Adam Klein Moves to Strategic Position Across CBC Divisions
Doug Speight Named Executive Director at American Underground
On Nov. 9, 2017, Capitol Broadcasting Company (CBC) announced two new positions:
- Adam Klein will leave his five year role as chief strategist at The American Underground startup hub to take on a newly created post: director of strategy for multiple CBC properties in Durham and Rocky Mount.
- Doug Speight, a Durham-raised serial entrepreneur and community leader, will take the reins as executive director at The American Underground.
Doug will start in his new role on November 13 and Adam on January 1.
Adam Klein
Adam’s New Role + Background
The official name of Adam’s new position is ‘Director of Strategy for Capitol Broadcasting Company Durham + Rocky Mount.’ As such, Adam will lead efforts to advance the internationally acclaimed American Tobacco Campus, The American Underground and Rocky Mount Mills, eastern North Carolina’s premiere mixed-use development.
Adam’s work will involve both creating synergies between these communities and advancing their objectives individually. He will be based at The American Tobacco Campus, but will move frequently between CBC sister sites.
Adam arrived at the American Underground as chief strategist in 2012 following his run as director of strategic initiatives at The Durham Chamber of Commerce. He led the hub’s growth from 35 companies to 275, forged a world class partnership as a Google for Entrepreneurs Tech Hub and pioneered nationally recognized programs designed to foster diversity and inclusivity. In 2015, CNBC declared American Underground “the Startup Hub of the South.”
“The entrepreneurs and team at The American Underground taught me that anything is possible, that creative, committed people can have a huge positive impact on their city and far beyond,” said Adam. “I look forward to working with teams across CBC to develop and launch initiatives that create new legacies of innovation and community empowerment.”
Doug Speight
Doug’s New Role + Background
Doug’s new position as the American Underground’s executive director continues a relationship that made headlines in 2016 when he was named the startup hub’s CODE2040 entrepreneur in residence. CODE2040 is a San Francisco-headquartered nonprofit that expanded to the American Underground in 2015. The program empowers Black and Latinx entrepreneurs who occupy the residency to boost diversity in their tech communities, while also continuing to grow their own companies with help from a $40,000 grant.
As entrepreneur-in-residence, Doug created and implemented programs designed to engage women and entrepreneurs of color, connecting them to resources, introducing them to opportunities and championing their success within the community (including launching the Google for Entrepreneurs Exchange: Black Founder edition with the American Underground).
“My family has owned and operated companies in Durham since the 1930s, and I’m honored and thrilled to be part of the community of entrepreneurs building the digital economy for the next century,” Doug said. “The American Underground’s vision of success has always been holistic, embracing both individual entrepreneurs and our wider community. I look forward to building on that tradition of collaboration and innovation, and am excited to support our entrepreneurs as they develop new ideas, build companies and create jobs.”
“Incredible Growth, Bull City Values”
When breaking the news, Michael Goodmon, vice president of real estate at CBC, said, “The Durham ecosystem has evolved at an incredibly rapid pace while championing key values such as diversity and inclusivity. This growth and commitment is a testament to the work of both Adam and Doug. We look forward to the new heights Doug will reach with The American Underground and to Adam’s imaginative approach on an even wider scale.”
Thanks to Corp’s Angie Emerline for this capcom story & to ATC’s Heather Oyler for these capcom photos.
