Brasfield & Gorrie VP & Division Manager 

Cooper provides oversight to Raleigh's Science and Technology division by leading business development, securing work and supporting project teams from an executive level. Scott has several years of hands-on construction experience and knows his team members' strengths well. He uses this information to staff and provide appropriate resources to the projects under his purview, setting them up for success to provide products of the highest quality. 

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Hanbury Principal 

Small has witnessed the power of architecture in research and science facilities from his 15 years of leading design teams in both the private sector and in higher education. His projects have been recognized for their results—from attracting top talent and enticing bright minds into STEM fields of study to inspiring interdisciplinary collaboration and flexing as needed to adapt to advances in science research. A respected authority in research facility expertise, Small regularly speaks at conferences highlighting trends in science & technology design.

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Cushman & Wakefield Managing Director

Cook leads agency leasing within the Science + Technology Advisory group at Cushman & Wakefield’s Raleigh-Durham office. From 2009 to today, Doug has completed over 325 lease transactions totaling more than $350M, representing tenants and landlords. Doug combines more than a decade of experience, an MBA in real estate and corporate finance, and a prior background in mechanical engineering; this comprehensive and valued skill set makes Doug uniquely qualified to assist clients through all phases of a real estate transaction. Formerly a Principal at Synergy Commercial Advisors, he joined what is now Cushman & Wakefield after a successful exit and a series of subsequent acquisitions.

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Research Triangle Park Vice President of Real Estate 

Coia leads real estate at the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina (the driving entity of Research Triangle Park). Since 2016, Coia has led strategic financial planning and modeling, feasibility, due diligence, TI/build and leasing of 600,000 sqft. of office laboratory and retail. The culmination of these activities have brought the Foundation from a significant annual deficit position to a revenue basis that covers its operating expenses.

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Trinity Capital Managing Director  

​StrutzenBerg joined Trinity Capital Advisors in 2019 and is primarily responsible for the oversight of the company’s investments in life science assets. In this role, he is involved from acquisition through disposition, directing and implementing due diligence, leasing, design, construction and investment sales. Prior to joining Trinity Capital Advisors, Tyson was COO at Rising Realty Partners, a vertically integrated developer and investor in Los Angeles. While at Rising, Tyson oversaw the company’s portfolio, executing business plans for 20 properties totaling over five million square feet (over $1.3 billion in value). Prior to that, he worked as a Managing Director in the commercial group at Kennedy Wilson. 

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Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Vice President 

Gold joined the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau team in July of 2005 as the director of sales. In 2007, Gold was promoted to executive vice president, where he is responsible for leading the countywide destination strategic plan (DSP), strategic sales, services and marketing programs, including brand management, market research, market communications, IT, advertising and public affairs. Gold founded City Reps Inc.; the country’s first company dedicated exclusively to multiple CVB sales representation. He generated meeting and tradeshow business leads for CVBs in Cincinnati, Houston, Long Beach, Memphis, Minneapolis, Providence and San Jose.​

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Mayor of Raleigh

Mayor Baldwin was first elected to the Raleigh City Council in 2007 as an at-large member, serving five terms, before being elected mayor in 2019 and re-elected in 2022. She is Chair of the Safe, Healthy, & Vibrant Neighborhood Committee, Vice-Chair of the Economic Development & Innovation Committee, Vice Chair of the GoTriangle Board of Trustees and the council’s liaison to the Downtown Raleigh Alliance. During her tenure, she has been an advocate for housing affordability and choice, leading an effort to reform zoning laws and allow for missing middle housing; the expansion of transit, including the first bus rapid transit line in the state; and parks and greenways, passing a $275 million bond referendum – the largest in the city’s history.

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Mayor of Durham 

Mayor Williams is a former teacher and school administrator. He was elected to Durham City Council in December 2021 and sworn in as Mayor December 2023. While serving on City Council, he continues to apply his experience and passion in education, entrepreneurship and commitment to addressing deep social issues to make Durham a united community that provides safety and prosperity for all. ​Mayor Williams was recognized twice by Durham Public City Schools as Teacher of the Year and was also recognized by the Triangle Business Journal with a “40 Under 40” Award for producing innovative practices in education.

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President and CEO, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce

Cole leads the Triangle's largest business membership organization, representing two-thirds of the private sector employment in Wake County. She and her team support the interests of the local business community while building a thriving regional economy. Cole's core focus areas are economic development, diversity, equity and inclusivity, governmental affairs, transportation, workforce development and more. Under Adrienne’s leadership, the Chamber and Wake County Economic Development led economic development project wins totaling $5.24 billion and 23,600 jobs since 2014.

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Wake County Economic Development Director and Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President 

Wake County Economic Development (WCED) is the primary economic development organization for Wake County, providing economic development support for its 12 municipalities. As a program of the Raleigh Chamber, the organization proactively creates an environment where Wake County can grow and thrive, resulting in new jobs and capital investment. In 2019, Haley was named one of the Top 50 Economic Developers in North America by Consultant Connect. He was also named the North Carolina Economic Developer of the Year for 2019 by the NC Economic Development Association. ​

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Wake County Economic Development Assistant Executive Director and Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Vice President 

Cagle leads Wake County Economic Development’s comprehensive business expansion, recruitment and relocation efforts focused on four key market segments: Information Technology, Life Sciences, Cleantech and Advanced Manufacturing. As a component of this, she also oversees Wake County’s talent attraction, retention and pipeline strategy, focused on growing and recruiting highly skilled talent in the Triangle. 

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Regional Transportation Alliance Executive Director and Raleigh Chamber SVP

Milazzo serves as executive director of the Regional Transportation Alliance (RTA), the voice of the business community, on transportation in North Carolina’s Research Triangle area. Milazzo has led business advocacy efforts on transportation issues and policy since the founding of the RTA membership organization in 2002. His primary role is to accelerate success on essential priorities by bringing the regional business community together, leveraging its strength and voice and providing strategic focus and direction.​

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Mayor of Morrisville 

After successful careers in high-tech, banking and pharmaceutical financial management, Mayor Cawley transitioned to community service in 2006. Mayor Cawley enjoys coaching youth sports, serving on local boards and advisory committees and spending time with his wife, three children and two dogs. 

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North Carolina State Director of Partnerships 

Demps began in the role of partnership developer before serving as interim director of partnerships. During her time at NC State, she has been instrumental in growing the university’s partnerships. Her efforts have led to the recruitment of 43 corporate partners and helped secure more than $40 million in funding, providing increased opportunities for students and faculty.  

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North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary for External Affairs and Chief of Staff 

Kappler advises the Secretary on key issues, leads special initiatives and helps coordinate strategic efforts to improve the health and well-being of all North Carolinians. He joined the Department as Chief of Staff to then-Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health and IDD, Kody Kinsley. Kappler previously served as Executive Director of the North Carolina FreeEnterprise Foundation (NCFREE), a nonprofit organization that provides the state’s business community nonpartisan political research and analysis. Prior to his role at NCFREE, Kappler served as Interim Vice President of Federal Relations and Director of State Government Relations for the University of North Carolina System, where he represented the 17 institutions that comprise the University of North Carolina in business before the NC General Assembly, state agencies, the US Congress and Federal agencies.

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PNC Bank Regional President of Eastern Carolinas and Southeast Territory Executive

As senior regional territory executive, he is responsible for PNC’s business, implementing the company’s strategy and delivering the brand in the region. In addition to his PNC Bank responsibilities, he is chair of the board for the North Carolina State University Board of Visitors and serves on the executive committee for the NC Chamber and the Dix Park Conservancy. He is also past chair of the board for the North Carolina Bankers Association, the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and the Research Triangle Regional Partnership. Hansen lived in Birmingham from 2009-2014 and served on the Executive Committee of the Birmingham Business Alliance and the board of Mercedes-Benz US. 

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Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Public Policy 

Fox has worked with local, regional, state and federal partners to support Durham’s economy, employers and related governmental issues. Fox is informed by the Chamber’s members and the greater Durham business community as well as his peers, especially the North Carolina Chamber, North Carolina Economic Development Association, North Carolina Professional Lobbyists Association, Southern Economic Development Council and Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Fox served as a congressional staffer locally and on Capitol Hill for six years before running his own public affairs practice and has experience in politics and conservation advocacy.

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Downtown Durham, Inc. President & CEO  

Since 2017, Thompson has been working tirelessly with her team to maintain and improve downtown Durham’s vibrancy and growth. She began her career in economic development while working for the Institute of Minority Economic Development in downtown Durham in the early 90s, well before the downtown transformation but remembers a unique and entrepreneurial community full of potential and spunk, which is still true today. Since then, she has worked in economic and community development on the state government, local government and nonprofit/community levels in North Carolina, Virginia and Colorado. She has experience in leading economic development efforts and growth in both rural and urban areas.

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