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.
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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.

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!

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 Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and Innovate Raleigh announced a new partnership today.
The collaboration will aid the area’s growing entrepreneurial community through new initiatives and support services for local startups.
 
“The objective is to fill gaps in the innovation ecosystem and address the needs of entrepreneurs,” said Terri Lomax, co-founder and chair of the Innovate Raleigh Executive Committee. While conducting an organization assessment of Innovate Raleigh, she said, entrepreneurs indicated they needed assistance in three areas: funding, talent acquisition, and advocacy with state and local elected officials.
 
Innovate Raleigh was founded in 2011 when it held the first Raleigh Innovation Summit, resulting in:

• The founding of the HQ Raleigh co-working space
• A direct flight from RDU to San Francisco
• Meetups for entrepreneurs
• Organization of a group that started “The Raleigh MAIN Events,” which promotes music, design, arts, and innovation during the month of September 

For further information about the announcement, contact Vernessa Roberts. 

The Chamber is excited to announce that Michael Haley has been named as the new executive director for Wake County Economic Development and senior vice president of Chamber Economic Development. He previously served as the director of Business Recruitment and Expansion where his work led to the creation of 7,800 jobs and more than $409 million in investments.
 

​“Michael’s extensive experience managing large, complex economic development initiatives, deep knowledge of the region, and contagious enthusiasm make him the ideal fit for the position,” said Adrienne Cole, Greater Raleigh Chamber president and CEO.
 
Before joining the Chamber, Haley worked for the North Carolina Department of Commerce as a public policy analyst and director of Public Policy. His experience ranges from job creation and existing industry programs to workforce development and strategies to support our growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.
 
“My passion for this community, economic development, and this organization runs deep,” said Haley. “I’m excited to collaborate with our great partners in this new role to continue moving our area forward.”
 
Haley received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his master of public administration from East Carolina University.

At the Chamber’s 2016 Annual Meeting, Gregory Poole Jr. issued a challenge to attendees.

“Be people who represent leadership that is kind, ethical, disciplined, determined, competent, humble, and most importantly, full of integrity,” he told 700 business and community leaders who had gathered at the Raleigh Convention Center. Read the full text of his remarks here.

Poole was named the winner of the A.E. Finley Distinguished Service Award, presented annually to a person who has, through leadership, dedication, support, and involvement, made significant contributions to the betterment and improvement of our community.

Poole certainly fit the bill. As a business leader, he set the bar for business excellence in Raleigh and beyond through his leadership of the Gregory Poole Equipment Company and Waste Industries. His passion and commitment to community service significantly impacted the social well-being of Raleigh's residents. Most recently, he worked tirelessly to build community support, raise funds, engage national experts, negotiate with officials, and support the master planning of the future Dix Park.
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“His great energy, strength of character, and belief that everyone should contribute to ‘making a better world’ make him the obvious choice for this year’s award,” said Jill Wells Heath, 2015/16 Chamber Board Chair.

When he accepted the award on Sept. 7, 2016, Poole joined a distinguished group of honorees. Past winners make up a who’s-who of community leaders who have built businesses, guided organizations, and left their unforgettable marks on our region. The time has come to add another name to the list.

​The Chamber is now accepting nominations for the 2017 award, which will be presented at the Annual Meeting on Sept. 14. Criteria can be found here, and the nomination form can be downloaded here. The deadline to nominate an individual is Tuesday, June 20. 

By Adrienne Cole
President and CEO
​Greater Raleigh Chamber





Did you know there are more than 60,000 businesses in Wake County with 50 employees or less? According to the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, small businesses make up 98 percent of our state’s business landscape. In Wake County, 87 percent of the companies have 10 or fewer employees.

In celebration of Small Business Week, we invite you to stop by the Chamber office to watch webinars created by the Small Business Administration to support your business. You can also check out all the resources available online here.

​I sincerely appreciate your engagement with the Chamber. Small businesses make up more than 85 percent of our membership, and your entrepreneurship is a vital fabric in our community. National Small Business Week recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners that create two out of three jobs in the U.S.

Please join us at 800 S. Salisbury St. to gain great insight to support and grow your business. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, and hear experts explore the following: 

• May 3 at 2 p.m.: 5 Fabulous Habits of Local Business Champions Presented by YP
• May 3 at 4 p.m.: Grow Your Business Online Presented by Google
• May 4 at 2:30 p.m.: The Future of Small Business Innovation Presented by Salesforce
• May 4 at 3:30 p.m.: How to Write Your Email Content in 15 Minutes or Less Presented by Constant Contact

Thank you for all that you do for our community—you are an integral part of what makes Raleigh and Wake County innovative and special.

The Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce announced today that Adrienne Cole has been named as its new president and CEO. She has recently served as the Chamber’s senior vice president of Economic Development and executive director of Wake County Economic Development.
 
“Adrienne possesses the expertise to lead the Chamber to accomplish all of our goals,” said Greg Winkler, chair of the Chamber Board of Directors. Last year the Chamber developed a new strategic plan and established five top priorities which include creating jobs and economic investments, advancing transportation solutions, fostering diversity and inclusion in the business community, expanding the Chamber’s foundation, and growing value for its members.
 
“As the first female president of the Chamber, Adrienne will bring a fresh perspective to its 129-year history,” Winkler said. “Her unique talents and creativity will be a great asset to advance our region.”
 
Cole brings more than 20 years of business leadership experience to her new role. Under Cole’s guidance, Wake County Economic Development and the Greater Raleigh Chamber announced more than 30 corporate relocations and expansions totaling over $250 million in capital investments and creating more than 5,000 new jobs.
 
Cole’s additional career accomplishments include:

• Worked to secure and improve state and local economic development incentives
• As an RDU Board member, assisted in the recruitment of the Delta Paris flight
• Recruited Campbell Law School to Raleigh
• Facilitated Red Hat’s headquarters expansion to downtown Raleigh
• Served as economic development leader in Pamlico and Carteret counties and for the city of Raleigh

 
Jill Wells Heath, president and CEO of CALYX Engineers + Consultants and past chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, chaired the search committee that worked with Waverly Partners, LLC. “Our national search of chamber executives provided very competitive candidates,” Heath said. “Adrienne’s wide breadth of knowledge and experience was unmatched.”
 
“I’m so excited to serve the community my family and I have called home for many years,” Cole said. “I am very proud to lead the Greater Raleigh Chamber and to continue the tradition of collaboration that makes Raleigh, Wake County, and the Triangle region special.”
 
Cole is a graduate of Meredith College and received a master’s degree in public administration from Appalachian State University.

By Bill O'Boyle
CEO, North State Consulting



I was humbled when Citrix nominated me to the Emerging Leaders Program. I must admit that, at first, I saw it as a networking opportunity and a resume builder. I was honored and excited by the opportunity, but I grossly underestimated the impact this program would have. I had the opportunity to learn from some of the most purpose driven leaders in the area, develop long lasting relationships with amazing peers, and learn how I could better serve the community.
 
This format of the program is amazing. The leaders were not selected simply from financial success. The common thread was selfless service and leading a purpose driven life although I doubt that was ever prompted.  We did not hear endless stories of how they worked 15 hour days for 20 years to “achieve.” Instead, we heard countless stories of their people and the platforms they created. I do not recall an exec bragging about a recent stock price but I do remember many stories of how proud of the impact their firm or institution had on the community and the people they served.    
 
Each leader was amazing but one stood out from the moment I met him: Dr. Everett Ward, president of St. Augustine’s University. Dr. Ward is a man who walks with a purpose in every step he takes. Dr. Ward was born on the HBCU he graduated from and now is tasked to resurrect. I saw firsthand what it meant for a leader to selfishly serve a mission and inspire all those around him to do the same. He faced many challenges upon accepting the position and he did address some of them. However, he spent the time helping us understand the generations of pride that surround you as soon as you enter the truly remarkable university. He graciously gave us a tour while he greeted every single student, faculty, and staff member by first name that walked by. I have been back to St. Aug's several times, called on Dr. Ward for advice, and also formed an official partnership with Citrix. I would not have had that opportunity without this program, and I am extremely grateful.

​I also made long lasting friendships with classmates. Allison Warren Barber was the senior vice president of the Greater Triangle United Way. We quickly realized there was an opportunity for us to work together in the community. As with most nonprofits, there is often a shortage of resources. This is true with financial capital and human capital. We decided to address both. At the time, I led a team of nine that structured complex, strategic partnerships with other software companies. That often involved creating joint go-to-market strategies. We decided to use our human capital to develop the go-to-market strategy for Innovate United. We wanted to increase participation and increase donations so we applied the same methodologies in the tech industry. Our team absolutely loved the experience of working with the United Way and the program was a huge success. That model has been taught to other United Way and businesses across the country. Allison is now the CEO of the Seattle-area United Way, and I have served on the Community Engagement Committee for two years. That is all thanks to the Emerging Leaders Program.
 
I was inspired by the program to also attend Leadership North Carolina. I now have my own company and can proudly say we have 14 employees here in Raleigh. I am honored to have graduated from the program and now serve on the Chamber's Small Business Advisory Board. The Chamber is an invaluable part of our community and look forward to sending our first applicant to the program this quarter.

The Chamber is currently recruiting for the 2017 Emerging Leaders program. Two classes will take place this year, and the deadline to apply is March 27. Learn more here.