​The Raleigh Chamber is a bustling hub of activity, with events and resources designed to support and promote the Triangle business community. But have you ever wondered who makes all of this happen? In this blog series, we are excited to introduce you to more hardworking staff members behind the scenes at the Raleigh Chamber. 

​One of the ways the Chamber has helped Eric improve his leadership is through Leadership Raleigh. As a member of Leadership Raleigh Class 24 in 2008, Eric learned specific leadership skills while collaborating with his team that have been essential in his current staff position.
“The impact our group made with our team project, and the friends I made along the way were some of the reasons I loved the program,” says Eric. “If your organization has not experienced Leadership Raleigh, you don’t know what you are missing. You need to experience it for yourself.” 

As the Vice President of Information Technology, Eric oversees all the technological needs of the Raleigh Chamber. This includes researching or installing new solutions, implementing security upgrades, helping staff members with their technological needs, managing servers, and maintaining building security. Eric performs an extensive list of important daily tasks, but he also works on many large-scale projects including the Chamber’s MC Trade system, an all-in-one membership management software used by chambers, associations, and organization-based memberships around the globe.
When discussing the future of MC Trade at the Raleigh Chamber, Eric is excited for the future. “In March 2024 we’ll see our entire MC Trade system go from a desktop/web hybrid interface to web only. This will bring lots of challenges this year but will allow us to have better web/registration and member experiences for our members and attendees.” In the future, Eric is looking forward to continuing to improve technology at the Raleigh Chamber and working at a place where he “wakes up every day excited to go to work and be part of a team that shares this same tremendous passion to improve our region.” Want to help Eric and his team? Update your Chamber profile today!

The Raleigh Chamber got several shoutouts at this year’s State of the County address for the work we’ve done to make our community stronger. Wake County Commission Chair Shinica Thomas highlighted the economic development work our team has done to bring companies and jobs to the region and praised the Triangle DEI Alliance for their work on the A Better Wake Initiative. Likewise, Wake County Public School Board Chair Lindsay Mahaffey highlighted our annual Inter-City Visit and Leadership Conference as a great opportunity to build regional partnerships and demonstrate how well our communities collaborate compared to many others across the country. ​

We look forward to continuing our work to give our elected officials even more victories to celebrate at next year’s address!

To learn more about our GA priorities you can visit our webpage.

The Raleigh City Council continues its discussion on how to improve safety and restore vibrancy to our downtown in their Safe, Healthy & Vibrant Neighborhoods Committee.
​
Discussion began with a briefing from Wake County Manager David Ellis on what health & human services the county provides, and how they coordinate community providers who handle social services not directly administered by government programs. Two bright spots were the expansion of Medicaid services bringing in more resources for the county to implement (something the Raleigh Chamber championed), and that most municipalities in Wake County are now implementing their own housing plans to boost supply and increase affordability, something critical to keeping people housed.

Next came a briefing on the city’s fare-free transit program, which began during COVID and continues today. Of note, GoRaleigh only accrues roughly $3.5 million in revenue from transit fares, with about another $1.5 million coming in through special access programs and contracts with private organizations who pay for bus service to their locations. Pre-COVID, the city ran a number of programs to reduce or eliminate fares for targeted groups like senior citizens, children under 12, and teens who signed up for a youth pass program. No discussion was held about re-introducing fares at this meeting, but many questions were asked about whether these reduced/free programs could be reinstated, and that question is something you should expect the council as a whole to grapple with soon. The Chamber supports re-introducing transit fares to reduce ridership that is disruptive to normal operations, along with bolstering city programs to support those who need assistance paying transit fares.

Lastly, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance gave an update on their efforts to improve downtown and what they’ve been seeing in their day-to-day work. Key highlights were the implementation of their own private security to bolster their ambassador’s coverage of downtown, and that they have seen a decrease in youth congregating in groups downtown and causing disruptions. They attribute this decline directly to the increased RPD presence and more visibility across downtown.

There was discussion on moving discussion out of committee and to the council as a whole, but there was confusion as to what recommendations, if any, would be sent to the council. In the end, the topic was again held in committee where staff will bring some concrete ideas for them to act on at the next meeting in November. That means action on downtown safety is delayed about another month with the exception of private security activating downtown.

Regardless of the council’s continued delay, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance began utilizing unarmed guards to supplement its ambassador program by providing more oversight of public spaces, and additional resources for downtown police to respond to issues more quickly. The Raleigh Chamber supports the use of private security to improve police’s ability to prevent or respond to issues more quickly.

The Chamber continues to urge council members to act swiftly and decisively to restore vibrancy to downtown and provide a safe environment for businesses, residents, and visitors alike.

To learn more about our GA priorities you can visit our webpage.

This year’s Raleigh Chamber Golf Tournament, presented by Avance Care, was a resounding success, with over 340 professionals, leaders, and community partners coming together to connect and support the Chamber as they enjoyed a day on the golf course. The event provided a fantastic opportunity for networking and building relationships, while also raising funds to support the Chamber's initiatives.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended and made this event possible. Your presence and support contributed to the overall success of the tournament. The day was filled with excitement, friendly competition, and camaraderie. Golfers had the chance to showcase their skills on the course and we are very excited to announce the winners here.

Congratulations to all our winners and thank you again to everyone who sponsored and made this year’s Raleigh Chamber Golf Tournament such a memorable event. Your continued support ensures that we can continue to serve our members and community effectively.

​If you would like to secure your sponsorship for next year’s tournament or have general sponsorship questions, please email sales@raleighchamber.org. We’ll see you on the green again in 2024!

The City of Raleigh invites you to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our city by participating in Listening Sessions for the FY25 Budget, where staff aim to provide an overview of how the budget process works and foster discussion around business community priorities. One feature of these sessions is an activity where attendees will participate in a voting process to directly influence the allocation of resources by choosing projects they believe should be funded in the FY25 budget.
 
To get involved, please sign up for a Listening Session using this registration link.
​
In-Person Listening Sessions:

• Thursday, October 19, 6 - 7:30 p.m., District E Glen Eden Park Community Center
• Tuesday, October 24, 6 - 7:30 p.m., "Budget & Brews!" at Trophy Brewing on Morgan Street

 
Virtual Listening Sessions:

• Saturday, October 21, 10 - 11:30 a.m.
• Saturday, October 21, 1 - 2:30 p.m.
• Monday, October 23, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 25, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, October 26, 12 - 1:30 p.m.
• Thursday, October 26, 6 - 7:30 p.m.

​Time for a humble brag: thanks to the work of the Raleigh Chamber and area businesses helping pass the City of Raleigh Parks Bond in 2022, the City is getting to determine how best to physically shape Dorothea Dix Park to serve our residents and maximize its impact on our quality of life. This week, the Council heard from City staff and Dix Park Conservancy members on some proposed improvements, including removing 50+ buildings to make way for more green space and future infrastructure to improve the park’s programming and amenities.

They also discussed creating a Municipal Service District, (called an MSD,) around the park that would levy an additional tax on nearby businesses and (non-single-family) properties to create services that otherwise don’t exist. If that sounds familiar, it’s exactly how the Downtown Raleigh Alliance is run, and the idea is the same: local businesses and property owners fund services that enhance the area and benefit the city as a whole by boosting the area’s attractiveness.
​
The Council already has many questions on how all of this will be implemented, but the conversation can happen at all thanks to the people of Raleigh overwhelmingly approving the parks bond last year. It’s just another example of how the Chamber is working to make sure our quality of life remains one of the best in the nation.

As we’ve touched on before, downtown safety, (and the perception of it,) are a major concern for the Chamber as we continue to position Raleigh as a vibrant and safe place for people to live, work and play. On Tuesday, October 17, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance held a community meeting with the Raleigh Police Department (RPD) where some important news was shared.
​

1. Drop-in “day shelters” will be coming online in early November, where persons experiencing homelessness will be able to find shelter during daylight hours. Currently, Raleigh only has shelters at night, so those who aren’t actively working with social services often have nowhere to go except public spaces. This will give those individuals somewhere to go and provide another potential point of contact for government and nonprofit organizations to interact with them.
2. The Downtown Raleigh Alliance will be contracting with a private security firm to provide additional personnel who will work with RPD to provide additional oversight of public spaces and resources for RPD officers. Unarmed private security will run from October 31, 2023 through June 30, 2024, operating from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
   

To learn more about our GA priorities you can visit our webpage.

​We're thrilled to announce our Raleigh Strong Photo Contest in celebration of Support Your Local Chamber Day on Wednesday, Oct. 18! This exciting contest gives you the opportunity to win two tickets and a parking pass to see the Carolina Hurricanes in action on Nov. 7 simply by sharing your favorite Raleigh Chamber moment on social media, tagging us, and using the hashtag #RCStrong.
We want to see your memorable moments from Chamber events, networking meetings, or any other Chamber-related experiences. Show us how the Chamber has impacted your business and why you believe in the power of supporting local chambers of commerce.
To enter the contest, simply post your photo before Thursday, October 19 on your preferred social media platform with the hashtag #RCStrong. Make sure to tag us as well so we don't miss your entry! We can't wait to see all the wonderful moments you've captured. Remember, this is your chance to show your support for the Raleigh Chamber and demonstrate the strength of our local business community. 

The competition is open to residents of North Carolina aged 18 years or over except employees of the Raleigh Chamber and their close relatives. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition. By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.

​Entries will be accepted from Friday, October 13 through Thursday, October 19. After this date, there will be no further entries to the competition permitted. Multiple unique entries will be accepted per person. Multiple identical entries from the same person will be disqualified.

​The prize includes 2 Tickets to the Carolina Hurricanes vs. Buffalo Sabres at PNC Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 7. The tickets will also come with 1 Parking Pass. The prize is as stated and no cash or other alternatives will be offered. The prizes will be transferred by email.

The winner will be chosen and announced on Friday, October 20. The winner will be chosen at random by software. The winner will be notified by DM on Twitter/Facebook and/or Instagram within 2 days of the closing date. The winner will only ever be contacted by agents of the Raleigh Chamber. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize within 7 days of notification, we reserve the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner.
The winner agrees to the use of his/her name and image in any publicity material, as well as their entry. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Raleigh Chamber is a bustling hub of activity, with events and resources designed to support and promote the Triangle business community. But have you ever wondered who makes all of this happen? In this new blog series, we are excited to introduce you to the hardworking staff members behind the scenes at the Raleigh Chamber. Check back every few weeks for another team member!

​As a part of her role, Shanita is the go-to person for small business owners. Her daily tasks include helping businesses maximize their membership and directing members to different resources including one of her favorites, the Small Business Resource Guide. In her meetings with small business owners, Shanita often suggests new ways to utilize the Chambers's resources to aid in their organization's growth. Shanita’s position also allows her to learn about many different small businesses and develop lasting bonds with the owners and managers.
In her role, Shanita is always looking for new ways to help the small business community and is excited to see how the Chamber’s new streamlined structure will enable that even more. She describes the Chamber as “a connector and advocator for the business community” and is excited to help the Chamber increase small business programming and continue doing what she loves.  Want to meet Shanita? Register for Networking 101 with Gina Stephens, our November New Member Orientation, or the next Chamber Professional Women’s Luncheon: Prioritizing Wellness & Resilience in the Workplace and she’ll see you there!

The Raleigh City Council divides itself into several internal committees made up of four members to tackle topics as a more focused group prior to the whole council taking action. One is called the Safe, Vibrant & Healthy Community Committee, comprised of Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin, Stormie Forte, Christina Jones, and Megan Patton. ​

​This committee met in late September to hear updates from city staff, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA,) and the Raleigh Police Department (RPD) on the safety situation downtown, and to hear recommendations on ways the city can respond. Lots of information was shared, but here are some highlights:
 

• More security is on the way via the installation of more security cameras, a better process to share security footage across areas of downtown, and more manpower resources via more DRA ambassadors and RPD officers.
• RPD has boosted its presence downtown (including Glenwood South) with dedicated units focused on hotspot areas and how to handle their unique challenges, but they need more uniformed officers. There are roughly 90 vacant officer positions in RPD, and  it takes 7 months for an office to graduate from Raleigh police academy, so this will not be resolved in the short term.
• Many of the recent disturbances have been caused by juveniles gathering in groups and creating problems, often out of sight in isolated locations that are hard to respond to.
• RPD is targeting gun seizures along Glenwood South and recommends all businesses install metal detectors at entrances to better screen for firearms and other weapons. They have also temporarily closed Glenwood South to through-traffic during peak weekend hours, but they do not intend to make that a permanent traffic shift.
• RPD and DRA both recommended boosting social service resources so those who have interactions with DRA or city staff have options available to them other than being processed and released back to the downtown core.
• RPD Chief Patterson said she was open to private security and company police (who have the authority to carry firearms and arrest individuals so long as it is on the property they are contracted to patrol,) and called them a force multiplier. Private security has been in the news recently as an idea floated to help with downtown’s security concerns, but remains polarizing on city council.

 
The committee decided to hold the topic of downtown safety until their next meeting, expected next month, and made no recommendations to the council as a whole for action. While the Chamber is calling for swift action on the situation downtown, holding off on recommendations at this time prevents any half-measures from being proposed that may leave the situation unresolved. The Chamber continues to engage with elected officials and city staff to improve our downtown core and city as a whole.

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and many legislators from their state capitol visited Raleigh and came to the Raleigh Chamber to discuss our technology sector and what North Carolina was doing to promote business growth here. We were joined by Representative Jason Saine, a key House of Representatives leader in charge of the state budget and a key figure shaping legislation around tech.
 
Rep. Saine touted several initiatives he thought were critical for our state, including the General Assembly prioritizing the rollout of 5G and broadband internet service across the state as a way to enable more rural residents to participate in jobs that require high speed internet access, and for employers to feel confident that their employees would remain connected as they travel around the state. He also highlighted North Carolina’s efforts to attract e-sports tournaments as a new way to not just fuel the entertainment sector but also generate interest in computer engineering and technology trades through a tax incentive fund. Lastly, he touted the state’s work to streamline and speed up software procurement procedures so that services could be more swiftly implemented.
 
We’re proud to host other Chambers and legislators and share how we work to keep our state the best in the nation to do business! ​

To learn more about our GA priorities you can visit our webpage.

We are excited to announce some significant changes that have been approved by our Board of Directors. Effective October 1, we will be implementing new organizational changes that will streamline the structure of the Chamber.
We are thrilled to announce that Jackie Huitt has been promoted to Senior Vice President of our newly named Revenue Development Department. In this role, she will lead the Chamber's sales team and manage a portfolio of major investor accounts. Evelyn Lucas, Shani Seidel, and Kim Westbrook-MacDonald have also been promoted to Senior Relationship Managers under Jackie’s guidance. We will also be hiring two additional Relationship Managers – stay tuned as we will announce these new hires in the coming weeks and months.
Teja Wright will also be taking on new responsibilities in the Revenue Development Department. She will manage key Chamber events including the annual Golf Tournament and support the delivery of Board of Advisors benefits. She will also continue to lead our Young Professionals Network.
As a part of the new structure, Event Managers Walker Hinerman and Sarah Sterling will now join the Marketing and Communications Department. Taylor Cogsdale has been promoted to Senior Project Manager and will be responsible for aligning event management with existing communications project management.
We will also be hiring a Vice President to lead our Member Services and Small Business Department, which will replace the Membership Engagement Department. This department will include signature events, professional development programming, and small business programming. We plan to expand our small business programming over the course of the year with Shanita Robinson also having her title changed to Member Services and Small Business Director.

​The Raleigh Chamber is thrilled to announce the 2023/24 Executive Committee and Board of Diretors, which will lead the organization in the upcoming year with its dedication and support. This diverse group of business leaders includes some of the most successful and respected leaders in the region, bringing a wide range of experiences and expertise to the Chamber, which will help us continue our mission of further developing a thriving economy and enhancing our community's quality of life.

As we look toward the future, we are confident that this team will help us build on the progress we have made over the past year. With their guidance and leadership, we will continue to support the needs of existing industries, promote talent and workforce development, and advocate for the issues that are important to sustaining a vibrant business community in the Triangle.

​The Raleigh Chamber and Wake County Economic Development team will continue to invest in our 12 municipalities with a focus on talent, job creation, workforce development, supporting existing industries, and equitable economic development. We will also continue to partner with NC State University and leading companies to expand the work of the Business Sustainability Roundtable, develop transportation and transit systems with the Regional Transportation Alliance, and attract new resources of charitable funding with the Raleigh Chamber Foundation.

The Chamber will also continue to advocate for the issues that sustain a vibrant business community and work to make the Triangle region the most diverse, equitable, and inclusive business environment in the country with the Triangle DEI Alliance. With our Executive Committee’s support, we will grow future leaders through leadership development training and continue our dedication to businesses large and small through fresh programming, opportunities for connection, and hands-on assistance!

Your Chamber works best when you work with the Chamber! Get involved. Spread the word.
Join Us Today and Subscribe to Keep Up with the Raleigh Chamber!