Taylor Chappell – 2026 40 Under Forty Honoree
Name:
Taylor Chappell
Current job & city you reside in:
Controller at Nucor Steel Marion
Marion, OH
Degrees awarded by ECU and years received:
BSBA with Accounting concentration – December 2019
MSA – December 2020
What does it mean to you to be selected as a 40 Under Forty honoree?
It is honestly surreal to be recognized as a 40 Under Forty honoree. I am grateful to be a Pirate and to have been given the opportunities and experiences that have shaped me over the years. I feel compelled to spread the impact and continue helping others and giving back to East Carolina.
Looking back, what moment during your time at ECU had the biggest impact on your career path?
I don’t know if I could pull one specific moment that was the single biggest impact. For me, it was the constant presence in many moments by my mentors, especially in the personal and professional learning moments where I made mistakes or felt ashamed. I want to be that person for others; the safe presence to help guide others through their own personal storms.
Is there a professor or mentor at ECU that still influences you today?
I have several wonderful professors and mentors at ECU that continue to pour into my life. I appreciate that being a Pirate spans a lifetime and it doesn’t stop at graduation. These mentors have continued to be active in my professional life and include Dr. Amanda Peterson, Dr. Linda Quick and Mrs. Jan Workman.
What accomplishment in your career are you most proud of so far?
I am most proud of the relationships I have built with the teams I have been able to work with. The most rewarding part is being actively involved in their lives and supporting their families. Even while moving amongst divisions, I have maintained relationships with those teams. Their trust and care fill my cup and make the relocations and the long days worthwhile.
What does leadership look like to you?
Leadership is an act of service. The most inspiring and impactful leaders in my life have been those who have served not for the title or the pay but because they truly cared for the people. They felt a need to fight for their team and be in the trenches with them when necessary. They are courageous, honest, and make the team want to be their best selves.
Service and social responsibility are central to the 40 Under Forty recognition. How do you strive to make a positive impact in your community?
I love to be engaged and spend time with my community. Each town I have lived in since graduation has been a wonderful experience. I’ve been able to engage in service projects with ECU alumni organizations in the Charlotte area. I’ve also enjoyed being able to help support and sustain the local businesses in each of the communities I’ve lived in. I’m actively involved in the Community Outreach team at Nucor and finding ways to personally support organizations and events that are geared towards helping others, including partnering with the local schools in the district. Being involved with several organizations at ECU has also helped to provide an outlet and an ability to give back to my community without having to be physically present in Greenville.
What advice would you give current ECU students who want to create meaningful impact in their careers and communities?
Above all, be your authentic self. Just by showing up as who you truly are, you will help others shine their own lights. Genuine and compassionate Pirates are everywhere. Those soft skills help create the relationships that inspire others to be ambitious and create a community that they are proud of. Most of the lasting impact we wish to create is intangible in nature and felt intrinsically by the way we hold space for others and engage in those moments.