Blog

Small Business Saturday is just around the corner on November 26! Here are some resources and advice to help you and your company prepare:
 
For Business Owners:

• Promote your Small Business Saturday deals and events on social media and in your email newsletters. You can use the hashtag #ShopSmall and tag @RaleighChamber for greater exposure on all social platforms.
• Learn more about the shop small movement, add your business to Amex's Shop Small Map, and get free marketing materials from the American Express Shop Small Resource Hub.
• Make sure your website and online ordering system are ready for an influx of traffic.
• Train your employees on how to handle an increase in customers.
• Check out 8 more Tips for Small Business Saturday from SCORE Academy.

 
For Clients:

• Plan ahead and make a list of the small businesses you want to support, look for local directories of deals like this list from Shop Local Raleigh.
• Bring cash or have your credit card ready so you can take advantage of deals and promotions.
• Spread the word to your friends and family about the importance of shopping small! You can use the hashtag #ShopSmall and tag @RaleighChamber for greater exposure on all social platforms.

 
The Raleigh Chamber is excited to celebrate Small Business Saturday and proud to support the organizations that are important economic drivers for our region by offering events and resources that help them grow and thrive. We encourage businesses in the Triangle to explore the benefits and invest in their future today by joining the Chamber as a member. For current Raleigh Chamber members, this is a great time to update your organization’s information in our Membership Directory before the busy holiday season.
​
We look forward to seeing you soon at one of our upcoming events

Written by:
Sloane Heffernan
Leadership Raleigh Class 46

Downtown Raleigh is growing and changing in a big way, and we are too, thanks to Leadership Raleigh. The program is opening our eyes to a brand new, broader world built around community, connection, and charity.
 
Our first monthly session, a “This is Raleigh” day-long class, sponsored by Bobbitt Construction and JDAVIS Architects began at Devereux Meadows, the site of what will become one of Raleigh’s newest parks, officially named by the Raleigh City Council on November 15, Smoky Hollow Park. After more than two years of planning, the concept that includes walking trails and a wetland area just received approval from the city. Our group was one of the first to step on the property with the new plans officially in place. The area, which most recently served as a maintenance yard for the city, will become a beautiful gateway for travelers heading southbound into Raleigh on Capital Boulevard.
 
From there, our Leadership Raleigh group traveled to the new Seaboard Station for a private tour with the Senior Project Manager, Trevor Kelly, LR45 from Clancy & Theys Construction Company. It was amazing to see the site transformation. There will be apartments, townhomes, shops, restaurants, and even a new hotel. We were most excited to learn about a cool rooftop bar overlooking the Raleigh skyline and a pedestrian area that will be lined with cozy outdoor dining options.
 
As our group continued to travel it was invaluable to have the time to pick each other’s brains about strategy and fundraising for non-profits as many Leadership Raleigh participants have experience in the industry. With all the talking and walking, we built up an appetite. Our next stop was The Factory for lunch from Union Special and two panel discussions featuring some of the biggest movers and shakers in the Triangle.
 
The first panel talked about how the local food and beverage scene provides community. There was more talk about charity work as Chris Powers, co-owner of Trophy Brewing talked about the upcoming Trophy Trot 5K and how similar events provide extra opportunities to connect. Our second panel discussed the rich music scene in Raleigh and how it helps fuel the economy. It was inspiring to hear from Danny Rosin, the co-founder of Band Together NC, along with all the panelists who in the words of Dave Rose with Deep South Entertainment are dedicated to making Raleigh a “Music City.”
 
“This is Raleigh” day wrapped up with a fun scavenger hunt and networking reception at Young Hearts Distilling. The Raleigh Chamber’s Leadership Raleigh program is designed to prepare the future leaders of our community and after our first monthly session, we already feel better equipped and more energized than ever before! Learn more about Leadership Raleigh today.

The Raleigh Chamber and Wake County Government encourage all cities, towns, businesses, and organizations to light their buildings in green Nov. 7 – 13 to show support for our veterans through Operation Greenlight. By shining a green light in our businesses and homes, we let our veterans know that they are seen, appreciated, and supported.
 
As a member of the Chamber, your organization can get involved for FREE when you collect a green lightbulb from any of the below Westlake Ace Hardware locations and tell the cashier, “I’m a member of the Raleigh Chamber!”
 
Westlake Ace Hardware Raleigh Seaboard Station
802 Semart Dr. #112
Raleigh, NC 27604
919-834-8600
 
Westlake Ace Hardware Raleigh North Ridge
6196 Falls of Neuse Rd. #100
Raleigh, NC 27609
919-790-8832
 
Westlake Ace Hardware Raleigh Falls River
10930 Raven Ridge Rd.
Raleigh, NC 27614
919-870-5240
 
Westlake Ace Hardware Cary
2976 Kildaire Farm Rd.
Cary, NC 27518
984-465-1605
 
What is Operation Greenlight?
Operation Greenlight is a new, national collaborative initiative to support military veterans, as well as raise awareness about the unique challenges they may face.
 
While studies show most Americans support our veterans, too often that support is not seen or felt by service men and women. Operation Greenlight is changing that.
 
How Can I Spread the Word?
You can announce your participation ahead of time via press releases and social media posts. Use the hashtag #OperationGreenlight in your posts so others can easily find them. Share images of the green light in your business and tag @raleighchamber for increased exposure.

Highlands Second:
Jim Harris
Smith Andrews
Mark West
Chris Wilson

Highlands Third:
Billy Johnson
Mark Blaha
Mike Scharf

Royal Caribbean Cruise Winner ($2,000 value)
Emile Hartman

COURSE GAMES
Fairways:
Longest Drive – Josh DiPaulo
Closest to the Pin – Carrie Buttles

Meadows:
Longest Drive – Chris Williams
Closest to the Pin – Jason Moore

Highlands:
Longest Drive – Smith Andrews
Closest to the Pin – Tony Herring
 
Additionally, thank you to each of our sponsors who graciously donated a raffle prize for our reception:
​
​Barnes & Thornburg
celito.net
CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP
Hotel Ballast
Lonnie Poole
Marbles Kids Museum
Maupin Travel
Raleigh Founded
TrialCard+
Wildwood Greens
 
Congratulations to all our winners!

Thank you once again to our sponsors for your support in ensuring this year’s tournament was a success! To view a list of our sponsors and their websites, please visit our Golf Tournament event page.

If you would like to secure your sponsorship for next year’s tournament or have general sponsorship questions, please email sales@raleighchamber.org.

​The Raleigh Chamber is proud to serve as a connector for our business community. We provide the resources businesses need to start, grow, and succeed in the Triangle region. Our members have access to our membership directory, small business resources, events calendar, job board, sponsorship opportunities, and much more. In addition, we offer a variety of programs and services to help businesses succeed.

​The Chamber and its staff are grateful for the dedication and commitment of its 2021/22 Executive Committee and Board of Directors. We are fortunate to have such an engaged and dedicated group of business leaders who volunteer their time and expertise to help us achieve our mission.

​We owe a great deal of our success to their support and leadership and are excited to continue working with the 2022/23 Executive Committee and Board of Directors, led by Board Chair, Dan Cahill of Poyner Spruill LLP, to make our region the best place to live and work as we begin a new fiscal year on Oct. 1. 

​The Executive Committee and Board of Directors represent a variety of industries across our membership and will work closely with Chamber staff and volunteers over the next year to further our mission of building a thriving regional economy, enhancing the community’s quality of life, and strengthening member businesses.

​Dan Cahill, Poyner Spruill LLP 
Chair of the Board

Gary Greene, Greene Resources
Chair-Elect
 
Ernie Bovio, UNC Rex Healthcare
Treasurer
 
Kevin Howell, NC State University
Immediate Past Chair
 
Adrienne Cole, Raleigh Chamber
President and CEO
O’Hara Macken, S&P Global
Past Chair, 2020/21
 
DeLisa Alexander, Board Director & Executive Advisor
Past Chair, 2019/20
 
Russell Killen, Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP
General Counsel
 
Katherine Thomas, Alfred Williams & Company
Vice Chair, Membership Engagement
 
Joel Davis, Capitol Broadcasting Company/WRAL
Vice Chair, Communications


John Ward, Wells Fargo
Vice Chair, Wake County Economic Development
 
Latrinda Riley, TrialCard
Vice Chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
 
Charles Royal, Bank of America
Vice Chair, Raleigh Chamber Foundation
 
Kevin McLaughlin, Duke Energy
Vice Chair, Government Affairs
 
Tia McLaurin, Google
Vice Chair, Entrepreneurship & Innovation 
 
Pat Wilkins, Gallagher
Vice Chair, President’s Circle
 
Roy Fralin, Fidelity Investments
Member At-Large
 
Tim Humphrey, IBM Corporation
Member At-Large


Lee Anne Nance, Stewart
Member At-Large


Brian Reid, TowneBank
Member At-Large

Your Chamber works best when you work with the Chamber! Get involved. Spread the word.
There are opportunities for organizations in any industry and of every size. From development for young professionals to networking opportunities for businesses and resources for regional leaders — there is always a chance to grow, connect, and thrive with the Raleigh Chamber.

Together we will enhance The Triangle Experience
Join Us Today and Subscribe to Keep Up with the Raleigh Chamber

​On August 23 - 24, regional leaders came together for our Annual Leadership Conference presented by TowneBank. The annual two-day conference at the Pinehurst Resort focused on making connections with top leaders and discussing topics important to our region’s growth including new developments, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), transportation infrastructure and innovations, trends in the national and local labor force, and upcoming bond campaigns. 

​Attendees heard from a wide range of speakers during this important event. View the recap and a few highlights from each session:

New Developments
Leading Triangle developers provided insight on planned growth and shared the impact of their new projects in this lightning-style session. Developments discussed ranged from global life science centers to local projects like Centennial Campus, Smoky Hollow, and other mixed-use spaces.

• Greg Capps, North Carolina Managing Director, Longfellow Real Estate Partners, LLC
• David Connor, Senior Vice President, Lincoln Harris
• John Kane, Chairman and CEO, Kane Realty Corporation

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
This panel discussed the prevailing trends in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and explained how businesses are aligning company values with operations in supporting environmental and social movements. Panelists also highlighted the Triangle’s unique assets aiding industry ESG goals such as the commitment of local organizations to prioritize partnerships.
“We have a chance to be a real exemplar across our region in sustainability!” – Leah Burton

• Leah Burton, Director, Office of Partnerships, North Carolina State University
• Sarah Gaskill, Head of Sustainability and ESG, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies
• Jerry Williams, Chief Environmental Officer, SAS Institute
• Albert Alwang, Economic Development Director, Wake County Economic Development (moderator)

Transportation Infrastructure and Innovations 
Regional leaders in transportation took the stage to give an overview of imminent transportation projects and current plans to improve mobility for our region moving forward. Attendees received updates on RDU’s recovery, plans for a regional commuter rail, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) program, and highway projects.

• Brandon Jones, Division Engineer, North Carolina Department of Transportation
• Michael Landguth, President and Chief Executive Officer, Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority
• Chuck Lattuca, President & Chief Executive Officer, GoTriangle
• Michael Moore, Director of Transportation, City of Raleigh Municipal Government
• Joe Milazzo, Executive Director, Regional Transportation Alliance (moderator)

Bridging the Gap in our Labor Force 
As lead author of The Demographic Drought and its follow-up report released in February of 2022, Ron answers pressing economic questions by analyzing past, present, and future workforces. Attendees gained insight into the rise and fall of America’s population and labor force participation rate and how employers and higher education institutions can survive the sansdemic (sans-without; demic-people).
“The way we consume labor as a society has to change…the U.S. needs 3 to 5 million workers to meet the economy’s needs!” – Ron Hetrick

• Ron Hetrick, Senior Labor Economist and VP of Staffing Product, Emsi Burning Glass

Upcoming Bond Campaigns 
Speakers urged the public to vote “yes” in November on upcoming Raleigh Parks, Wake County Public School System, and Wake Technical Community College bonds to continue supporting the growth and innovation of our region in the coming years. Attendees received updates on the use of previous funds and heard about specific projects that will require funding.

• Dr. Scott Ralls, President, Wake Technical Community College
• Mitchell Silver, Principal, McAdams & Co-Chair of Citizens Supporting Raleigh Bond Campaign Committee
• Andrew Blackburn, Vice President of Government Affairs, Raleigh Chamber

Attendees at this year’s Annual Leadership Conference were also the first to hear about the chosen location for the 2023 Inter-City Visit & Leadership Conference: Tampa, Florida!

We are proud to support our region’s growth through events like the Annual Leadership Conference, presented by TowneBank. The Chamber sincerely appreciate each of our speakers, our sponsors, and our regional leaders for joining us for an engaging and invigorating two-day conference! We look forward to seeing what progress our discussions lead to and hope to see you soon at another Raleigh Chamber event.

For more quotes, comments, and images of the event check out #RaleighALC22 on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The Emerging Leaders May - July 2022 cohort spent the last few months forging new relationships, establishing business and community connections, learning how to network like a pro, and honing their leadership skills. The Raleigh Chamber is so proud of the dedication and commitment that has led each of these Emerging Leaders to great personal and professional growth success:

More than 1,100 local leaders and members of the community joined us for this annual conference presented by the Triangle DEI Alliance and the Raleigh Chamber to gain the tools to support DEI within their organizations and the entire community in pursuit of "A Better You, A Better Us!"

At the 2022 Diversity, Equity, & Inclusivity Conference, in partnership with Bank of America, we gained new tools and insights to strive for more inclusive work and community environments through cultural competence and awareness. The day began with an opening charge from Jamaal Livan of Bank of America before our Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity took the stage for the first interactive activity and panel discussion: Privileges for Sale.

​Participants had to identify which privileges they would purchase with a hypothetical budget in only ten minutes, and over 53% of the audience identified race as their most salient identity during the process. When asked to describe the activity using only one word, more than 50 people responded that it was “insightful,” while others believed it was “eye-opening”, “interesting”, “challenging”, and “enlightening.”

Attendees also engaged in impactful conversations during breakout sessions throughout the day including vital topics like:

• 5 Ways to Overcome DEI Fatigue
• Advocating for DEI in Your C-Suite (Panel)
• Creating Inclusive Spaces for the LGBTQ+ Experience
• Driving DEI with Data
• Hiring and Retaining Diverse Talent (Panel)
• Introduction to Culture and Cultural Competence
• Equitable Mentorship and Sponsorship
• Justice-Based Trust Building
• Racism and Its Effect on Mental Health
• Supporting People Impacted by the Criminal Justice System: Redefining Second Chance Hiring

​A key learning moment followed with a focus on local developments in economic mobility, health, education, and criminal justice from the A Better Wake: Dismantling Systemic Racism project. Those in attendance were also inspired by the Accessibility in the Workplace Panel, with memorable takeaways including, “Assume good intentions and save space for grace,” from moderator Calandra Jarell of Bank of America, and “I may not be able to see, but I can sure read a room,” from panelist Kamille Richardson of iSee Technologies.

​Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2022 Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity Conference for “A Better You, A Better Us!” View the full agenda and list of speakers here. We are also extremely grateful for the dedication and support of our sponsors who made this event possible.

The Raleigh Chamber and the Triangle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Alliance are honored to announce that nominations are now open for the 2nd Annual Phil Freelon Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Award. This honor was established in 2021 to celebrate the diversity, equity, and inclusivity of our region by honoring an individual in the business community who has demonstrated a commitment to championing change and positive impact in their workplace and in their community.

You can now submit your nomination for individuals on our website, and the deadline for submission is July 6 at 5 p.m.

The Phil Freelon Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Award was created to honor the legacy of Phil Freelon, a renowned architect and designer, whose leadership and efforts in the community have advanced architecture and construction as a vehicle for social justice, diversity, and inclusion.

After founding his practice, The Freelon Group, in 1990 in Durham, Freelon went on to design several civic and cultural projects throughout the United States. Freelon was a pioneer and a fierce advocate of diversity, equity, and inclusivity as seen in many of his major projects, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC; the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, Georgia; the Harvey B. Gantt Center in Charlotte, North Carolina; and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson, Mississippi.

Freelon’s legacy, however, transcends the brick and mortar of the buildings he designed, and his impact will only strengthen over time as the positive impact DEI has on business and the greater community continues to grow.

​Honor your colleagues, employees, and/or other individuals in the community whose commitment to DEI is changing the landscape of our business community by submitting your nomination on our website today, and don’t forget to register for the 2022 Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity Conference in partnership with Bank of America on July 26.

The Raleigh Chamber is thrilled to announce the 22 local professionals with exceptional leadership potential that were accepted into the May-July 2022 Emerging Leaders cohort. Throughout the program, participants will gain the skills and knowledge to propel their careers and receive personal leadership insight from local and statewide C-Level professionals.
 
Emerging Leaders connects promising professionals with the area’s most successful executives for a unique and interactive mentoring program. In addition to the guest speaker’s personal leadership journey, below is a list of topics that will be covered in the program:

• Advocating for yourself
• The importance of networking
• Conflict resolution
• The importance of Emotional Intelligence at the C-Suite level
• The importance of company culture/employee relationships
• Servant leadership

 
Guest speakers:

• Matt Chambers, Senior Director of Corporate Project Development, Clancy & Theys Construction Company
• Candice Webb, Senior Learning & Development Specialist, SAS Institute, Inc.
• Cheryl Scanlan, CEO, C3Advantage
• Gary Greene, President and CEO, Greene Resources

 
Session 1
Tuesday, May 17
 
Session 2
Tuesday, May 31
 
Session 3
Tuesday, June 14
 
Session 4
Tuesday, June 28 
 
Session 5
Tuesday, July 5
 
Happy Hour Closing Session
Tuesday, July 19