September 6, 2007

Robert Niblock was named chairman and chief executive officer of Lowe's Companies, Inc. in January 2005.  He also served as Lowe’s president from 2003 to 2006, and joined the board of directors when he was named chairman and CEO-elect in 2004. 

Niblock joined Lowe’s in 1993.  During his career with the company, he has served as vice president and treasurer, senior vice president of finance, and executive vice president and CFO.  Before joining Lowe’s, Niblock had a nine-year career with accounting firm Ernst & Young.  He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

Kenneth D. Lewis is chairman, chief executive officer and president of Bank of America, one of the world's largest financial institutions and the fifth most profitable company in the world in 2006.   He joined North Carolina National Bank (NCNB, predecessor to NationsBank and Bank of America) in 1969 as a credit analyst in Charlotte, and has served in a wide variety of leadership roles before being named chairman, chief executive officer and president of Bank of America in April of 2001.  Lewis was named to “The Time 100 List” in 2007 as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine.  Lewis was born April 9, 1947, in Meridian, Mississippi. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Georgia State University, and is a graduate of the Executive Program at Stanford University.

Dee Dixon is the founder and CEO of Pride Magazine and Pride Communications. The Pride Sunset Jazz Series and Pride Awards Gala are recognized as two major events in Charlotte promoting diversity, cultural awareness and financial support for worthy causes.  Ms. Dixon was named Charlotte Business Woman of the Year for 2006.  In addition, she serves on the board of directors of the Mint Museum and was recognized as a LINK Leading Lady in 2005.  In 2003, she received the Goody’s Powder Community Leader of the Year Award. Dixon is Co-founder of WIE, Women’s Intercultural Exchange, a non-profit serving women of all races and was awarded the key to the City of Asheville in May of this year.

Dr. Chuck Bamford will be moderating the discussion this evening.  Dr. Bamford is an Associate Professor and the Dennis Thompson Chair of Entrepreneurial Studies at Queens University of Charlotte. Chuck has taught courses in Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship at the undergraduate, graduate and executive levels.

Reggie Davis is the Eastern Banking Group Executive for Wachovia Corporation and oversees general bank operations for Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Davis was named one of the "75 Most Powerful African-Americans in Corporate America” by Black Enterprise Magazine. He has received leadership awards including "40 Under 40" by New Jersey Business News and the Executive Award from Metro Trenton African-American Chamber of Commerce; The Award of Excellence-Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund; the Distinguished Corporate Citizen Award from Monmouth University; and the Bennie Leadership Award from Morehouse College.

He has a B.A. in insurance and actuarial science from Morehouse College.