Team

Bridget Wall-Lennon holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from N.C.A&T State University. She prides herself in being able to look at complex situations, identify options and solutions and then develop processes that will either enhance outcomes or resolve issues that may have been identified. She believes that any success she has had during her professional career in working with various organizations was due in large part to her training as an Industrial Engineer. She has honed her ability to develop and put in place systems that increase productivity, efficiencies, outcomes, and expectations. She has experience in program planning and development, and implementation, as well as project management and public engagement.

Ms. Wall-Lennon has close to 35 years of experience in program management and extensive knowledge of the State of North Carolina’s Office of Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB), minority business development and diversity inclusion programs. She has overseen several major project initiatives such as setting up the State of North Carolina’s Office of (HUB) and implementing the NC Statewide Uniform Certification (SWUC) Program. She initiated the Contractors’ Networking Expo held during the annual State Construction Conference and managed the Department of Administration’s Disparity Study which covered the state agencies and state universities. She was responsible for generating a comprehensive reporting system that included over 230 state entities that reported on Purchasing and over 300 reporting entities that reported on Construction, to establishing the Statewide Uniform Certification initiative.

As a result of Ms. Wall-Lennon’s outstanding efforts to promote economic opportunities for HUB’s, she has been recognized and has earned a plethora of awards including life-time achievement awards from Metrolina Minority Contractors Association (2024) and Triangle Business Journal (2022).

Ms. Wall-Lennon, a third-generation entrepreneur, brings a passionate understanding of challenges that many minority, women, and small business owners face. As an entrepreneur, she has experienced some of the same challenges. She is aware of and has experienced challenges such as preparing bid proposals, having limited access to capital, operating capital, insurance, building capacity, and hiring qualified workers/independent contractors. But she has also seen and experienced HUB vendor’s experiences from a program administrator’s perspective. It is because of her compilation of experiences that she is a sought-after consultant in the minority and women business development industry.

Ms. Wall-Lennon was elected in November 2017 to the Board of Commissioners in Wake Forest, NC. She served as Board liaison to the Cultural Resources Advisory Board and Human Relations Council. She was responsible for establishing the town’s first affordable housing initiative. Ms. Wall-Lennon has served on the board of several organizations including the National Association of State Minority, Women & Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Directors, North Carolina M/WBE Coordinators’ Network, and the Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Council’s Board of Directors. She is a founding director of the Andrea L. Harris Foundation and serves as the Board Chair. Active in her community, she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, is a Girl Scout and Co-Troop Leader of her daughter’s Girl Scout Cadette Troop.

Education

1998 – B.S. Industrial Engineering; North Carolina A&T State University
2002 – Tuck Minority Business Executive Program; Dartmouth College

Certifications/Training

Certified as Contract Compliance Administrator (CCA), Morgan State University

Awards

• Lifetime Achievement Award – 2024 Metrolina Minority Contractors Association (MMCA)
• 2023 Current Influential Figure and Trailblazer – Mecklenburg County’s Business Diversity & Inclusion Office
• 2023 Trailblazer Award – Charlotte Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week
• Leaders in Diversity Lifetime Achievement Award – 2022 Triangle Business Journal
• 2021 Pacesetter Award for Government Service
• 2001 National Minority Business Advocate of the Year, US Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency

 

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Dr. Inger H. Swimpson has over 30 years in experience of the education field with an emphasis on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice. She spearheads DEI assessments for public and private entities. Dr. Swimpson conducts training on cultural competence, unconscious bias, and inclusive leadership, influencing positive organizational change. Core competencies that she honed include analytical thinking, strategic planning, project management, relationship building, facilitation, critical consciousness, data-informed decision making and commitment to equity and belonging.

As a Change Facilitative Leadership Master Trainer, Dr. Swimpson co-leads the organization’s training and development programs, community engagement planning strategies, implementation, and facilitation. She also assists with collecting and analyzing community feedback to generate report-outs to the project owners and stakeholders. She is masterful at ensuring mindful engagement with the community as we must first build trust and understand the historical context of each community.

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Ms. Dunkley brings over 25 years of experience in accounting, finance, real estate development, project management, training small businesses, supporting HUB participation goals, and managing diversity and inclusion programs that promote equitable practices and foster inclusive economic growth. She is a Master of Business Administration and is highly skilled in financial analysis, process improvement, and construction administration. Her reporting experience includes financial presentations for global executives at IBM, developing public engagement plans, communications plans, and stakeholder lists. Ms. Dunkley is an expert at translating complex raw data into creative and easily consumable insights, that are engaging, transparent and resonate well with the community.

With a proven track record in MWBE outreach and contractor pre-qualification, Ms. Dunkley effectively builds relationships that enhance economic opportunities for minority business enterprises (MBEs). She has successfully developed commercial capital strategies, enabling small businesses to access millions of dollars, thereby boosting their operational effectiveness and market competitiveness. Her approach to public engagement incorporates IAP2 (International Association Public Participation) engagement strategies, agile methodologies, design thinking practices, and project management strategies that consistently deliver impactful results.

At BLWall Consulting, Ms. Dunkley serves as the VP of Operations and Senior Consultant and leads business operations with vision and precision, driving sustainable growth and operational excellence.

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Mr. Atkinson holds a Master’s in Construction Management and serves as an instructor at Wake Tech, specializing in project planning, cost estimation, contract administration, and sustainable building practices. With over 13 years of experience as an Engineering Supervisor at the City of Raleigh Municipal Government, he has successfully managed complex projects exceeding $1 billion.

An experienced Construction Project Manager, Mr. Atkinson possesses extensive knowledge of full-cycle project management, including schematic and design development, designer procurement, and construction administration, ensuring on-time and budget-conscious project completion. He is proficient in AutoCAD, ArcGIS products, highways, Microsoft Word, CAD, and project management.

Mr. Atkinson excels in collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and implementing innovative solutions to improve efficiency, quality, and compliance in construction operations.

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Ms. Little is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of expertise in diversity and inclusion strategies within the construction industry. She has successfully guided small businesses in business development, crafting persuasive proposals, and implementing effective marketing and public relations strategies that drive growth and visibility.

With a strong ability to foster relationships across municipalities, government agencies, and private entities, Ms. Little enhances collaboration and expands opportunities for HUB firms. Her deep industry experience allows her to support businesses in securing networking opportunities, strengthening public relations, and achieving project objectives with strategic precision.

Ms. Little is a recognized expert in marketing and public relations, and has a proven track record of conducting insightful marketing assessments, developing innovative strategies, and crafting compelling press releases that elevate brand presence and engagement.

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Ms. Powell brings over 30 years of experience in program coordination and administration. During her tenure at NC DOT, Office of Civil Rights, she served as a Program Coordinator, overseeing On-the-Job Training and Supportive Services. In this role, she developed comprehensive written standard operating policies and procedures (SOPP) for contractor engagement, support, monitoring, and reporting. Prior to her work with the Office of Civil Rights, Ms. Powell spent 17 years as a Purchasing Coordinator for the NC Department of Treasurer.

She has significant experience conducting one-on-one anecdotal interviews, custom census surveys, and business owner assessments, along with extensive expertise in HUB outreach and public engagement. Ms. Powell also coordinates project team meetings, provides vital administrative and logistical support to project teams.

In her capacity as MWBE Outreach & Engagement, Ms. Powell oversees MWBE/ HUB outreach and community engagement efforts, support training and development, and manages project coordination.

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Ms. Pride has over 10 years as a dedicated customer success, community engagement, credit, and data analyst professional. Her background also includes adhering to federal and state regulatory guidelines as she is a key resource to assist with program compliance. She has an extensive background in client success, engagement, and credit analysis.

Ms. Pride assists small businesses in understanding how to secure capital through credit because it is essential to provide a comprehensive approach that includes education, resources, and support. With an extensive background in processing credit applications, she is a great resource to help small businesses understand requirements to prepare to apply for credit. Ms. Pride participates in workshops, shares resource materials, provides current market insight, financial literacy training and network opportunities. By equipping small businesses with the knowledge and resources to navigate the credit landscape, we can enhance their ability to secure the capital needed for growth and sustainability.

Ms. Pride is also committed to providing community engagement through proactive communication and support. She has participated in various public engagement events and has experience with collecting feedback data for analysis to support achieving strategic goals.

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