Chris Elmore is an entrepreneur, author, and co-founder of AvidXchange. He has written eight books and countless articles, is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at UNC-Charlotte and at Queens University of Charlotte, and is the Entrepreneur-in-Residence for the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce.
As co-founder and “company evangelist” of AvidXchange, an industry leader in automating invoice and payment processes for midsize companies, Elmore has seen the company earn recognition as one of the 50 fastest-growing private companies in the Charlotte area for six consecutive years, rank among Deloitte’s Fast 500, and be named one of the top 100 technology companies in the United States. The privately-held company is valued at $1.4 billion.
A self-described “terrible student,” Elmore graduated from Watauga High School in Boone, North Carolina, in 1987. After an unsuccessful attempt at launching a heavy metal band, Elmore enrolled in Gaston College in the fall of 1988. He did not declare a major nor earn a degree while at Gaston College, but he did take many Business and Economics classes. He left the College in 1990 and enrolled in UNC-Charlotte, earning his bachelor’s degree in History and Museum Studies, and a master’s in Theology from Summit Bible School.
Noted for his knowledge of industry and for his entertaining tone, Elmore is a renowned speaker in the finance world and travels the country speaking on the topics of startup success, innovation, entrepreneurship, sales, technology, blockchain, and automation.
Elmore considers himself to be a proud product of the North Carolina Community College system. It was with the support of instructors at Gaston College that he developed the learning and study skills that enabled his academic success. “I would not be where I am today without Gaston College,” he said.
Mr. Ratchford entered the working world at the young age of 13. After school and on Saturdays, he bagged groceries and stocked shelves at his uncle’s grocery store in West Gastonia. Born in Gastonia, Ratchford lived in Dallas until he was 10. He attended Gaston County Schools. By the time he was 15, his budding working career had branched out into mowing neighborhood lawns.
Obviously, George was never afraid of hard work and that work ethic has served him well for many years. In the early 1980s he was a recent high school graduate without a clear vision for his future and that’s where his journey with PSNC began and he started laying natural gas lines for them. While not the most glamorous of jobs, George said that being on a line crew gave him the opportunity to see what engineers do, and that planted a seed for his future. After two years of laying pipe for PSNC, Ratchford headed back to school with no intention of returning to the gas company.
After completing his degree at Gaston College, Mr. Ratchford went on to graduate from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. Upon graduation, George intended to take a position in Charlotte, but PSNC drew him back in.
Over the course of his 30+ year history with PSNC Energy, he has managed several areas of the organization, including engineering, construction, materials management and customer service operations. Today he is the vice president of operations for the natural gas utility.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, George has served his community as a civic leader for many years. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce.
He attributes much of his success to having a supportive family. He and his wife of 29 years, Kelley, are the proud parents of two daughters, Peyton and Alexis.
Moses Neuman, Jr. ’97, is President and CEO of NB Technology, LLC. Upon graduation from Gaston College, Neuman attended Pfeiffer University where he majored in Business Administration and Management of Information Systems. Moses began his career in IT working for different companies while honing his technical and management skills. He decided to start his on technology company nearly 20 years ago and has continued that successful venture building a strong and reputable business by providing top notch customer service and IT expertise.
Moses is very active in the community as well serving on several boards over the years including the Gaston Regional Chamber, the Montcross Chamber and The Salvation Army of Gaston County. He also supports, and is active in, the United Way, Meals on Wheels, the Boys and Girls Club of America, the YMCA and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Active in the community, Sheriff Cloninger doesn’t sit behind a desk – he gets out in our community, seeing what’s going on, talking with people, making sure he meets the needs of the county. Alan is a true law man. He served as a Police Officer for the Town of Dallas and with the Gaston County Police Department reaching the rank of
sergeant. Before becoming Sheriff, Alan was a deputy for the Gaston County Sheriff’s office and obtained the rank of Major as the jail administrator. Alan also served as a prosecutor with the Gaston County District Attorney’s office and later managed his own law firm.
Sheriff Cloninger has an extensive background in law enforcement training. Alan holds an Associate in Applied Science in Police Science from Gaston College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from UNC Charlotte, and a Law degree from Campbell University. He has earned an advanced law enforcement certificate from the North Carolina Sheriff’s Training Standards Commission, the NC Criminal Justice Training and Standards Commission. He also holds an Advanced Detention Officer Certificate from North Carolina Sheriff’s Education Training and Standards Commission. He is a certified detention officer and certified by the National Sheriff’s Institute Executive Level Management Education and Training.
Sheriff Cloninger is also an active community volunteer. He serves on Gaston College’s Board of Trustees as a Governor’s appointee, among many other volunteer commitments.
Mr. Tracy Philbeck, a lifelong Gaston County resident, graduated from Gaston County schools, received an Associate degree from Gaston College, followed by a Bachelor of Arts degree from Campbell University. He and his wife Rebecca live in Dallas, NC with their two children.
Mr. Philbeck is President of Treescape, Inc., which has over three generations of experience in tree and outdoor services. Its corporate headquarters are located in Gastonia, but for the convenience of its customers the company has several satellite locations across the southeast serving thousands of residential, commercial, and municipal clients. He is also Vice President of Covenant Investors of NC.
Mr. Philbeck has served as the Chairman of the Gaston County Commissioners, Dallas Township, and has been an elected official since 2009.
Tracy’s focus on helping to build a stronger economic landscape for our community and region has included service to organizations such as the NC Rural Infrastructure Authority, Charlotte Regional Partnership, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, National Association of Counties, the Gaston County GOP Executive Committee, and the Economic Development Commission. Additionally, Tracy has shown an unwavering commitment to those less fortunate by serving in leadership capacities for organizations such as Habitat for Humanity of Gaston County, the Dallas Rescue Squad, the Least of These of Gaston County, the Dream Center of Gaston County, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Gaston County, and the Partnership for Children of Lincoln/Gaston Counties, advocating on behalf of those who cannot always do so for themselves.
Tracy enjoys fishing, reading and spending time with family
Former Gastonia mayor and prominent businesswoman Jennie Thomas Stultz graduated from Gaston College with an Associate of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education. She also attended Western Carolina University and Kings Business College in the Medical Records program and attended Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Jennie credits Gaston College for launching her 17-year career working with public and private pre-schools, including serving as Gaston College Day Care Director. This experience gave her the opportunity to become a leader and mentor to other pre-schools and early childhood programs.
Ms. Stultz went on to become the Executive Director of Keep Gastonia Beautiful and her successful leadership prompted her to become the first female mayor of Gastonia where she served five terms in office until retiring in 2011. Under her leadership, Gastonia won the designation as All America City in 2000 and 2010. Also in 2010, Gastonia received the US Conference of Mayors City Livability Award.
Jennie is now the founder and president of Leading by Design, a consulting firm serving local government and non-profit organizations. She is the Executive Director of the Gaston County Education Foundation and serves on many local boards.
Jennie is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Keep America Beautiful National Leadership Award, NC Women’s Clubs’ Outstanding Women of NC, Gaston County Woman of the Year, Gaston Chamber Athena Award, Gaston Gazette Person of the Year, the Jaycees’ W. Duke Kimbrell Lifetime Achievement Award, the “Wisdom of Solomon” Award from Temple Emmanuel, and the Martin Luther King Unity Award.
Dr. Malinda B. Lowery, a graduate of Gaston College who completed her doctoral studies in administration and leadership at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, is co-founder of Multiple Choice, Inc.
Dr. Lowery has spent more than 25 years as a consultant to organizations from government to Fortune 100 corporations. Multiple Choice provides two areas of services for clients: Strategic solutions for corporations such as strategic planning, succession planning, executive coaching, human capital gap analysis, leadership development, team development and; human resource tools such as personnel selection systems, performance management systems, bonus and incentive program design, employee search and recruiting, and
compensation and position analysis.
Malinda is a strong advocate of community service and servant leadership. She has served organizations including the Glenn Foundation, Gaston County Women’s Commission, Gastonia East Rotary Club, the United Way and the Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Jimmy Wayne is a former foster kid turned award-winning country recording artist whose songs and story highlight his mission to raise awareness for children in foster care. Jimmy’s hits include “Stay Gone,” “Paper Angels,” “I Love You This Much” and “Do You Believe Me Now,” which earned BMI’s prestigious Million-Air Award marking one million radio spins in America. In 2009, Jimmy toured with Brad Paisley and recorded “Sara Smile” with rock ‘n roll Hall of Fame duo Daryl Hall and John Oates.
In 2010, Jimmy walked halfway across America (from Nashville to Phoenix) to raise awareness for kids aging out of the foster-care system. In 2012, Jimmy helped get legislative bills passed extending the age of foster care to 21 in California, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Ohio. In 2014 he released Walk to Beautiful: The Power of Love and a Homeless Kid Who Found the Way, a three-time New York Times bestselling memoir which quickly crossed the 100,000 print sales milestone. In 2016 he received the prestigious Points of Light award from President George W. Bush (41), and in 2017 he received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from William Woods University.
Jimmy has performed on the Grand Ole Opry more than 215 times. He lives in Nashville and continues to work tirelessly on behalf of at-risk foster youth by performing, writing books, and keynote speaking. Jimmy’s ultimate goal is to build transitional homes for youth who age out of foster care without a place to live.
Jimmy’s third book , Ruby the Foster Dog, is available on BroadStreet Publishing.