Greater Raleigh Chamber Blog

​We are thrilled to announce the success of our President's Circle volunteers in raising over $901,000 in just five months. This achievement is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and commitment to supporting Chamber events and programs. Their efforts exceeded their original, a truly remarkable feat by the 50 volunteers representing more than 40 companies who participated.

​The funds raised through this total resource development campaign will be instrumental in helping us to continue delivering high-quality events and programs in the coming year. This includes everything from networking opportunities and educational workshops to advocacy initiatives and small business outreach.
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We are deeply grateful to our President's Circle volunteers for their unwavering support and for going above and beyond in their efforts to raise funds. Their contributions will make a meaningful difference in the lives of countless individuals and businesses in our community. Our top fundraising team for 2023 is Greene Resources & Friends who raised over $250,000.
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We would also like to recognize and celebrate the hard work and efforts of our 2023 President's Circle Chair, Pat Wilkins of Gallagher. Every volunteer benefitted from her industrious, determined, and persevering efforts and expertise. Thank you, Pat, for all you do for the Raleigh Chamber!

The campaign represents a significant portion of the Chamber’s annual operating budget, making it one of the Chamber’s most important initiatives each year. We look forward to continuing our work together and building on this success in the future. Together, we can make a lasting impact and help our community thrive. Learn more and get involved here.

The Raleigh Chamber welcomes our Summer 2023 Emerging Leaders Class Cohort. Our selected Emerging Leaders are high performers, exhibit the willingness to learn and grow, demonstrate people-building skills, are centered by their core values, and work to unite others and help them to see possibilities that benefit their organizations, communities, and region.

Emerging Leaders, with Consultant Jennifer Grote at the introductory class discovering their Strengths Finders Assessments top traits and how they use these to thrive in the workplace.
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In order of picture: Jennifer Fox, City of Raleigh; Casandra McLaurin, Wake Technical Community College; Gabe Cunningham,  APG Advisors; John Hillenbrand, Messer Construction; Rochelle Whitaker, Wake County Government; Andrew Holland, Clancy & Theys Construction; Joseph Henderson, NC Biotechnology Center; Tobias Morgan, Shaw University; Jennifer Grote, Consultant; Kellie Renzi, McDonald & York; Alex Rouse, Stewart; Sandra Kamholz, Wake Technical Community College; Tierra Bethel, RTI International; Carlie Wallin, Barringer Construction; Abbey Defoe, Special Olympics; Monique Merriweather-Yarborough, Wake County Government; Angela Williams, Wake County Government; Brianna Reeder, Wolfspeed.

Emerging Leaders connects promising professionals with the area’s most successful executives for a unique and interactive mentoring program. Guest speakers for the second cohort include:

• Virginia Parker, Senior Vice President and Triangle Market Executive at Bank of America
• Marchell Adams-David, Raleigh City Manager
• Scott Duckworth, Regional President for Brasfield & Gorrie
• Brian Reid, President at TowneBank Triangle
• Abha Bowers, CEO of Walk West along with Matt Chambers, Vice President of Project Development at Clancy & Theys Construction Company
• Danny Rosin, President and Co-Owner of Brandfuel and Co-Founder of Band Together

​The Raleigh Chamber is honored to provide leadership programs and resources in the Triangle region to sustain and further develop a thriving economy and enhance our community's quality of life.
While applications are no longer being accepted for Emerging Leaders there are several opportunities to get involved and connect with leadership through the Raleigh Chamber. Young professionals can find new opportunities through our Young Professionals Network and seasoned executives who are members of the Chamber can register to attend our two-day Annual Leadership Conference, presented by Towne Bank, in Wilmington this August! You can also keep an eye out for the next Emerging Leaders application cycle later this summer.

The Phil Freelon Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Award is a prestigious honor that recognizes an individual in the business community who has made significant contributions to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusivity in our region. Honorees are champions of change and positive impact in their workplace and in their community.

Nominations for the 3rd Annual Phil Freelon Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity Award are now open, and we encourage members of the community to submit nominations for individuals who have made a difference in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusivity in their workplace or community. Nominees should demonstrate a commitment to creating a more equitable and inclusive society and have a track record of promoting diversity in their work and/or community activities.
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The award was established in 2021 to celebrate the legacy of Phil Freelon, a renowned architect who was passionate about creating spaces that reflected the diversity of their communities. Phil founded his practice, The Freelon Group, in Durham, North Carolina, in 1990 and went on to design civic and cultural projects throughout the United States. His work includes libraries, schools, museums, parks, and academic buildings, many of which were for historically African American colleges. His leadership and efforts in the community have advanced architecture and construction as a vehicle for social justice, diversity, and inclusion.

The recipient of the 3rd Annual Phil Freelon Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Award will be recognized at a special ceremony during the 2023 Diversity, Equity, & Inclusivity Conference in partnership with Bank of America. By recognizing and celebrating the contributions of individuals who are working to create a more just and equitable society, we hope to inspire others to join the effort and make our region a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive place for all.

You can now submit your nomination for individuals on our website. Nominations are due by July 6 at 5 p.m.

You can also register for the 2023 Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity Conference in partnership with Bank of America on our website. This year’s theme is Equity: Prioritizing People, Practice, and Policy.