Lisa Jeffries Nobling is a Raleigh native, a third-generation business owner, and a data-driven marketing expert. A 2007 graduate of N.C. State University’s Wilson College of Textiles and Poole College of Management, Lisa has been immersed in marketing since 2005. In 2008, she boldly ventured into entrepreneurship, founding Raleighwood Media Group + Raleighwood Event Group—a boutique traditional and digital marketing and commercial event planning agency based in Raleigh. Through the agency, Lisa has lent her expertise to hundreds of individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations, crafting extensive marketing plans and orchestrating professionally executed sales, marketing, and hospitality events. Lisa also served for four years as the marketing manager at WRAL.com, one of the most-visited regional news websites in the country. Her professional work experience spans independent, family-owned businesses and high-growth tech startups alike.
A lifelong learner and serial entrepreneur, Lisa’s portfolio has expanded well beyond her flagship agency. Today she leads seven active ventures, with an eighth in pre-launch development. In addition to Raleighwood, her current portfolio includes:
- Raleigh Food & Wine: A community celebrating the best of Raleigh’s food, drink, and culinary culture.
- Raleighwood Wifi: A marketing solution for businesses tired of the “what’s your wifi password?” question, offering tiered guest data collection, email marketing, and monthly performance reporting.
- Vivian’s Denim + Bar: A micro-boutique co-founded with her husband, Johnnie, in 2022, offering a curated collection of denim apparel for men and women alongside cocktail goods and bar accessories.
- Invest in Her Real Estate: Founded on the belief that smart real estate decisions build lasting wealth, Lisa is a licensed NC Broker and REALTOR® with certifications as a Resort & Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS) and Military Relocation Professional (MRP), serving buyers, sellers, and investors across North Carolina.
- Bay Breeze Retreat: A beachside three-bedroom short-and-mid-term rental property in Morehead City, at North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, offering serene water views and quick access to the best of Downtown Morehead, Atlantic Beach, and Beaufort.
- Roost Retreat: A recently renovated first-floor condo in Atlantic Beach offering easy beach living, a full kitchen, and access to Fort Macon, the Dunes Club, and Amos Mosquito’s—managed as a short-and mid-term rental property.
- The Borrow Bar (Pre-Launch): A membership-based service that gives Wake County residents convenient, delivery-first access to a curated collection of high-quality household and entertaining items—think stand mixers, projectors, party serving pieces, and outdoor gear—without the cost, storage, or long-term burden of ownership. It’s not minimalism; it’s intentional access.
In 2016, Lisa completed a dual master’s degree in Global Luxury Management (GLM), a specialized option within the Master of Global Innovation Management program at NC State’s Poole College of Management in partnership with SKEMA Business School. Learn more about the NC State GLM program.
Well known for her word-of-mouth advocacy for local businesses and her instinct for connecting people whose interests align, Lisa’s passion for digital marketing, new media, and experiential hospitality is unlike any in her industry. Her philanthropic loyalties include the SPCA of Wake County, Band Together, Transitions LifeCare, and The Women’s Center of Wake County, among many others. She is a proud alumna of Pi Beta Phi and a lifetime member of Bourbon Women.
In her free time, Lisa is a devoted vegetarian who can most often be found at a table at The Fiction Kitchen, raving about the Crunchy Potato and Arugula Salad at Tazza Kitchen, or catching up with friends over cocktails on the sunny patio at Mulino Italian Kitchen & Bar. Her wine interest is well-served by monthly deliveries from The Wine Feed and regular visits to the tasting bar at The Raleigh Wine Shop. For spirits, you’ll find her exploring the vast tequila selection at William & Co. or chasing new-to-her bourbons at The Blind Barbour. Close to home, Sully’s Golf & Gather has become the neighborhood spot where she cheers on the NC State Wolfpack during away games while Johnnie practices his swing. Over in Cary, she’s a regular at Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen for lunch and makes a point to get to The State Farmers Market Restaurant for breakfast whenever she can.
Lisa’s specific areas of expertise include new media and experiential marketing for retail, hospitality, and service-based businesses, real estate investment and vacation property acquisition, and membership-based consumer services. She is passionate about her work, cheering on the Wolfpack in every season, live music, and advocating for animal welfare.
Speaking Engagements
- March 2016: for Nightclub & Bar Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas, NV – Twitter 101 + Twitter for Business
- July 2015: for Shop Local Raleigh – Technical Tuesday: Instagram for Business
- June 2015: for Shop Local Raleigh – Twitter 101 + Twitter for Business
- June 2015: for the Carolina Association of Translators and Interpreters (CATI) – Twitter 101 + Twitter for Business
- May 2015: at the Digital Marketing for Business conference – 10 Things to Know About Email Marketing Now
- May 2014: for the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Business Expo 2014 – Social Media Seminar: Engagement Strategy
- November 2013: for Capitol Broadcasting Company/CBC Digital Elements – The Science of Online Marketing: Discovering Your Formula for Success
- October 2011: for Capitol Broadcasting Company – Boost Your Business
- February 2011: for Shop Local Raleigh – Social Media Seminar
- November 2010: for Triangle Social Media Club – Featured guest speaker
Content Publishing
- Raleigh Food & Wine — Celebrating the best of Raleigh’s food, drink, and culinary scene
- Raleigh Weekend — A weekly guide to the best events, dining, and things to do in the Triangle (10,000+ readers)
- CapitalCityCocktails.com: Celebrating the craft cocktail culture in Raleigh, one drink at a time
- CarolinaLovesCountry.com: The best of county music, east of the Tennessee
- DTRNews.com: The only website dedicated to Downtown Raleigh news and events
- Growing Up Southern is a Privilege, Really: Life and times of a Southern girl (ie: my very first blog!)
- iHeartRetail.com: Because local is not a trend
Guest Features
- ZeroBounce: “Email Has Been One of the Sharpest Tools in Our Shed”
- BoostSuite.com: Five Mobile Marketing Tips for Small Businesses
- BoostSuite.com: Why Your Visitors Hate Your Stock Photography
Accolades & Achievements
- Statewide Entrepreneurial Recognition & Pitch Competition: Named a finalist in the inaugural North Carolina Small Business Center Network (SBCN) Startup Showdown. Additionally, secured a first-place win in the Blueprint category of Wake Tech’s Blueprint to Skyline Business Pitch Competition, earning a $3,000 grant to support the launch of The Borrow Bar—a membership-based lending library for high-quality household items.
- Raleigh Public Relations Society: WRAL TechWire ‘Full Steam Ahead Awards’ wins a Sir Walter salute
- Raleigh Rotaract — Board President, 2014–2015
Quotes and Press
- News & Observer: Raleigh’s newest food & wine festival is a more affordable option
- Raleigh & Company: Spooning with Demetri podcast interview – Lisa Jeffries of the Raleigh Food & Wine Festival
- Capitol Broadcasting Company: WRAL.com Staffers Volunteer Together at Food Bank
- News & Observer: Small business owners share top 3 gaps they want to close
- News & Observer: Crowd thin on Hillsborough