A COMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORT
CLIMB RELIES ON THE STRENGTH OF MANY MEMBERS OF THE CHARLOTTE COMMUNITY FROM VOLUNTEER LAWYERS TO FUNDERS TO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS.
We work together to help protect and grow the small business landscape in our great city. Below are a few of the people who help make important strategic decisions and run the day-to-day operations.
CASEY BURKE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Casey believes that the justice system should be accessible to everyone and that access to legal services can be the key to a business’s success and sustainability. Understanding that these services are financially unattainable for many, her goal is for CLIMB to provide a way for traditionally marginalized entrepreneurs to overcome these barriers and create thriving, sustainable, and vibrant businesses within a more equitable community.
After graduating from the University of Virginia and then Northeastern University School of Law, Casey started her legal career in the Bronx, New York, as a public defender. She represented thousands of clients who could not afford to retain legal counsel accused of all levels of criminal defenses, from low-level misdemeanors to homicides. During her tenure at the Legal Aid Society of New York City, she became extremely passionate about social justice issues, particularly issues of racial inequity in the criminal justice system. Prior to joining CLIMB, Casey served as the Managing Attorney for the Pro Bono Unit at the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, enhancing her desire to work with the private bar to close the access to justice gap for underserved clients.
In her spare time, you can find her reading, taking impromptu trips to the beach or the mountains, fishing with her daughter, coaching youth basketball team, watching UVA sports, and cooking unnecessarily elaborate meals with her husband. The family has a dog, Tango, a cat, Albie, and a fish, Jaws. She is licensed to practice law in New York and North Carolina.
JAMIE HUNDLEY
ENGAGEMENT & OPERATIONS SPECIALIST
Jamie holds an MBA in project management from Wingate University and earned an undergraduate degree in sports and entertainment and event management from Johnson and Wales University. She has achieved her CAPM certification in project management. Prior to joining CLIMB, Jamie helped co-architect and manage Charlotte Center City Partners HIIVE (Hub for Inclusivity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship) program, helping provide local small businesses with education and operational opportunities. She is passionate about helping to support Charlotte’s entrepreneurial community and small business ecosystem.
Jamie is originally from upstate New York and lives in Charlotte with her kids and dogs. She enjoys baking, reading, long walks as well as spending time with friends and family.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CO-CHAIR
KIMBERLY E. ZIRKLE
BRADLEY
"There is a justice gap when it comes to small businesses owned by diverse entrepreneurs. CLIMB is seeking to stand in that gap by providing legal resources and access to underserved small business owners. I could not be more proud to have been a part of CLIMB since its inception, and I know that together we can make an impact in the small business ecosystem."
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ASSISTANT SECRETARY
JILL OKERLUND
ROBINSON BRADSHAW
"I’m passionate about CLIMB because, by assisting small businesses, we are supporting entire communities. Small business owners must overcome so many hurdles to take their dream from idea to reality and getting legal assistance has been one of the biggest hurdles. Having spent 30 years working in law firms, I KNOW lawyers want to help. CLIMB is the missing link! I’m proud to play even a small role in connecting entrepreneurs with lawyers who are excited to offer that assistance."
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BOARD MEMBER
BEN PLEUNE
ALSTON & BIRD LLP
“As an intellectual property attorney, I believe that innovation and creativity are the cornerstones of economic growth. Small businesses often bring fresh ideas and unique products to the market, but they face significant challenges in navigating legal issues and protecting their intellectual property. My work allows me to empower entrepreneurs by safeguarding their innovations, ensuring that their hard work and creativity are legally protected, which supports a vibrant and dynamic economy where new ideas can thrive and succeed.”
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CO-CHAIR & TREASURER
KATE GORDON MAYNARD
ROBINSON BRADSHAW
“I am inspired by the collaborative effort of our local law firms to increase access to business law services for our local small businesses.”
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VICE CHAIR &
SECRETARY
A. CARTER AREY
MCGUIRE WOODS
"I am passionate about CLIMB because it was created to fill a void around access to legal representation and opportunities to grow an idea into business, particularly for those in historically underserved communities."
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BOARD MEMBER
TIFFANY GRAVES
BRADLEY
“I am passionate about CLIMB's work because it fills a crucial service gap for the entrepreneurial community - legal services. By mobilizing attorneys from Charlotte's premier law firms, CLIMB has contributed to the small business ecosystem and helped to elevate the business goals of small business owners who would not otherwise have access to pro bono lawyers.”
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BOARD MEMBER
KAITLIN D. POWERS
MOORE & VAN ALLEN
"It is an honor to engage with Charlotte's energetic and innovative small business community and to have even a small part in supporting the economic and cultural growth of the City through so many entrepreneurs who have invested deeply in this community."
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BOARD MEMBER
TAMMY NICHOLSON
TRUIST
“It is my great honor to serve on the board of an organization that seeks to empower low-income and underrepresented small business owners and entrepreneurs in pursuit of economic mobility. The outstanding work that CLIMB is doing, in its very short tenure, speaks both to the needs of the community and the organization’s success at providing high-quality legal services. I am immensely proud to be a part of CLIMB and look forward to the work ahead in expanding our network of volunteers to empower those in our community to reach their business goals and aspirations.”
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