Join other CEOs and business leaders in the Mid Atlantic area who are building great businesses for a greater purpose.
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It can be lonely at the top, but it doesn’t have to be.
We know leaders limit their potential when they lead from isolation. But, when surrounded by trusted advisors with a common goal and a biblical worldview, they can maximize performance and energize cultures. With faith as the foundation, this powerful group of peers meet in an exclusive, confidential forums around coastal North Carolina and Virginia to have their questions answered and their answers questioned.
Chairs
Business Forum Leaders in the Mid Atlantic Area
STEVE CALHOUN
At the age of 30, after being raised in a Christian home, Steve realized his relationship with Christ was not…
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At the age of 30, after being raised in a Christian home, Steve realized his relationship with Christ was not real and true. Once he realized his need for Christ, Steve surrendered everything in his life to Him and thankfully has never gotten over it. Steve has served the local church in various lay capacities including several Bible study group start-ups and was instrumental in a local church plant. A native of Rocky Mount, NC, Steve earned his undergraduate degree in Finance from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 1990 and his MBA from Liberty University in 2007. He was a contributing author of Essentials of International Business (Satterlee, 2006) and has obtained many professional certifications in the insurance and financial services industry over the past 20 years. Steve served the insurance industry for 18 years in various sales and service capacities with Equitable Life and NC Farm Bureau, and managed all aspects of claims service in eastern NC for Erie Insurance. Steve also pursued his entrepreneurial spirit during the 1990’s by providing various services to local jewelry stores in eastern North Carolina. More recently, Steve and his family lived in China for three years where he primarily worked with Chinese business owners to bridge relationships with U.S. counterparts. While in China, he explored much of Chinese culture and language all while studying the business practices of Chinese companies. His experience in China gave Steve a unique opportunity to lead and disciple Chinese believers in their walk with Jesus Christ. Many years ago, God placed a desire in Steve’s heart to combine excellent business and marketplace ministry knowing the impact that the marketplace can have in expanding God’s Kingdom. With Steve’s varied educational past and experience in both business and ministry, he has much to bring to the table in helping C12 members, Build Great Businesses for a Greater Purpose. Steve and his wife, Beth, have been happily married for 16 years. They have been blessed with three sons and two daughters. Beth is a full-time mother and homemaker and enjoys homeschooling their children.
ROBERT BEAMAN
God called Robert to be a businessman. When at age 29 Robert became a Christian, he asked God what he…
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God called Robert to be a businessman. When at age 29 Robert became a Christian, he asked God what he should do now. God’s clear call was to continue in his business career as Vice President and later COO of a large regional retail company with 650 retail outlets and three thousand employees. Later while serving as President of another significant retail chain, Robert spearheaded a TQM initiative for his organization that led to huge reductions in expenses and employee turnover. Company size and sales more than doubled in less than ten years. Along the way, Robert received specialized training as a facilitator to enhance the performance and teamwork among his management staff. The team’s resulting heightened effectiveness later enabled the business to later be sold for a record amount. In 2000, Robert co-founded Share and Compare, a CEO peer group facilitation company engaging a network of 150 retail and distribution companies who participate in regular financial benchmarking and best practices sharing meetings and conferences. At a critical juncture in the life of his church, Robert was called by God to leave his business career and to serve for five years as Executive Pastor of his church. Robert joined C12 in 2006 as Area Chair for Eastern NC. His unique blend of work experiences and his journey of faith provide him a framework to encourage and support Christian business owners as they run their businesses for Christ. Robert and his high school sweetheart, Janet, have been married 42 years and have two daughters and four grandchildren. Robert attended East Carolina University.
JIM STEELE
Jim comes to C12 from having served for the prior decade as VP for a midsized insurance company, where he…
Learn MoreJIM STEELE
Jim comes to C12 from having served for the prior decade as VP for a midsized insurance company, where he had responsibility for strategic planning, execution, P&L, and the corporate flight department. He also operated a small general aviation airport during this same period which served the needs of customers and the community. In these roles Jim’s greatest contributions were in the areas of team-building and organizational development. Preparation for those duties began in the United States Air Force where he served for 22 years in a variety of command, staff and leadership positions. Most of Jim’s career was in the operational arena, but he also gained significant experience in human resources and personnel policy matters while working at the highest levels within the Department of Defense. A devoted student of leadership, Jim has been actively engaged in small group studies and mentoring relationships for over 25 years. He holds graduate degrees in Management from Webster University and in Education from East Carolina University. He is also a graduate of the National War College where he completed graduate level studies in National Security Strategy and Policy Formulation. Although a professional aviator for more than 35 years, Jim’s passion is not flying it’s people. It’s his desire to see lives and businesses transformed through the Gospel of Jesus Christ that brought Jim to C12. He joined the C12 team in 2009 as an Area Chair to help further develop C12’s business as ministry service to Christian CEOs in the eastern part of North Carolina. Jim lives in Kinston, NC with his wife, Judy. They have been blessed with two terrific children, Jeff and Julie, as well as five marvelous munchkins (their code name for grandchildren).
RANDY CASE
Randy began leading the C12 Group Tidewater in 2007 to help leaders renew their minds, hearts, and vision to better serve…
Learn MoreRANDY CASE
Randy began leading the C12 Group Tidewater in 2007 to help leaders renew their minds, hearts, and vision to better serve God in their business. He began his career in finance working on Wall Street for Merrill Lynch, in M&A for Marshall and Co. in Atlanta, and as Chief Financial Officer for IMG Ltd, an Information Services company based in Switzerland. After turning his life to God in mid-career, Randy moved with his wife and children to Philadelphia to earn a Ph.D. at Wharton. He taught Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy, and Leadership for the next 20 years at Wharton, Boston College, and Regent University. As a professor, researcher, and consultant his chief passion was helping leaders take the personal and organizational risk of innovating in the face of uncertainty.
Today, Randy leads C12 Groups that challenge and encourage business executives in Richmond and Coastal Virginia to change and grow: their business, their leadership in family and culture, their relationship with God. Having struggled mightily to grow throughout his life, he now has the great privilege of coming alongside business leaders and growing with them.
Randy holds a BS from UVA, an MBA from Columbia and a Ph.D. from Wharton. He was trained in Transformational Leadership Coaching at Regent University and co-authored “The Christian on Monday Morning: Essential Readings for Living the Faith at Work.” Randy and his wife, Shelley, open their home in Williamsburg to 20-somethings who want to get to know them and each other in community. Shelley is the gift God gave him that makes all the trials worthwhile. Their daughter Emily is a nurse in Charlottesville, and their son Andrew is a health care consultant in Richmond.
RALPH MILLER
Ralph brings a unique blend of credentials to his role as C12 Chair in southeastern Virginia – entrepreneurial business founder/CEO,…
Learn MoreRALPH MILLER
Ralph brings a unique blend of credentials to his role as C12 Chair in southeastern Virginia – entrepreneurial business founder/CEO, university Bible instructor and top gun fighter pilot. Ralph’s life purpose is to honor Christ by building Kingdom Builders in the marketplace. Ralph learned to integrate Christian faith and Biblical principles into business leadership during 15 years as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Regent University’s Graduate School of Business, where he had opportunities to teach Christian values, entrepreneurship, and international business. This role followed seven years of teaching Bible and church history at Regent University’s School of Divinity, where Ralph taught the whole counsel of God and pioneered a distance learning Bible survey course for hundreds of Divinity graduate students. Prior to this time, Ralph had 20 years of business experience, as CEO of RAM Aviation and board member of various public and private companies, as well as six years as a US Navy fighter pilot serving on USS Forrestal. During 50 years of life’s challenges and successes, Ralph learned that I can’t (didn’t), but He can (did), and He is in me and I am in Him. The pastor who led Ralph to the Lord helped him to learn this truth and gain the courage to follow the Lord in anything that would enhance the Kingdom. In roles with Regent University and C12, Ralph’s greatest contribution has been encouraging entrepreneurs to build His Kingdom by being everything they can be for Christ in the marketplace. He has been with C12 since 1999. Ralph holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia, an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Regent University, and is a graduate of the U.S. Navy Flight training School. Ralph and his wife Cathy live in Charlottesville, Virginia.
JOHN BERRY
Helping Christ change the world one heart and one business at a time is the motivation John embraced when he…
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Helping Christ change the world one heart and one business at a time is the motivation John embraced when he joined The C12 Group, the amazing marketplace movement which is the nation’s leading ministry for CEOs. God had been preparing him for this exhilarating transition for years, as he was lead to shine the light of his faith in the businesses he owned and the boards he served on. He exemplified this passion by encouraging employees, customers and board members alike to consider choosing a truly meaningful life revolving around embracing Christ’s awesome message of inner peace. As CEO and owner of a nationally recognized, award winning, retail golf shop and corporate apparel business, John witnessed firsthand the miracles that can only happen when one lets go and gives God control of every aspect of their life and business. Before becoming an Area Chair for The C12 Group, John was a devoted member of the organization for six years where he and his business experienced the transformative power of aligning with this movement. As a C12 member, John came to realize how fleeting his successful 30-year career, many awards, and millions in sales were and how they would dissipate just like a vapor; yet all work done in that business honoring God would last forever. John is now fixated on allowing God to multiply his gifts and talents by helping other business owners and CEOs build great businesses for a greater purpose. John graduated from Central Bible College and has been married for 25 years to the love of his life, Jill. They happily reside in Goldsboro, North Carolina with their two teens, John and Jenna, and their two K-9 furbabies, Gabby and Gracie. Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8
MIKE AMAN
Mike Aman grew up in Roanoke Rapids NC and is a graduate of East Carolina University with a BSBA &…
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Mike Aman grew up in Roanoke Rapids NC and is a graduate of East Carolina University with a BSBA & MBA. He founded One Source Communications in Greenville, NC in 1996 and was a C12 Member for over 12 years and was a poster child as one who fully implemented C12 business and ministry principles and as a result, saw much eternal fruit and business success. One Source Communications grew from the idea of serving all of client’s communications needs in Eastern NC to a national provider of this unique customer-focused communications business. Mike is an experienced leader skilled in Coaching & Development, Management, Marketing, Operations, and Client Satisfaction. In late 2016, Mike was led to selling One Source and as he considered what’s next and felt the Lords leading to join the East Carolina C12 team. Mike has been a committed community and church leader in Greenville. As a result of these commitments, he carries the respect of the faith and business communities. Following his 2018 entry as a C12 Chair in Greenville, he quickly recruited more than a dozen area businesses to become C12 member firms. Mike is a sought-out coach, mentor, business leader, and accountability partner. He brings a unique background and skill set to the East Carolina C12 team.
ED NAYLOR
A number of years ago God encouraged Ed to live fully for Christ and revealed that worship, family, hobbies and…
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A number of years ago God encouraged Ed to live fully for Christ and revealed that worship, family, hobbies and career should be lived integrated with and revolving around Christ solely to glorify Him and His Kingdom. The first step was to use Ed’s business, a successful law practice, to further God’s purposes by engaging in marketplace ministry. Several years later, prompted by God’s call, Ed closed his law practice and entered the world of higher education, serving as Vice President of Student Affairs and Legal Affairs/ Dean of Students at a private Christian College. Ed was responsible for all areas of student life experience, including security, housing, food services, student programing, student conduct, spiritual life and others managing a budget of over 4 million dollars and leading 25 team members. The son of an entrepreneur, Ed grew up in eastern North Carolina and graduated from East Carolina University and North Carolina Central School of Law. A promising baseball career was derailed by lack of talent but lead to a lifelong passion for the sport and coaching youth baseball and soccer. Ed serves his local church facilitating study groups, teaching and serving as a Director. Ed has been happily married for 28 years to the love of his life, Sheryl, they have two adult children, Jonathan and Hannah.
DEWEY CLARK
JIM CREEL
Jim was commissioned as the C12 Area Chair for Myrtle Beach in February 2020, but the journey began years earlier….
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Jim was commissioned as the C12 Area Chair for Myrtle Beach in February 2020, but the journey began years earlier. It was preceded by decades of business experience in publishing, the sign business, real estate investing and most recently in the accommodations industry. As a product of an entrepreneurial family, he has been involved in most aspects of business including sales, marketing, human resources, budgeting and operations with skin in the game. With the years came a desire to transition from success to significance and a yearning to serve the Lord. That yearning never took the form of ordination as a pastor, but rather the belief that we are all called to ministry … his was a ministry in the marketplace equipping owners to build a great business for a greater purpose! He is a graduate of Clemson University with a degree in Building Science and Management. Years later he followed that up with an MBA from Arizona State University. He is an Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America) and served multiple roles in eight years of Bible Study Fellowship. Jim continues to demonstrate leadership on the Clemson University Foundation Board of Directors and the South Carolina Board of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). He is a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church and resides in Myrtle Beach, SC with his wife Holly and daughters, Carlin and Christian.
GREG WILLS
Greg comes to C12 after practicing law for 27 years on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in the field…
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Greg comes to C12 after practicing law for 27 years on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in the field of business, construction, and real property litigation, zoning and regulatory compliance, and complex estate litigation. Greg has extensive trial experience in court rooms throughout North Carolina and in arguing cases before the Appellate Courts. Before becoming a lawyer, Greg served five years as an active-duty Army Officer in a calvary reconnaissance squadron in Germany during fall of the Berlin wall and the end of the cold war. He is a graduate of George Mason University with a Degree in Economics and a graduate of Campbell University Law School. The son of a CIA case officer, Greg spent most of his childhood in Southeast Asia and Australia. For 20 years Greg served on numerous leadership committees in his local church in Duck North Carolina, played guitar in the praise band, and served as youth leader. He is the proud father of two boys, one soon to graduate Clemson University with a degree in mechanical engineering, and one about to enter Appalachian State with plans to join Army ROTC. With the graduation of his youngest son looming, Greg felt the call of Christ to join C12 and devote himself to helping others build great businesses for a greater purpose. He is passionate about changing his community and the world for Christ from the ground up. Reaching the people that God loves by making Christ a central part of the culture in the businesses where his people work.
“When I found C12, I knew that I was among leaders who would join me in a commitment to demonstrate that we are indeed managing God’s businesses for Him. Our fight for excellence unites us in ways that transcend the diversity of industries we represent. We apply the ideas differently in each company, but as C12 members, we are united in principles of excellence.”
