Thursday, August 17, 2000

(FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR, CHAIRMAN OF AT&T CHINA, MORGAN KEEGAN EXECUTIVE TO ADVISE GROUP)

(Wilmington, NC)­ Eighteen of North Carolina's prominent community and business leaders are part of a prestigious new UNC Wilmington International Cabinet that will join together this month to kick off plans to increase international programs for its students, assist businesses across North Carolina, and reach out to international communities in Wilmington and beyond. This is thought to be one of the first groups of its kind at a United States university.

The group's first official meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 22, followed by a reception to be held from 6:15-8 p.m. at Wagoner Hall, Madeline Suite, at UNCW.

Three internationally prominent individuals will serve as key advisors to the group. They are Jeanette Hyde, former U.S. Ambassador to Barbados, of Raleigh; William Warwick, chairman of AT&T China, of Wilmington; and Mort Neblett, a leading financial advisor with Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc., also of Wilmington. Cabinet members include the executive director of the North Carolina State Ports Authority, a chemist, a physician, an IBM executive, and other executive business leaders.

"We're honored to have such an amazing group to help us improve our relationship with other countries. Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach are fortunate to have many internationally active executives retire to this area or have second homes here. Several of these individuals are included among our distinguished cabinet members. The university is pleased that they are willing to become active in supporting UNCW in its mission to become more global," said UNCW Chancellor James R. Leutze. "Our cabinet will play a vital role in building a network with international colleges and leaders that will dramatically benefit our students and businesses in our state."

The mission of the cabinet is to help prepare UNCW students to lead in the global environment. UNCW hopes to provide a leading role in expanding international awareness and experience among communities throughout North Carolina.

In addition, the cabinet will solicit assistance from alumni of UNCW who traveled and studied abroad while students at the University. These students, called One World Alumni Ambassadors, will travel around North Carolina and speak to schools and civic groups. The cabinet will learn from the ambassadors and get ideas on how to increase international understanding.

Cabinet Members

The UNCW International Cabinet is a "who's who" list of top community and business leaders from Wilmington and across North Carolina. Many of them have worked and lived in other countries.

Dr. R.V. Fulk, a Wilmington physician, musician, and father of a UNCW graduate who studied abroad.

Jim Ballantine, president of Sunbelt Business Brokers and member of the International Business Brokers Association.

Ralph Godwin, retired from Takeda where he worked in the Far East.

Wendy Guillou, Ph.D., a theatre professor at City University of NYC and educated at the University of Paris, Sorbonne. She was formerly involved in economic development in Thailand.

Gayle Johnson, a member of the North Carolina Chapter of the World Trade Association.

Russ La Belle, president of Wilmington Machinery.

Bambi MacRae, civic leader, former UNCW trustee, and advocate for international programs for students.

Richard Morrison, former president and general manager of Lilly Companies in Venezuela, Mexico and Brazil and adjunct professor at UNCW in Global Management and Marketing. Morrison will serve as president of the UNCW International Cabinet.

Frank Skidmore, IBM Global Services director of Global Applications Delivery who has worked in Mexico, Scotland, Japan, Singapore, Brazil and China, of Research Triangle Park.

Mark Spaulding, Ph.D., associate professor of history, UNCW.

J. Stedman Stevens, a chemist and CEO/president of Key Elements.

Erik Stromberg, executive director of the North Carolina Ports Authority.

Carm Tomas, Ph.D., associate research professor of biological sciences, UNCW, who has worked extensively in biological research in Italy.

Carl Venters, broadcast hall-of-famer and former president of Durham Life Broadcasters Services in Raleigh. He also helped the Palestinian Broadcasting Company start the first radio/TV station on Israel's West Bank.

Ellen Dunn Wells, formerly a state genealogist and member of the first graduating class of the UNCW School of Education. She attended the American College of Switzerland.

###



NOTE TO MEDIA: With the exception of Frank Skidmore of RTP, other members listed above are from Wilmington. While the reception is by invitation only, media are invited to cover the August 22 event at UNCW. For more information and if you wish to interview individual cabinet members, please call Marla Rice-Evans, director of development, International Programs at (910) 962-7055.