Who we are & our beliefs

We are a learning community designed to foster the next generation of leaders. By providing an environment for personal growth, self-reflection, and skills development, NextGen Center programs prepare people to navigate their lifelong personal and professional journeys and those they touch.

  • Senior leaders are often provided with coaching and development. But why wait until that late in a career? Build the skills you need to be the leader you want to be today.

  • We deeply care about our program participants, and when companies invest in their emerging leaders, they demonstrate a commitment in their future.

  • When emerging leaders have the right tools and skills to develop themselves, they can develop others more effectively.

  • Providing development opportunities for emerging leaders helps them tap into the best of their abilities, helps them grow, and ultimately, helps organizations succeed.

Our Origins

Every organization wants to support their emerging leaders, but often, the practice is much more difficult to execute than that promise.

Organizations have trouble prioritizing and providing leadership development opportunities, so when contributors are promoted into leadership roles, they’re often not adequately prepared on the skills they need to lead others effectively, making the transition unnecessarily difficult.

We were tired of seeing future leaders DIYing everything and trying to follow a cookie-cutter manual for success. Professional and leadership development is personal, so support programs should be equally personal.

That’s why we founded NextGen Center: To provide tailored professional development programs that teach vital tools and create experiences for transformational growth.

Meet the team.

  • Brian Alvo

    FOUNDER & FACILITATOR

    Brian, with over ten years of experience and an MBA from Duke University, founded NextGen Center to support emerging leaders. Drawing from his own career transitions, he recognized the need for better leadership development and created a platform to help individuals and teams clarify their goals and improve performance.

  • Joe Lebouef

    FACILITATOR & ADVISOR

    Joe LeBoeuf, a retired U.S. Army colonel, is a professor emeritus at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. With 34 years of military service, including leadership roles at West Point, he has focused on leadership education and development. At Fuqua, he teaches leadership and organizational change, and leads development programs for MBA students.

  • Peggy Richmond

    COACH

    Peggy Richmond founded and grew Research and Evaluation Associates into a successful firm before selling it in 2003. Now a certified coach and licensed psychologist, she focuses on helping leaders and teams grow across various sectors. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with family.

  • Barbara Dower

    COACH

    Barbara Dower, a former Global HR Executive at Lenovo and IBM, now focuses on coaching leaders to improve their effectiveness and business results. With significant experience in global leadership and cultural challenges, she connects deeply with clients, helping them build on strengths and identify opportunities for growth. Barbara holds a Business degree from Wake Forest University and a coaching certification from North Carolina State University.

  • Sackeena Gordon-Jones, Ph.D

    ADVISOR

    Sackeena Gordon-Jones, Chief Coaching Officer of Transformation Edge and Director of the Business Coaching Certificate Program at NC State University, specializes in leadership transformation and executive effectiveness. With over 20 years of leadership experience, she has coached and trained hundreds of leaders in the private sector and federal government. An award-winning leader in the coaching field, Sackeena is known for helping leaders develop authentic presence, foster collaboration, and execute strategic change. She previously led global leadership development at SAS.

  • Carl Baumann

    ADVISOR

    Carl Baumann retired after 34 years in business, including roles at First Citizens Bank and Miller Brewing Company, where he held various financial leadership positions. Now a Certified SCORE Mentor, Carl specializes in business and strategic planning, and has helped launch 39 businesses, creating over 192 jobs. He also teaches business courses and seminars for SCORE. Carl holds a BS in Business Administration from UNC Chapel Hill and an Executive MBA from the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management.

Join our Community of Leaders

Explore our programs

  • Foundations for Effective Leadership

    Experience an immersive “crash course” on leadership, unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.

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  • Professional Coaching

    Get personalized leadership insights 1:1. Identify your strengths and put them into practice.

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  • Team Workshops

    Pursue a common goal or explore a specific leadership topic with your team.

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  • Strengths Assessment

    What should we know about the services you provide? Better descriptions result in more sales.

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