College champions earn Belk College prestigious awards

Recipients honored for leadership, service, excellence

The four recipients of the 2024 Belk College of Business Alumni Awards have notable common traits — particularly a sense of gratitude. During a November ceremony hosted by college Alumni Council President Robert Schaff, they were united in turning the focus from themselves to those who have helped shape the course of their lives.

Honoree Kimberly Moore-Wright ’95 recalled coming to UNC Charlotte as a prospective student for a scholarship interview. Her father nudged her to meet a soon-to-be mentor, now Professor Emeritus of Finance Ben Nunnally. “That made all the difference because he described an environment where I could thrive, where I could participate and where I could be valued,” Moore-Wright recalled.

Like Moore-Wright and other award recipients, Belk College leaders expressed deep gratitude during the celebration at the UNC Charlotte Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.

“All of our honorees today have achieved so much both personally and professionally in their lives,” said Belk College Dean Richard Buttimer. “I am so proud of all they have done, and we are tremendously honored that they are part of the Belk College family and that they remain connected to the college in many, many ways. They are the embodiment of leadership and inspiration not only for the Belk College but for the University, the Charlotte region and beyond.”

The award recipients are:

• Darin Stafford ’94 Accounting and Finance; Chief Financial Officer of Amwins, Distinguished Alumni Award

• Kimberly Moore-Wright ’95 Accounting; Chief Teammate Officer and Head of Enterprise Diversity for Truist Financial Corporation, Distinguished Alumni Service Award
• Kwame Molden ‘12 MBA; co-founder and president of Springbreak (SPGBK) Watches, Outstanding Young Alumni Award
• Henry Atkins, president of Atkins Properties, LLC, and partner with TAG Ventures; Carolina Fresh Holdings, a franchisee for Tide Dry Cleaners; and Carolina G&C, a franchisee for Dairy Queen, Honorary Alumni Award

Distinguished Alumni Award: Darin Stafford

Stafford received the college’s highest alumni honor, presented to a person whose extraordinary leadership and accomplishments have had a transforming influence for the college or the community over a lifetime.

A nominator described Stafford as an avid supporter of the college, the University and Charlotte Athletics. “I am pleased to support the recognition of one of the business community’s top risk management and insurance professionals who has achieved so much since graduating from the Belk College and is making a difference in his company, industry and community,” the nominator said.

As a student, Stafford stood out as a dynamic leader. He served as president of the student chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, the international honor organization for financial information students. He also was vice president and treasurer of Charlotte’s Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, and still counts the colleagues he met through Beta Alpha Psi and Delta Sigma Phi as among his closest friends today.

Stafford thanked faculty members and his family for helping guide his path. His mother helped him understand the importance of respecting others, no matter their status in life, and his aunt fostered his love of travel and taught him how to experience the intangible journey. “She would tell me that sometimes the world will tell you to take a right turn, (so) you should take a left turn, because the road not traveled will show you all kinds of things that you didn’t think existed,” he said. “It will teach you lots about yourself.”

Since graduating from Charlotte with degrees in accounting and finance, Stafford has continued his active engagement with the Belk College, particularly its Risk Management and Insurance program.

He has consistently demonstrated a profound understanding of financial management and strategic planning, significantly contributing to the growth and success of Amwins, which he joined in 2016. Prior to Amwins, Stafford served as vice president of Remington Outdoor Company and before that, he worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Charlotte, with a three-year rotation in London.

Isaac Nechvata, a senior finance major with a concentration in risk management and insurance, presented the award.

Distinguished Alumni Service Award: Kimberly Moore-Wright

Moore-Wright received the distinguished service award, presented to alumni who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the University and the business community by giving generously of their time, energy and leadership.

She currently serves as vice-chair of the Belk College Board of Advisors and in spring 2024 joined other Truist executives in welcoming UNC Charlotte students to the Truist Innovation and Technology Center for the Truist Immersive Learning Experience. She has presented at the college’s C-Suite Speaker Series and participated in other initiatives designed to guide students.

Reflecting on her time as a student, Moore-Wright recalled several faculty, including Nunnally, who nudged her to flex her leadership skills and try new things as a student. “I would just say in short that I wouldn’t have the career that I have today without the strong curriculum, the mentorship and the opportunities I was given at the Belk College,” she said. “That’s also how I got an internship, which brought me to the company that is now Truist.”

At Truist, Moore-Wright is responsible for all aspects of human resource management, oversees Truist Leadership Institute and is a member of Truist’s Operating Council. She earned her degree in accounting from UNC Charlotte and an MBA from North Carolina State University.

She serves on the boards of the Truist Foundation and Freedom School Partners, a nonprofit organization providing literacy and enrichment programs for underserved children. She is also a member of The Links, Inc. and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She is actively involved with the Go Red for Women initiative of the American Heart Association.

A nominator described Moore-Wright as someone who exemplifies the highest standards of service and commitment to community. “Her leadership and dedication to education reflect the very essence of this award,” the nominator said. “Her career path, marked by continuous growth and a dedication to service, serves as an inspiration to current and future students.” 

Taliyah Green, a sophomore finance major and Niblock Scholar, presented the award.

Outstanding Young Alumni Award: Kwame Molden

Molden received the young alumni award, which honors a graduate who is age 40 or younger who has demonstrated achievement and shows a promising future in business.

Molden is co-founder and president of Springbreak Watches, a designer watch company. Each watch model is designed as a tribute to a local school or community, with symbolic watch bands to match.

“About 12 years ago, after getting my MBA, I got my corporate job and I was working at one of the banks Uptown,” Moden said. “I felt like I wanted more. I had a dream, and my dream was to start a company around a product that I love. That product was watches.”

Now, the company’s products are sold in more than 320 stores, including Belk, Macy’s and Nordstrom locations. In 2023, Springbreak was selected as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things. The company has received media attention from Good Morning America, The New York Times and AfroTech, among others.

“This long journey taught me one thing, and it’s the true importance of education,” Molden said. “So, without my background and foundational elements that I learned here at the Belk College of Business, I’m not sure if I would be here today. Education is the pathway to freedom.”

Molden has donated watches to teachers and staff, including at his alma mater, E.E. Smith High School in the Fayetteville area. He has served as a guest judge for a Belk College master of science in management elevator pitch competition, providing Springbreak watches for competition winners. Earlier this year, the city of Fayetteville celebrated his contributions to the city.

“In my time getting to know Kwame while he was earning his MBA in the Belk College, Kwame always spoke with confidence and positivity, never shying away from engaging in hard work to reach his goals,” a nominator said. “I knew even at that young stage in his career, with his background of success and level of business responsibility, he would be able to accomplish any goal he set out to complete.”

Mystie Pulliam, who is pursuing an MBA and is senior manager of category development for national accounts at Heineken USA, presented the award.

Honorary Alumni Award: Henry Atkins

Atkins received the honorary alumni award, created to recognize outstanding individuals who, while not graduates of the Belk College, have made significant contributions to its leadership, vision and educational mission.

Atkins is an active leader, ambassador and advisor for UNC Charlotte and the Belk College of Business. “Early on in my business career I felt like the University much like the city of Charlotte, had great potential and maybe it was a place where I could work to try to contribute in some small way towards its bright future,” Atkins said. 

His extensive service with UNC Charlotte includes serving as board chair for the University Foundation, as well as a key member advancing the Athletic Foundation Board and Board of Directors of the UNC Charlotte Libraries. He is a grandson of J. Murrey Atkins, for whom the University library is named.

In the Belk College, he is a member of the Board of Advisors and the Childress Klein Center for Real Estate advisory board.

“My involvement with the Belk College has been gratifying because I’ve not only seen the tremendous growth in student enrollment but also the significant rise in rankings and reputation of both the business school and the University,” he said. The Belk College is crucial to influencing the University’s reputation in the Charlotte region and beyond, he said.

Atkins’ drive and commitment to the Belk College and to the University are unmatched, a nominator said. “Henry is an influential figure and catalyst to growing all aspects of the University and positioning the school for continued, long-term success,” the nominator said. “Henry challenges us to think critically and in my mind, has been a key person to shape the University’s strategic, philanthropic and forward-thinking vision.”

In addition to leading Atkins Properties, a real estate development and brokerage company, Atkins is a partner with TAG Ventures, a real estate and investment company; Carolina Fresh Holdings, a franchisee for Tide Dry Cleaners; and Carolina G&C, a franchisee for Dairy Queen.

Andrew Walford, a finance major with a concentration in real estate and minors in biology and chemistry, presented the award.