New President of Winston-Salem’s Hotbed of Entrepreneurship

Winston-Salem’s hotbed of entrepreneurship will need a new leader to fill some big shoes. Steve Lineberger will step down as president of WSPR Fund and leave behind an extensive portfolio of early stage companies that need funding.

He has participated in many needs assessments, program planning and evaluation processes, community identification projects and social epidemiology research endeavors.

Early Life and Education

Lineberger was raised in Stanley, North Carolina within an all-white society; his father was a farmer while his mother worked in garment manufacturing. Upon enlisting in World War II he served for three years, followed by law school at Temple University.

His reputation was that of a fierce but fair jurist; according to family members, his intellect and wit were unrivaled. Additionally, he was an exceptional trial attorney in Philadelphia having handled hundreds of major felony cases over time.

She has published national and international papers on sociological research methods and teaching practices. Additionally, she has taught various sociological courses including Introduction to Sociology, Medical Sociology, Gender Sociology, Women in Society as well as Needs Assessment, Program Planning Evaluation Community Identification Projects & Social Epidemiology projects.

Professional Career

Steve Lineberger has extensive experience across a variety of industries and enterprise sizes. He was president of Krispy Kreme US stores; CEO/CFO for Sneez (a startup that monitors illness outbreaks); and board member at Greater Winston-Salem Inc.

Winston Starts, a startup incubator located in Winston-Salem, of which he serves as founding member and chair. Additionally, he has presented papers at multiple national and international conferences covering ethnographic experiences with online teaching; best practices in distance learning; sociology of health care professions and their practice; among many others.

He currently holds an appointment as associate teaching professor in Florida International University’s Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies, teaching online courses such as Introduction to Sociology, Sociological Theory, Marriage and the Family, Medical Sociology, Sex and Gender Sociology as well as Sociology of the World.

Achievement and Honors

He specializes in sociology of education, conflict resolution for social work/helping professions and women in society. He has published numerous articles and presented at both national and international conferences; in addition, he is a member of American Sociological Association, Eastern Sociological Society and Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society.

Since 2007, he has taught courses that include but are not limited to Introduction to Sociology, Sociological Theory and Medical Sociology for Introduction into Marriage & the Family Studies; Crime & Law Studies; Sex & Gender studies as well as Societies around the World. Lineberger received FIU Adjunct Excellence in Teaching Award in 2014. In 2014 he developed online major and minor degree programs under Global and Sociocultural Studies Department.

Personal Life

Steven Lineberger is the owner of Southern Greens, a consumer services business with six employees based out of Piedmont, SC in United States.

He served as former president of Winston-Salem Starts, a startup business incubator occupying two floors in a renovated office tower in downtown Winston-Salem. Tony DiBianca will take over interim presidency of Winston-Salem Starts until his replacement can be found.

Witty and warm, he made sure to connect with both colleagues and students, offering advice or encouragement whenever it was needed. His competence and dry wit shone through in emails, meetings, grant proposals, campus events and cancer center advisory boards that he worked on.

Net Worth

Steven Lineberger is estimated to have an estimated net worth of around $10 Million. A successful businessman who has led various public, private and startup ventures. Furthermore, he founded Winston-Salem Starts which serves as a center for entrepreneurship in North Carolina.

Lineberger also recently filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for an equity round of $250,000 under SneeZ, a tech startup founded by former Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. executive Steve Lineberger as well as other backers.

Lineberger is the owner of Southern Greens, a Consumer Services business employing 6 people in Raleigh. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors for Freddie Mac Multifamily. Living with his wife, Austin and Shannon each of whom have one child named Quinten live at Southern Greens’ corporate location in Raleigh.