 Written by: Melanie Hawley Marketing & Business Development Associate, Little May was Justice & Public Safety Day for Leadership Raleigh! We started out at the Legal Aid of North Carolina, which is actually the third largest law firm in North Carolina. They offer free civil legal services to vulnerable North Carolinians in all 100 counties. Last year they received nearly 400,000 calls and served over 55,000 individuals. Thank you to Ashley H. Campbell, Scheree Gilchrist, and all the employees that educated us and toured us around their facility.
Next, we put on our safety vests and hard hats as Barnhill Contracting Company toured the class through 400H, a 20-story, mixed-used tower in downtown Raleigh. The space includes office space, ground-floor retail, and 242 apartments. We were able to walk out on the ninth-floor sky hub, where the pool, fitness center, and lounge will be. We stopped for a delicious lunch at Centro before heading to Moore Square, where Ambassadors from the Downtown Raleigh Alliance gave us an overview of what they do and how they can help. If you ever forget where you parked, need help finding your way around downtown, want to report suspicious activity, or need dining recommendations, just call them at 919.368.7962. Captain Baker greeted us at the North Carolina Department of Public Safety for an informative session that ended with a high-speed chase and PIT maneuver demonstration, followed by two helicopter take-offs! Then we headed to Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP where Chief Stella Patterson, Chief of Raleigh Police Department told us about the priorities of the Raleigh Police Department and their 800 officers, including community engagement, violent crime reduction, and employee wellness and morale. We finished the day with a refreshing drink and plenty of time for networking at Tap Yard Raleigh. Many of us felt so lucky to live in such a gorgeous place where justice and public safety are priorities. Thank you to our class sponsors Wake County Bar Association/Tenth Judicial District Bar and Brady Services. Those interested in the Leadership Raleigh program can now apply! Applications are due by June 9, 2023 at 5 p.m. for the Leadership Raleigh Class 47/48.
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Leadership Raleigh: Health & Human Services Day
Sponsored by Barnhill Contracting Company, Catering Works, and Skanska USA Building Written By Sloane Heffernan We put our finger on the pulse of Raleigh during the Leadership Raleigh March class focused on Health & Human Services. The day began with a behind-the-scenes tour of PNC Arena from Jeff Merritt, Executive Director at Centennial Authority/PNC Arena. He shared the history and highlights of the arena in this VIP tour where the class got a spectacular bird’s eye view from the press box and stood in the backstage loading dock where amazing athletes and performers traverse before walking onto the stage. Merritt shared some of the unique requests his team had received from musicians who perform at PNC, such as Elton John reportedly asking for a separate room for his bobble-head collection! We also learned that PNC Arena hosted its largest crowd (20,053) when Metallica came to Raleigh. The arena plays a big role in the economic health of the region. Merritt shared that 46% of the arena visitors are from outside the Raleigh area and fill an estimated 200-thousand rooms annually. The hospitality tax collected from those visitors helps financially support the arena. We also got the scoop on an exciting renovation project planned for PNC arena that includes opening a section to create a space for eating and drinking with a 360-degree view of the action. Leadership Raleigh Class 46 then traveled to All Faiths Chapel at Dix Park for an engaging panel entitled: Hospital Leadership Forum - Where We’ve Been and What’s Next. It focused on the challenges, priorities, and needs in our healthcare systems. Representatives from Wake Med, Duke Raleigh Hospital, and UNC Rex Healthcare shared the struggles they face, from staffing shortages to the mental health crisis. We learned more about a new behavioral health hospital and the pending Medicaid expansion that should help improve care in our region. Following the panel, we participated in a powerful Community Action Poverty Simulation led by Marisa Bryant, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Public School Forum of North Carolina and proud supporter of the Junior League of Raleigh. Each of us was assigned a persona and different life situations for the exercise where we faced unique circumstances, from being homeless to raising grandchildren while on disability. It was an eye-opening experience that made many of us realize the immense stress and difficult decisions that people in poverty face each and every day. We learned that 92-thousand people live in poverty in Wake County, 18% of those who live in poverty are children, and the average wait for federally subsidized housing in Wake County is four to seven years. Executive Director of Dix Park for the City of Raleigh, Kate Pearce, then guided our Leadership Raleigh class on a walking tour of Dix Park land and facilities. Pearce was a walking historian reciting stories from Dix’s past as a plantation and psychiatric hospital. It was exciting to hear how the history will be incorporated into the future park with the Cultural Interpretive Plan. The first major park restoration project is the massive $62 million dollar playground, Gipson Play Plaza, that has been designed by a German company known for putting the “play” in playgrounds. We ended the walking tour at the lovely Flowers Cottage at Dix Park. The cottage porch has one of the best views of the downtown Raleigh skyline and was a great location to end the day with networking and snacks. One thing we all agreed on? The pulse of the city has never been stronger!  For over 54 years, Leadership Raleigh has provided business and community leaders with the opportunity to discover the Triangle Region while making a lasting impact as a part of their project teams. Each team is responsible for supporting their chosen non-profit and they would love your help to make a difference! Check out a few of the projects below and see how you can get involved.
Leadership Raleigh Class 45 Projects: Oak City Cares Birthday Bash Thursday, April 13 | 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Maywood Hall and Gardens, located at 626 Maywood Ave., Raleigh NC 27603 Tickets are $35, which includes food and beverage tickets. The event will also feature a raffle with some exciting prizes from local businesses - raffle tickets available for purchase on site. To join us, purchase your event ticket here. For more information, contact Erica Boles at [email protected]. Frankie Lemmon’s Gettin’ Piggy With It with Lawrence Barbecue & Friends Sunday, May 21 | Noon – 6 p.m. Maywood Hall and Gardens, located at 626 Maywood Ave. Raleigh, NC 27603 To join us, purchase your event ticket here after April 19. For more information, contact Austin Wiser at [email protected]. Leadership Raleigh Class 46 Projects: Note in the Pocket’s 10th Annual Socks & Undie 5K Rundie Run/Walk Saturday, April 22 | 9 a.m. Kids Fun Run + 9:30 a.m. 5K Note in the Pocket, located at 4730 Hargrove Road, Raleigh, NC 27616 To support or join us, visit our team page here. For more information, contact Melanie Hawley at [email protected]. 12th Annual bEARTHday Celebration Saturday, April 22 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Raleigh City Farm, located at 800 N. Blount St., Raleigh, NC 27604 To support or join us, visit the event page here. For more information, contact Heather Gately at [email protected]. Sleep in Heavenly Peace Saturday, June 3 & Saturday, June 17 Help deliver 20 beds for kids that need them, adults only please. To help support, visit our team page here. For more information, contact Megan Loftin at [email protected]. We hope to see you at several of these exciting community events! To learn more about the Raleigh Chamber’s Leadership Raleigh program visit our website and/or sign up for one of two upcoming information sessions on March 23 and April 12.  Written by: Sloane Heffernan Leadership Raleigh Class 46 The February class day, sponsored by Brasfield & Gorrie, was focused on education and talent in our thriving community. Raleigh consistently tops national lists of best places to live, work, and play. With more companies and jobs coming to the Triangle, it will be crucial to have a skilled workforce - and that begins with education. The class began with a panel and tour of The Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education. The mission of the Poe Center for Health Education is to educate and empower North Carolina children, youth, and their families to make choices that increase positive health behaviors. The panel focused on School Community Partnerships and included speakers from the Boys & Girls Club of Wake County, WakeEd Partnership, Communities in Schools of Wake County, District C, and a District Career Development Specialist from Wake County Public Schools. The panel discussed the challenges facing our children today, and the necessary skills they will need to be successful in the future. They also shared the importance of teaching “durable” skills (ie: critical thinking, collaboration, sourcing different ideas) to create value for businesses. We were reminded that it takes a village when Heather Brosz White, Director of Government Foundation for the Boys and Girls Club said, “We need to take responsibility for our county’s children.” Our next stop was the Hendrick Center for Automotive Excellence at Wake Tech. The state-of-the-art facility that opened last year allows the college to triple the number of students in it’s automotive systems technology program and add a new degree program in collision repair. They are also launching a program for Electric Vehicles. The panel discussed Building Tomorrow’s Talent Pipeline. It’s been said that the road to job opportunity runs through Wake Tech. We learned that 75% of Wake Tech students are from Wake County, and the average age of a student is between 26 and 27 years old. We also learned about the WakeWorks Apprenticeship Program where students attend Wake Tech for free, get a paid apprenticeship, and typically land a job when the program is done. Dr. Scott Ralls, President of Wake Tech, said 93% of apprenticeship program participants stay in their roles three to five years post program completion. Our final stop of the day was at NC State’s newly redesigned Talley Center, for a panel about The Business & Politics of Public Education. We learned about the history of the public school system and how local and state lawmakers work together to shape policy and budgets for education. Key takeaways from the experiences this month are focused on two items 1) Education Challenges and 2) Workforce Development. Educational Challenges There are limited resources and competing demands in public education. Teacher pay, recruitment, and retention were brought up as big concerns. We learned that while 90% of public school expenditures are spent on teacher salaries and benefits, our teachers are still paid below the national average but a raise of just one percent would cost $60 million. North Carolina has received about $6 billion in Covid Relief Funds for public education and it is still unclear how the money will be spent. Workforce Development It’s exciting to hear the news of companies coming and expanding in the Triangle. How do we fill those jobs with people who already call North Carolina home? Whether it is a tech job or a trade job, there are big opportunities on the horizon. Education and a talented workforce will be key factors to driving future success for our community. Written by:
Sloane Heffernan Leadership Raleigh Class 46 Leadership Raleigh took us to new heights during our December Quality of Life & Place class day sponsored by AECOM, Highwoods Properties, and Wetherill Engineering. Class 46 traveled by bus, train, and elevator to get an exciting glimpse into the future of transit, transportation, and affordability across the Triangle. First stop, Raleigh Union Station. We boarded Amtrak for a swift and scenic ride to Cary where we strolled through the quaint and decorated downtown to the charming Mayton Inn. If you are looking for a romantic staycation, this is the place! Rachel Pair, Leadership Raleigh Alumni and the Mayton Inn’s General Manager hosted us for coffee and conversation on how Cary is one of the “Fastest Growing Cities in the South”. Ted Boyd of the Town of Cary, Mark Lawson from the Cary Chamber of Commerce, and Shannon Flaherty of Amtrak shared insights on Cary’s governance culture and how Cary is working to become a multi-use transportation center that will connect western Wake County. Once back on the bus, Christina Coffey from Lee & Associates led us on a driving tour of the vast development and proposed development around downtown Cary’s core. We were extremely grateful that Crosstown Pub & Grill then opened their space to us for a delicious lunch of sandwiches, burgers, and salads. From Cary, we headed to the future site of Kings Ridge and were welcomed by CASA NC staff, Erin Yates and Alexis Trell, with a tour of a one-bedroom apartment and how CASA NC is working to address homelessness through housing as well as the rising number of those experiencing a homeless or housing crisis in our region. Next, we traveled to the highest elevation in Raleigh - the rooftop at The Eastern at North Hills. The Eastern is described as Raleigh’s “most luxurious high-rise apartments” and boasts some of the most breathtaking views in the city. We soaked in the phenomenal views while listening to a panel that included several City of Raleigh and Regional Transportation Alliance leaders talking about exciting plans for expanding public transportation. This included micromobility, easing congestion on our roads, buses that run like a commuter rail, and elevated express lanes with no traffic signals on Capital Boulevard! Our last stop included some holiday cheer at The Haymaker in Downtown Raleigh courtesy of Highwoods Properties. The cocktail bar on Fayetteville Street is decked out with over-the-top Christmas decorations. Here’s a toast to the Raleigh Chamber for the amazing ride! Leadership Raleigh Class 45 would also like to thank their December Quality of Life & Place class day sponsors AECOM, Parker & Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP, and Wetherill Engineering.  Written by:
Sloane Heffernan Leadership Raleigh Class 46 Downtown Raleigh is growing and changing in a big way, and we are too, thanks to Leadership Raleigh. The program is opening our eyes to a brand new, broader world built around community, connection, and charity. Our first monthly session, a “This is Raleigh” day-long class, sponsored by Bobbitt Construction and JDAVIS Architects began at Devereux Meadows, the site of what will become one of Raleigh’s newest parks, officially named by the Raleigh City Council on November 15, Smoky Hollow Park. After more than two years of planning, the concept that includes walking trails and a wetland area just received approval from the city. Our group was one of the first to step on the property with the new plans officially in place. The area, which most recently served as a maintenance yard for the city, will become a beautiful gateway for travelers heading southbound into Raleigh on Capital Boulevard. From there, our Leadership Raleigh group traveled to the new Seaboard Station for a private tour with the Senior Project Manager, Trevor Kelly, LR45 from Clancy & Theys Construction Company. It was amazing to see the site transformation. There will be apartments, townhomes, shops, restaurants, and even a new hotel. We were most excited to learn about a cool rooftop bar overlooking the Raleigh skyline and a pedestrian area that will be lined with cozy outdoor dining options. As our group continued to travel it was invaluable to have the time to pick each other’s brains about strategy and fundraising for non-profits as many Leadership Raleigh participants have experience in the industry. With all the talking and walking, we built up an appetite. Our next stop was The Factory for lunch from Union Special and two panel discussions featuring some of the biggest movers and shakers in the Triangle. The first panel talked about how the local food and beverage scene provides community. There was more talk about charity work as Chris Powers, co-owner of Trophy Brewing talked about the upcoming Trophy Trot 5K and how similar events provide extra opportunities to connect. Our second panel discussed the rich music scene in Raleigh and how it helps fuel the economy. It was inspiring to hear from Danny Rosin, the co-founder of Band Together NC, along with all the panelists who in the words of Dave Rose with Deep South Entertainment are dedicated to making Raleigh a “Music City.” “This is Raleigh” day wrapped up with a fun scavenger hunt and networking reception at Young Hearts Distilling. The Raleigh Chamber’s Leadership Raleigh program is designed to prepare the future leaders of our community and after our first monthly session, we already feel better equipped and more energized than ever before! Learn more about Leadership Raleigh today.  Developing leaders is important to the future success of the Triangle region. The Raleigh Chamber is leading the efforts to attract a highly skilled workforce and to develop your company’s future leaders. For the last 50 years, Leadership Raleigh has been the premier program for preparing the leaders of tomorrow.
The ten-month program has consistently provided participants with an in-depth view of community issues, a unique opportunity to interact and discuss issues with regional business and community leaders, and apply their talents by joining professional associations, civic clubs, public boards, and commissions. Leadership Raleigh participants are exposed to monthly sessions on a variety of issues, challenges, and opportunities. Monthly session topics include:
Applications are now open for Leadership Raleigh classes 43 and 44. The deadline to apply is July 16 by 5 p.m. Applications, program calendar, and more information are available online at www.leadershipraleigh.org. To hear more about the program directly from alumni, we invite you to register for our next Leadership Raleigh Information Session on June 10 starting at 8:30 a.m. For more information regarding Leadership Raleigh, email Chauncey Bowden or call 919.664.7036. For the last 50 years, Leadership Raleigh has been the premier program for preparing the leaders of tomorrow. The nine-month program has consistently provided participants with an in-depth view of community issues, developed leadership skills for leadership roles, and created community involvement opportunities. This year is no different. We have kicked off our year for both classes with our opening retreat and orientation sessions. Participants had the opportunity to engage, network, and learn more about Leadership Raleigh as well as their fellow-classmates. We are pleased to announce our Leadership Raleigh 41 and Leadership Raleigh 42 classes. To access the Leadership Raleigh program details and calendar, please click here. The Leadership Raleigh Alumni Association offers all graduates the opportunity to be active participants in Leadership Raleigh long after they have completed the program. Participation on a committee or as a board member is welcomed and encouraged. Please consider joining a committee or volunteering on the board by contacting Shana Overdorf. Please meet our 2020-2021 Leadership Raleigh Alumni Board President, Shana Overdorf.  Our 2020-2021 LRAA Board Members This year our 2020-2021 strategic goals and objectives are:
In addition to our newest LRAA board members, we would like to highlight our Leadership 41 and 42 class chairs. Leadership Raleigh 41 Class Chair: Sean Maroney Vice President of Resource Development, Habitat for Humanity of Wake County  "I'm beyond honored and truly grateful to partner with the Chamber's talented and dedicated staff in support of Leadership Raleigh 41. My own experience with LR 39 is one of my most impactful, both personally and professionally. It's my hope to help deliver to LR 41 what my class experienced despite the pandemic striking in the middle of our year: to learn more about what important work is going on to make Raleigh a better community and how important that work is to continue when times are tough." Your number one fan, Sean Leadership Raleigh 42 Class Chair: Emily Jeske Attorney at Law, Bosquez Porter Family Law  “I am so excited to be the chair for Leadership Raleigh 42. My experience as a participant in LR 40 was incredible, and I can’t wait to help guide this new cohort through their time in the program. I think this group will be special – it’s certainly telling that they applied for Leadership Raleigh in the midst of a pandemic, and I can only imagine the success that they will bring to their organizations and the Greater Raleigh area through both class days and service projects. I look forward to being a resource over the next several months as we navigate these challenges together, and I’m thrilled to help guide these folks as they embark on this adventure in personal growth and commitment to our community” Emily The Leadership Raleigh Alumni Board Communications Committee has the responsibility of working with all Leadership Raleigh committees to promote and drive awareness of programs, events, socials, and service opportunities. The committee publishes a quarterly blog on the Raleigh Chamber website, and engages strategically on social media platforms including LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. In order to have current contact information and continually engage with past members, please complete the form below if you are a Leadership Raleigh Alumni. Leadership Raleigh Alumni Contact Information
No, sky is not the limit. It is only the beginning. Congratulations on completing your Leadership Raleigh program. You are forever a member of our Leadership Raleigh Alumni Association. We hope you had a fantastic year despite these challenging times. This year we want to say thank you for your tenacity and dedication to the program. One unique aspect of Leadership Raleigh is the project team element. Each participant is placed in a project team based on his or her background and experience. Today we are highlighting our Leadership Raleigh 40, Project Team 4 who completed their project with The Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education. This team decided to develop a project around bullying and mental health because of the systemic issue it has become. No one or nowhere is safe anymore, even cyber bullying. There has to not only be awareness but empowering someone to see it and say something about it to stop it. We intend to spread awareness and provide Youth Mental Health First Aid training for both of these issues by the amazing Rebecca Wheeler through The Alice Aycock Poe Center. This training will teach individuals how to help those experiencing mental health challenges or crises and empower those to see something and say something to stop bullying at the front line. Congratulations Project Team 4 for your outstanding work and completion of Leadership Raleigh!  Charles Davis, Poyner Spruill LLP  Zach Hall, Balfour Beatty Construction  Amanda Latham, AML Consulting, LLC  Julie Smith, NC State University  Manoj Bhatia, Ultimate Storage Company  John Rash, Clark Nexsen
Applications are now available for our next Leadership Raleigh class here. Please note that these are due back to Des Burton by 5 p.m. on Aug. 14. There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind. Congratulations on completing your Leadership Raleigh program. You are forever a member of our Leadership Raleigh Alumni Association. We hope you had a fantastic year despite these challenging times. This year we want to say thank you for your tenacity and dedication to the program. One unique aspect of Leadership Raleigh is the project team element. Each participant is placed in a project team based on his or her background and experience. Today we are highlighting our Leadership Raleigh 40, Project Team 3. This group collaborated with the NC Museum of Art. Project Team 3 team helped design and gather resources to build and maintain a community garden at the NCMA. While the project has not been implemented by the NCMA yet, we hope that this garden will bring people from all occupations together to garden, gather, learn, and form friendships. The garden was designed to facilitate all this alongside the beautiful outdoor art that NCMA provides. Congratulations Project Team 3 for your outstanding work and completion of Leadership Raleigh!  Donna Gaskin, MetLife  Diesha Banner, Toast It Up!  Walter Gray, MS Consultants, Inc.  Allyson Kuegel, Citrix  Lynn Percival, Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP  James Pratt, CLA  Anthony Vellozzi, Choate Construction Co.
Applications are now available for our next Leadership Raleigh class here. Please note that these are due back to Des Burton by 5 p.m. on Aug. 14. |
AuthorGreater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Archives
October 2024
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Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
800 S. Salisbury St. Raleigh, NC 27601 |