The Future Is 50

by Raleigh Magazine | Mar 28, 2024 | April 2024, Buzz

Meet Raleigh Magazine’s Impact 50 honorees.

They say youth is wasted on the young—well, they can have it. Turns out the future is 50—and it’s super bright.

Enter Raleigh Magazine’s Impact 50 finalists—people who have spent their lives getting to this pivotal decade when their star is shining brightest… and proving success has no age limit. “I don’t think success is a lightning-bolt moment,” says finalist and veteran TV reporter Amanda Lamb—“it’s doing what you love, and, hopefully, making a difference in other peoples’ lives.” 

Profoundly shaping minds, matters and spaces, our decorated Impact 50 finalists have wielded influence—and wisdom—of great scale. Running the gamut from founders to creators to entrepreneurs, this celebrated cast has parlayed their success into infinite impact—from their voice to their vision—across every facet of Raleigh. 

“Success is not an end goal—it looks different in every season of life,” emphasizes finalist and communications executive McGavock Henderson Edwards. … “Life is ever-changing, and we have this awesome opportunity to always be learning, always be growing, setting new goals, and doing the hard work to achieve them. In my opinion, it’s the little everyday wins that add up to a successful life.”

As many discovered on their paths to success, it’s about the journey, not the destination. And, clearly, they have arrived. At the top of their game, this lot of forward-thinking local 50-somethings serve as proof positive that 50s is the moment: The age of enlightenment. The age of disruptors. The age of peak performance.

Mike Smith
CEO | Kane Realty Corp. 
Smith’s impact on Raleigh is evident—as seen by the many Kane buildings and developments throughout the city. Beyond North Hills, Smoky Hollow, Platform and The Dillon, the master planner is shaping an ever-growing portfolio—including the highly anticipated North Hills Innovation District. But if you ask the Wake Forest University alum, he would say the biggest influence he has isn’t those developments, but the 250+ real estate developer’s employees “who are engaged throughout Raleigh as passionate citizens, parents, volunteers, coaches and cheerleaders.” As he asserts, success is about perspective. “You could look around and see what you don’t have,” he adds, “or embrace the friends/family/place that you are in the middle of and help make that a bit better.”

Best advice: Hire for character. 
Worst advice: Hire for the résumé. Unless you’re building rocket ships, most of what we do can be learned—but who you are sets you apart more than what you did. 
Love most about Raleigh: Best of the big-city life while still feeling like a community 
Thing you’d tell your 20-year-old self now: It’s a journey, not a destination.

Michele Weathers
Executive Producer | Raleigh Little Theatre
“The arts has intersections for everyone,” says Weathers. “Tell me what you value and I will find them.” And find them she has as an ever-impactful arts maven who took the helm as RLT executive producer in August after 30 years in live performing arts. Having spent most of her career in the Triangle—sans a trio of artful sojourns in New York, Massachusetts and Virginia—the NC-bred Meredith alum has always found her way home to a city committed to arts for all—one that allows her to sprinkle her acquired knowledge and do what she loves at a high level. “Everyone is on their own journey,” she says. “Try to see your life as a circle and not a straight line”—or in the case of an artist, a blank canvas with unlimited possibilities. 

You in three words: Kind, competent, loyal 
Who you want to meet—dead or alive: Tina Turner 
Memorable advice: ‘If you do your part, the world will meet you there’ is both the best and worst advice I’ve ever received. 
Fave Raleigh restaurant: Madre—great service, food and vibe 
Thing you’d tell your 20-year-old self NOW: No one is looking at you. Try facing out instead of in.

Donald Thompson
Co-Founder & CEO | The Diversity Movement: A Workplace Options Company
They say you never stop learning, and Thompson is a firm believer in that. The Louisiana-born, Greenville, NC-bred self-described competitive learner’s openness to new things and zero fear of failing has led him to make a mark on Raleigh in many ways, not just in terms of The Diversity Movement—though no small feat—but with the thousands of jobs he’s created over the years in NC as an angel investor. Not to mention the myriad boards he serves on—think TowneBank or the North Carolina State Computer Science Strategic advisory boards—and startups he works with. “Giving back in terms of your time, your knowledge and your treasure is super-important for leaders to do,” he emphasizes. “And I try to emulate the behavior I would expect of leaders.” And quite the leader he has proven to be. 

MO: Win with the cards you’re dealt. 
Hobby: The Canes games are crazy exciting!
Worst advice: Fake it till you make it—that’s one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard. You can be yourself and realize what you’re bringing to the table is enough at that moment as long as you’re willing to learn to do and be more.
What you know about success you wish you’d known before 50: Your network is your net worth. 

Michael Haley
SVP, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director, Wake County Economic Development
This NC native likes to say Raleigh is a community of “what’s next”—the next great idea, great company, great innovation. And it’s safe to say he has played a huge role in forging the future of our city. Haley’s leadership is, in a word, transformational. An absolute trailblazer when it comes to business recruitment, retention, expansion and talent development in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, he has led such epic wins as Apple, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, Gilead Life Sciences, Audemars Piguet and Pendo, among many others—not to mention assisted in 880 small and minority businesses. The takeaway? $4.5+ billion in private investment and 10,000+ jobs over the last five years alone. With an eye toward advocacy, supporting smart growth and economic mobility, the “competitive, passionate and faithful” UNC/ECU MPA grad has also been instrumental in revamping WCED talent-attraction initiative Work in the Triangle to reach broader audiences and provide greater accessibility to a “day in the life” in Raleigh. And as for what’s next? Approximately 8,000 acres in Wake County have been identified for future industrial site development to continue providing opportunities for investment and jobs

Fave Raleigh bar/restaurant: Players Retreat 
Love most about Raleigh: The variety: No matter what you like, what your interests are or where you are in life, you can find it in Raleigh. 
Go-to local retail spot: Kannon’s Clothing
What you know about success you wish you’d known before 50: Success looks like what you make it and want it to be—don’t let other people tell you what success is. 

Adrienne Cole
President & CEO | Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
While the ever-humble Chamber’s collaborative leader has had an incredible impact on Wake County/Raleigh’s economic and community development in the seven years she’s held her position, she doesn’t take all the credit. “It is never about me,” she maintains, “but rather what we can do together.” To wit, the New Bern-native and Meredith College alum/Appalachian State University MPA has had her hands in several significant projects throughout the city, including PNC and Red Hat’s relocation to DTR, Campbell Law School’s move to Raleigh, and Bandwidth’s new HQ—in addition to bond referenda to support Wake County Public Schools, housing affordability, transportation and local parks. “Being able to work on important infrastructure projects, as well as with new and existing companies as they create jobs and investment in our city/county is a privilege,” she adds. And Raleighites get the pleasure of reaping the benefits.

You in three words: Hardworking, responsible, committed 
MO: You can fake sincerity, but you can’t fake showing up—so show up! 
Who you want to meet—dead or alive: Jane Goodall and Maya Angelou 
Hobbies: Walks at the NC Museum of Art, on the Raleigh greenway, or at Umstead or Dix parks.
Love most about Raleigh: Its incredible people! I think this is a really special place full of optimism, creativity and intelligence.

Scott Crawford
Chef/Owner | Crawford Hospitality 
Crawford isn’t just a chef or a restaurant owner, he’s a creator of “spaces that energize and transform neighborhoods in our city,” and experiences that bring people together (over memorable meals to boot). “Food, beverage and hospitality can be very powerful in creating community,” he says. The five-time James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef Southeas—not to mention his Crawford and Son restaurant is a 2024 semifinalist for Outstanding Hospitality—and visionary behind Crawford Hospitality (think also Jolie, Crawford Cookshop, and upcoming Brodeto, Sous Terre and Crawford Brothers Steakhouse) has largely contributed to the growth of Raleigh’s food and beverage scene, helping put the City of Oaks on the map while cultivating careers in hospitality for local and national talent. Which is fitting with the visionary, mentor and Healing Transitions board member’s MO: “Do the right things for the right reasons and allow the work to speak for itself.”

Go-to local retail spot: Edge of Urge
Thing you’d tell your 20-year-old self now: How amazing sobriety is—and that through recovery you can have a life beyond your wildest dreams 
Fave Raleigh restaurant: Boulted Bread
What you know about success you wish you’d known before 50: Success is not linear; it is a roller-coaster journey, and it feels nothing like you think it’s going to. 

Will Alphin
Founder/Owner, REdesign.build | Co-Founder, Foundation
Raleigh-born and -bred, the sustainability-minded designer cares deeply about the City of Oaks—and is devoted to building her up through his environmentally aware full-service design and construction company. “The challenge is the reward,” emphasizes Alphin. “Invest in building your community, and that will yield the greatest return on any investment you could make.” A passionate visionary, he has remained steadfast to that MO since his days at NC State College of Design via “thoughtful, beautiful, value additive, sustainable design.” Beyond literally building up a greener Raleigh, Alphin’s iconic Foundation bar was the first with a mind toward sustainability on the local bar scene. And, above ground, the naturally creative problem-solver and leading-edge thinker and doer’s commitment to enriching the city can be seen in his work on the design and build of DTR’s first skate park and his role in getting funding passed to implement the long-awaited Bus Rapid Transit system.

Love most about Raleigh: Raleigh’s geographic location and capital-city function give it adjacency to such a wide spectrum of things, so at any time a random creative act is happening. 
Our motto should be: Keep Raleigh Random
Hobbies: Hiking in Umstead State Park, van life travel 
Fave Raleigh restaurant: Raleigh Raw 
Best advice: Instead of putting energy into complaining, put energy into changing what you are complaining about. 

Cheyanne Headen
Community and DeEscalation Specialist & Assistant Manager | A Place at the Table
“Is Ms. Cheyanne here?” It’s a question you’ll hear asked at APATT upward of 20 times per day—and a loud indication of her impact on our community. When it comes to finding a seat at the table, Headen’s mantra to “lead with love” ensures everyone is welcome, “prioritizing the humanity in each of our community members and recognizing that, regardless of circumstances, all of us just want to be seen and heard,” shares the NYC-bred, NC A&T master’s-holder. Through her position at APATT, the “compassionate, seasoned and determined” community-minded specialist is intentional in devoting time and resources to marginalized and underserved populations throughout the city—and takes pleasure in meeting Raleighites from all walks of life.

Who you want to meet—dead or alive: Michael Jackson 
What you know about success you wish you’d known before 50: Success is relative to our personal experiences, values and influences despite the ‘one-size-fits-all’ narrative society tries to impose. 
Fave Raleigh bar: Aunty Betty’s 
Thing you’d tell your 20-year-old self now: Be intentional about living each day as though it’s your last—and be sure to touch a lot of lives and have a lot of laughs along the way. And, girl, ride this thing called life until the wheels fall off! 

Danny Rosin
Co-Founder | Brand Fuel & Band Together
“With a mix of optimism, empathy and rebellion, anything can happen.” So goes the MO for the self-dubbed “cosmic glue stick” who inspires nonprofits to collaborate more, invest in their leaders and realize their grandest entrepreneurial dreams—“and to have a lot of fun building and serving the community along the way,” he adds. The Portsmouth, Virginia-native, Norfolk Academy/UNC-grad is lauded as a cheerleader for anyone he meets and an all-star at everything he does, most notably through his work for Band Together. To date, the local volunteer-driven org has used the power of live music to donate over $12 million to 125 Triangle-area nonprofits—raising over $1 mill for housing accessibility in 2023 alone. 

Best advice: When sh!t happens, shine. 
Who you want to meet—dead or alive: Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard 
Fave Raleigh restaurant: A Place at the Table 
Go-to local retail spots: The Pour House Record Shop, Lucky Tree, The Raleigh Market
Thing you’d tell your 20-year-old self now: Do not minimize those closest to you while you are maximizing yourself. 

Amanda Lamb
Journalist, podcaster + author | Founder, Stage Might Communications
Journalist, author, podcaster, speaker, volunteer—you’d be hard-pressed to nail down just one qualifier for the multihyphenate—unless of course it’s “incredible human.” The award-winning media maven’s reach is limitless. Beyond thoughtful reporting on and to Raleigh across ~three decades at WRAL, the veteran TV reporter is committed to community: “I love my city,” she says, “and am invested in making it the best possible place to live.” An industry icon and founder of her 2018-born Stage Might Communications, Lamb uses her voice for good, frequently speaking on topics ranging from women’s empowerment to caregiving—plus pays it forward to the next gen of journos as an adjunct professor at Meredith College. And when she’s not otherwise emceeing a nonprofit event or volunteering at A Place at the Table and Designed for Joy or readying her next novel (No. 13 dropping this fall), she’s prepping her ever-apropos podcast Ageless, giving voice to—and pulling inspiration from—authentic and vulnerable journeys of transformative women over 50. Thus, her lifework makes a case for “ageless” indeed.

MO: Do what fuels your fire. 
Fave Raleigh restaurant: Gussie’s on Morgan Street—great food and cocktails, a friendly staff, and a feeling like you’re on Cheers. 
Thing you’d tell your 20-year-old self now: It’s going to be OK. Nothing that happens right now is going to have a huge impact on your life. You have a lot of growing left to do. Relax. Take your time.
Just be 20.

McGavock Henderson Edwards
Partner/SVP, Strategy and Client Service | E&V Strategic Communications
Having dedicated her career to teaching others how to do inspiring work by investing in them wholly, the “proud Eastern NC girl” and UNCW Seahawk is known for being kind, generous and thoughtful. Possessing an uncanny ability to foster a nurturing environment, Edwards is the ideal example of “if you can see it, you can be it.” Beyond her lifework helping local leaders navigate challenges, change and growth to net positive results for the community, she exudes an unwavering dedication to nourishing the community via nonprofits such as Now Serving (providing 100K+ meals to the underserved in the Triangle to date), as well as initiatives like Women’s Leadership Conference, which seeks to drive conversations and actions that help others—especially young women—maximize their strengths, build their confidence and realize their full potential. “Contributing to my communities was modeled for me early on—both by my parents and professional mentors,” she says. “I try to make an impact through what I know best: helping develop future leaders, creating understanding across groups and serving our neighbors in need.”  

You in three words: Thoughtful, nurturing, determined 
Best advice: Love many, trust few, and always paddle your own canoe. 
MO: Always be listening, always be learning. See a need, meet a need. Build bridges and connections. Pour into others. 
What you know about success you wish you’d known before 50: Success is not an end goal. … We have this awesome opportunity to always be learning, growing, setting new goals—and doing the hard work to achieve them. … It’s the little everyday wins that add up to a successful life.

Matt Smith
VP of Development + Strategic Partnerships | Wake Tech Community College
“Do you know Matt Smith?” … It’s a common question—and the answer is almost always a resounding yes. The consummate connector, convener and encourager, Smith’s impact cannot be confined to campus. By eliminating barriers to education—and thus opportunity—he has had an indelible impact on Wake Tech, the community college system, and, by extension, the broader community at large during his near-decade tenure at the largest NC and best-in-class community college. “Everyone deserves a chance to make their life better,” says the tireless NCSU alum who has also been instrumental in growing Wake Tech’s giving, building the WTCC Foundation and scholarship funds like Fostering Bright Futures, and leveraging significant partnerships with Hendrick and Lenovo—among others. “And I believe in the power of connection and collaboration.” When he’s not fostering friendships, cultivating change or tapping his vast network to curate action to ameliorate Raleigh, you can probably find him “crawling off a golf course with a rotten score” before heading to a live music show with friends—of which he has many. His passion is so palpable that it’s contagious—and if he had a superlative, it would have to be most liked, which is evident in his connector spirit and big love for Raleigh and its people.

Who you want to meet—dead or alive: Berry Gordy. The talent he assembled and guided is astonishing! 
Fave Raleigh restaurant: 42nd Street Oyster Bar—the history and significant conversations that have occurred there have shaped our city’s history. 
Thing you’d tell your 20-year-old self now: Always invest in relationships first. It’s much more important than chasing professional or financial success. If you are a loyal and passionate friend, everything will
work out in the end.

Sonal Patel
Owner | Woodhouse Spa North Hills 
As the owner of one of the fastest-growing—and award-winning—businesses in burgeoning North Hills, Patel is just beginning to reach the pinnacle of her career—proving that success indeed has no age limit. After an early stint in the sciences and entree into the business world by way of franchising a Dunkin’ Donuts, the compassionate India-born innovator is dedicated to the well-being of the community both by providing a holistic self-care sanctuary and by partnering with impactful local organizations such as women-empowering Dress for Success. Proving a commitment to the nonprofit, Woodhouse serves as a proud sponsor of its annual Modeling Success fashion show benefit and has served as speaker at its International Women’s month luncheon. Dedicated to female empowerment in work and in life, Patel is a champion of reaching back and pulling forward—and quick to attribute her own accomplishments to the women in her life who have inspired and propelled her journey.   

Best advice: Trust the journey and embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. 
Who you want to meet—dead or alive: Maya Angelou—for her wisdom and inspiration 
Fave Raleigh restaurants: Trophy Brewing, Brewery Bhavana 
What you know about success you wish you’d known before 50: Success is not defined by age, but by perseverance, dedication and continuous learning.

Stephen Mangano
Entrepreneur | Health Care Executive | TeamHealth
Ask Mangano what he loves most about Raleigh, and he’ll tell you: “community, community, community.” Fitting for an innovative entrepreneur and health care professional with an MO of “creating an impact through empowering people and bringing creativity to companies and communities.” While his “day job” has enabled him to develop behavioral health solutions for community-based and national organizations to help solve the nation’s mental health crisis, the New York-bred, UNC MBA has spent his two-plus decades here harnessing our community’s creative soul to bring projects like Skate Raleigh’s Conlon Family Skatepark to fruition or working with the city to launch Pullen Place to bring enhanced food options to Pullen Park. It’s the kind of large-scale impact that comes from truly trusting the process—and precisely what he bestows on his 18YO son, Adrian, with whom he dreamed up and ultimately founded the skate park. “Your path will be your path and where you will be is exactly where you are supposed to be.”

What you know about success you wish you’d known before 50: Trust the process. … There is more time than you think—and a mix of patience and persistence can serve you well. 
Go-to local retail spot: Endless Grind has been such a great supporter of Skate Raleigh—and it’s literally the clubhouse for the skate community. 
Best advice: Trust your gut; when things don’t feel right they probably are not. 
Fave Raleigh bars: Well, of course, The Loose Mangoose [Mangano’s backyard boxcar bar], Foundation and Dram & Draught