Greater Raleigh Chamber Blog

By Hannah Madison Smith
Leadership Raleigh 35
Portfolio Management Analyst
Branch Banking & Trust Co.




After my first day of Leadership Raleigh, which focused on the area's quality of life, I felt totally content and confident about my decision to live and work here. There are a couple of main highlights from the day that I will elaborate on in this post.

First, our Leadership Raleigh group had the opportunity to listen to a panel discussion with Smedes York and John Kane. It was interesting to hear about the development opportunities currently underway downtown and planned for the future. In addition, our group got great insight on affordable housing and transportation issues in Raleigh and the Triangle area.

We also heard from Steve Malik from NCFC on Raleigh’s Major League Soccer expansion opportunity and MLS bid. He spoke about the plans to build a stadium right outside downtown Raleigh near Peace Street and Seaboard Station. Soccer is a sport that brings the community together and creates a fun atmosphere, so I am excited for Raleigh to potentially acquire a major league professional sports franchise! It would be beneficial from both an economic and quality of life perspective.

Another favorite part of the day was a presentation about the future of Dorothea Dix Park, which is composed of over 300 acres of undeveloped land! I was truly impressed after hearing about the extensive planning process the Executive Board and Advisory Committee are undertaking in order to ensure that the park is a community asset and provides value to all. I am hopeful I can volunteer in some way as this effort is completed. 

Leadership Raleigh 35 and 36 are underway! Follow along as they learn about the area's economic development, education, law enforcement, media, and more in this series of blog posts. Learn more about Leadership Raleigh here.

Leadership Raleigh participants get a behind-the-scenes view into all aspects of our community—from the education system and the role of the media to law enforcement and economic development.
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Last week, the two newest Leadership Raleigh classes got their years started at retreats at the Graylyn International Conference Center in Winston-Salem. 

Allen Wooten, Personify
Allison Crabtree, Brasfield & Gorrie LLC
Ashley Whittington, The Umstead Hotel and Spa
Awamary Khan, Support Center
Brian Wallace, York Properties
Cara Phillips, Phillips Architecture, PA
Cara Williams, Smith Debnam Narron Drake Saintsing & Myers, LLP
Carlton Midyette, CBRE | Raleigh
Chris Turner, CMS Controls
Christina Leliever, Duke Energy
David Ferrell, Vandeventer Black LLP
Devon D. Williams,  Ward and Smith, P.A.
Emily Hodges, Hodges Insurance Agency
Felicia Woodard, Bank of America
Jack Magee, Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP
Jackie Wilson, Wells Fargo
Jeff Cooke, North State Bank Mortgage
Jennifer Ammirati, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP
Jennifer Champion, First Citizens Bank
Jennifer Holland, IBM Corporation
John Gabbard, Ernst & Young LLP
Joseph Watson, Raymond James & Associates
Josh Swindell, Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston
Joshua Horne, Duke Raleigh Hospital
Kelly Harvell, Wake County Public School System
Laurent de Comarmond, JDavis Architects, PLLC
Liane Barber, Capital Area Soccer League
Lisa Youngquist, Campbell University School of Business
Mike Ferguson, Barnhill Contracting Co., Inc.
Molly Stuart, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
Morgan High, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
Morgan Southerland, Fidelity Bank
Nadine Kapitaniak, KPMG LLP
Nate McGaha, Carolina Ballet
Nicholas Hofer, Alfred Williams & Company
Noushi Haeussler, Excellase, Laser Skin Care
Paul A. Kane, Home Builders Association of Raleigh - Wake County
Paul Fogleman, Poyner Spruill LLP
Peter Jones, MetLife
Susan Pettengill, YMCA of the Triangle Area, Inc.
Tarik Dalton, State of North Carolina
Theresa Garrett, Carroll's Kitchen
Tia N. Jones, Delta Dental of North Carolina
Todd Benner, Little
Uel Whitsett, Williams Mullen
Warner Kuppin, Kane Realty Corporation
Zack Anderton, Summit Hospitality Group, LTD
Zack Medford, Isaac Hunter's Hospitality
Zareen Beck, LORD Corporation

Adam Cato, SunTrust Bank
Alicia Barfield, Duke Raleigh Hospital
Alyssa Gutierrez, Better Business Bureau/BBB
Amanda Sherin, Poyner Spruill LLP
Angie Thomas, Accountants One
Anna Short, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP
Aolani Donegan, The News & Observer Publishing Co.
Armand Perry, Smith Anderson
Blake Hall, Timmons Group
Brandon Yopp, Campbell Law School
C. Brian O'Haver, Stewart
Cameron Henley, Moore & Van Allen, PLLC
Caroline Baillargeon, Red Hat, Inc.
Caroline Williams, Centerline Digital
Collier Marsh, Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP
David Booth, Wells Fargo
Dr. Shelby Palmer, Shaw University
Emily Fausch, Empire Properties
Eric Dunlap, Local Government Federal Credit Union
Hilary Allen, Meredith College
Jarvis Jones, Passage Home
Jason Brodmerkel, Elliott Davis Decosimo
Jeff Moncrief, JPMorgan Chase
Jennifer Miller, Summit Hospitality Group, LTD
Jesse Green, RATIO
Jim Herriott, K&L Gates LLP
John Johnston, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
Kathryn West, Junior League of Raleigh, Inc.
Katye Jobe, Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP
Kelly Huffstetler, Realty World Signature Properties
Kevin White, NNE Pharmaplan, Inc.
Kirk Mader, PNC
Lindsay Schuster, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP
Martha Browning, WakeMed Foundation
Melody Henderson, Wake Technical Community College
Michael Neumann, American Cancer Society
Modolu Fatukasi, Deloitte
Leigh Bleecker, Duke Raleigh Hospital
Paul Forster, Capital Area Soccer League
Pierre Marcella, WingSwept
Randy Allen, Danis Construction Company
Rhonda Lowe, UNC REX Healthcare
Sarah Willis, First Citizens Bank
Seth Crawford, Angel Oak Creative
Steve Meyer, Rockridge Realty, Inc.
Sunil Yerkola, MetLife
Todd Rowe, RSM US LLP
Tom Planishek, Balfour Beatty Construction

From police ride-alongs and touring Central Prison to learning about the impact of education and the media, Leadership Raleigh participants get in-depth, behind-the-scenes insight into all aspects of our community.

On Tuesday, June 28, 96 class members will graduate as part of the program's 31st and 32nd classes.

"These classes are made up of dedicated and visionary leaders who all shared a desire to make our community a better place,” said Chamber Board of Directors Chair Jill Wells Heath. “I’m excited to see how their contributions will continue to benefit our community and how their leadership will impact our region in the years to come.”

We expect big things from both groups, and we're excited to see what they have in store for the greater Raleigh area in the future!

Astra Ball, Junior League of Raleigh, Inc.
Alban Barrus, Highwoods Properties, Inc.
Daniel Behanna, PNC
Nancy Bromhal, Habitat for Humanity of Wake County
Scott Cooper, Brasfield & Gorrie LLC
Katherine Eberhardt, Capital Area Soccer League
Tom Fagley, Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP
Mike Ferguson, Barnhill Contracting Co., Inc.
John Gardner, K&L Gates LLP
Patrice Gilmore, Holt Brothers Construction, LLC
Steven Goldsmith, Red Hat, Inc.
Neil Gray, JDavis Architects, PLLC
Natalie Griffith, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
Michael Harrison, SunTrust Bank
Maria Hernandez, SPCA of Wake County
Amy Hilliard, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP
Heather Hooper, Lung Cancer Initiative of North Carolina
Kacy Hunt, Williams Mullen
Jennifer Jones, Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP
Smith Jordan, Newcomb and Company
Alicia Jurney, Smith Debnam Narron Drake Saintsing & Myers, LLP
Tara Kinard, Wake County Medical Society - Community Health Foundation
Jamie Knowles-Griffiths, American Cancer Society
Greg Kuruc, Kane Realty Corporation
Jennifer Martin, Shop Local Raleigh/Greater Raleigh Merchants Association
Sara Merz, Advocates for Health in Action
Katherine Meyer, Manpower
Leigh Morrison, Red Hat, Inc.
Larry Moye, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP
Shana Overdorf, Raleigh/Wake Partnership to End and Prevent Homelessness
Ann-Stewart Patterson, CBRE|Raleigh
Katie Pollara, UNC REX Healthcare
Anna Claire Price, York Properties, Inc.
Sallie Ransom, YMCA of the Triangle, Inc.
Kathryn Rigsbee, Grant Thornton LLP
Trey Rivers, Red Hat, Inc.
Brendan Rodden, Raymond James & Associates
Carl Sanders, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
Stephanie Sanders, Poyner Spruill LLP
Amy Schroeder, State of North Carolina
Steve Sefton, Danis Construction Company
Raynor Smith, Brady Trane Services, Inc.
Ben Steel, Empire Properties
Phillip Strickland, First Citizens Bank
Nora Sullivan, Ellis & Winters LLP
Blake Thomas, Avison Young
Daphne Thompson, Angel Oak Creative
Justin Vieira, Ipreo
Liz Watson, WakeMed Health & Hospitals
Dennis Wiener, The Umstead Hotel and Spa
Mary Willoughby, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina

Ginger Ackiss, The Bainbridge Companies
Danny Baker, MetLife
Patrena Benton
Jess Bechtold, Grant Thornton LLP
Leigh Bleecker, Duke Raleigh Hospital
Charles Britt, RSM US LLP
Blair Brooks, CPI Security Systems
Tinu Diver, NC State University
Sara Drake, Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Inc.®
Cydney English, The English Garden Florist
Melissa Everitt, Resolvit
Jim Freeze, Carroll's Kitchen
Brett Frenier, Carolina Business Interiors
Bijal Gami, Local Government Federal Credit Union
Jason Golz, Credit Suisse
Todd Hancock, Hodge & Kittrell
Leah Knepper, French|West|Vaughan
Kim Lehman, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart
Hannah Lennon, Emergency Reconstruction
Matt Lilley, Alexander Family YMCA
Catherine Locke, North Carolina State Parks
Caroline Mackie, Poyner Spruill LLP
Erika Martin, Night Hawk Security and Consulting, LLC
Robert Mason, First Tennessee Bank
Chad McCullen, Young Moore and Henderson, PA
Mike Muoio, View Dynamic Glass
Stephanie Perri, Clean Design
Kim Phillips, Bank of America
PJ Puryear, Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP
Steve Rehnborg, Dialpad
Stacey Rodriguez, Wells Fargo
Cam Rosenow, Wallace Regner Group at Morgan Stanley
Katherine Ross, Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP
Jenny Royer, United Way of the Greater Triangle
Ashton Smith, Citrix
Stacy Smith, Sinclair Broadcasting Group, Inc.
Don Springer, North State Bank
Robert Sunukjian, PEG Contracting
Abbie Szymanski, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
Chad Tate, Rodgers Builders, Inc.
Allen Taylor, Hatteras Funds
Lee Wagner, Elliott Davis Decosimo
Jim White, Shanahan Law Group
Jeff Whitley, Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP
Glenn Young, Summit Hospitality Group, LTD

Leadership Raleigh is a nine-month program consisting of eight one-day sessions held in the greater Raleigh area with an opening weekend retreat. The program emphasizes three overall components: team projects, community orientation, and enhancing leadership skills/styles.

Due to overwhelming interest in the program from business leaders across the community, the Chamber launched two classes of the program in 2015. This format will remain going forward.

While recruiting has ended for the 2016/17 classes, we encourage anyone who is interested to visit www.leadershipraleigh.org or email [email protected] for additional information!

By PJ Puryear, LR 32
Attorney
Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP





Today was Law Enforcement Day for Leadership Raleigh 32. The day included presentations by Paul Gessner, a former police officer, district attorney, and judge (and current counsel to the Sheriff’s Department), as well as by an undercover DEA agent. Then our class traveled to Central Prison for an amazing tour. For me, the day contained an array of emotions, from laughing about DEA busts, to the weight of drinking from the water fountain on Death Row. I’ve decided the best way to summarize is to say this:

Society is a fabric, woven by each of us
Our prescribed pattern is the rule of law, the golden rule, the norms that invisibly govern our standard for everyday living. For the most part, the fabric is sound. It cloaks us day in and day out, and allows us to live relatively peaceful, organized lives. There are exceptions, however. For instance, the edges of this fabric are torn and frayed; here, its weave does not hold. In response, we are required to give power to certain people to make the hard decisions about what is acceptable and what is not. People like Paul Gessner, who have walked the beat, watched their friends die in an effort to keep our fabric from further unraveling, made decisions about where to lay blame, about what price must be paid. Such decisions do not occur in a vacuum.  Often there are winners and losers, and the story we hear can be one-sided.

Sometimes it is the thread itself that is bad
Like the thread of destructive drugs that runs rampantly through our community. It takes multiple organizations to try and remove it from the fabric that keeps us together. Their efforts are metrically impressive, but will likely never be enough to fully remove the thread from the weave. Addiction, wealth, poverty, and opportunity hold it steadily in place. Yet their efforts are not in vain. To the contrary, they are necessary to ensure our society is not torn apart by our human impulse to escape the cold that reality can sometimes bring.

Sometimes, that coldness is but a moment away
Most of us in Leadership Raleigh are wrapped snugly in a normal life. But not all are so lucky. For some, the difficulties of life can lead to a chain reaction that rips the cloak of freedom from off their shoulders.  Just ask those at Central Prison. For Michael, all it took was idle hands, and suggestive friends. For William, all it took was a fight his wife, and a friend with an escape. For others, it may have been the lack of education, the lack of opportunity, the lack of a family upbringing. After all, “no child is bad from the beginning; they just imitate their atmosphere.” The edge of our fabric can be but a decision away, and the consequences can be dire. Concurrent sentences that will keep you in concrete walls for the rest of your life. Passing through the place I stood today, where men have died for their crimes.

Our experience begs several questions
What causes our fabric to fray? What causes some to cut it away, to try and rip it apart? To think that it does not extend to them? These are the tough questions we face, to which it seems there are no easy answers. It may be the problems are so woven into our fabric—or so a part of us—they cannot be removed. These imperfections, however, can and must be diminished. And that is the challenge today’s leaders must rise to meet.

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 are currently being accepted. Learn more at www.leadershipraleigh.org.

By Atinuke Diver, LR32
Director of Compliance
The PowerAmerica Institute at NC State University




“Is that a school or a mall?” I asked as our bus pulled into a construction site—the 58 acres and 327,640 square feet of LEED-designed space slated to open as the new South Garner High School. Over the next hour spent touring the site, I understood that this was no mall. And after spending a day listening and learning about the business, politics, and economic impact of education in greater Raleigh, my Leadership Raleigh 32 classmates and I also learned that when it comes to education in Raleigh, it’s personal, complicated, and ever-changing.
 
It’s Personal
From our morning panel discussion with representatives from the Wake County Board of Education and the Wake County Board of Commissioners to the educational options roundtable discussions about charter, private/independent, magnet, and home schools at the end of the day, my classmates and I drew upon our lived experiences. We reflected on our own educational backgrounds, our experiences as parents and caretakers striving to make the best educational choices for the children in our care, as the spouses and partners of teachers or administrators navigating the growing demands of a school system in a rapidly growing area, and as advocates with preferences for certain educational options over others.
 
It’s Complicated
In his 2004 book and 2005 TEDTalk, “The Paradox of Choice,” psychologist Barry Schwartz, posits that having more choices and options actually makes us more paralyzed instead of freer. I’ve often thought of this paradox while listening to Raleigh parents discussing the myriad of public educational options accessible to their children each school year through the Wake County school assignment process. While enjoying the aptly themed St. Patrick’s Day reception hosted by Smith Moore Leatherwoood at the end of our day, I asked one classmate, “Well, what’s the alternative?” We concluded that having more choices is better than having no choice. I think Mr. Schwartz might agree.
 
It’s Ever-changing
From the exterior, Vernon Malone College and Career Academy and the NC State Entrepreneurship Initiative Garage couldn’t look more different. But they both share distinct roles in the changing environment for 21st century secondary and post-secondary education and highlighted the important role the Raleigh business community has in connecting our students to professional opportunities. Our tour of Vernon Malone gave us an inside look at the potential for Career and Technical Education to lead high-school students towards a pathway of prosperity, whether that be post-secondary education or employment. Our panel discussion with undergraduate and graduate EI students was both inspiring and eye-opening as they shared their experiences in leveraging the program to create businesses and the need for greater interaction between students and the business community to keep and grow their businesses in Raleigh instead of Silicon Valley, New York City, or Boston.
 
Lesson of the Day
As community leaders, one the greatest opportunities we have is to bridge the gaps of access and opportunity between our companies, organizations, and industries and students throughout greater 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 are currently being accepted. Learn more at www.leadershipraleigh.org.

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.

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.

The 32nd class of Leadership Raleigh is officially kicking off the start of the program year at an opening retreat at The Graylyn Estate in Winston-Salem this week.
 
Following the retreat, class members will participate in monthly educational sessions designed to give them an insider’s view of community issues. During the nine-month program, they’ll develop leadership skills necessary to assume leadership roles and be exposed to community involvement opportunities. 
 
Leadership Raleigh has been described as “life-altering” and “eye-opening.” But don’t take our word for it. Hear what some program alumni have to say about their experiences:
 
Lasting Relationships
Leadership Raleigh provided me an exceptional opportunity to interact and build lasting relationships with business and nonprofit leaders. In Leadership Raleigh, I gained an in-depth understanding of issues facing our community though dynamic presentations and tours.  Leadership Raleigh has put me in a great position to contribute to Raleigh's future.
~Ashley Perkinson, LR 29, Perkinson Law Firm, PA
 
Continued Benefits
I entered Leadership Raleigh almost 10 years ago not knowing what to expect. The program provided a full year of truly learning what makes Raleigh such a great place to live and work as you experience areas you may never otherwise visit and hear from leaders that make a difference in our community every day.  Today, I continue to benefit from my year in Leadership Raleigh through the ongoing connections and friendships that came from our time together. 
~Jim Hansen, LR 21, PNC
 
 Unique Access and Insight
Leadership Raleigh offered me a unique opportunity to gain access and insight into critical social, economic, and governmental issues impacting our community and how we do business. The experience afforded me the opportunity to enhance how I think about and solve challenges in my business, to develop new relationships, and to identify ways to collaborate with members of different organizations to positively impact the community in which we live and work. 
~O’Hara Macken, LR 29, Ipreo
 
 A Life-altering Experience
Participating in the Leadership Raleigh program was and continues to be a life altering experience for me.  I was inspired monthly by the themes that were covered and moved to do my part to make a difference as well as inform those around me of what I had learned.  Another gem of this program was the connections made among the other professionals in my Leadership 29 class. There were professional relationships developed that otherwise would not have been possible and most importantly, friendships that I will carry with me for a lifetime. 
~Kim Battle, LR 29, Wake County Medical Society - Community Health Foundation
 
Deeply Connected
When I think back on my Leadership Raleigh experience, it is with true appreciation. Leadership Raleigh was able to open my eyes to so many amazing things happening in our city. I was also able to connect to 53 other community leaders who will forever be deeply connected through this fantastic program. Bottom line, Leadership Raleigh will allow you to deepen your roots and develop a better understanding of our community.
~Matt Strickland, LR 29, Band Together
 
Behind-the-scenes Perspective
Leadership Raleigh was an eye opening experience for me. As a participant, we had the opportunity to get the behind the scenes perspective of Raleigh and Wake County. I now have a better understanding of the issues our community faces and the opportunities it presents. I also gained new professional contacts and friendships that will last a life time.
~Rob Wright, LR 29, Newcomb and Company
 
Undoubtedly Worthwhile
Leadership Raleigh is undoubtedly one of the most worthwhile things I have done since I moved back to the area. I learned a lot about the city and expanded my network while making great friends. It’s well your time and resources!
~Charles Phaneuf, LR 28, Raleigh Little Theatre
 
 
Learn more about Leadership Raleigh here, and be on the lookout for information about the 33rd class, which will kick off next fall. It could be the professional development opportunity you’ve been waiting for!