“Connecting the Dots”
A Statewide Forum
November 10, 2022, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Keynote Speaker
Agenda:
1:00 – 2:00 Social Gathering
– Special Remarks from NC Governor Roy Cooper
2:00 – 4:00 Program Agenda
Welcome – Meredith Henderson, Executive Director, Go Global NC
Introduction of Keynote – Tim Gabel, CEO and President, RTI International – Presenting Sponsor
Keynote: Karen LeVert, Partner, Pappas Capital
2022 NC Global Ambassador Award–presented by N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and Tom White, NC State University
NC and Moldova: Providing Support During the Ongoing Crisis –-Dr. Audrey Snyder, Professor and Associate Dean for Experiential Learning and Innovation, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina- Greensboro; and Major General M. Todd Hunt, Adjutant General, North Carolina National Guard – moderated by N.C. Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall
Fireside chat #1 – Connecting Global Businesses and the World — John Baekelmans, Flanders Investment and Trade, Paula Barngrover, CEO of Alura USA, and Thomas Hildebrand, Lock Drives, Inc – moderated by Ryan Combs, Executive Director, Research Triangle Regional Partnership
Fireside chat #2- Using Technologies Across Sectors to Address Global Issues — Siddhartha “Sid” Thakur, Executive Director of Global One Health Academy & Professor of Molecular Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, NC State; Daniel Lapidus, Senior Economist and Policy Analyst, RTI International; and Paul Ulanch, Executive Director, Crop Commercialization Program, NC Biotechnology Center – moderated by Sandy Stewart, Assistant Commissioner, N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
4:00 – 5:00 Global Networking Hour
Hear from visionary leaders about how engaging with the world can bring greater prosperity to North Carolina and take part in our Global Networking Hour to learn how we can collaborate to achieve more together.
The NC Coalition for Global Competitiveness is a private and public sector partnership of leaders from a variety of industries from all over North Carolina co-chaired by Elaine Marshall, NC Secretary of State, and Steve Troxler, NC Agriculture Commissioner. The Coalition, founded in 2013 and coordinated by Go Global NC, fosters thought leadership and serves as a catalyst for a statewide vision for global engagement.
On behalf of the NC Coalition for Global Competitiveness, a partnership of private and public sector leaders focused on enhanced global engagement, we invite you to join us for a timely discussion on global engagement for North Carolina.
Secretary Marshall and Commissioner Troxler
Co-chairs, NC Coalition for Global Competitiveness

Secretary Elaine Marshall
North Carolina Secretary of State
In 1996, Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall became the first woman ever elected to statewide, executive branch office in North Carolina. As Secretary of State for seven consecutive terms, Secretary Marshall has pioneered e-commerce in government and promoted financial capital formation in North Carolina. She is a strong advocate for greater international commerce, leading trade delegations to represent North Carolina products and businesses and hosting international delegations visiting the state.

Commissioner Steve Troxler
Agriculture Commissioner of North Carolina
N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler was raised in the Guilford County community of Browns Summit and has spent his entire career in agriculture as founder, owner and operator of Troxler Farms. Over the years, the family-owned farm has produced tobacco, heat, vegetables and soybeans. Since taking office in 2005, Troxler has focused on developing new markets for N.C. farm products, preserving working farms and protecting the state’s food supply.
To receive email updates about the NC Global Advantage Forum 2022,
please contact Rachel Page
Thank you
to the NC Global Advantage Forum 2022 Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
