Greater Raleigh Chamber Blog

Download Downtown Raleigh App
Heading for downtown Raleigh---- or planning a trip? Looking for dining or shopping ideas? Worried about parking? A new app can help you find the information you need.

Panelists Announced for Women's Leadership Conference
Five successful women will share their experiences and challenges at the Women's Leadership Conference on March 11.

The Media---- It's All About Relationships
Leadership Raleigh 32 member Melissa Everitt gives an inside look at her class's recent media day. Find out what they learned and how it can help your business when it comes to the media.

Volunteers Needed for Rex Hospital Open
Have you ever wanted to take part in a professional golf tournament? The Rex Hospital Open is seeking volunteers to assist in the area's premier professional charity golf tournament.

Find Great Talent on #TriangleTuesdays
Are you looking for that perfect employee? Submit your open jobs here and we'll share them as part of Work in the Triangle's popular #TriangleTuesdays initiative on Twitter!

Cary to Play Host to Lacrosse Championships
The NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Committee has announced that WakeMed Stadium in Cary will host the 2017 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Final Four.

10 Things Top Performers Do Every Day
Top performers focus on the most critical goals every day. They bob and weave as circumstance require. They stay awake and alert, and most of all they listen to their own gut.

If you liked this recap, make sure you subscribe to the Chamber's e-newsletter to receive this information directly in your inbox each week.

By Melissa Everitt, LR 32
Regional Employee Relations & Development Manager
Resolvit, LLC



Mass media—it’s everywhere. Television, billboards, radio, Internet, live events, newspapers, mobile devices, the sides of buses and buildings, and the list goes on. No matter what your professional career, media directly impacts you and your organization on a daily basis. On Thursday, Feb. 18, my Leadership Raleigh 32 classmates and I heard from an array of professionals in the media industry to give us insight on how media affects our day-to-day working lives and how to respond to it.
 
Throughout the day the class heard from a variety of professionals from corporate, education, public, and private sectors. The main theme of their presentations was how relationships with the media have changed over time. A panelist talked about how companies can drive their own media attention by telling their stories through various channels, encouraging reporters and media outlets to pick up on bits of information through social media, press releases, and announcements made by the companies. Other main points made by some other professionals about media and relationships included:

• If you respect them (reporters) and their jobs, the relationship with them can be mutually beneficial
• Define your story and give that story to the media—do not allow others to define your story
• Know who you are dealing with—get to know reporters in your area, develop relationships with them, and let them know who you are and what your organization is about

Our guests also talked about the importance of being transparent, honest, and open with communicating to and through the media. Having a strategy and plan that supports your organization’s brand and mission is critical to you organization’s success. Knowing and recognizing the importance of online forums and social media provides the opportunity to listen and learn from online engagement. Allowing your organization’s supporters, followers, and counterparts to develop relationships with you through various means of communication will assist then in understanding your strategy and mission.
 
It became clear to me and my LR32 classmates by the end of the day that working with the media is more than deflecting unwanted questions from a reporter about the most recent debacle that happened at work last week.  It is more than posting a few tweets on Twitter to keep our organization’s followers in the know.  It is more than sending out a quick press release about a recent accomplishment or organizational award. 
 
The consistent message throughout the day came down to this—driving organizational branding and awareness through the use of various media outlets includes thoughtful, strategic, and continuous planning. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to proactively develop positive and meaningful relationships with the media— reporters, announcers, writers, and journalists—as well as with all of your organization’s internal and external constituents. Just like all relationships in life, these partnerships should and can be mutually beneficial, positive, and supportive for all parties involved.

Learn more about Leadership Raleigh
Leadership Raleigh prepares the leaders of tomorrow. During the nine-month program, participants get an in-depth view of community issues, develop leadership skills necessary to assume leadership roles, and are exposed to community involvement opportunities.

Applications for the 2016/17 program year will be available in late February. Learn more at www.leadershipraleigh.org.

Raleigh is For Real
Pointing to its universities, arts scene, sports presence, and more, The Huffington Post says what we've known for a while--Raleigh is for real.

City Ranks High for Young Families
Raleigh is No. 3 on a new ranking of the "Best Cities for Young Families" by financial research site Value Penguin.

Voter ID: What You Need to Know
With the early voting period starting March 3, here's what you need to know about new voter ID requirements.

Chamber President's Game Plan
Not many kids want to be a chamber of commerce president when they grow up. But even at a young age, Tim Giuliani, 33, knew he wanted to be a leader in his community.

7 New Routes Launch from RDU this Year
Great things are coming to RDU in 2016. Seven new routes—including Paris—will launch this year.

HQ Raleigh Expands to Charlotte
HQ Raleigh has officially partnered with Charlotte entrepreneurship initiative Packard Place on what will be called HQ Charlotte. The new co-working community will be one of three HQ locations across the state.

5 Ways to Kickstart Your Morning
What you do first thing in the morning sets the tone for the rest of your day. Get things off to a good start every time.

If you liked this recap, make sure you subscribe to the Chamber's e-newsletter to receive this information directly in your inbox each week.

By Maria Hernandez, LR 31
Director of Corporate Relations
SPCA of Wake County



On Tuesday, Feb. 9, my Leadership Raleigh 31 classmates and I had the opportunity for an in-depth look at education in Raleigh.

Wake County is one of the fastest growing metro-areas in the country, and this growth comes with both benefits and challenges. One of those challenges is addressing the stress on the Wake County Public School System.

Throughout the day, we met with people who have a vested interest in our education system and want to ensure that it remains as strong as ever. In order for that to happen, we have to be aware of our shortfalls and struggles:

• Capacity to seat all the new students coming in
• Children from disadvantaged homes don’t have same or similar access to technology than their counterparts from more well-off homes
• Frustration from families whose children are reassigned to different schools
• Not enough teachers to fill all the classrooms
• Significant decline in enrollment of teaching programs at university
• Lack of personnel and resources to accomplish all that needs to be done

Our class visited two great elementary schools that are engaging their students in innovative and exciting learning opportunities, Fuller GT/AIG Basics Magnet Elementary and Brooks Museums Magnet Elementary. While they each have unique approaches to implementing their curriculum, both schools seek to prepare students for the real world, encouraging them to learn from each other and through experience.

The Digital Divide and Impact of Technology
We ended our travels at Vernon Malone College & Career Academy, where we participated in a panel discussion with three high school teachers and later, and presidents from three local colleges and universities.

The first panel was asked what a typical day teaching high school was like. After a good laugh, they all said there is no such thing as a typical day! The key is to understand that you’re not teaching them in a vacuum, but that you are dealing with everything that they’re dealing with.

When asked about some of the concerns raised earlier in the day, they agreed that these issues are important to address and solve. However, the concern they all have is the digital divide impacting so many of their students. Students who don’t have regular access to technology and its tools will continue to fall behind their peers who do.

Technology has had and will continue to have an impact on teaching. The irony of the teacher shortage is that we are living in a golden age of teaching. There is a world of knowledge at our fingertips, and so many ways to reach out to and engage students in learning. Technology is no longer the icing on the cake, it IS the cake.

The Future is Bright for Wake County
We later participated in a panel with Dr. Tashni Dubroy, president of Shaw University; Dr. Jo Allen, president of Meredith College; and Dr. Brian Ralph, president of William Peace University. They all expressed the sentiment that the purpose of higher education is to be a place of a discovery, and a place to fail without fear. There should be a support system that enables social, intellectual, spiritual, economic, and civic growth.

At all levels of education--primary, secondary, and higher education--there is a renewed focus on mastery over proficiency. Engaging in project-based learning allows students to move beyond textbooks and to learn from each other and through practical experience, and the teacher is both coach and facilitator.

Throughout the day, we heard mention of the “4 Cs”: Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Creativity. In learning the core subjects, students must also be taught these new and necessary tools as they advance in their academic careers and into their professional careers.

As a member of the general public, it’s easy to think from media reports and other voices that our public school system is in trouble and we should fear for our children's futures. But listening to and talking with all the people we met today, it’s clear that there a great many people, inside the classroom and beyond, that care a great deal about the future of education in Wake County and are doing all that they can to ensure that future is a bright one for our students of today and for the students of tomorrow.

How can you help?
There are many ways you can make a difference:

• Contact your local school--the school your children attend or the school near where you live or work – and ask what they need.
• Volunteer to read in a classroom
• Volunteer to be a field trip chaperone
• Hold a donation drive for office supplies
• Ask about a giving tree at holiday times

Local businesses and corporations can also get involved in meaningful ways:

• Reach out to a local school to talk about on-going partnerships
• Offer to host and produce professional development for educators
• Help fund significant projects, e.g. technology, field trips, etc.

Learn more about Leadership Raleigh
Leadership Raleigh prepares the leaders of tomorrow. During the nine-month program, participants get an in-depth view of community issues, develop leadership skills necessary to assume leadership roles, and are exposed to community involvement opportunities.

Applications for the 2016/17 program year will be available in late February. Learn more at www.leadershipraleigh.org.

4 Questions with Claire Shipman
Claire Shipman, ABC News contributor and New York Times bestselling author, is the keynote speaker at the March 11 Women's Leadership Conference. She answered four questions for us leading up to the event.

Voters' Guide is Live
Prepare yourself for the March 15 primary election with the Chamber's Voters' Guide. This online resource includes links to each candidate's campaign website and social media presence.

ConnectNC Invests in Our Future
Connect NC is a bond initiative that makes vital investments in North Carolina without raising taxes. It will create better job training opportunities for the 21st century and make our state safer and better prepared.

Help Chamber Define Goals
The Chamber is conducting an organizational assessment to define goals for 2016-19, and your feedback is critical to the success of this process. Current members please complete this short survey; previous members please complete this one. If you have already participated in the survey, thank you!

How Emerging Entrepreneurial Hubs Are Becoming America's New Boomtowns
Two studies released last week indicate that at least a handful of smaller cities in the U.S., including the Raleigh-Durham area, are emerging as places that investors and entrepreneurs are increasingly making bets.

Avoid Damage and Disruption at Work
From hiring practices and workers' comp to discrimination and harassment ---- join us to learn about elements of risk management that can stop problems before they occur.

Moving Toward World-class Teacher Preparation
What 21st century strategies will prepare top educators to teach and lead in our public schools? Find out on March 2 at an event hosted by Cooperating Raleigh Colleges in partnership with the Wake County Public Schools System.

Council Approves Raleigh Arts Plan
The Raleigh City Council formally adopted the Raleigh Arts Plan at its meeting last week. The plan identifies needs and suggests bold projects. Read an overview of the plan here and download the full plan here.

7 Timeless Communication Tips from Abraham Lincoln
In addition to his leadership legacy, Abraham Lincoln was an outstanding conversationalist---- and many of his communication principles are applicable today.

If you liked this recap, make sure you subscribe to the Chamber's e-newsletter to receive this information directly in your inbox each week.

What surprised you the most in your research findings regarding women’s confidence?
Both Katty and I were most surprised at the fact that women routinely underestimate themselves. We didn’t really think the numbers on that would be so solid. I think we were also surprised that there is a genetic component to confidence. Some people really are born with a propensity to be more confident. It’s annoying!
 
What does it mean to be professionally confident?
It means that you are not afraid of risk and failure. It means you are willing to be less than perfect, in order to grow.

Is there a difference between being aggressive and being confident?
Absolutely. Being aggressive is a behavioral style. Being confident is evaluating the situation, and deciding that you are willing to act because you believe you can affect change. Confidence can be quite quiet and calm.

What is the first step to building your confidence?
Self-awareness. It’s critical that you become aware of your internal dialogue. Are you ruminating? Are you striving for perfection? Are you telling yourself not to take a chance and step out of your comfort zone? In the course of writing this book, for example, I came to see what a die-hard perfectionist I am, and how much that inhibits confidence. Once I understood what I was doing, it became easier to change it. Not that I’ve fully morphed into a devil-may-care risk-taker, by any means. But when I find myself hesitating or stewing, I can stop that process and move on much more easily.

Shipman is the keynote speaker at the Chamber's Women's Leadership Conference on March 11. In addition to her presentation, the event includes a panel discussion and breakout sessions further exploring your executive presence.

Learn more and register here.

With new leadership at the Greater Raleigh Chamber, we are conducting an organizational assessment to define goals for 2016-2019 and meet the needs of our members in a rapidly growing market.

As a member, your feedback will guide the future of the Chamber. Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey by Feb. 16. Your answers are confidential.

To our former members, your feedback is critical to help us better serve businesses and our community. We'd appreciate it if you answered a few questions on how we can improve here.

All responses will remain confidential.

By John Johnston
Community Development Manager
Greater Raleigh Chamber

The beginning of February marks the start of yet another great event—the WAKE Up and Read Book Drive! Throughout the month of February, WAKE Up and Read will strive to collect 110,000 books for delivery to 10 elementary schools, 20 childcare centers, and 10 community centers throughout Wake County. New and gently-used books for children ages birth through 12 years old can be dropped off at one of the many book drive locations throughout the county—including right here at the Chamber!

Donations will provide Wake County children with 10 books to take home with them permanently to begin building their own book library. One of the most challenging issues facing under-served youth in Wake County is limited or no access to books at home and throughout the summer months when school is not in session—motivation from which this book drive was created. This is a great opportunity to support Wake County children in need, and the Chamber is proud to partner with WAKE Up and Read once again.

In 2015, the book drive raised 115,000 books, solicited more than 500 volunteers, and successfully delivered books to over 7,100 children throughout the county. Last June, the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading coalition honored WAKE Up and Read as a 2014 Community Solutions Pacesetter for efforts to improve childhood literacy in Wake County.

Visit the WAKE Up & Read website for more information.