and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. She enjoys spending time with her kids and family and exploring the dynamic business and arts scene in the Triangle. 

Christopher Bell 

Triangle Region President

Truist Bank 

 

Gordon Brown 

Executive Vice President of Finance & Administration 

Alfred Williams & Company 

 

Richard Daugherty 

IBM, Retired 

 

Sandra M. Fain

News & Observer, Retired

 

Dudley Flood 

Education Consultant

Benjamin Goldstein  

President 

CAPTRUST Financial Advisors 

  

Robert Jones 

Chairman 

Davidson and Jones Corporation 

 

John Mabe 

Attorney at Law 

Nexsen Pruet, PLLC 

 

James Maynard  

Executive Chairman 

Investors Management Corporation 

 

Caroline McCullen  

SAS, Retired  

 

Tom Oxholm 

Vice President of Finance 

Wake Stone Corporation 

Virginia Parker 

Triangle Market Executive 

Bank of America 

 

Richard Urquhart 

Investors Management Corporation, Retired 

 

Blount Williams 

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Alfred Williams & Company 


Smedes York

Chairman, York Properties, Inc./McDonald York Building Company 

 

Ex-Officio Members  

 

Chris Heagarty 

Wake County Board of Education, Chair 

 

Shinica Thomas 

Wake County Board of Commissioners, Designee 

 

 

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