On April 11 a panel of three Elon alumni will share their experiences and career achievements since graduating from Elon. The event will be held at HQ Capital Club and is open and free to all Elon alumni and guests.
Learn from and listen to three Elon grads who have found success in their respective career fields in recent years. These alumni will share advice, stories and experiences as working professionals in the Triangle. Learn more about the event and meet the panel below:
Elon Professional Development Event in the Triangle
Date: Thursday, April 11
Time: 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Venue: HQ Capital Club in the Cannon Room, 12th Floor
Address: 16 W Martin St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Ryan Vet ’13, Founder at boon, Inc.
Ryan Vet is an innovative leader, entrepreneur and author. He has presented to audiences around the globe on four different continents on leadership, marketing and reaching your maximum potential. Ryan’s experiences range from start-ups to well-established multinational Fortune 500s. From starting his first business at age 14 to launching and successfully exiting start-ups, Vet is a serial entrepreneur. Currently, Vet serves as the CEO of boon—a start-up in stealth mode that is launching in late 2019. He has been featured in countless publications for his entrepreneurial endeavors and has been inducted as an official member into the exclusive Forbes Communication Council.
As an experiential marketing and branding consultant Vet has worked companies from startups to iconic household brands like Warner Brothers, Samsung, Bing and Chrysler Jeep. And in his spare time, he co-owns a series of craft beverage lounges called The Oak House. Vet also sits as an advisory board member for a number of organizations including Elon University’s Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. At the core, Vet is passionate about helping audiences create positive changes in the lives of those with whom they interact. He and his wife, Jessica, who is a practicing dentist in North Carolina, currently live Durham, N.C.
Kate Catlin Payne ’06, Vice President of Communications, North Carolina Chamber
Payne leads a communications team that is responsible for amplifying the voices of North Carolina businesses. In addition to elevating the profiles of individual businesses and their leaders, she works to keep NC Chamber members connected to issues and events that impact their business, and make the public and elected officials aware of the business community’s priorities.
With more than a decade of communications experience, Payne spent six years at one of North Carolina’s largest independent communications firms prior to joining the Chamber team in 2012. Hired as a traffic coordinator, Payne worked her way through every capacity of the agency, ultimately being named a director of account management. In that role Payne oversaw client relations, work delivery, professional development and staff recruitment.
Payne remains connected to her alma mater, previously serving on its Young Alumni Council. She has been recognized for both service and professional leadership through Triangle Business Journal’s 2008 40 Under 40 Leadership Award, the President’s Student Service Award and as a Torchbearer in 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Torch Relay. A breast cancer survivor, Payne is active with Susan G. Komen North Carolina Triangle to the Coast, and served as the co-chair for the group’s 2018 Triangle Race for the Cure.
Born in Massachusetts, Payne enjoys cheering on the New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox. She resides in Raleigh, N.C. with her husband, Luke.
Marybeth Caulfield ’91, Sr. Manager, Global University/Diversity Recruiting at Lenovo
While at Elon, Caulfield was rush chair for her sorority and a tour guide for the admissions office. Upon graduation, she was offered a full-time position as an admissions counselor for then-Elon College. After two years at Elon, she moved to Raleigh to join the corporate world.
In her first job she quickly moved up the ladder becoming the youngest senior manager at her telecommunications company. At this company, Elon alumni did really well. Everyone who worked there from Elon was promoted to a management role. That’s when she realized what a big impact Elon had on her and other’s careers.
After eight years in telecom, Caulfield took off 12 years to raise her three kids. When she was ready to return to the work, recruiting was her target.
Caulfield has been at Lenovo, a Fortune 500 Global Technology Company, for almost six years. She started at Lenovo in tech recruiting, was recognized as a closer and was asked to move to sales recruiting. In this role, in her second year at the company, she was awarded the Chairman’s award for Individual Excellence. When a role came open for senior manager for global university and diversity recruitment, her manager asked her to apply.
Caulfield has been in this role for 2.5 years recruiting top early career talent into her organization globally. This year she added PMO responsibilities to her resume. Caulfield recognizes the importance of continuous growth and change in her career as the best track to advancement and recognition.