Speakers

LaChaun Banks is a research fellow at the Kenan Institute, working specifically on the drivers of place-based economic growth as part of the American Growth Project initiative. This includes helping to expand the institute’s outreach and visibility with public officials, corporate partners and other stakeholders in major metropolitan areas around the country.

Gregory Bruich is a Lecturer in the Department of Economics at Harvard University and a Research Principal at Opportunity Insights.  He received his Ph.D. from the Department of Economics at Harvard University. He was selected for the Anya Bernstein Bassett Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2024. He was voted a “Favorite Professor” by the Harvard College Classes of 2022 and 2023.

Prior to joining N.C. Commerce, Samantha served as Director of Workforce Partnerships with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County, where she led the organization’s initiatives to connect people experiencing significant barriers to employment with rewarding opportunities and helped area employers engage with innovative workforce development solutions.

She has worked in academia and the private sector, focusing on econometric modeling and housing economics. Most recently, she analyzed data from the short-term rental and housing markets and prepared reports that highlight global supply and demand trends. Her academic research explores the consequences of housing instability and migration, with recent work that evaluates global migration models.

Kala Gibson serves as executive vice president and chief corporate responsibility officer at Fifth Third Bancorp. He oversees the corporate citizenship work, which includes Community Development Banking, Community Impact Banking, Inclusion and Sustainability. He also serves as Chairman of the Fifth Third Foundation’s distribution committee and the Corporate Sustainability Committee.

Neil serves as NC Child’s Senior Director of Policy & Research, where he leads the organization’s policy development, research, and data analysis efforts. Prior to joining NC Child, Neil worked for the Labor & Economic Analysis Division of the NC Department of Commerce and for a research and public relations consulting firm in Jackson, Mississippi.

Dionne Griffin McGee is a Speaker, Author, and Revenue & Program Strategist who helps entrepreneurs, organizations, and ecosystem leaders design sustainable programs and business models that generate income, strengthen workforce pipelines, and stimulate economic growth.

Crystal D. McLean is a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina. She is an alumnus of Fayetteville State University, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Banking and Finance.

With over 15 years of experience in the finance industry, Crystal has dedicated her career to promoting financial literacy and empowering individuals to develop healthy money habits.

Paige Ouimet became executive director of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise in August 2023 after a year as the institute's research director.

She has several research projects looking at income inequality and the role of firms. She also has researched ESOP (employee share ownership plans) and employee stock options and their impact on labor productivity, wages and turnover.

Danelle McCusker Rees is an experienced human resources executive with a strong background in operational training and labor relations across multiple regions, including the U.S., Latin America, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Canada. At UPS, Danelle serves as President of Human Resources and Operational Training for U.S. Domestic & Global Airline operations, following previous roles as Vice President of Human Resources for various sectors. Danelle's tenure includes significant leadership positions at UPS Freight, where Danelle served as Vice President of Human Resources and Human Resources Director, alongside earlier roles in HR operations and health & safety management.