Board

Matthew Burril is President of Brick Street Equity Management, a registered investment advisor portfolio management firm located in Asheville. Mr. Burril has 30 years of investment management experience and holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Georgia. He is a member of the Economic Development Coalition and a licensed pilot with over 4000 hours of flight time. He has served on multiple boards including Better Business Bureau and United Way.

K. Ray Bailey is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University (BS Social Sciences) and Western Carolina University (MA ED Administration). He retired from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College serving 41 years, the last 17 as President. He serves on a number of non-profit boards and is a member of the NC State Board for Community Colleges.

Stephanie Pace Brown is the President & CEO of the Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau, leading her staff to attract overnight visitors to Buncombe County, North Carolina. Prior to joining the Asheville CVB, she served as President and CEO of the Alexandria Convention & Visitors Association in Alexandria, Virginia. Brown directed marketing and public affairs efforts for Mount Vernon, including advertising, media relations, special events and group sales. In addition, she has extensive background in tourism-related marketing and economic research having worked as Research Manager for the Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism and as Director of Customer Research for The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Ms. Brown is currently a trustee on the board of the Travel & Destination Foundation and has also served on the US Travel Association Board of Directors, Research Advisory Committee and Marketing Outlook Forum Committee as well as on the Travel Industry Association of America's National Council of Attractions and Speakers Bureau. Brown's local service includes the Buncombe Cultural Alliance and the Asheville Area Riverfront Redevelopment Commission.

Executive Director of the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police. Retired as Henderson County Sheriff in 2006 after serving nearly 28 years with the Henderson County Sheriff's Office. Served in the United States Air force and was honorably discharged in 1975. Has served on or lead many non-profits and organizations to include the Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County, Fletcher Fire & Rescue, Henderson County Crime Stoppers, former FOCUS - Friends of Children United Services, Mainstay Domestic Violence Center and many others.

Brad Galbraith is Vice President – Community Development of Biltmore Farms, a 120+ year community development firm in Asheville, NC.  Before acquiring more than 30 years of experience in real estate development and marketing, Brad earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. He has held numerous volunteer and leadership roles within the local community, including serving as the past President of the Asheville Board of Realtors, serving on the City of Asheville’s Downtown Commission, and he currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Asheville-Buncombe County Economic Development Coalition.

Carl H. Ricker Jr., Chairman and founder of Azalea Management a real estate development company involved in the southeast and five western states.  Board member and member of the Horatio Alger Association inducted 2009, Co-founder and past Chairman of Genesys Electrical, past board member of First Union Bank, past board member of Highstreet Bank, past Chairman Executive board Capital Bank, past member of the North Carolina Building commission (2 terms), past member of the North Carolina Dept. of Transportation Aviation Division (2 terms).

Tom Apodaca is Founder and Managing Partner of Vista Strategies & Solutions, LLC. Apodaca is an instrument-rated private pilot and owner of 5th Avenue Travel in Hendersonville, N.C.  Senator Apodaca served in the North Carolina Senate for fourteen years representing Henderson, Buncombe, Polk and Transylvania counties. During his tenure in the Senate, Senator Apodaca was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina Ambassador of Agriculture and numerous other legislative recognitions. Additionally, Apodaca has served on various public and non-profit boards. Apodaca graduated from Western Carolina University in 1980 and currently serves on the Western Carolina University Board of Trustees (1996-2001, current).