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Know Before You Go-Pathways to Prosperity

Learn all about NACCEs Pathways to Prosperity Event!

Wednesday, April 1, 2026
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (EDT)

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Event Details

Pathways to Prosperity Summit

Are you interested in attending this year’s Pathways to Prosperity Summit? But want to learn more about it? Well, you have found the place! Please come and spend a little time with us to go over the location, format, the different topics, and hear about our exhibitors. Questions are welcome. The NACCE team is here to help, and we look forward to seeing each other in Cleveland, OH in June!

Location: Tri-C Corporate College East

Dates: Tuesday, June 23 to Thursday, June 25, 2026

Please contact Dr. Tumey at tumey@nacce.com if you have any questions.

About the Speakers: 

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Dr. Rebecca Corbin

Dr. Rebecca Corbin has served as President & CEO of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) since 2015. A former Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Rowan College at Burlington County, she is a nationally recognized expert in entrepreneurial mindset, leadership development, and innovation in higher education. Under her leadership, NACCE has launched transformative initiatives that support faculty, college presidents, and ecosystem partners nationwide.

Dr. Corbin is available through NACCE to provide consulting services in entrepreneurial leadership, workforce development, higher education policy, fundraising strategy, book writing and publishing, and keynote speaking. She has delivered commencement addresses and spoken internationally at conferences in China and Switzerland. In recognition of her advocacy, she has testified before the United States Congress on entrepreneurship as a driver of economic development. In 2023, she negotiated the acquisition of the SkillPointe technology platform, as a charitable donation valued at over $6 million. In her tenure, NACCE has regranted over $40 million in subawards to its members.

An engaging speaker and facilitator, Dr. Corbin leads dynamic workshops tailored to educators, business leaders, and philanthropists, helping them activate innovation and amplify impact. She is the author of two books, host of the Forward with NACCE podcast, and a frequent contributor to national conversations on workforce and education. Dr. Corbin also serves on numerous boards and advisory committees, including her as Chair of the Cary Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Corbin has received numerous awards for her leadership and business savvy from Wilmington University, the Triangle Business Journal, and Global MindED.

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Dr. Darcie Tumey

Darcie L. Tumey, MBA, EdD has been appointed Dir. of Events and Programs at NACCE. She brings a diverse background to NACCE by working at UNC at Chapel Hill in administrative roles at both the Undergraduate Library and in the School of Medicine’s Dept. of Dermatology and Dept. of Pediatric Surgery. She continued her career in academics by working 17 years at two different NC Community Colleges in managerial roles. She worked with the college’s business and entrepreneurship programs, Small Business Centers, pitch competitions, lead two SkillUSA Entrepreneurship teams to earning national gold medals, co-organizer for Catawba Valley CC’s annual Business Symposium, HP LIFE Ambassador, and co-advisor for NACCE’s Everyday Entrepreneur Venture Fund. “I enjoy working with students and supporting their career pursuits whether in the classroom or through a business plan competition. Individuals are filled with ideas and solving community problems. They are inspiring. To see them take an idea or product to market.” Through these diverse experiences, planning events and programs is a natural fit with having to be organized and preparing things for the future. “It is like putting puzzle pieces together and then having the final result in front of you. With being able to work with the NACCE family from across the country throughout the planning process.”

While living in Plymouth, NC, Tumey was actively involved in community revitalization by working with community leaders through NC’s Main Street Program and the Rural Center. As part of the revitalization, the local community college was involved in the process. By being both a recipient of the community college’s resources and an employee, “community colleges are an invaluable asset to our communities by providing curriculum and continuing education programs. These courses provide the foundation for our cities and towns to continue to prosper and grow with offering both traditional programs and new skill courses.”
Elizabeth Anderson
Elizabeth serves as the Manager of Communications & Special Projects at NACCE, where she leads communications efforts, supports national events, and manages strategic initiatives that elevate NACCE’s visibility and impact.

She develops and distributes NACCE’s communications and marketing materials, highlights member success stories, and supports messaging for conferences, summits, and special events. Elizabeth also coordinates sponsorship fulfillment and manages communications for major programs such as the NACCE Institute powered by Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, InfoSys workforce innovation initiatives, the Baker Hill CEED Initiative, and SkillPointe workforce projects.

She plays a key role in event coordination, sponsor engagement, and cross-department collaboration. With a strong background in logistics, client relations, and storytelling, Elizabeth is dedicated to strengthening partnerships, enhancing efficiency, and supporting NACCE’s mission to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and innovative action across community colleges.

Elizabeth holds an Associate of Arts degree from Wake Technical Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management from NC State University, with a minor in Cross-Disciplinary Leadership Perspectives. 

Lydia Perez-Kavanagh

Lydia Perez-Kavanagh is a dedicated Project Coordinator at the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), where she leads initiatives that expand entrepreneurial opportunities nationwide. She manages NACCE’s Everyday Entrepreneur Program, overseeing Level 1 and Level 2 implementation, college onboarding, and funder engagement. Over the past year, she helped double enrollment across both levels, now supporting more than 100 colleges in Level 1 and over 17 in Level 2.
Lydia strengthened community-building by hosting interactive monthly consortium calls that foster collaboration and shared best practices. She also launched NACCE’s first National Pitch Showcase, organizing a global virtual pitch opportunity for 2024 Level 2 colleges and coordinating the selection of three entrepreneurs who presented live at the 2025 NACCE Annual Conference, gaining national exposure and new funding.
To enhance program quality, she developed a comprehensive onboarding toolkit and launched the Everyday Entrepreneur TikTok channel to spotlight entrepreneurial stories and expand reach. Lydia has also been a mentor for the Ratcliffe Foundation’s Pitch for the Skilled Trades competition for two years; her 2025 mentee team from Tri-C won the top $60,000 award to launch a mobile food truck.
In addition, Lydia coordinates NACCE’s webinars and masterclasses, serving as a primary liaison to presenters, partners, and participants. She is a valued collaborator across NACCE—supporting SkillPointe initiatives, creating program materials, and contributing wherever needed. Her work reflects a commitment to expanding entrepreneurial pathways, uplifting communities, and empowering the next generation of innovators.