Sherwood Hubbard Smith

Nortel Networks Corp. supplies end-to-end networking products and solutions serving both service providers and enterprise customers. It designs, develops, engineers, markets, sells, supplies, licenses, installs, services, and supports networking solutions worldwide. The company was founded in 1895 and is headquartered in Mississauga, Canada.

Barings BDC, Inc., a traded fund, seeks investment opportunities in middle-market companies located in the United States with an EBITDA ranging from $5 - $75 million and revenues between $20 and $300 million. The fund targets companies operating in energy minerals, distribution services, health services, consumer services, transportation and communication. It provides financing in the form of debt, mezzanine and equity for debt, mezzanine, growth, buyout, LBO and MBO capital requirements with an investment size ranging from $5 - $50 million. It acts as co-investor and takes minority interest. The company is headquartered in Charlotte, NC.

Research Triangle Foundation is located in the Research Triangle Park (RTP), which is the largest research park in the United States. The RTP is located in Raleigh, NC, which was historically a southern economy dependent on tobacco, textiles, and furniture manufacturing. The park houses hundreds of companies, including science and technology firms, government agencies, academic institutions, startups, and nonprofits. The foundation offers meeting and office spaces, educational opportunities, and networking events. However, the area has since become a hub for innovation and technology, attracting a highly educated workforce.

Carolina Power & Light Co. generates, transmits, distributes and sells electricity in portions of North Carolina and South Carolina. It has three hydroelectric generating plants, Walters, Tillery and Blewett, which are licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. It also owns the Marshall Plant, which has a license exemption. Carolina Power & Light generates power through the consumption of various fuels, such as coal, nuclear, oil & gas, combined cycle, and hydroelectric resources. It serves chemicals, textiles, paper, food, metals, wood products, rubber & plastics, and stone products industries. The company was founded in 1908 and is headquartered in Raleigh, NC.

Wachovia Corp. provided commercial and retail banking services. It offered personal finance and wealth management services. The company was founded on June 16, 1879 and was headquartered in Charlotte, NC.

Springs Industries, Inc. manufactures and distributes home furnishing products. The firm offers sheets, towels, comforters, blankets, bed pillows, bath rugs, window treatments, and other coordinated home furnishings. The company was founded by Samuel Elliott White in 1887 and is headquartered in Fort Mill, SC.

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. provides insurance and financial security solutions. The firm offers life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability insurance, annuities, and investment products. It also provides financial planning strategies and solutions. The company was founded by John C. Johnston on March 2, 1857 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, WI.

The Business Roundtable advocates public policies that ensure economic growth. It considers public policy issues which contains groups like the construction users anti-inflation roundtable, a group devoted to containing construction costs; and the labor law study committee, made up of labor relations executives of major companies. The Business Roundtable was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Washington, DC.