Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna O’Neal.
Hi Jenna , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up, I was blessed to be surrounded by a woman who showed me what leadership, service, and impact truly look like. My grandmother served as the Director of the Small Business Center at the College of The Albemarle in Elizabeth City, and from a young age, I had a front-row seat to the difference she made in her community.
I watched her pour into entrepreneurs, support small business owners, and help build a strong local economy. She wasn’t just doing a job — she was creating opportunities, building confidence in others, and strengthening the community she served. Walking in her footsteps and seeing the lives she touched left a lasting impression on me. As a little girl, I remember telling myself, “That is who I want to be when I grow up.”
Helping people has always been my passion. Throughout high school and later while attending the University of North Carolina Wilmington, I consistently told myself that I wanted a career where I could make an impact — where I could uplift others and be part of something bigger than myself.
Today, I am proud to say that I have stepped into that very calling. I serve as an Administrative Assistant at the Small Business Center at Cape Fear Community College, working under the leadership of Director Jerry Coleman. In this role, I have the opportunity to support and grow alongside entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout New Hanover and Pender Counties.
This role is more than just a job to me — it represents a true full-circle moment. I am now part of a statewide network of 58 Small Business Centers across North Carolina, the very same network my grandmother once proudly served. To follow in her footsteps, while being mentored by the wonderful Jerry Coleman — who has been recognized multiple times as the top director in the state — and to continue building on that legacy of service and meaningful community impact is exciting!
I am growing into this role, into this network, and into the purpose I have always felt called to pursue. And I am excited to continue helping business owners thrive, just as my grandmother once did, and to make my own meaningful impact along the way.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Overall, I would say the journey has been smooth — but it certainly hasn’t been without moments that stretched and challenged me. In previous positions and organizations, I had to intentionally step outside of my comfort zone and trust the process, even when the next step wasn’t completely clear.
Every challenge became a chance to grow, and each experience helped shape and prepare me for where I am today. While the road has felt aligned because I’ve always known my sense of purpose, the growth along the way has developed me into someone truly ready to walk confidently in it.
As you know, we’re big fans of North Carolina Small Business Center Network. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The North Carolina Small Business Center Network is a statewide system of 58 centers, all housed within community colleges across the state. Each center is committed to one unified mission: helping entrepreneurs start, grow, and sustain successful businesses — at no cost to them.
What makes our network unique is both its scale and its consistency. No matter where an entrepreneur is located in North Carolina, they have access to the same high-quality resources, confidential one-on-one business counseling, educational seminars, and practical tools. While each center serves its local community, we are collectively connected through a shared standard of excellence, collaboration, and service.
The network specializes in supporting individuals at every stage of business development — from refining an idea, to writing a business plan, to securing funding, to scaling operations. Because we are embedded within the North Carolina Community College System, we are able to combine educational expertise with real-world business guidance, creating an accessible and trusted support system for small business owners.
For decades, Small Business Centers across North Carolina have played a vital role in launching hundreds of businesses, supporting thousands of jobs, and strengthening local economies. While each center focuses on serving its individual community, together we operate as a unified, statewide network committed to advancing small business success.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Meaningful connections has certainly played a role in my journey. My grandmother served as a director within the Small Business Center Network for many years, and through her time and impact, she built strong relationships across the state.
Because of those connections, she introduced me to Jerry Coleman while I was still in college. At the time, I was exploring a freelance marketing venture of my own and actually sought counseling from him for guidance. That experience allowed me to see firsthand the level of support and expertise the Small Business Center provides, and it also allowed him to get to know me professionally.
Years later, when I saw that his center was hiring, I immediately applied. While some may call that luck, I see it as preparation meeting opportunity. The introduction opened the door, but my prior engagement, interest, and desire to be part of this work positioned me to walk through it. It was a reminder that relationships matter — and that sometimes the seeds planted early on come full circle at just the right time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ncsbc.net
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-oneal02
