Featured Annual Meeting Speakers
Article Date: Friday, May 01, 2009
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) of Winston-Salem has served in the U.S.
Senate since 2005 following five terms as a member of the U.S. House of
Representatives from North Carolina’s 5th congressional district. A native of
Charlottesville, Va., Burr grew up in Winston-Salem where he graduated from R.J.
Reynolds High School and Wake Forest University. He was engaged in private
business for 17 years prior to serving in Congress. Burr and his wife, Brooke,
have two sons.
Sen. Richard Burr will address the General Session on Saturday morning.
U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan of Greensboro is serving her first year in the U.S.
Senate following five terms in the N.C. Senate, where she represented Guilford
County. A native of Shelby, she began her career with NationsBank (now Bank of
America) where she worked from 1978-88. Hagan earned a bachelor’s degree from
Florida State University and law degree from the Wake Forest University School
of Law. She and her husband, Charles T. “Chip” Hagan III, are members of the
NCBA.
Sen. Kay Hagan will address the General Session on Saturday morning.
Chief Justice Sarah Parker has served on the N.C. Supreme Court since 1993
and as chief justice since 2006. A Charlotte native and graduate of Garinger
High School, she spent 15 years in private practice prior to serving from
1985-92 on the N.C. Court of Appeals. She attended Meredith College for two
years prior to earning her bachelor’s degree from the UNC-Chapel Hill in 1964.
Following service in the U.S. Peace Corps, she earned her law degree from the
UNC School of Law in 1969. She served as a vice president of the NCBA in 1987-88
and as a member of the executive committee and secretary-treasurer of the
Mecklenburg County Bar.
Chief Justice Parker will address the President’s Luncheon on Friday
afternoon.
Sonny Perdue became Georgia’s 81st governor on Jan. 13, 2003, and won
re-election in November 2006. A native of Perry, Ga., he graduated from Warner
Robins High School and earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1971 from
the University of Georgia. Following service in the U.S. Air Force, he became a
successful small business owner and served 11 years in the state Senate prior to
running for governor. Perdue is married to the former Mary Ruff of Atlanta and
they have four children, 10 grandchildren and served as foster parents for eight
newborns awaiting adoption.
Gov. Sonny Perdue will address the Sunday morning Family Prayer
Breakfast.
Many know Jay Bilas as a former star basketball player at Duke University and
Emmy-nominated basketball analyst who provides courtside and studio commentary
for ESPN and CBS sports. He’s also an NCBA member who serves of counsel with
Moore & Van Allen of Charlotte. A 1986 Duke graduate and 1992 graduate of
the Duke University School of Law, Bilas helped Coach Mike Krzyzewski reach his
first Final Four in 1986 and served as an assistant coach from 1990-92 when Duke
reached three consecutive NCAA championship games, claiming the title in 1991
and 1992.
Jay Bilas will present the annual Willis Smith and Willis Smith Jr.
Professionalism and Ethics speech during the Saturday morning General
Session.
Most days Walt Coleman can be found in Little Rock, Ark., where he is a
fifth-generation family operator of Coleman Dairy. Comes Sundays during football
season, he’s an NFL referee who has served in that capacity since 1995 following
six years as an NFL line judge. A recent inductee into the Arkansas Sports Hall
of Fame, he is a past president of the Arkansas Dairy Products Association and
Major Sports Association of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce and
actively involved with the Little Rock Boys and Girls Club and Greater Little
Rock YMCA.
Walt Coleman will address the Friday morning General Session.
Mark Vitner serves as managing director and senior economist for Wachovia, a
Wells Fargo Company, where he has worked since 1993. He previously served nine
years as an economist with Barnett Banks. In addition to writing Wachovia's
economic newsletter, Vitner has been featured regularly in The New York Times,
The Wall Street Journal and USA Today and has appeared on CNBC, CNN, NPR and
NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. He received his MBA from the University of North
Florida in 1992 and bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia in
1984.
Mark Vitner will address the Friday morning General Session.