Howard Stein graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 1975. He owned a retail/wholesale distribution tire business covering 6 southeastern states up until 2004. He has devoted his time since then to investing and philanthropy. He has two children (one deceased) and two grandchildren. He enjoys travel, photography, golf, hunting, and boating. He is a member of the Country Club of Landfall and Eagle Point Golf Club, a board member of the UNCW Foundation, and a National Trustee of the Jewish Federation of North America. Howard and his family are the largest donors to the Cape Fear Community College Foundation and are Cape Fear Visionaries (giving at $ 1 million).