NC Business and Civic Leaders Commit to Birth to Eight Effort to Improve Third Grade Outcomes

Bill Shore, Matty Lazo-Chadderton, Harold Sellars and Patti Gillenwater Elected to NC Early Childhood Foundation Board of Directors

Four business and civic leaders are joining the board of the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation (NCECF) – Bill Shore, co-founder of the Institute for a Competitive Workforce at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Matty Lazo-Chadderton, former Director for Hispanic and Latino Affairs for the NC Senate President Pro Tempore; Harold Sellars, retired from role as Senior Vice President with Mechanics & Farmers Bank; and Patti Gillenwater, CEO of Elinvar.

NCECF launched in 2013 with a belief that solving problems requires starting from a place that is energizing, promotes broad engagement, is rooted in exploration and grounded in research. The organization works to build public will, accelerate what works and ignite action that closes the achievement gap and raises outcomes for all young children. When all children are given the best opportunity to succeed—to realize their potential and contribute as productive citizens—North Carolina prospers.

In January 2014, NCECF hosted a Blue Ribbon Nominating Committee where more than thirty of North Carolina’s distinguished business, philanthropic and civic leaders met to provide input into the Foundation’s core principles and strategies and suggest leaders to engage on the Board of Directors. The election to the Board of the following leaders is the result of that process:

  • Bill Shore is an experienced leader in the development and implementation of local and national community relations programs. He launched Glaxo, Inc.’s community relations program in 1986, eventually creating GlaxoSmithKline U.S. Community Partnerships Program. He co-founded the Institute for a Competitive Workforce at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
  • Matty Lazo-Chadderton owns Lazo-Chadderton, LLC, a consulting firm in Government, Hispanic and International Affairs, as well as Disabilities. Originally from Peru, Lazo-Chadderton moved to North Carolina in 1987, where she served as Director for Hispanic and Latino Affairs for the Senate President Pro Tempore from 2001 to 2011, as Institutional Public Affairs Officer for the Consulate General of Mexico, and as Director for Hispanic and Latino Affairs for the NC Governor in 2012.
  • Harold Sellars retired from Mechanics & Farmers Bank (M&F), Durham, NC in 2012 after 14 years as a Senior Vice President in the areas of Credit and Branch Administration.  He began his banking career in 1977 with United Carolina Bank (UCB) Whiteville, NC. Sellars is a past member of the boards of the North Carolina Partnership for Children (“Smart Start”) and the Early Childhood Advisory Council.
  • Patti Gillenwater is CEO of Elinvar, a retained search firm focused on mission driven leadership. She has the company since 1995. She is also a writer and speaker on leadership issues. In addition to NCECF, Patti serves on the boards of the Wake Education Partnership, Communities in Schools Wake County and the North Carolina Central University, School of Business.

They join fellow Board Members:

  • Olson Huff, MD, FAAP, Board Chair, Mission St. Joseph Health Care Foundation
  • Donald J. Stedman, Vice Chair, New Voices Foundation
  • Jamaica Pfister MSW, Board Secretary, Children’s Home Society
  • Dr. Susan Catapano, Treasurer, University North Carolina Wilmington
  • Dr. Kenneth A. Dodge, Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University
  • Marian Earls, MD, FAAP, Community Care of NC
  • Duncan Munn, Retired, Early Intervention 
  • Charles F. Willson, MD, East Carolina University PED