NONPROFITS & PHILANTHROPIES.

WILLIAM BUSTER

CEO | New Hanover Community Endowment

Wilmington

It was a cross-state move, from Asheville to Wilmington, but William Buster, president and CEO of the New Hanover Community Endowment, remains on familiar turf--helping health care organizations make fundamental transitions in how they serve the public.

In the west, he was senior vice president of Dogwood Health Trust, which managed the proceeds of Mission Health System's $1.5 billion sale to Nashville, Tennessee-based HCA Healthcare, and on the coast, juggling the public's share of New Hanover Regional Medical Center's $1.5 billion sale to Winston-Salem based Novant Health.

Named to his role a year ago, his mission is to improve health, education, safety, and economic opportunity for the region.

Buster, over a span of nearly a decade beginning in 2007, earned degrees in public policy and administration from N.C. A&T State University in Greensboro, the University of New Hampshire and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

He put his education to work in positions such as executive vice president of community investments at the St. David's Health Foundation, which works for health equity in central Texas; with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and as a program officer for the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation in Winston-Salem.

He's been active all along in racial justice roles, including serving on the Minority Farmer Advisory Committee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

MICHAEL BLACKWELL

CEO | Baptist Children's Homes

Thomasville

Under his 40 years of leadership, ministries and services have expanded to include North Carolina and parts of South Carolina. He has authored six books, some on the history of his institution, others on leadership in nonprofit organizations.

Favorite family tradition: Thanksgiving dinner

Favorite N.C. place to visit: Black Mountain

What do you listen to on your commute: Pandora. It gets the energy flowing and I sing along.

Major inspiration: My wife, Catherine Blackwell, because of her enduring patience and infinite wisdom.

Career highlight: Forty years as president/ CEO of the Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina.

Favorite hobby: Assuming my alter ego of Big Daddy Cool.

Best advice for industry newcomer: Be curious, compassionate, courageous, courteous

Key industry change in next five years: More emphasis on foster care, adoption and foster care leading to adoption.

ELIZABETH BRAZAS

president, CEO | Community Foundation of Western NC

Asheville

Brazas joined the foundation following a career in wealth management at Wachovia/Wells Fargo and the Threshold Group. The Davidson grad has a law degree from the University of South Carolina. The foundation, with $400 million in assets, provides grants of about $10 million annually across 18 western North Carolina counties.

RICHARD BRUNSON

executive director | NC Baptists on Mission

Cary

Brunson has served in his current role for 30 years. The group is currently supporting Ukrainian refugees through volunteer teams in countries surrounding the conflict. He has degrees from Gardner-Webb University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

AMY CUBBAGE

president | NC Partnership for Children

Raleigh

Cubbage was a teacher after earning a degree from Brown University. She went on to earn a law...