WILL DIXON

Will’s passion is to see dramatic advancement and improvement in people and companies. C12 offers an excellent platform to apply his 40+ years of business process experience along with God’s redeeming grace, from which the Lord works incredible transformation in the businesses and lives of his clients, now 7 chapters strong in the Capital area. His spiritual commitment to Jesus Christ, business experience and academic background (MBA from Duke University) contribute to Will’s effectiveness as a C12 Area Chair and business coach. He founded the NC Capitol Area C12 Group in 2003, and lives in the Raleigh, NC area with his wife, Lynn. He has spent most of his career improving business operations to achieve greater efficiencies, quality and faster time-to-market as an employee, manager of consulting organizations and as owner of Advanced Business Strategies, a business consulting company. Personally, and through his organizations, he has provided consultation services to scores of Fortune 500 and smaller companies across many industries.

MIKE BENNETT

Mike’s experience spans multiple continents and organizations.  Mike and wife (Dawn) spent 8 years serving as missionaries in Rome, Italy and New Delhi, India.  Prior to that, Mike spent 20+ years in the telecommunications business starting in the infancy of wireless development and continuing to the full development of the industry.  He has been involved in various startup businesses and was responsible for sales, marketing, site building and customer service in different organizations.  As COO of a telecommunications company, he managed a revenue stream of over 500 million dollars.  In addition, Mike has operated personal businesses in the US and India.  Mike fully understands that any success in business and life is a gracious gift from God and produces a heart and life of thanksgiving. Mike has spent a great deal of his adult life mentoring others in business and Christian living.  He has been involved in various positions in churches.  He and his wife have taught parenting classes and mentored young couples, a passion God has fueled in them.  He is excited to see how God uses his years in business and ministry to help business owners and others in the marketplace reach their full God- given mission. Mike has been married to Dawn for 30 years. They have three godly sons and two wonderful grandsons.

WILLIAM RAY

William Ray has served Christian business owners and CEOs with C12 since 2015 in the Greater Triangle area. He has a passion and calling to help business owners steward and grow what God has entrusted to them. From a young age, Will sensed a call to “ministry,” but was never completely settled in a traditional church ministry role. Through the process of growing and managing a small business over the course of 12 years with his wife, Nancy, Will realized a strong inclination to business and organizational leadership. Will’s work with C12 provides the ideal opportunity to do both of those things: business and ministry, in support of Christian business owners and CEOs. A Raleigh, NC native, Will received his B.A. in Communication – Public Relations from North Carolina State University. He completed Walgreen’s Applied Drug Store Management program during his tenure with the company following college. Will is a Dave Ramsey-trained financial coach, and he and his wife have been business owners for over a decade. Will was the youngest C12 Chair to have been commissioned in the history of the organization, and received the “Rookie of the Year” award his first year as a Chair. Will resides in Wake Forest with his wife and four children: Milly, Lyndon, Beaufort, and Benji.

BRIAN KUNIHIRO

Brian Kunihiro was born and raised in Los Angeles, California where he spent much of his childhood playing sports such as football, baseball, and golf. Brian was the only child to his parents (Edith and Alan) and was known by his friends and family for his likable personality and genuineness. Despite his desire to do well in life, Brian became sidetracked and joined a local gang in high school finding himself drifting away from his intended goals. After multiple encounters with local law enforcement authorities, and at the recommendation of his father (U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran), Brian enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after graduating from high school (1996). The U.S. Army created an environment for Brian to grow in his understanding of the good news of Jesus Christ, and walk a life of devotion to him. Brian’s first assignment was Fort Bragg, NC, but after two years of enlisted time Brian was accepted to attend the United States Military Academy Preparatory School. Brian went on to attend the United States Military Academy and graduated in 2003, where he commissioned as a Field Artillery second lieutenant. Upon commissioning, Brian attended the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and Ranger and Airborne Schools at Fort Benning, Georgia. Brian’s first duty assignment was with the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas from 2004-2006 where he served as a Fire Support Officer, and then served as his Brigade’s Combat Observation Lasing Team (COLT) platoon leader. While serving with 1st Cavalry Division, Brian had one deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Brian was also assigned to the 1st Infantry Division (Fort Riley, Kansas) as part of the Military Transition Team mission from 2006-2008. He served as his team’s Fire Support Officer, and also served as a Personnel (Human Resources) Advisor to an Iraqi Border Police and Iraqi Army Battalion. Upon completion of his second deployment in support of OIF, Brian attended the Maneuver Captains Career Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky and the Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In May 2010, Brian was assigned to 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Lewis, Washington. During his tenure as a detachment commander, Brian deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) – Afghanistan and conducted two exercises in Thailand and Nepal. He completed this first assignment with 1st SFG (A) in a nominative position as the battalion Assistant Operations Officer. After a short tour at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Brian returned to 1st SFG (A) as the Special Forces Planning Detachment Commander, Battalion Operations Officer, and Special Forces Company Commander. His experience within Special Forces and planning expertise made him an ideal candidate to serve as a contingency planner in the Special Operations Pacific Command. From 2017-2020 Brian served as the lead planner for one of Special Operation Command’s highest priority plans. He was also nominated to serve in Taiwan for 6-months with a US Embassy-equivalent organization representing all US Special Operations interests and equities. Brian is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College (CGSC), where he completed his Intermediate Learning Education as well as the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), which is a highly selective program designed to create planners for General/Flag Officer commands. Brian earned his master’s degree in Military Arts and Science while attending CGSC. Brian Kunihiro’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Achievement Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters). He has earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, the Sapper Tab, Ranger Tab, and Special Forces Tab. Throughout Brian’s time in the military, he made Jesus and His Kingdom a priority. He always connected with local church congregations and served in a variety of capacities at the twenty-plus different duty assignments across the U.S. and globally. He led small-group Bible studies – which included international audiences, prayer groups, served as a church service greeter, church building cleaner, children’s ministry leader (AWANA), and volunteer for a variety of community-service projects. Brian is married to the former Shelly Medford from West Branch, Michigan. The two married in 2013, while Brian was attending the Command and General Staff College. They have two daughters (Zoe, 7 years old and Natalie, 6 years old) and two sons (Jax, 4 years old and Maddox, 2 years old). Brian and his family decided to retire from the U.S. Army after over 20 years of Active Duty service. They moved to Whispering Pines, NC to partner in ministry with dear friends, re-connect with numerous old friends from former ministries, and be a little closer to family.

JEFF COCHRAN

In his role as a C12 Chair for the Raleigh area, Jeff is passionate to take what he has learned in life, faith, family, and business in order to help others flourish in their lives and businesses. With a BS in Business and a concentration in Marketing, Jeff worked with four nationally-known firms in sales and account management before starting his own business with his wife, Valerie, in 1994. For nearly 30 years, their creative agency served hundreds of clients in a wide range of sectors, sizes, and locations — from startups to those doing half a billion dollars in annual revenue. Jeff’s greatest joy over that time was working with faith-based clients to help them tell the Greatest Story ever! In addition, Jeff gained a reputation as a “superconnector” by founding professional networking groups in three cities, a business book club, and a local chapter of a national organization which helps owners to sell their businesses, where he served as founding President. Over more than a decade, thousands of business people have benefited from these groups that Jeff instituted, most of which are still active. Over the years, Jeff served at his local church in multiple capacities, including leadership roles. Jeff and Valerie lived in the MD/DC area for 36 years before moving to Raleigh, and have two adult sons. They love to use their gift of hospitality and Jeff’s culinary avocation, having fed thousands of people over the years, many from across the globe.