Lennie Friedman
Vice Chair of NC Forward Party
Lennie Friedman is a North Carolina business leader and civic advocate committed to practical, non-partisan solutions that expand economic opportunity and improve the effectiveness of American institutions. Since graduating from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business in 2011, Lennie has focused on building and operating organizations that solve real-world problems, create jobs, and strengthen long-term economic growth.
Lennie serves as Chief Operating Officer of VetOvation, Inc., a Raleigh-based veterinary medical device company that supports veterinarians across the United States with advanced surgical technologies and training. His work centers on improving clinical outcomes while helping medical professionals operate more efficiently in an increasingly complex regulatory and economic environment.
Prior to his business career, Lennie played football at Duke University and went on to a 10-year career in the National Football League. Drafted in the second round by the Denver Broncos, he also played for Washington, Chicago, and Cleveland.
Through his involvement with the Forward Party, Lennie advocates for a more functional political system that prioritizes problem-solving over partisanship. His work focuses on policies that help Americans adapt to rapid technological change, including workforce training initiatives that prepare workers for an economy increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and automation. Lennie supports expanding partnerships between community colleges, trade programs, and employers to ensure practical, skills-based pathways to stable careers.
Lennie also advocates for reducing the cost of living through targeted, responsible deregulation that removes unnecessary barriers to housing construction, healthcare innovation, and small business formation. He believes many of the largest cost pressures facing American families are driven not only by market forces but by outdated or overly complex regulatory frameworks that limit supply, slow innovation, and increase administrative costs.
Consistent with Forward Party principles, Lennie supports electoral and institutional reforms that encourage broader participation, greater accountability, and incentives for leaders to build consensus rather than division. He believes the United States performs best when policy debates focus on measurable outcomes, economic competitiveness, and expanding opportunity for the next generation.
For North Carolina. For independent voters. For a more perfect union.
