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Julie Thomas-DocsInk

Julie Thomas is an expert in the healthcare industry with 23 years experience in the areas of practice management, revenue cycle analysis, medical billing, workflow efficiencies, chart auditing, EHR implementation, and Meaningful Use compliance. Her broad knowledge draws a demand for her to speak at Medical Society, MGMA, and other various conferences, as well as requests to consult for many hospitals and practices around the country. Driven by a passion to help providers maximize revenue, improve clinical communication, and reduce per capita costs, Julie co-founded DocsInk to address the contributing gaps in the industry.

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Jason Wheeler

Jason is a wealth consultant and founding partner of Pathfinder Wealth Consulting. He has been in the financial services industry since 1999.

He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. He also earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary^® professional designation, awarded by the Center for Fiduciary Studies, which is associated with the University of Pittsburgh. He has received the center’s formal training in investment fiduciary responsibility, and he was the first AIF^® designee in the Greater Wilmington area.

Jason was born in Dayton, Ohio, and moved to Eastern North Carolina when he was seven years old. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 1999 with a BS in finance. He went on to graduate as Outstanding MBA student in 2003 from UNCW. In 2004, he received the Young Alumnus of the Year Award from his alma mater and is past chairman of the Board of Directors for its Alumni Association.

Jason teaches Corporate Finance in the Cameron School of Business at UNCW. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association, the Financial Services Institute, the Center for Fiduciary Studies, and the Coastal Conservation Association. He is also a member of Pine Valley Country Club.

Jason resides in Wilmington with his wife, Ashley; daughter, Merritt; and their two rescue dogs, Vader and Maya. He is passionate about surfing and loves to travel to new surf spots around the world. When there are no waves, he spends his time outdoors playing golf and competitive beach volleyball and boating with his family.

Megan Kopka

Megan serves as business development officer for the team’s wealth management services business. Megan was an educator before joining the industry in 2007 to help families with their financial planning and investment needs. Prior to Pathfinder, she was a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch. Megan is responsible for new business development for the team. She introduces prospective clients to the team, making sure their comprehensive wealth management needs are aligned with the firm’s expertise.

Originally, a native Clevelander, both college and the weather brought Megan to North Carolina, where she graduated from ECU with a BS in economics. Megan is an active participant in the community; she is a member of EWGA, Toastmasters, and the Cape Fear Elder Abuse Prevention Network.

Megan is married to Chef Keith Kopka, a Culinary Institute of America graduate. A chef is a great asset to a family that loves dining! Keith, Megan, and their two children, Bruce and Jaden, enjoy fine cuisine in their home. Megan and Keith happily claim their seats in the crowd as spectators at girls travel soccer for Jaden’s and for Bruce’s numerous positions for Ashley High School football, varsity wrestling, and pole vaulting for the Ashley track team coached by his dad, Keith. The entire water-loving family enjoys their down time at the area beaches and love living near the ocean.

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Scott Kanyok

Founded in 2012, UB Real, LLC is the brainchild of Scott Kanyok, a self-described “regular guy” turned avid outdoorsman and entrepreneur.

With his 40th birthday on the horizon, our founder was determined to get into the best shape of his life.  This former financial advisor was working to restore his health after being sidelined with a chronic upper thoracic injury for the better part of six years. Through countless hours of physical therapy and rehabilitation, Scott worked himself into good enough shape to participate in long-distance bike rides. Little did he know that this activity that he loved so much would change his life forever.

On January 29, 2008, while partaking in a 40-mile bike ride, Scott was struck by a box truck. Thrown violently from his bike, Scott suffered a fractured skull with a subdural hematoma and multiple other compound fractures. While Scott was in the intensive care unit, his family was told that he might not make it. Several surgeries later, with his body held together with titanium plates and screws, Scott was in for the fight of his life.

With a severely compromised body and immune system, Scott knew he had to make serious changes on his road to recovery. He applied a relentless work ethic in all that he did, including extensive physical therapy, developing proper diet, supplementation and hygiene practices. Still, no matter how hard he tried, his weakened immune system caused him to develop constant upper respiratory infections for up to one month at a time.

Scott took an out-of-the-box approach to cleaning up his diet. He started experimenting with antioxidant-rich superfoods such as organic freeze dried acai, then maqui berry, camu camu and acerola cherry. Despite the improved diet, he still couldn’t shake his constant sickness – but he would not be deterred.

Needing to find a permanent solution to his ailments, Scott sought the help of a formulation expert and now friend, Jason Mitchell. Then the head of Research & Development at Country Life Vitamins, Jason was able to help connect several missing links in the formulation. After four years of exhaustive research, trial and error, Scott and Jason developed a synergistic nutritional formula that combines superfoods, protein, organic vitamins, fulvic minerals, prebiotics and probiotics. Incorporating this meal replacement shake into his daily routine, Scott finally emerged from sickness – and he hasn’t looked back since.

That formula became the idea behind UB Super – a protein superfood nutritional shake made from the highest quality real ingredients found in nature. Scott is living proof that superior nutrition can have a profound effect on your health, and he is the embodiment of the old adage “you are what you eat”. Today, Scott’s focus is creating superior nutrition and hygiene solutions for real life.

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Kelly Shovelin- Four Pillars Law Firm

Kelly chose to enter the practice of law because she enjoys meeting people and learning about them and their families, as well as their histories and cultures.  Every person who enters our firm doors has a story and Kelly loves to hear those stories.   Specifically, Kelly was drawn to the estate planning and elder law practice areas because they allow her to interact with families on an intimate basis and to assist them in their times of need.  By looking to our firm for your estate planning and asset protection needs, Kelly hopes you not only find an attorney for your lifetime, but also an extended family member and friend in whom you may confide.  It is in building such client relationships that Kelly finds her practice truly fulfilling.

As an experienced estate planning, asset protection and long term care planning attorney, Kelly understands that you have worked hard your entire life to build your assets and provide financial stability for your family members and loved ones.  Additionally, she understands that life’s uncertainties may surprise you, no matter how much you believe you have safeguarded your family and your assets.  Kelly’s legal experience equips her with various legal strategies which may provide you with the security you need and desire, whether for yourself, your loved ones, or your estate.  Regardless of your life situation, Kelly is committed to understanding your issues and concerns and identifying the legal means available to reach your goals.

Connect with Kelly on Twitter and Facebook

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Marianna Stacy

Marianna Stacy is a member of the Cape Fear Elder Abuse Prevention Network and Community Outreach Educator for Brightmore of Wilmington, one of the member organizations of the Cape Fear Elder Abuse Prevention Network.

Andrew Zeldin

Assistance for Life is a geriatric care management is a company based in Wilmington, North Carolina. They provide services for older adults and persons with disabilities in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties.  Assistance for Life believes that everyone deserves quality care and client needs always remain our top priority.

They are dedicated to helping older adults and their families by applying professional management to their personal care needs.  Their goal is to help people maintain the quality of life they deserve and desire by providing support to them and their families as they take on the myriad of issues related to aging.  Whether it is the process of transitioning from one living space or one state of health to another, organizing important documents and accounts, or making sure all health care needs are met in a timely and coordinated manner, Assistance for Life Care Management can help.  They provide information and identify resources for our clients and their families so they can make sound and informed decisions.

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Sharon Luquire- A Peace of Home

Sharon Luquire has been an integral part of the Healthcare profession for 40 years. She is a retired Registered Nurse, a licensed Nursing Home Administrator and serves as the Geriatric Care Manager with A Peace of Home, an eldercare consulting company with offices in Wilmington and Charlotte.

A Peace of Home was established by her son, Justin, three years ago after he watched the slow decline of his grandfather with dementia.  It is their belief that every senior adult and family member should have access to and knowledge of resources that are available to them as they navigate the confusing and frustrating healthcare maze.  Family members with aging loved ones worry everyday as they struggle to care for, or find care for, their loved ones who live alone or are no longer able to care for themselves.   Feelings of anguish, fear, guilt, concern and indecision are overwhelming.  Questions such as What do I do—Who do I call—Where do I go—Who can I trust to help me figure this out—often appear to have no answer.

Their mission is to provide that compassionate guidance that is all too often not available to families when there are so many unanswered questions about what is the best option for an aging loved one or where to turn for help.

A Peace of Home is not a referral source for facilities but a resource and advocate for senior adults.

Connect with Sharon on LinkedIn, Facebook, and email sharon.luquire@apoh.org

Helayne Levy- Elder Law Firm of Andrew Olsen

I help families PLAN FOR LIFE, at the various stages of our collective human experience as we age. As an elder law attorney, I am uniquely positioned to address the changing needs of people as they experience the expected, and often unexpected, phases of their lives. Planning for some of the important things in life includes:
-controlling what we have while we are alive and well;
-creating financial security and protection;
-planning for, and dealing with, disability;
-health care advocacy/resident’s rights
-financing long term care (Veteran’s Benefits, Medicaid planning, Long Term Care Insurance);
-transitioning of residential living arrangements;
-planning for special needs beneficiaries;
-making the right decisions for oneself about one’s own inevitable mortality; including, the creation of a sound ‘exit strategy’ with known estate consequences of passing, leaving a positive legacy for heirs.

In this way, our clients can live their lives with the comfort to face the future with choices and confidence.

Connect with Helayne on LinkedIn and through email helayne@olsenelderlaw.com

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Susan Fennell is the Executive Director for YWCA of Lower Cape Fear.

YWCA of Lower Cape Fear has a rich history of serving women and children in need. Women come to us in times of crisis. They come for job training and career counseling. They come for childcare. They come for health and fitness. They come for a variety of reasons. But they come. And they leave with a renewed spirit, new skills, and stronger lives.

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Richard Hand and Jerry Collins- Treadwell

Richard Hand, Founder of Treadwell Corporation, is a well known Physical Therapist in the Wilmington, NC area. Richard discovered the health and wellness benefits of treadling in 2004. Subsequently he developed the Treadwell Wellness Device. It is now being sold to long-term-care facilities and the company intends to expand into the corporate wellness and athletic markets in the future. Richard is a graduate of the Bouve College of Northeastern University where he was a Phi Kappa Phi Honor Student and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Therapy. Richard resides in Wilmington with his wife and two children.

Jerry Collins, CEO, joined Treadwell in 2009 when the company commenced test marketing the Treadwell Wellness Device. Jerry’s was previously a CEO and a CFO of RHC and FQHC primary healthcare businesses. Jerry is a graduate of the Maine Business School at the University of Maine where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Masters of Business Administration. Jerry resides in Burgaw.

Richard and Jerry would like to recognize the University of North Carolina Wilmington Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship’s administration and staff for their support of Treadwell in its entrepreneurial pursuits. They would also like to recognize the support of family, friends and mentors who have shared the experience.

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Mitzi Kincaid- Kincaid and Associates

Ms. Kincaid has over a decade of experience in corporate accounting and finance.  Prior to receiving her law degree, she worked with BellSouth’s cellular phone company (Cingular, now AT&T).  She served as Corporate Counsel for VisionAIR, a software development company in Wilmington, NC. She has also worked for the North Carolina State Treasurer as an auditor and with Bell+Howell, an international company specializing in mail sorting machines, where she worked in financial management. She started her own law firm, Kincaid and Associates, PLLC in 2007 and has locations in Asheville, Charlotte, Raleigh and Wilmington.

Ms. Kincaid is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, the New Hanover County Bar Association and the American Bar Association where she is a member of the business law section, intellectual property section, the wills and probate section, and the GP/Solo section.

Ms. Kincaid volunteers with the Special Olympics and the American Heart Association. Ms. Kincaid is also a member of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington Cameron Executive Network.  Ms. Kincaid currently serves as the Chairperson for the Board of Directors for the disability Resource Center and was recently appointed by Governor Pat McCroy as a voting member of the Statewide Independent Living Council.

Ms. Kincaid is licensed to practice in the States of North Carolina and South Carolina and before the United States Tax Court.  Ms. Kincaid earned a Juris Doctorate from North Carolina Central School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, from the University of North Carolina – Charlotte.

In her spare time, Ms. Kincaid enjoys mountain biking, trail running, cooking and spending time with friends.

Connect with Kincaid and Associates on Facebook and LinkedIn