Three Campbell Law alumnae named among 2026 TBJ’s ’40 Under 40′

RALEIGH - Three Campbell Law School alumnae Meghan Reece Brown '13, Tiffany Gidley '14 and Devon Williams '12 have been named among the 2026 Triangle Business Journal's "40 Under 40."

A celebration is planned for 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24, at A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater.

Each year, the 40 Under 40 Awards honor 40 rising stars in the local business world who have distinguished themselves in their companies, their communities and their industries - all before their 40th birthday. These young professionals are executives, innovators and entrepreneurs who represent our region's next generation of business leaders, according to the TBJ.

Brown is Vice President of Advancement and Operations for Central Carolina Community College, where she has worked for nearly a dozen years. In her current role, she partners with the President and executive leadership team to shape and execute the college's strategic vision. She provides leadership across Human Resources, the Business Office, the CCCC Foundation, Strategic Planning and Accreditation - ensuring these essential functions are aligned to serve students, employees and the school's broader community, according to her LinkedIn profile. She helps drive college-wide initiatives, support fundraising and grant development and cultivate key relationships at the local, state and federal levels. She also engages with the Board of Trustees and collaborates with General Counsel on institutional policy and procedure. Her focus is on strengthening both internal operations and external partnerships to advance the long-term success of the college. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Interpersonal and Organizational Communications in 2009.

Gidley has served as General Counsel for Cardinal Civil Contracting since May 2024. Prior to joining the company, she was Corporate Counsel at David Allen Company Inc., a commercial surfaces company, from July 2015 to May 2024. General Counsel with over a decade of experience advising on corporate governance, risk management, and strategic negotiations. According to her LinkedIn profile, she is passionate about enabling ethical, compliant and efficient operations that align with business goals. Gidley is also known for solving complex legal challenges, empowering teams and contributing to collaborative, forward-thinking cultures. Prior to joining David Allen, she was an Associate Attorney at Lucas, Denning, & Ellerbe PLLC. Gidley earned a bachelor's degree in applied psychology from North Carolina State University in 2011.

Williams is a co-managing director at Ward and Smith PA and a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Employment Law. She maintains a robust practice, handling complex labor and employment matters, according to her bio, which includes providing guidance on federal contractor compliance, particularly concerning the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, managing and defending contentious claims of employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, advising employers on disciplinary actions and terminations to limit potential legal risks, and negotiating, drafting and litigating enforceable restrictive covenants to safeguard clients' interests. She also advises clients in the medical and healthcare industries, including physicians navigating employment agreements with restrictive covenants, noncompete provisions and cost-share arrangements. As a member of the firm's Alcoholic Beverage Law and Hemp and Cannabis Law practice groups, Williams regularly assists clients in the agribusiness, CBD and craft brewery industries navigate the complexities of ever-changing labor and employment laws impacting their business, including helping clients ensure proper protection for their confidential and proprietary information. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland in 2009.

ABOUT CAMPBELL LAW SCHOOL

Since its founding in 1976, Campbell Law has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. Among its accolades, the school has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation's top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation's best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts more than 5,000 alumni, who make their home in nearly all 50 states and beyond. In 2026, Campbell Law is celebrating 50 years of graduating legal leaders and 17 years of being located in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of North Carolina's Capital City.

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