External Speaker
Bob Barnhill
Chairman of the Board
Barnhill Contracting
Bob provides leadership and direction for Barnhill Contracting Company. He grew into his leadership position—starting in the field and progressing into management. Since being named president of the company in 1987 and chairman of the board and chief executive officer in 2000, Bob has continued to provide a firm vision and legacy for the company.
Bob received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from East Carolina University. He is actively involved with several professional organizations, including the Carolinas Asphalt Paving Association (Legislative Committee, past Board of Directors), Carolinas Associated General Contractors (past Board of Directors), Capital Associated Industries (past Board of Directors), and North Carolina Chamber (Executive Committee, Board of Directors). Bob is also very active in civic organizations around the state, including the North Carolina Community Foundation (past Board of Directors), UNC Lineberger Cancer Center (Board of Visitors), Mary Frances Center (past Board of Directors), East Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts of America (past Board of Directors), TriCounty Industries (past Board of Directors), United Negro College Fund (past Advisory Committee), Tarboro Community Outreach (past President, past Board Member) and the Global TransPark Commission (past Edgecombe Representative) and is a past member of the Board of Trustees of North Carolina Wesleyan College.
Bob’s recognitions include Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award (2018), Business North Carolina‘s Power 100 (2018), Triangle Business Journal CEO of the Year (2016), and he was inducted into the North Carolina Business Hall of Fame in 2015.
Hank Harris
Director of Consulting
Ward and Smith Business Consulting
Hank Harris spent most of his career in a national management consulting and investment banking firm, specializing in working with privately held businesses. He rose to become CEO and Chairman of that firm, where he still maintains an affiliation and many friendships. His joining of the Ward and Smith Business Consulting team is somewhat of a "passion project," presenting an opportunity to help closely held business owners within his home state of North Carolina and to do it with his friends at Ward and Smith, P.A.
Hank's background gives him a unique perspective. He has seen the inner workings of literally hundreds of successful businesses, understands the mind of entrepreneurs, and has a deep understanding of the issues unique to privately held businesses. CEOs call on Hank to be part of their strategic planning, help with succession planning, or consult on family business matters.
Over the years, Hank has published an extensive array of articles and written papers on business and management and has also written three books on those subjects. Hank has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Richmond and a Master of Business Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a certified management consultant and a past member of the American Arbitration Association and Association of Management Consulting firms. He sits on the Board of Directors of several major companies and relishes the opportunity to engage in private business.
Internal Speakers
Alex Ferri
Litigation Attorney
Alex is a litigation attorney whose practice focuses on construction. She helps clients with general litigation matters, assisting through all phases of the litigation process, from investigation and pleading to trial, settlement, and appeal.
As a licensed North Carolina general contractor, Alex has years of experience working in construction. She brings that expertise to her legal practice, where she helps draft and negotiate contracts between project owners, designers, contractors, and subcontractors.
Emily Massey
Labor and Employment Attorney
Emily's practice focuses on helping employers navigate complex employment law issues. She has become a trusted advisor to businesses and organizations in facilitating compliance in the rapidly-changing employment landscape, providing counsel at all stages of personnel matters and negotiating resolutions to employee disputes.
Jamie Norment
Government Relations Attorney
Jamie works regularly with individuals, corporations, and governmental entities on a variety of complex legal matters. His experience in substantive areas of the law includes government contracts (with an emphasis on local, state, and federal construction contracts and the procurement of goods and services), government relations and lobbying (including campaign finance and ethics issues), and economic development law (especially public-private partnerships and incentives). Jamie has extensive experience with board governance issues, open meeting and public records laws, and military economic development initiatives. He provides legal services to corporations, individuals, cities, counties, public housing authorities, community colleges, and other independent subdivisions of the State.
Jason Strickland
Construction Attorney
Jason represents and assists contractors, subcontractors, owners, lenders, and design professionals in all areas of the construction and development process. His goal is to help clients through the building process in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. His practice experience includes the preparation and negotiation of construction contracts and the development of best practices for construction companies.
Jeff Stoddard
Construction Litigator
Jeff is a construction litigator who represents and advises contractors, subcontractors, owners, lenders, and design professionals throughout all phases of the construction and development process. With a focus on providing efficient and cost-effective legal solutions, Jeff is committed to guiding clients through the complexities of the building process.
Jeff has a wide variety of civil litigation experience in high-stakes cases. In addition to litigating construction, design, and design/build contracts, Jeff also regularly litigates on behalf of community associations and homeowner associations. In addition, he works with businesses and individuals from a wide variety of industries in complex commercial litigation, including representation of policyholders involved in first- and third-party coverage litigation with their insurance carriers.