Registration & Networking | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Program | 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. Honoring Visionaries. Inspiring What’s Next. Join us for the Greater Raleigh Chamber’s 137th Annual Meeting, a celebration of bold leadership, shared progress, and the people moving our region forward. This year’s luncheon brings together business, civic, and community leaders to reflect on the past year’s achievements and rally around the opportunities ahead. Under the theme Visionary Leadership, we will recognize those who lead with clarity, purpose, and foresight, setting the pace for our future. A highlight of this year's meeting will be the presentation of the prestigious A.E. Finley Distinguished Service Award to Randy Woodson, Ph.D., former NC State University Chancellor. Randy’s transformative tenure strengthened the university’s partnership with the business community, advanced groundbreaking research, and positioned NC State as a leader in talent development, driving innovation and economic growth across our region. Additional program moments include: Celebrating the collective success of the Chamber’s membership community Marking a time-honored tradition as Shan Teel, Chair of the Board and Regional Executive Vice President at First Citizens Bank, passes the gavel to Kristen M. Hess, Chair-Elect and CEO of HH Architecture. Welcoming Valerie Bauerlein, National Reporter for The Wall Street Journal, as this year’s keynote speaker. A Raleigh resident and Duke graduate, Valerie has spent her career covering Southern politics, economics, and culture. She is the author of The Devil at His Elbow: Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty. In this candid conversation, she will reflect on leadership, values, and courage that inspire bold action. Valerie Bauerlein National Affairs Reporter, The Wall Street Journal Valerie Bauerlein covers national affairs for The Wall Street Journal from Raleigh, N.C. She has a special interest in small-town America and Southern politics, economics, and culture. Valerie has covered the South Carolina presidential primaries for The Wall Street Journal since 2008. She has also covered natural and manmade disasters, from Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast and the mass slayings at Emanuel Church in Charleston to the deadly condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida. She has written features about NASCAR, roller coasters, beauty pageants, and Waffle House. Previously, Valerie covered Coke, Pepsi, and the beverage and snack industry for the Journal from Atlanta. She also covered Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Wachovia, and other regional banks from their acquisition tear in 2005 to the crash in 2008. She began her career at The Shelby (N.C.) Star and worked as a cops reporter at the Winston-Salem (N.C.) Journal, a legislative reporter at The State (Columbia, S.C.) and congressional correspondent for the News & Observer (Raleigh). No refunds after Sept. 18. Questions? For questions about the agenda, call 919.664.7037 or email Devin Brown. For logistics questions, call 919.664.7080 or email Taylor Sullivan. For registration questions, call 919.664.7033 or email Alea Morales. For sponsorship opportunities and inquiries, email sales@raleighchamber.org. Join the conversation on social media! @raleighchamber #GRCAnnual25