Cape Fear Business Roundtable is kicking off 2026 with an economic outlook from Dr. Mouhcine Guettabi, Regional Economist with the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Tune in as Dr. Guettabi discusses the state of our regional and national economies heading into the new year.

Cape Fear Business Roundtable is hosted by Frank Williams and sponsored by Pioneer Strategies and Pioneer Specialties.

Velva Jenkins, current CEO of YWCA Lower Cape Fear, is set to retire in January 2026. Tune in as Velva discusses the programs offered by the YWCA and how they positive impact women in our area.

Prior to joining the YWCA, Velva worked at Brunswick Community College for over 30 years. She began her career in economic and workforce development as the first director of the Small Business Center at BCC 1986. Under her leadership she launched the Small Business Center, the Brunswick County Small Business of the Year Award for entrepreneurs, the Brunswick County Leadership program in Brunswick County and secured over $1.5 million in grant funding for Brunswick Community College Economic and Workforce Development Division. She held numerous roles during her tenure at BCC, including Dean of Continuing and Workforce Development and Vice President for Continuing Education, Economic and Workforce Development.

She has served on a variety of boards and committees, including Brunswick Community College SACS Leadership Team, Brunswick Community Planning Council, NC Community College Adult Education Conference Committee, NC Community College Focus Industrial Training Conference Planning Committee, Brunswick Community College March of Dimes Champaign Team Captain, Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, South Brunswick Island Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Cape Fear United Way Board, UNCW Alumni Association Board of Directors, North Carolina Community College Systems Workforce Development Leadership, The Southeastern Economic Development Commission, Brunswick County Hospital Authority, The State Employees Credit Union Advisory Board, YWCA Lower Cape Fear, The Cape Fear Area Red Cross Board of Directors, and a member of The Link, Incorporated, Wilmington (NC) Chapter.

Velva has been honored with several awards, including the Distinguished Women Achievement Award, the Outstanding Citizens Award, and the YWCA Women of Achievement Education Award.

She has earned degrees in Business with a concentration in Marketing from the Cameron School of Business at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and a in Business Administration from Webster University.

Cape Fear Business Roundtable is hosted by Frank Williams and sponsored by Pioneer Strategies and Pioneer Specialties.

Thom Kelly is the newly minted executive director of the North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce. He succeeds longtime executive director Dana Fisher, who departed after 15 years at the helm. Thom provides insight into how his career path prepared him for this role and shares thoughts on his future vision for the Chamber, which serves the business community in Leland, Belville, Winnabow, Navassa, Northwest, Sandy Creek and surrounding areas in northern Brunswick County.