On June 5, 2025, Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF) and Charter Communications/Spectrum hosted Lighting the Way: A Celebration of NC Small Businesses in Downtown Raleigh to celebrate our state's resolute ecosystem of entrepreneurs and small business owners. During the course of the morning we recognized successful small businesses, key stakeholders, and supportive policymakers who have improved the landscape for NC small business success, and also heard from an esteemed panel of business owners and community partners who will offer their insights on our small business community. Additionally, we announced an impactful future investment into North Carolina's entrepreneurial ecosystem from Charter Communications/Spectrum, in partnership with CSBDF.
Our Awards
2025 Torchbearer of the Year
This award recognizes an individual or organization who embodies a shared commitment with CSBDF to exemplifying excellence in community and economic development through the lens of our three-pronged torch approach: capital, technical assistance, and policy research.
2025 Change Agent of the Year
This award recognizes a small business owner who has demonstrated excellence in advancing positive change for their business, employees, and community.
2025 Innovator of the Year
This award recognizes a small business owner who has demonstrated creativity, innovation, and leadership as an entrepreneur and in their community.
2025 Community Activator of the Year
This award recognizes an individual or organization who has demonstrated a shared commitment to serving and empowering underserved entrepreneurs and communities.
2025 Small Business Policy Champions
This award recognizes legislative leaders who has demonstrated a commitment to North Carolina’s entrepreneurs and small business ecosystem and has worked to advance policies that benefitted and strengthened the landscape for our state’s small businesses.
Our 2025 Awardees
2025 Torchbearer of the Year
2025 Change Agent
of the Year
2025 Innovator
of the Year
2025 Community Activator of the Year
2025 Small Business Policy Champions
Senator Dan Blue
District 14
Senator Ralph Hise
District 47
Rep. Erin Paré
District 37
Rep. Garland E. Pierce
District 48
Hosts
Tim Boyum
Spectrum
Emmy award-winning journalist Tim Boyum was one of the original members of the Spectrum News 1 North Carolina team in January 2002. Tim currently hosts Spectrum's nightly political show, Capital Tonight. He also hosts and produces the award-winning weekly podcast Tying It Together with Tim Boyum. Most recently, Tim developed, hosts, and produces a monthly magazine show called Front Porch Politics. Tim has spent the last 20+ years focused on delivering a fair and objective look at politics in North Carolina and the many ways these stories affect citizens daily.
Sarah Rudlang
Spectrum
Sarah Rudlang is an Emmy award-winning news anchor and reporter who joined the Spectrum News 1 family in April 2021. Previously, Sarah worked as a morning anchor in Fargo, ND, for four years. Her passion for storytelling began when she was four years old, drafting up family newspapers in her small town of Pine River. Eventually, she got her first professional taste of journalism at her local newspaper, The Pine and Lakes Echo Journal. The news bug bit Sarah hard, eventually leading her to WCCO-TV in Minneapolis where she helped a team of award-winning journalists chase down stories.
Keynote Speaker
Rachel Hunt
Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
​Rachel Hunt's professional and political journey is defined by a deep commitment to family and public service. As an attorney, she specialized in domestic law, helping families solve complex issues through mediation. Seeing a need for certified educational consulting, Rachel launched a small consulting business, Hunt for College, LLC, where she offers guidance to students and parents navigating an overwhelming college application process.
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In recognition of her unwavering commitment to her community and the state, Rachel Hunt was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2018, overcoming the odds to defeat a four-term incumbent in the fiercely contested and heavily gerrymandered District 103, a victory that demonstrated her resilience and dedication in a district long dominated by one party control. Her effectiveness and dedication to her constituents led to her re-election in 2020, where she continued to serve as a strong and effective voice for her district.
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In 2022, Rachel Hunt was elected to the North Carolina Senate, representing District 42. Rachel Hunt's career and her life's work exemplify her deep commitment to the people of North Carolina, her passion for education, and her unwavering dedication to making a positive impact.
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As the 36th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, Rachel will continue her public service and advocacy on behalf of the state she loves. Rachel is the proud daughter of Governor Jim and Carolyn Hunt, North Carolina's longest-serving Governor and First Lady. The legacy of service and family values instilled in Rachel by her parents lies at the heart of her own commitment to making North Carolina the best place to live, work, and raise a family.
Sparks of Innovation Panel
Kevin Dick
CSBDF
Kevin Dick serves as the President & CEO of Carolina Small Business Development Fund, a role he has held since 2020. Since joining CSBDF, Kevin has helped to bring about a resurgence of the organization as a community and economic development entity with a statewide focus. During his tenure, CSBDF has deployed over $40m in capital and provided loans, grants and technical assistance to over 2000 North Carolina-based small businesses from primarily underserved communities. Kevin holds board and committee positions with the International Economic Development Council, the United Minority Contractors of NC, the North Carolina Economic Development Association, and the Triangle Community Foundation.
Marva B. Johnson
Spectrum
Marva Johnson is currently the Group Vice President, State Government Affairs, for Charter Communications. In this role, Marva oversees state government affairs, regulatory, local franchising, state legislative matters, strategic partnerships, and strategies for government and community initiatives. Throughout her career, Mrs. Johnson has been passionate about creating educational opportunities that enable success for every child. As a result, she received the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council’s Champion for Digital Equality Award in recognition of her extraordinary leadership and advocacy in helping bridge the digital divide in education for low-income families.
Elaine Marshall
NC Secretary of State
In 1996, Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall became the first woman ever elected to a statewide, executive branch office in North Carolina and has served as President of the National Association of Secretaries of State. Voters re-elected her to a seventh term in 2020, and Governor Cooper presented her with the NC Order of the Long Leaf Pine award in 2022, the Governor’s highest award for service to the State. A former teacher, small business owner, and private practice attorney, Secretary Marshall was elected to the NC Senate before rising to statewide office.
Dr. Mark Sorrells
FTCC
Dr. Mark A. Sorrells serves as the President of Fayetteville Technical Community College, a position he has held since 2023. Prior to joining FTCC, Dr. Sorrells served as the Senior Vice President for the Golden Leaf Foundation. He is a co-founder of the Carolina Cyber Network. He is also a recipient of the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine from the State of North Carolina, a 1999 - 2001 William C. Friday Fellow in the Wildacres Leadership Initiative and completed non-profit and philanthropic leadership programs at Stanford University.
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