John Panaccione with LogicBay

President and CEO John Panaccione has over 18 years of experience leading teams that focus on using technology to improve corporate performance. As CEO of LogicBay, he has led the company from startup in early 2003 through its capital raising efforts through the transition of the company’s business model to a Cloud-based Partner Relationship Management (PRM) software model in 2006. Prior to founding LogicBay, he led sales and marketing for Cognitive Arts, an innovative leader in high end simulation-based e-learning, until helping to sell the company to a strategic acquirer in 2002. Prior to his tenure at Cognitive Arts, John led SumTotal Systems’ professional services and technology integration organization, overseeing the operations of over 200 staff in 10 offices located in three countries. He also served several years as Director of Learning Technologies for MetLife.  He has led the integration of six successful acquisitions during his career.

John also served for six years on active duty as a U.S. Army officer and paratrooper in the 82^nd Airborne Division prior to launching his business career.  He has lived in Wilmington since 2010.

Website: www.logicbay.com

Twitter: @LogicBay

Jim Roberts with The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UNCW

Named one of the “40 Most Influential People Under 40” at the age of 30 by the Charlotte Business Journal, Jim Roberts’s experience with business development, life sciences, information technology and governmental agencies aligns with the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s vision for the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

He started an entrepreneur council in Charlotte called FirstRound during the technology boom in 2000. He was then recruited to the Asheville region to start the Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council (BREC) and Blue Ridge Angel Investor Network (BRAIN) where he hosted the annual Carolina Connect Entrepreneur and Venture Capital Conference. He also served as the Director of Business Development at the Center of Innovation for NanoBiotechnology (COIN), a program of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center; and as a Business Development Manager for the International Trade Division of the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

Mr. Roberts graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising.

Website: www.uncw.edu/cie

Twitter: @UNCW_startups and @UNCW_CIE