 Justyce Hayes is a recent addition to the Membership Engagement team. Justyce interacts on a daily basis with our members helping to streamline the event registration process. Additionally, Justyce coordinates with sponsors to fulfill their benefits for every event.
She is a proud graduate of Franklin Academy in Wake Forest and of Wake Technical Community College, earning a degree in Communication and Media Studies. Family means everything to Justyce Hayes. Her family moved here when she was young because they wanted her to get a top-notch education in Wake County. We are thrilled to have Justyce bring that same spirit to her work family here at the Chamber. While Justyce loves Raleigh, she also loves traveling. She’s been to seven countries, three islands, and plans to see the world!
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 Our popular C-Suite Perspectives series returned to The Umstead Hotel and Spa with a powerful message of personal and professional development. AT&T North Carolina President Venessa Harrison shared her journey from her upbringing in Southeast Raleigh and her first job with the company as a long-distance phone operator to her climb up the corporate ladder to become the company president. “I was on a mission to succeed,” Harrison told the audience about her first job with the company. “I knew I wasn’t going to stay there long. I knew deep down inside I was going somewhere.” Harrison talked about people who helped her along the way, including her mother who she said impressed upon her the importance of education and to have a strong work ethic. “Keep moving toward your goals,” Harrison said. “You have to take risks. I encourage you to empower yourself to soar.” Harrison told the audience there is no glass ceiling. “The sky is the limit for all of us,” she said. Promoting education and literacy are elements that Harrison said are vital for the community. She talked about her work to help ensure literacy in schools. “So many programs are out there. Let’s come together and push in a united front toward literacy,” Harrison told the audience. She also wanted to make sure those in the audience know the importance of how they communicate at work. Harrison told them how important words can be. “You must speak things into existence,” she said. “Don’t be negative.” Harrison said teamwork is critical to success. “Don’t ever talk bad about each other,” she said. “Don’t throw each other under the bus.” We all enjoyed the lively discussion with Harrison and thank her for taking part in our C-Suite Perspectives series. We also would like to thank our series title sponsor, First Citizens Bank, and our presenting sponsors, Delta Dental of North Carolina and the Marsh & McLennan Agency. You can see our conversation on Twitter here. Our next C-Suite Perspectives will be on June 15. At this event, you’ll hear from Dr. Patrick Conway, the president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Find out more and register for the next C-Suite Perspectives here. Penn Shore moved to Raleigh in 1989 and knew this was home. After all, he never met a golf course or a running trail he could pass up.
Penn is new here at the Chamber. He is a relationship manager, interacting directly with our member businesses and engaging them in the 120 Chamber events a year. He brings with him nearly 30 years of sales management experience in the Triangle in the IT/Telecommunications field. Penn and his wife, Beth, have two grown sons, Toler and Campbell. He also is an official for basketball and baseball for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. By Davis Blount Marketing Assistant Wake County Economic Development A lot of people say that Raleigh and Austin are comparable cities. They have a number of clear similarities including a talented workforce, great quality of life, strong employment growth rate, and the cost of doing business. What is harder to quantify, though, is how the cultures of both cities are similar, as well. While the trip to SXSW was a mission to share the Raleigh story, the team also took some time to explore how this city has embraced its popularity and adjusted to growth. 
Austin’s culture has its own brand of southern hospitality. Locals are laid back and friendly. The food is delicious and the portion sizes are generous. There also are endless options for a quick coffee or afternoon dessert. It is evident that the city had made ample preparations to receive the tens of thousands of visitors to attend SXSW. Thanks in large part to the welcoming atmosphere and smart city planning, we were able to see some of the best parts of Austin in our short time there. Much like the adjustments Raleigh makes when festivals or conferences are in town, the city was welcoming and accepting.  The SXSW Interactive Festival allowed our delegation to tell the story of Raleigh in a unique way. We showcased products from makers across the city. Visitors not only got to hear why Raleigh is special, but also got to taste, drink, and take home some of the things that make our city great. Nearby at other booths, we made friends with representatives from cities across the nation and the globe. We talked about Raleigh with professionals from Austin, Washington D.C., and places like Mexico, Ireland, and London. This allowed for a moment of self-reflection on how peer cities view Raleigh’s steady growth and prominence. Our trip to SXSW was a tremendous opportunity. We represented Raleigh at the booth, participated in networking events all across town, and even found time for panels that spoke toward points of interest for our community. This was an incredibly inspiring trip to Austin and was time well spent. Many thanks to our regional partners, the City of Raleigh, the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Raleigh Convention Center. Without them, this trip would not have happened. An additional thanks to our makers and special guests, including House of Swank, Videri Chocolate, Trophy Brewing, Hail Mary, Larry’s Coffee, Mayor Nancy McFarlane, Cindy Whitehead, and The Veldt. These makers and representatives brought the incredible culture of Raleigh to Austin and we were proud to share our story with thousands of attendees. Take a look back at the group's journey to Austin. About 300 people may be approaching their next negotiation a little bit differently. That’s how many people attended our April Chamber Professional Women’s Luncheon and each of them heard key tips that we all should know when negotiating at work.
They heard from three panelists, each skilled in the art of negotiating. Shannon Ralich from Eaton opened the remarks. She was joined by Amanda Owens from Credit Suisse and Dawn Ohaver-Moyer from Potential Essential. “There is always an opportunity to negotiate things and the first thing that stops people is fear,” Ralich told the audience, encouraging them to leave fear at the door when negotiating. She compared negotiations at work to a chess match, urging everyone to take things slowly and carefully consider what they say. “Negotiation is trying to understand your counterpart,” said Ralich. “If you are talking more than listening, then you are failing at negotiation.” Owens also encouraged those at the CPW Luncheon to take that point to heart. “It’s easy for us to pretend to listen when, in actuality, you’re just pondering the next thing you’re going to say,” said Owens. Ohaver-Moyer encouraged the audience members to practice negotiating throughout the year. “Flex your negotiating muscle,” she said. “Prepare, prepare, prepare. It impacts your confidence.” The panel then took questions from the audience, including one about the importance of being able to read people during a negotiation. The Chamber was thrilled to see so many people take advantage of this CPW Luncheon. As always, we thank the panelists and Embassy Suites Raleigh-Durham/Research Triangle for hosting. The event was presented by Greene Resources. Our next CPW Luncheon will be on July 13. Check back for more details on that event! Wake County Economic Development, the City of Raleigh, the Raleigh Convention Center, and the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau all joined forces to tell the region’s story at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, March 11 – 14. The Interactive Trade Show is an annual four-day event that attracts national and international entrepreneurs, along with business leaders in media, technology, mobile technology, and software development. Our presence promoted the strengths of Raleigh’s entrepreneurial community, as well as what makes Raleigh an attractive location for business, entrepreneurs, and talent. To showcase the region’s exceptional quality of life, the group brought products and representatives from local “makers,” including:
Local civic and business leaders also joined a host of SXSW panels. These ambassadors who represented Raleigh included:
Check out the group’s journey through Austin, search for #Raleigh2SXSW on Twitter. |
AuthorGreater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Archives
January 2026
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