Disability:IN North Carolina(DI-NC) hosts an annual conference in October to honor National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). 2025 has been a year of change, requiring employers across the state to innovate, stay flexible and adapt to new ways of doing business.  People with disabilities are masters at bringing their resourcefulness and innovative ideas to their jobs and communities.  This year’s theme is Mastering AdaptABILITY in a Changing Landscape.

Keynote Speakers

Nate Salley is a proud husband, father, and entrepreneur who has been blessed to experience success as a college football player at The Ohio State University and in the NFL as a member of the Carolina Panthers.  After suffering multiple knee injuries

during his 4-year NFL career, Nate decided to retire and pursue a career in business, where he worked for 10 years in Corporate Recruiting, 8 of which were in managerial roles. As a result of his past experiences as a Student, Athlete, and Corporate Professional, Nate created Audible

Coaching and Consulting to help Blue-Collar Executives align with their purpose so they can experience more fulfilled personal AND professional lives. He seeks to accomplish this through Executive Life Coaching, Facilitating Workshops, and Motivational Speaking.g

Doug McCullough grew up on a dairy farm in South Central Pennsylvania, received a bachelor’s degree in dairy science from Virginia Tech, and master’s degree in dairy management and operations research from the University of Florida. After achieving his MBA at Duke University, he worked at Johnson & Johnson for 23 years  in various roles, most recently as a senior manager supporting global supply chain

reliability. Born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a degenerative neuromuscular disease, McCullough was a leader in the company’s disability Inclusion community, serving on multiple councils and helping launch and lead the global disability employee group that encompasses autism, disability, neurodiversity, and mental health.

A popular speaker known for his authenticity and humor, McCullough has been invited to speak at events throughout the continental US  and abroad. His first book, “A Billion People in the Shadows: The Ultimate 1-Hour Guide to Understanding Disability” was published in October 2024 and reached #1 in Amazon’s Business Diversity & Inclusion category.  Recently, he launched a program focused on leadership development specifically for people with disabilities.

Use the QR code or register at  https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/66qm9y8

Where: Trane Technologies |800 Beaty Street, Building A Davidson, NC 28036

When: October 9, 2025, from 9:00AM to 4:00PM

Sponsorship Opportunities and Vendor Tables are Available

Contact Pat Keul at Pat@di-nc.org (704-621-7969) or Justin Francis at Justin@di-nc.org