LEAD Executive Instructors
Alan Cole
Alan is currently President and CEO for Upholstery Operations for Hooker Furniture. In his 35 years in the home furnishings industry, he has served as CEO of the Schnadig Corporation and General Manager for Broyhill Furniture Industries. Alan has received a number of industry awards, including being named U.S. Furniture Manufacturing Executive of the Year in 1999 and a Top 25 Executive in 1994. He is Chairman of the Board of the Furniture Fellowship Board and a Board Member of the AFMA industry organization.
Gary Baldwin
Gary is a retired business executive with over 38 years of business experience. Most recently he held the position of Vice President, Industry Leader, North America at Capgemini, one of the world’s largest consulting companies. Prior to joining Capgemini, Gary was responsible for product development for one of the world’s largest independent software companies. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Systems from Winston-Salem State University and holds the APICS certification.
Henry Williamson
Henry is the retired Chief Operating Officer of BB&T, one of the U.S.’s premiere commercial banks. Henry holds Masters of Business Administration Degree from East Carolina University and is a graduate of the Young Executive’s Institute at the University of North Carolina and has attended executive education courses at the Wharton School.
Jason Carter
Jason Carter is presently Vice President of Operations for Novant Health, Inc. in Winston – Salem, NC. Prior to his current role, Jason served as the Vice President of Human Resources for Novant Health’s Winston –Salem, NC Market. Novant Health is an integrated health care system with revenues in excess of $3 billion and 26,000 employees. Previous to Novant Health, Jason served as Director, Human Resources for the Kohler Company, a home furnishing manufacturing organization with global operations. Jason received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Appalachian State University and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Winston – Salem State University. He is a certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources, and holds a Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification.
Lanny Farmer
Lanny spent the majority of his 37 years in Pharmaceuticals, Insurance, and Finance businesses with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, a major international pharmaceuticals manufacturer. He served in a variety of sales management and sales training management positions with a focus on building successful teams of sales and management leaders. Lanny earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from The Citadel and has completed graduate courses in Marketing and in Food and Drug Sciences from Liberty University and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Perry Hudspeth
Perry is the President of Anchor Financial Management Group. During his nearly forty years in the financial industry he has held senior management positions with leading insurance companies and banks. Perry belongs to the Society of Financial Services Professionals, the National and Winston-Salem Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, and the Financial Services Institute. He graduated from Appalachian State Univesity with B.S. degree in Business Administration.
Ron Kessinger
Ron is the retired Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Triad Guaranty Insurance Corporation, which is one of only seven mortgage insurers in the U.S. Ron was a member of the management team that started the company. Ron holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Kent State University.
Scott Reed
Scott is the retired Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of BB&T Corporation, one of the U.S.’s premier commercial banks. Scott obtained his Masters in Business Administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has also attended executive education courses conducted by the Harvard Business School, the University of Chicago, the American Bankers Association and other major universities.