RALEIGH, N.C.—WakeEd Partnership (WakeEd), a nonprofit organization committed to improving public education in Wake County, welcomed three new members to its board of directors. The three business leaders were approved during WakeEd’s annual board on June 18. These new members are:

• Rob Burlington, president, SteelFab, Inc. of Virginia

• Sepi Saidi, CEO, SEPI Engineering & Construction

• Cleon Umphrey, chief human resources officer, Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority

Together the new board members bring corporate and entrepreneurial experience that will aid WakeEd in diversifying its audience to improve the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS). As WakeEd board members, Burlington, Saidi and Umphrey will help WakeEd achieve its vision of creating schools where every graduate is prepared to succeed in a global economy.

All new members are deeply involved in education and the Wake County community. Burlington, a graduate of North Carolina State University, serves as a JobsForLife mentor and former board chair for the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals Network. Sepi, also an NC State graduate, has spent much of her life in the Wake County area and improved the economic health of the region by starting her own company, SEPI Engineering & Construction. A graduate of East Carolina University, Umphrey is a deacon at New Providence Baptist Church and sits on the Human Resources Steering Committee for the Airport Council Internal.

WakeEd’s board is led by Chairman Doug Sprecher and Chair-Elect Don Esposito. Sprecher is a senior vice president at First Citizens Bank and will lead the organization through FY 2016.

"Having new board members of this caliber puts us in a position to further our impact on the Wake County Public School System," WakeEd President Steve Parrott said. "Our members are doing new and exciting things in the business world that further serve to build up WCPSS."

About WakeEd Partnership

WakeEd Partnership is an independent, nonprofit organization comprised of business and community leaders committed to improving public education. Since 1983, the Partnership has advocated for excellent educational opportunities for all students in the Wake County Public School System. For more information, please visit www.wakeed.org.