Sandra McClammy – Breakout Session Presenter

Sandra was born and raised in Wilmington, NC. A graduate of the city’s inner city high school, New Hanover High, and the city’s college, UNCW has afforded her an excellent balance. As a teen growing up in a challenged neighborhood, she vowed to never forget her roots and to grow socially in a manner by which she could have a conversation with anyone. As she grew into an adult, she learned how it is essential to recognize and embrace the desperate educational, social and economic conditions that affect our community. Today she has placed herself in the educational arena and entertainment world.

As a dancer, actress, and radio personality, Sandra understands how movement and music can provide solstice to the soul. She sees music as lyrical stories. It is also an expression of joy and triumph. With this Sandra also believes that as an educator it is critical to study and understand how we can continue to succeed despite the overwhelming odds. We all have a significant role in our society.

Sandra is a UNCW graduate, currently with a Master’s Degree in Liberal Arts and is an English & Humanities instructor at Cape Fear Community College. Among the many boards and committees she serves on from the UNCW Alumni Board of Directors as Vice- Chair, to the Black Arts Alliance of Wilmington, to the Board of Directors of New Hanover County Community Action, Inc., she is also a proud member of the Wilmington Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is also the co-founder of Teen Summit and President of Urban Promotions which provides workshops for youth and young adults. She has been a radio personality for 16 years. You can catch her mid-days on COAST 97.3 from 10am – 3pm. As a Core DJ, she is also the national syndicated host and producer for the Core DJ Radio show.

Sandra’s motto is, “the best performance is living your life.”

Clarence Smith – Breakout Session Presenter

Clarence Smith presently works at Cape Fear Community College and has served in a number of different administrative capacities, including Basic Skills recruiter, HRD director, and Pender County Campus director.  Early in his career, he taught career success classes and has remained a strong advocate to assist anyone who may be starting a career or might be making a change to another career. 

As an advocate for students, Clarence secured many grants, most recently a Minority Male Mentoring Grant with a purpose to help minority males to remain focused and persist to finish college.  A Project Skill-Up grant was awarded to assist laid-off or displaced tobacco workers to go back to school when tobacco farms in Pender County went out of business.

Presently Clarence serves as the Dean of Continuing Education, a division composed of 60 full and part-time staff that provides classes and services to over 20,000 students annually.  While he still misses the “one-to-one” student interaction, he feels he is making a difference for residents living in southeastern North Carolina.

Clarence received his masters in adult education with a focus on continuing education from East Carolina University.  Mr. Smith also completed coursework at the master’s level in educational supervision from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. 

Diane Badakhsh – Breakout Session Presenter

Diane Badakhsh (Ba-Dash) has worked in higher education for over 13 years.  Diane has been with Cape Fear Community College for 10 years where she spent the first 5 years in Student Development and the past 5 years in the role of Corporate and Continuing Education Director.

As the Corporate and Continuing Director she oversees several programs such as; Human Resources Development, Small Business Center, Customized Training, Career Readiness Certification, and Career Pathways Academies.

She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a master’s degree in Counseling from East Carolina University.  Diane is also a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Employee Assistance Professional. 

Brucie L Pope – Breakout Session Presenter

Brucie L. Pope received dual master’s degrees, one in Human Resources and another in Management, from Webster University.  She has been employed at Cape Fear Community College for over 20 years in different capacities, most recently as the Human Resources Development (HRD) Coordinator for Continuing Education.  Brucie has also led numerous seminars and workshops on self-esteem, goal setting, and employability skills for resume writing and interviewing skills.  Her primary responsibility for the College is to set up classes that target unemployed and underemployed adults to become more marketable for the world of work. 

Through the years Brucie has worked with wonderful students and has now started encountering her students’ children who are enrolling into the college.  Ms. Pope’s mission is for the HRD students to come away with information that will assist them to be self-sufficient in life.

Julia Jessamy-Holmes – Breakout Session Presenter

Julia Jessamy-Holmes is a native of South Carolina; however she was educated and raised in the north.   She has 25 plus years of experience in Office Management and Customer Service and Relationship Management.  She has spent her career in business and industry with companies like IBM, Duke Energy, and 1st Metropolitan Mortgage. At Cape Fear Community College, Julia enjoys the challenge of helping students findinformation needed about classes and to become more self-aware – understanding how they can achieve their own goals. 

Julia feels her greatest accomplishment has been raising two very strong, independent daughters who believe in taking personal responsibility and achieving their own success.  Ms. Holmes enjoys empowering women and draws from her own experience to offer a practical approach in assisting all students.

Travis Corpening – Breakout Session Presenter

Travis Corpening is a native of Raleigh, NC and has always had a love for helping students and teaching social-awareness.  In 2000, after receiving his B.A in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, he created a company called “Shaper” to educate and empower through offering personal development.   In 2006, Travis earned his master’s degree in Liberal Studies from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

As Cape Fear Community College’s HRDRecruiter and Retention Specialist, he works to assist individuals with various employment barriers.He helps them become employed and explore career options. After years in the trenches for at-risk populations, Travis developed the “Eye of the Mentor” staff development training, as a means to bridge the cultural divide between teachers, mentors, and students.  Using his experiences as a teen counselor, educator, and a 3-time collegiate track & field champion to illustrate how personal goals can be achieved, Travis speaks to all audiences. Travis keeps educators informed of new and inspiring ideas in education. Travis believes that we are all advocates for students; and for change.

Vicky Valand – Breakout Session Presenter

Vicky Valand graduated from Appalachian State University and has 15 years’ experience in education as a teacher and administrator. She has worked for Cape Fear Community College for nine years and is currently the Coordinator for the Adult Basic Education and GED Express Enrollment Classes. These GED classes meet in various locations in New Hanover and Pender Counties and online.

Emily Bradenburg – Breakout Session Presenter

Emily Brandenburg has 15 years of experience in the field of education as a tutor, teacher and school administrator. She is currently the coordinator for the Adult High School and GED (on-campus) programs at Cape Fear Community College and has worked there for 2.5 years. These GED classes are held at the downtown, North and Burgaw campuses.

Kristine Sipe – Breakout Session Presenter

Kristine Sipe received her bachelor’s degree in Business Education from East Carolina University.  As the first employee hired at a start-up software development company, she developed her skills in management, operations, customer service, sales, and marketing.  After 20 years of service, she ended her career with the software company as Vice President. 

Making a career change 2010, Kristine joined the Continuing Education Department at Cape Fear Community College as the Workforce Training Coordinator.  Her primary role is to market professional development training services to the local business community.  She has coordinated training sessions on topics such as Leadership Development, MS Office Applications, Harassment/Diversity, Customer Service, Time Management, Software Certifications, and Ethics.  She also develops continuing education certification training for various professionals and executives.

Charles Savidge – Breakout Session Presenter

Charles Savidge specializes in retirement planning. He provides sound financial advice to help his clients plan for financial independence. His clients appreciate a throrough, honest approach ot managing their hard-earned money. Working with his clients, he develops a realistic financial plan aimed at helping them feel secure, informed and in control, on the road to financial freedom. Charles was the 2004 recipient of the Ameriprise Outstanding Leader Award, and was in Ameriprise Financial Service's Circle of Success – Leader's Summit two times.