Three CBC’ers Become Goodmon Fellows in Spring Leadership Triangle Program

LT graduates line up to receive their Goodmon Fellow diplomas including FOX 50’s Ana Maria Bonell (far left) and ATC’s Matt Honeycutt (center right).

Three more CBC’ers have now earned the title of Goodmon Fellow. FOX 50 Executive Producer HolaNC & Latino Marketing Specialist Ana Maria Bonell, CBC New Media Digital Sales Manager Chris Weatherly and ATC Financial Analyst Matt Honeycutt all graduated from the Leadership Triangle Spring Regional Leadership Program on Monday, May 4, 2015. The evening ceremony took place in the PNC Triangle Club at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

The three embarked upon their journey with Leadership Triangle in January.

“I decided to go to the LT Spring Regional Leadership Class because I saw a great opportunity to learn about the region and also an opportunity to meet influential leaders in the area,” said Bonell. “I had heard really good comments from different people and the feedback was extremely positive about the leadership class. Many people mentioned that the class had changed their way of living by teaching them to look beyond what we are normally accustomed.”

NMG’s Chris Weatherly receives his Goodmon Fellow diploma from Corp’s Jim Goodmon (right) & Quintiles’ Steve Brechbriel.

Weatherly also said he had heard good things about the course from fellow CBC’ers.

“Since I had just moved into a new management role, I thought it was the perfect time to take the class,” he said.

The course involved bi-weekly, daylong classes from late January to early May. Participants visited different locations in the Triangle, learning about challenges faced by a variety of non-profits, the needs in our region, and how working together can help address these issues.

“The class we held at the Hope Center was incredibly impactful as was the poverty simulation we did with the United Way,” said Weatherly. “Both of these took me far outside my comfort zone and forced me to confront the reality and struggles that so many people in our community are battling daily.”

FOX 50’s Ana Maria Bonell receives her Goodmon Fellow diploma from Corp’s Jim Goodmon (right) & Quintiles’ Steve Brechbriel.

Bonell also shared what most struck her.

“What impacted me the most was hearing about the different issues that happen every day in our community and that we might not be aware due to several reason like for example our jobs, our daily routine, taking care of our children, etc,” said Bonell. “The class showed me that we must work together in order to make our community a better place to live and to help people that are in need.”

The evening consisted of a buffet and time to mingle, followed by an official graduation ceremony. CBC President & CEO Jim Goodmon, Chair Emeritus of Leadership Triangle, helped award the diplomas. Then LT alumni pinned the new graduates. The 24 class members are now Goodmon Fellows and alumni of Leadership Triangle.

Several CBC’ers fill this table working hard to find answers for the Triangle Trivia questions.

The evening concluded with an ever-festive round of Triangle Trivia led by LT alum Ben Hitchings. And ATC Vice President of Real Estate and current LT Board Chair Michael Goodmon provided a few parting words.

“Diversity is directly related to the growth of a company,” said Goodmon, speaking of the initiatives currently underway at American Underground. The space for entrepreneus, startups innovators and investors headquartered at American Tobacco is working to become the most diverse startup incubator by 2016.

ATC’s Matt Honeycutt receives his Goodmon Fellow diploma from Corp’s Jim Goodmon (right) & Quintiles’ Steve Brechbriel.

“We’re no longer talking about walking the walk,” he said. “The success is here. The Triangle is best place to be.”

Leadership Triangle has been a part of bringing to the Triangle to where it is today and by training more leaders and educating people in our area about social issues we’re facing.

“It completely changed my perspective and gave me a broader idea of what is really happening in our community,” said Bonell. “Also, I met people from different industries and was a very good opportunity to learn from them and see different view and opinions.”

Learn more: Leadership Triangle

The 2015 Leadership Triangle Graduation took place in the PNC Triangle Club at the Durham Bulls on Monday, May 4th.
Corp's Jim Goodmon (r to l) and ATC's Michael Goodmon chat with Wake County Commissioner Sig Hutchinson.
CS' George Habel (right) chats with Quintiles' Steve Brechbiel.
NMG's Chris Weatherly (r to l) and his fiancee, Kristina Boyce, chat with LT alum Ben Hitchings and Weatherly's parents at the LT Spring Graduation.
NMG's Chris Weatherly bring his fiancee, Kristina Boyce, to his Leadership Triangle Graduation.
ATC's Jesica Averhart, a Goodmon Fellow herself, chats with fellow LT alumni Attrayus Goode (right) & Andre Pettigrew.
ATC staffers Courtney Coyle (l to r) and Mark Stanford chat with Katie Honeycutt all there to celebrate her husband, ATC's Matt Honeycutt, becoming a Goodmon Fellow.
LT guests enjoy a buffet before the graduation ceremony begins.
Guests enjoy the pre-graduation food and drink.
FOX 50's Ana Maria Bonell celebrates her completion of the Leadership Triangle Spring Regional Leadership Class.
FOX 50's Niel Sollod (left) enjoys a laugh with LT alum Mark Mollitor.
FOX 50's Ana Maria Bonell gets ready to become a Goodmon Fellow.
Quintiles' Steve Brechbriel challenges the LT spring grads to stay connected.
LT 2015 Spring Class members get in line for the graduation ceremony including FOX 50's Ana Maria Bonell (left).
ATC's Courtney Coyle and former CBC'er Nathan Clendenin dance their way to their places for the pinning ceremony.
LT's Mark Molitor waits to send the graduates in.
NMG's Chris Weatherly waits to march in.
Hillsborough Mayor and LT alum Tom Stevens dances his way to his spot for the pinning ceremony.
ATC's Michael Goodmon (r to l), ATC's Courtney Coyle and fellow LT alum Tom Stevens take part in the graduation ceremony.
NMG's Chris Weatherly marches in for his LT graduation.
ATC's Matt Honeycutt marches in for his LT graduation.
FOX 50's Ana Maria Bonell marches in for her LT graduation.
LT graduates line up to receive their Goodmon Fellow diplomas including NMG's Chris Weatherly (far right).
LT graduates line up to receive their Goodmon Fellow diplomas including FOX 50's Ana Maria Bonell (far left) and ATC's Matt Honeycutt (center right).
FOX 50's Ana Maria Bonell receives her Goodmon Fellow diploma from Corp's Jim Goodmon (right) & Quintiles' Steve Brechbriel.
ATC's Matt Honeycutt receives his Goodmon Fellow diploma from Corp's Jim Goodmon (right) & Quintiles' Steve Brechbriel.
NMG's Chris Weatherly receives his Goodmon Fellow diploma from Corp's Jim Goodmon (right) & Quintiles' Steve Brechbriel.
ATC's Courtney Coyle, a LT alum herself, pins NMG's Chris Weatherly in the post-diploma ceremony.
FOX 50's Niel Sollod shows off the prizes up for grabs in the Triangle Trivia competition.
Ben Hitchings explains the rules for the annual Triangle Trivia competition.
DBBC's Erin Anderson runs the Power Point for the Triangle Trivia competition.
Corp's Jim Goodmon (l to r) ATC's Courtney Coyle, Katie Honeycutt (wife of ATC's Matt Honeycutt), ATC's Mark Stanford and LT alum David Reese concentrate on the next Triangle Trivia question.
FOX 50's Ana Maria Bonell and her husband (l to r) and brother participate in the Triangle Trivia game.
FOX 50's Ana Maria Bonell and her husband (l to r) and brother participate in the Triangle Trivia game.
ATC's Jesica Averhart (right) has a fun table for Triangle Trivia.
FOX 50's Ana Maria Bonell and her husband help come up with answers for Triangle Trivia.
Corp's Jim Goodmon (center), AJFF's Damon Circosta (right) & ATC's Mark Stanford (left) work together on Triangle Trivia answers.
Several CBC'ers fill this table working hard to find answers for the Triangle Trivia questions.
The Triangle Trivia competition winning table contains a large CBC contingent.
ATC's Michael Goodmon, LT Board Chair, offers a few parting words to the graduates and guests.