Featured Speakers for this year's rally.
Timothy Johnson, PhD - Frederick Douglas Foundation
Founder and Chairman of the Frederick Douglass Foundation, Timothy made history on June 13, 2009, when he was elected Vice Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, becoming the first Black American to hold the position since the party’s inception March 27, 1867.
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Johnson graduated from Benedictine High School and was a member of two state championship football teams. It was there he got the bug to get involved with politics. In preparation, Timothy earned the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank, the Eagle Scout Award, at the age of 14; he has continued to be a servant leader throughout his adult life.
Timothy is the President and CEO of Leadership 101, LLC. They focus their primarily efforts on working with nonprofit organizations and small to mid-size for profit businesses. Specializing in organizational development, total quality leadership and logic model implementation, Timothy is uniquely qualified to work in these areas. In addition, his company was the first to offer a Certified Volunteer Manager program in the state of Georgia.
He completed 21 years of military service with the United States Army, serving as enlisted soldier and commissioned officer (attaining the rank of Major) on Active, Reserve and National Guard duties. His military honors include: Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award) National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal and Soldier of the Month.
Twice elected Chairman of the Buncombe County, NC Republican Party, Dr. Johnson was a delegate to the 2008 Republican National Convention, and a panelist at the 2008 Black Republican Forum in New York.
His previous affiliations and achievements include and are not limited to:
• National Eagle Scout Association (Life Member)
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (Life Member)
• Reserve Officer Association (Life Member)
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
• The Masonic Order Master Mason, Scottish Rite and Shriner (Prince Hall Affiliated)
He holds degrees from The University of Arizona, Troy University and LaSalle University. He is an adjunct professor at Shaw University and Apex School of Theology. Timothy is married to Latessa M. Johnson and the proud father of four children and two grandsons. They attend Upper Room Church of God in Christ in Raleigh, NC
Kory Swanson - John Locke Foundation 
Mr. Swanson is John Locke's Executive Vice President. Prior to joining the John Locke Foundation, Kory was Executive Manager of the Social Philosophy and Policy Center at Bowling Green State University.
Jerry Grimes - Keynote Speaker 
Jerry Grimes is a native of Eastern North Carolina having spent the earliest years of his life in Mount Olive and later Goldsboro. In 1996, Jerry moved to Raleigh, North Carolina where he attended Saint Augustine's College and later graduated before studying at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. During this time Jerry also worked in the areas of field marketing and merchandising for the Northern Division of Coca-Cola Consolidated.
In 2002, Jerry entered the seminary attending the School of Theology at Virginia Union University from which he earned the Master of Divinity and was later ordained through the Kenansville Eastern Missionary Baptist Association. From 2005 until 2009, Jerry completed two additional graduate degrees including the Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Seminary and the Master of Theology with a concentration in ethics from Union Presbyterian Seminary. In addition to his business experience and academic background, he has also worked both in the North Carolina Public School System and served on faculty in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Shaw University.
Jerry, a former candidate for the United States House of Representatives in North Carolina's 1st Congressional District, is currently serving as the Interim Pastor of Peter's Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in Wallace, North Carolina and is the author of a forthcoming book, which is, as of yet, untitled..
Becki Gray - John Locke Foundation 
Becki Gray is the Vice President for Outreach at the John Locke Foundation. She provides information, consultation, and publications to elected officials, government staff and other decision makers involved in the state public-policy process.
She has appeared on the television shows Political Connections and NCSpin and as a guest on the “Take a Stand” radio show in Asheville. Gray has served as guest host for Bill LuMaye's afternoon program on WPTF Radio, and she appears as a frequent guest on Curtis Media Group's “People and Politics” program.
She writes a monthly column for Carolina Journal and her op-eds have been published in newspapers across the state. She frequently speaks to civic and political groups about public policy and legislative issues.
She majored in Art at Queens College in Charlotte and also holds a Paralegal Certificate from Meredith College. She has done graduate work at UNC-Charlotte and UNC-Greensboro.
She is a member of the first class of the John Locke Foundation's E.A. Morris Fellows, a statewide leadership program.
Nathan Tabor - ACT Media
Nathan Tabor is a successful North Carolina businessman and entrepreneur. Following his graduation from St. Andrews Presbyterian College (BA in Psychology) and Regent University (MA in Public Policy), Tabor entered the business world as Vice President of Sales and Marketing and part owner of Revival Soy. From 1999 to 2005, his marketing program generated over $80 million in sales.
In 2005, Mr. Tabor founded ACT Media, Inc. a successful consulting and Internet design firm. Nathan consults with numerous businesses on how to effectively market their products in today’s tough economic environment, while helping them design and create successful online campaigns by utilizing various social media applications. Tabor sits on various Internet committees and serves as a speaker for several national organizations.
In 2007, Thomas Nelson Publishing released Tabor’s book, The Beast on the East River. The book was well-received leading to guest appearances on C-Span, the Glenn Beck Show, the Laura Ingraham Show, and numerous other big-market TV and radio shows.
A proud North Carolinian, Mr. Tabor donates his time to many civic groups and charities including the funding of North Carolina's Amber Alert System, Brenner Children's Hospital, Operation Ukraine (orphan care), Winston-Salem Drug Council and other endeavors. Tabor enjoys giving seminars on social media to community colleges, businesses and civic groups. Nathan and his wife, Jordan, and five-year-old daughter, Abigail, are "foster parents" with the Animal Adoption & Rescue Foundation.