Founder & CEO, Mary Kurek
Mary Kurek began working life as the youngest member of the NC Governor’s staff at 19 and was awarded the Governor’s Long Leaf Pine Award. From there, she worked with international dignitaries through US and State government programs designed to improve multicultural relationships. She spent eight years as the Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce next to the world’s largest Marine Corps Air Station and graduated from the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management. Kurek was awarded a Commendation from the Commanding General of MCAS, Cherry Point for her economic development impact.
In 2007, Kurek wrote a networking book that was endorsed by the American Business Women’s Association and started her own business eventually moving her consultancy focus toward social entrepreneurship. Today, Frontrunners Development, Inc. (FDI) houses a business development consultancy aimed at nurturing partnership opportunities that expand impact by matching solution providers with country leaders and decision-makers. FDI publishes a podcast seen on their Frontrunners Innovate site and is also available on several podcast sites. (See home page for links.) Frontrunners Innovate is also the headquarters for the partnership community that serves as a trusted business development pool.
Kurek currently serves on several international boards that impact youth programs, economic development, UN SDGs, African issues, circular economy, and girls empowerment. She represents the presiding monarchy of the country of Madagascar as an appointed Counselor for Trade and Investment. Kurek was appointed in 2022 to the NC Governor’s Council on Aging.
Frontrunners Development enjoys partnerships with several worldwide organizations, like the Sub Saharan Open University (Nigeria) and Living Learning & Working, Inc. (US), Metagood Vessels (Pakistan), and provides advisory and media support for events produced by World Youth Summit, (Cyprus), The Yorghas Foundation, (Poland), Paradigm Communications (Nigeria) and the Center for Peace Advocacy and Sustainable Development-Africa (Nigeria).
Kurek is the co-founder of two model youth leadership programs and another organization for homebound seniors in her area.
Partner & Advisory Team
-
- Dr. Osita Aniemeka, Founder, Sub Saharan Open University and partner on African programs to benefit youth and economic development
-
- FIGHR Ambassador Ghazala Khan, partner on diplomatic consulting, policy, and business development
-
- Robert Branch, Dir, Living Learning & Working, Inc., partner on innovation business development
Let’s work together. Connect here.