Wilson Rotary

Mahalia Witter-Merithew is the President of Casita Brewing Company in Wilson. She is a member of the Downtown Development Corporation Board, the Wilson Tourism Authority Board, the Wilson Education Partnership Board, the Integrity Unlimited Board and the Downtown Commerce Group. She was born in the Philippines in 1982 and moved to America with her family in 1984 and to Wilson with her family in 1988. She grew up here and graduated from Hunt High School in the year 2000. She graduated from ECU with a Masters in Teaching and worked as an English teacher in North Carolina, Korea, Denmark, England and Vermont. In Vermont, she started Casita Brewing Company for her husband, who is a world-class, award-winning brewer, and they moved their operations to North Carolina when they decided to relocate to Wilson in 2017, operating as a wholesaler until opening their taproom in Wilson in August of 2020.

Experienced in B2B and B2C digital sales and marketing with excellent communication skills. I have extensive experience planning and implementing advertising campaigns and hands-on design skills with solid team-building and management experience.

Previously, I created and operated an award-winning advertising agency with national and regional clients. We provided clients with web and interactive design, marketing, IT, video and photography services. I managed my staff for creative, web and sales strategies and published regional tourism magazines. I operated two offices in Roanoke and Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia.

I have worked in the marketing and advertising industry for 30 years and I have been an illustrator, designer, photographer, creative director, manager, writer and marketer for magazines, newspapers and advertising agencies. I have many years of experience with pre-press and printing techniques and web coding.

Jessica Griffin is the Executive Director of Institutional Advancement at Wilson CommunityCollege, where she oversees the Foundation, marketing, and public relations for the college. Shegrew up in Wilson, where she graduated from Hunt High School. She holds a degree inpsychology from Meredith College and is currently in the last year of her MBA at the Universityof North Carolina Wilmington. She serves on the United Way of Wilson Campaign Cabinet andon the Whirligig Festival Planning Team, and she writes a weekly column for the Wilson Times.Jessica is married and has two children, Paxton (14) and Ella (12).

Born June 3, 1970 in Raleigh North Carolina. Moved to Greenville North Carolina at the age of seven and graduated from Rose high school in 1988.
Attended Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville Tennessee to receive a bachelors in religion and theology.
Began work with the Salvation Army in 2009. 2012 I joined the Salvation Army church and decided to make the salvation army my full-time ministry and enrolled in the officers’ training program in Atlanta Georgia in 2015.
I became an officer with the salvation army in 2017 where I also met my wife Claudia while in school.
Claudia and I have two kids, Micah who is 3 years old and Lilah who is 1 year old.
We both serve as officers for the Salvation Army and are currently appointed to serve the Nash Edgecombe and Wilson County area since 2021.

A product of Wilson County Schools and a proud graduate of E.T. Beddingfield High School, Carlton L. Stevens Jr. was elected as the City of Wilson’s mayor on Nov. 5, 2019.

Following his graduation from E.T. Beddingfield High School in June 1993, Carlton joined the U.S. Army.  At the end of his Tour of Duty Carlton returned to Wilson and began his educational endeavors.

Over the past 20 years, Carlton has served his community in many capacities including a mentor for at-risk youth, tutor, and mental health paraprofessional.

Carlton is currently the Operations Manager for his family’s business, Stevens Funeral Home.  Prior to joining the business, Carlton served as a middle school math teacher and later transitioned to school administrator.

His educational background includes an Associate in Applied Science, Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Organizational Development, Master of Business Administration, Master of School Administration, and he is currently in the dissertation stage for his Doctorate of Educational Leadership.

Carlton is a member of Contending For The Faith Church Ministries under the leadership of Dr. Dameion Royal.  He is also a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. 

Carlton’s hobbies include lifting weights, boxing, playing tennis and Tae-Kwon-Doe, which he trains under Master Instructor Matt Mercer at Dong’s Martial Arts.

Nick Bowen, was born in New Bern, North Carolina and was raised in Eastern North Carolina. He graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in 1984 and is Certified by The Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards of the United States, with over thirty years of dedication to families.  He continues to assist families during their most difficult time.

Following college, Nick worked in the Charlotte area until 2017. He was manager of Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service, one of the most prominent firms in North Carolina. Nick moved to Wilson to be closer to his family and was employed with Joyner’s Funeral Home. He is a member of First Methodist Church of Wilson and the Wilson Rotary Club. He is humbled  to be able to help the families of Wilson, North Carolina, and the surrounding areas. Nick enjoys wood working and construction. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends. He also enjoys riding his Tennessee Walking Horses.

William A. Figueroa, raised in Wilson County, North Carolina, was homeschooled and graduated High School at the age of 16. He was introduced to the funeral business at the age of 15 and realized that this was his calling. Since then he has been in the funeral profession and has embarked in a new journey, at Providence, helping families celebrate a life well lived. William says, “I don’t view this as a job but as a privilege.” William is bilingual, fluent in English and Spanish. He has used this to help the families in this community. William is a member of the Wilson Rotary Club, the Wilson Chamber of Commerce and participates in a private local animal rescue. During his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, is a car enthusiast, and enjoys cooking and trying new foods.

The Submarines of October – Cuban Missile Crisis

Reverend Dr. H. William Green is a native of Durham, NC. He is retired after 41 years of pastoral ministry in the United Methodist Church. William is currently serving as the Director of Ministry Development with Cross and Key Prison Ministries. He graduated from Catawba College in 1974. While at Catawba College, William played football and was voted Most Inspirational Player of the year during his senior year.” He received his Masters of Divinity degree from Duke in 1977 and his Doctor of Ministry degree from Emory University in 1993. William and his lovely wife, Polly Jo, live in Cary, NC. Polly Jo enjoys art and has her own art ministry, “Heart’s Desire Art Journey.” William enjoys swimming and biblical storytelling. They both enjoy taking long walks together with their rescue dog, Gracie Jo.