SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
10:30 AM
Check-in and Networking
11:00 AM
Welcome
Kim Marshall, Chief Human Resources Officer, Travel + Leisure Co.
11:10 AM
Keynote Address
Mae Douglas, Chair, Cone Health Board of Trustees
11:30 AM
Networking Luncheon
12:00 PM
Partnership Conversation Panel – Moderated by Cindy Farmer, Morning News Anchor, FOX8 WGHP
Mary Jo Cagle, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cone Health
Rosalind Dale, Ed.D, Vice Provost for Engagement and Outreach, NC A&T State University
April Mason, General Manager of Plant Services, Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina
Nasha McCray, Assistant City Manager, City of Greensboro
Whitney Oakley, Ed.D, Superintendent, Guilford County Schools
Tracy Ripa, Senior Vice President, Brand and Franchise Operations, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
1:00 PM
Closing Remarks
Kim Marshall, Chief Human Resources Officer, Travel + Leisure Co.
1:30 PM
Backpack Stuffing and Networking in Sedgefield Country Club Breezeway
Today, we will host a local non-profit, Forsyth Backpack Program, to pack nearly 6,500 meals! In an assembly-line process, amazing executive women will pack 200 food cases or 1,800 bags that will go out to children across Forsyth County for the 2024-2025 school year. Each bag contains four kid-friendly and nutritious meals: individual-sized, shelf-stable milk, juice boxes, cans of protein, applesauce and cereal bowls.
Forsyth Backpack Program is a local non-profit that provides nutritious food to children and their families who are at risk of food insecurity. It has been serving Forsyth County for 13 years and this past school year served approximately 750 children in 13 schools. In 2023, the Forsyth Backpack Program reached 1 million meals served since its start.
BIOS
Mary Jo Cagle, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cone Health
Mary Jo Cagle, MD, is the president and chief executive officer at Cone Health. She is the first woman and the first physician to lead the multi-hospital Cone Health system and has been named one of the 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives by Modern Healthcare for 2023 as well as being selected as an honoree for Triad Business Journal’s 2023 C-Suite Awards. Dr. Cagle has led Cone Health to one of Modern Healthcare’s 2023 Top Diversity Leaders.
Since joining the organization in 2011, Dr. Cagle has held a number of leadership positions, most recently serving as chief operating officer. She has been instrumental in leading Cone Health to national recognition for quality of care. She previously was chief medical officer at Bon Secours St. Francis in Greenville, South Carolina, where she was a physician partner at Greenville East Center for Women.
Dr. Cagle received her medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham and her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Greenville Hospital System in Greenville, South Carolina, and her Chief Medical Officer Fellowship through the Health Management Academy.
Dr. Cagle’s recent accolades include The Nina Griggs Gunter Servant Leadership Award for 2022. The honor recognizes those who provide leadership and influence as a role model for women who are servant leaders. She received the 2022 ATHENA Award from the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. It is one of the organization’s highest honors and is given to those who improve the quality of life for others and work for the advancement of women. Dr. Cagle was named one of Modern Healthcare’s 10 Women Leaders to Watch for 2021.
Dr. Cagle was the North Carolina Hospital Association’s 2017 Clinical Leadership Award and the National Association of Professional Women’s 2013-2014 Woman of the Year recipient. She was named to the Outstanding Women in Business List by the Triad Business Journal in 2014. She was the 2010 winner of the Lewis Blackman Award, presented by South Carolina Hospital Association, for promoting patient safety in South Carolina hospitals.
Dr. Cagle serves on the Salem Academy and College President’s Advisory Council, the Board of Trustees for Trevecca Nazarene University, and the Family Service of the Piedmont Board of Directors. She is a member of the Advisory Committee for the Chief Medical Officer Fellowship of the Health Management Academy. Previously, she served on North Carolina Hospital Association Center’s Committee for Health Equity.
Rosalind Dale, Ed.D, Vice Provost for Engagement and Outreach, NC A&T State University
In October 2021, Dr. Rosalind Dale was appointed Vice Provost for engagement and outreach at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, our nation’s largest historically Black college or university and 1890 land-grant university. In this position, Dale oversees multiple units, including Distance Education and Extended Learning, Career Services and Experiential Learning, and works closely with the university’s centers of excellence, particularly the Center of Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She also works with the Division of Research and Economic Development to expand the economic development enterprise of North Carolina A&T. Dale is excited about her new role and the opportunities to collaborate with local, regional, and national partners to enhance the well-being of our neighbors and neighborhoods, develop a 21st Century workforce and improve the economic viability of local communities. Dale previously served as associate dean and Extension administrator for Cooperative Extension at A&T and has more than 27 years of experience with 1862 and 1890 Extension. She joined A&T in 2011, where she also served as a regional program coordinator and interim 4-H and Family and Consumer Sciences program leader before assuming her current role.
As associate dean and Extension administrator, she led two major strategic planning initiatives – Mission Possible: The Organizational Plan to Inspire North Carolinians to Improve Their Lives and Mission Possible 2.0 – while also leading efforts to enhance the organization’s brand, increase funding and staffing, and overall organizational effectiveness. Under her leadership, Cooperative Extension realized increases in funding, staffing, and the development of several signature programs. Her career with the Illinois Extension (1994 to 2011) included a steady progression through five positions that included work with the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), the Family Nutrition Program (SNAP-Ed—Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education), 4-H Youth Development, Family and Consumer Sciences, and county administration. Her entire Extension career has focused on serving limited-resource audiences in urban and rural communities. Dale holds an Ed.D. in adult education, an M.S. in human services administration, a B.S. in nutrition, and a B.S. in home economics.
Cindy Farmer, Morning News Anchor, FOX8 WGHP
Cindy Farmer is an Emmy award-winning journalist with more than 30 years of experience in television news. A Virginia native, she began her career in Roanoke, Virginia, at WSLS TV 10 while still a student at Virginia Tech. After graduation, she moved from Blacksburg to Roanoke and worked full-time for TV 10. In August of 1990, Cindy joined the Good Evening Show in Greensboro, based out of the studios of WFMY. In 1992 when that show was canceled she became a part the News 2 reporter team. In 1997, after the birth of her first child, Cindy found her “home” with FOX8 and has been with the station for 20+ years anchoring the FOX8 Morning and Noon News and reporting each week “What’s Right With Our Schools.”
She has won many awards including an Emmy for Community Service, the Susan G. Komen Lifetime Volunteer Achievement award, The Susan G. Komen Founders Award, the Howard Coble Citizenship award, the USTA Grady Elmore Award for contributions to tennis.
An avid sports fan Cindy loves to play tennis and watch any sport her favorite Virginia Tech Hokies are playing! She says her passion is photography and she loves capturing “the everyday gifts we are given” through her lens. She says photography helps her to live by her day-by-day motto “accentuate the positive!”
She is married and has two daughters who are in college and three rescue dogs who keep her busy keeping them entertained! She and her husband make their home in Greensboro.
April Mason, General Manager of Plant Services, Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina
April Mason was named general manager of plant services at Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina (TBMNC) in March 2022. The plant, located in Liberty, N.C., is Toyota’s first battery manufacturing facility globally. With an investment of $13.9 billion, TBMNC will employ 5,100 and have 14 production lines delivering hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and battery electric lithium-ion batteries in 2025. In this role, Mason will oversee production control, facilities, and local business planning and coordinate with various regional functional teams related to battery business establishment.
Mason joined Toyota in 1994 as a team member relations representative at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky. Mason transitioned to human resources organizational development in 2001, where she led the talent review system implementation for Toyota Motor North America as the general manager of talent development. Most recently, Mason served as the general manager of administration for Toyota’s engine plant, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama.
Before joining to Toyota, Mason worked for Ford Motor Company and Marathon Oil.
Mason holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in labor and employee relations from the University of Cincinnati. She currently serves on the board of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, Girls, Inc., and is a member of the International Women’s Forum.
Nasha McCray, Assistant City Manager, City of Greensboro
Nasha McCray strives to transform and improve the quality of life for the City of Greensboro’s residents as its Assistant City Manager. With a 20+ year career of dedicated public service in the urban planning and recreation fields, Nasha and her team have secured millions in grants and partnerships to support a wide variety of innovative projects and initiatives that serve the community. As demonstration of excellence in the recreation field, under her leadership as the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Director, the Department received national reaccreditation, a National Gold Medal Award, and adopted its award-winning Plan2Play comprehensive master plan. She earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and a master’s degree in public administration, with concentration in urban and regional planning, from the University of Central Florida. She is an active member of a number of Boards, committees, and professional and civic organizations and is a proponent of public engagement, an advocate for equity and inclusion, and a believer of the transformative power that parks have in improving community.
Whitney Oakley, Ed.D, Superintendent, Guilford County Schools
Dr. Whitney Oakley is the fifth superintendent of Guilford County Schools (GCS), serving more than 68,000 PK-12 students and 10,000 employees at 124 schools. As the district’s first homegrown superintendent, Oakley is a long-time educator and school administrator with a proven track record of improving student learning outcomes.
Raised in Greensboro, N.C., Oakley attended GCS from kindergarten to high school. She began her career as a teacher at Frazier Elementary in GCS before serving as an assistant principal and principal in a neighboring county. Since 2012, Oakley has served the district in multiple leadership roles, including executive director of elementary curriculum, assistant superintendent of teaching, learning and professional development, chief academic officer and deputy superintendent.
In her roles as deputy superintendent and chief academic officer, Oakley developed the district’s instructional framework and standardized high-quality curriculum across elementary, middle and high schools to ensure equitable access to on-grade level content; led job-embedded professional learning initiatives for teachers; and implemented instructional programming and professional learning programs focused on English learners and exceptional children. She also spearheaded a 164-member task force in developing an award-winning school re-entry plan following COVID-19 school closures.
After being appointed superintendent in the fall of 2022, Oakley launched a series of community conversations to inform Better Together, the district’s new strategic direction with a singular focus to make GCS the best place to learn, work and grow. Better Together is the culmination of more than 200 community conversations and was shaped with the input of 8,000 stakeholders during phases one and two.
During her first year as superintendent, Dr. Oakley expanded the district’s nationally recognized learning recovery efforts, including high-dosage tutoring and learning hubs. In the 2022-2023 school year, GCS provided nearly 300,000 high-dosage tutoring sessions to 11,461 students, doubling the number of students served from the prior year. The district also deployed twelve new school safety strategies; secured nearly $20 million in grant funding to expand on-demand mental health services to all schools; and launched nine new school construction projects along with a $48 million allocation for deferred maintenance, technology and school safety projects as part of a voter-approved $2 billion school bond program.
Under Oakley’s leadership, the district removed the low-performing district designation and three of its schools were selected as the top-ranking elementary, middle, and high schools in North Carolina, as recognized by the US World News & Report. Additionally, two GCS high schools stand out as the only ones in the state ranked among the top 40 in the country this year, with one being the number one high school in the entire nation.
Throughout her career, Oakley has received several recognitions and awards for her extraordinary vision and leadership, including The Triad Business Journal 40 Leaders Under 40 Award, Wachovia Piedmont-Triad/Central Region’s Principal of the Year award in 2010, the Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding visual and performing arts programming in 2020, The Triad Business Journal Women in Business Award in 2023 and Named 2023 Superintendent to Watch by National School Public Relations Association.
Oakley holds a Bachelor of Science in special education from East Carolina University, a Master of Education in elementary education from Greensboro College, a Specialist in Education and a Doctor of Education in educational leadership from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). She lives in Guilford County with her husband and two children, both currently enrolled in GCS.
Tracy Ripa, Senior Vice President, Brand and Franchise Operations, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Tracy Ripa serves as Senior Vice President of Brand & Franchise Operations at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,200 hotels spanning more than 95 countries and six continents. In this role, Tracy oversees all franchised operations for North America, driving the strategic vision for brands, field operations, quality assurance, and openings. In addition, Tracy oversees the development and execution of brand standards, which implements the defining elements and compliance standards across Wyndham’s portfolio.
Tracy is an accomplished hospitality leader with over 25 years of experience across franchising, operations and brand management. She has a deep expertise in empowering franchisees to deliver outstanding guest experiences through a focus on quality, service and operational excellence. Through her leadership, she instills a culture of unwavering commitment to delivering top-notch experiences for guests while driving operational efficiency for owners.
Since joining Wyndham, Tracy has spearheaded initiatives to improve franchise engagement across all brands. For example, Tracy was instrumental in launching the “Count on Us” campaign during COVID-19 to showcase Wyndham’s commitment to the health and safety of guests and franchisees.
Tracy began her hospitality career when she joined Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in 1998 as a Manager of Operations for the Ramada brand. Over her 25+ years at Wyndham, she has served in a variety of leadership roles, including Group Vice President of Franchise Operations and Quality, Vice President of Quality Assurance, Director of Retention Services and Director of Franchisee Learning and Development.
Tracy holds a Master of Science in Hospitality Management from Farleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey. She currently serves as Chair of the Leadership Advisory Board for East Carolina University’s School of Hospitality. Tracy has previously served on the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s Forward Executive Committee and Safe Stay Advisory Council.
Tracy lives in New Jersey with her husband and two boys.
Mae Douglas, Chair, Cone Health Board of Trustees
Greensboro native Mae Douglas has had a distinguished career as a corporate business leader and executive. Mae came back home to Greensboro and got to work. Driven by her belief in the promise Greensboro embodies, calling it “a place of diversity, compassion, vision and collaboration,” Mae is working to build a better city for future generations growing up in our community.
Since retirement, Mae has invested her time, talent and resources as a volunteer, mentor and philanthropist. She is dedicated to advancing the policy and systemic changes necessary to achieve full equity and accessibility in education, healthcare, small business development, and all the facets of life for those in our community. Her efforts are often focused in predominantly Black areas like those in East Greensboro where she grew up, since investments in the city’s historically left out neighborhoods like hers were lacking.
Mae currently serves with organizations such as Cone Health, UNC-Greensboro, and the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro. She previously served with several others, including United Way of Greater Greensboro, NCCJ, Gateway Research Park, Corporate YMCA, Children and Families First (GCD), and M & F Bank City Advisory Board. Most recently she played a key role in establishing the Black Investments in Greensboro (BIG) Equity Fund, a permanent endowment with a vision to transform the wellbeing of Greensboro’s Black communities.
During Mae’s career, she was nationally recognized for significant contributions across the cable and telecommunications industry as a sponsor and mentor. She has been honored many times for her work in the Triad, including the 2020 Athena Award by the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce; the 2022 Outstanding
Greensboro Philanthropist by the Association of Fundraising Professionals-NC Triad Chapter; the 2022 Thomas Z Osborne Distinguished Citizen Award by the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce; the 2023 NCCJ Citation Award; and 2023 Black Business Ink Power 100 Award.
Mae fulfills her purpose through community service and believes her impact is related to the collaboration and partnerships among the organizations she is privileged to serve.
