Festival Presidents

Michael grew up in Wilmington, where attending the North Carolina Azalea Festival was a beloved tradition and an early source of pride in his hometown. After graduating from Auburn University, he returned to Wilmington to build his career and deepen his involvement in the community. He later earned his MBA from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, strengthening his strategic skills and reinforcing his commitment to local growth and development.He is proud to serve as the 79th President of the North Carolina Azalea Festival, giving back to an organization that has played a meaningful role in his life since childhood. In addition to his work with the Festival, Michael has been actively involved with several other nonprofit and community organizations throughout the Wilmington area, supporting efforts that strengthen and enrich Southeastern, NC.He lives in Wilmington with his wife, Lauren, and their two daughters, Wallis and Campbell, who continue to inspire and support him every step of the way.

Originally a native of Texas, Beck enrolled at the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2002, graduating with a degree in finance from the Cameron School of Business in 2006. Shortly after completing his studies, he began his career in life and health insurance with the local firm Griffin Estep Benefit Group, where he continues to work today. It was a colleague and former president, Hank Estep, who introduced Beck to the NCAF family in 2008, appointing him as co-chair of the festival’s souvenir book committee. After several years in this role, Beck transitioned to co-chair and eventually chair of the festival banners committee, which later evolved into the broader Event Production Committee.

This committee merged with the Azalea Transport Committee, collectively overseeing the transportation and setup of all Festival-related materials, including banners, flags, podiums, pop-up displays, and even live azaleas during the Festival week. Despite the hard work involved, this experience allowed Beck to participate in nearly all major and minor events organized by the Festival, not only during the Festival week but throughout the year. His dedication and collaboration with various committee chairs and the board ignited a strong desire to join the board himself, a goal he achieved in 2019. Beck has greatly enjoyed his time on the board, gaining valuable insights into the efforts required to produce a successful Festival.

He and his wife Elizabeth, have a son and daughter, Wylie and Vivian, who attend St Mark Catholic School, the 2025 official Azalea school visit location.

Andrew (Drew) Nettleman has received numerous legal awards, including being recognized by his peers as a Super Lawyer from 2014 to the present. As a Festival volunteer, Andrew previously worked as a Chair or Co-Chair on the Sanitation, Souvenir Book and the Airlie Luncheon Garden Party committees.

Denise Szaloky is proud to be your 76th President. A native of Wichita Falls, Texas, she graduated with a Business and Marketing degree leading her to become a professional flight attendant with American Airlines.

In 2001, she moved to Wilmington and immediately became a festival volunteer working with the Queen’s Coronation, Volunteer Workers Party, Queen’s Arrival and Welcome along with Past Presidents Party.

She has enjoyed being deeply involved with numerous organizations making significant impacts throughout our community and has shown dedication to making Wilmington a better place to live, work and raise children. Her efforts include PTA at the local, county and state levels as well as youth sports organizations and booster clubs. Denise has focused on feeding families and home bound seniors in addition to mentoring and tutoring students. She also has been instrumental in leading and organizing such events as Wilmington’s Heath Access for Teens Power of the Purse and New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s Red Dress Luncheon.

For the past 22 years, Denise has loved calling Wilmington home. She and her husband Joe have two sons, Spencer and Grant, who are both proud New Hanover High School graduates.

John Russ was born and raised in Wilmington, NC and began volunteering with the Azalea Festival while he was a student at New Hanover High School. After graduating from North Carolina State University, he returned to Wilmington and began his career in finance and is currently the owner of Coastline Mortgage Consultants, LLC. In 2010, John joined the festival’s Parade Committee and was Parade chair from 2012 to 2013. He then went on to chair the Governor’s Press Conference for three years before joining the NCAF Board of Directors in 2017. John is married to Jolie Coates Russ and has twin daughters, Sadie and Langdon, who were born in 2009 . After years and years of wonderful festival memories, from attending festivals as a child, to watching his own daughters do the same, being the 75th president of the Festival has been one of his fondest memories to date. He and his family look forward to many more!

Deirdre McGlone-Webb is a Branch Manager at South State Bank in Wilmington, NC. She was born in Wilmington. Dee has served on Festival committees since 1998. She was part of Azalea Pride/Sweep Committee: committee member, co-chair, and chair positions. She was assistant to Festival President, Official Party Coordinator Co-chair, Sponsor Relations Chair, and Major Sponsor Relations Chair before joining the Festival Board of Directors. Other Volunteer Work includes the USSNC Battleship Commission (Treasurer), Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church (Treasurer), Beach to Battleship Triathlon Volunteer, and Work on Wilmington volunteer.

Dr. Stephen Meinhold is a Professor of Political Science at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He has lived in Wilmington 20+ years and has served on the Festival committee for five years as the Economic Impact Study Committee Chair, Past Presidents’ Party Chair, and Major Sponsor Chair before joining the Board of Directors. Other Volunteer Work includes Good Shephard Center, Lakeside Partners, and the United Way.

Our President this year is a native of Wilmington who throughout a 28-year business marketing career with one of our communities wonderful family-owned companies, has had the privilege to work with alongside countless community organizations and community leaders within our state, and although he officially retired two years ago to develop his family’s own agri-business venture and is now proud to be called a family farmer. He remains firmly dedicated to serving his community through volunteerism, support, and development. In his words “we all have an obligation to help enrich our communities in whatever way we can”. He credits his strength and determination to succeed to his father and his heart and compassion to his mother both of whom he is deeply grateful to call his parents. Among his many accomplishments he feels his top achievements was convincing his wonderful wife Jennifer to marry him, and his three children he is so very proud of Garrett, Wyatt, and Peyton (who he calls Memphis).

Justin is a financial advisor and has lived in Wilmington since 1999. Justin has been a volunteer and Patron level sponsor of the Azalea Festival since 2008. He has served as committee chair for Patron’s Relations, Major Sponsor Relations, the Governor’s Press Conference, and Co-Chair of the Parade for Floats. Justin and his wife Missy have also escorted several celebrity guests throughout the Festival’s full spectrum of events. In 2013, Justin was elected to the Azalea Festival board which is widely remembered as the team which advanced the festival concerts to an outdoor venue. In 2017, Justin guided the conversion of the organization from a 501c4 to a 501c3.

Jean Lawler, native to Wilmington, is the Advertising Director at Wilmington International Airport (ILM). She has served 56 years on the North Carolina Azalea Festival Committee since her start in 1960. Her volunteer committees have included Souvenir Book, Concerts, and others. Her community involvement includes her role as Vice President of Wilmington WW11 Home Front Coalition, AIRLIE Board Member, Past President of the Seahawk Club, and the Cape Fear Community College Wilson Center Performance Hall Advisory Committee. Jean is also involved with Pleasure Island Parrot Heads which supports Step up for Soldiers, Toys for Tots, and several other charities.