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Blue Economy Convergence Conversation Live Oak Bank founder and CEO Chip Mahan Wilmington Deborah Westphal

Blue Economy Convergence Conversation: Chip Mahan of Live Oak Bank

Chip Mahan is a pioneer in banking who started his career in 1973 and has spent his career revolutionizing banking at the convergence of fintech and financial services. In 1995, Chip and his brother-in-law changed the way banking was done by putting the first bank on the internet. Today, Chip is Chairman and CEO of…

Blue Economy Convergence Conversation First National Bank Spence Broadhurst Wilmington economic health Deborah Westphal

Blue Economy Convergence Conversation: Spence Broadhurst of First National Bank

Spence Broadhurst is the Eastern North Carolina Region President at the First National Bank. A civic-minded professional banker, he has lived in and contributed to the Wilmington community since 1996. Between 1996 and 2006, he worked for SunTrust Bank and was the Mayor of Wilmington from 2003 to 2006. After a transfer took him out…

BlueEconomy Convergence Conversation, Dr. Chris Prentice Cape Fear Collective Deborah Westphal

Blue Economy Convergence Conversation: Dr. Chris Prentice of Cape Fear Collective

Dr. Chris Prentice was raised in the world of finance and big corporations. By the age of 12, he had learned the language of making money and business. As a young professional, he followed in his father’s footsteps with a career as a commodities broker and business strategist. His job was to maximize profits for…

Blue Economy Convergence Conversation Travis Loop Coastal Advocate Founder of waterloop Deborah Westphal

Blue Economy Convergence Conversation: Travis Loop, Coastal Advocate and Founder of waterloop

It took over 15 years, but Travis Loop finally found a way back to the Wilmington, North Carolina area after he had to leave to pursue a career. A self-proclaimed “water-person,” Travis loves to surf, paddleboard, and enjoy the beautiful coastal environment and beaches of the Cape Fear region. Now that he is (back) home,…

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