Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Events Newswire

Young Professionals Network Community Involvement 7/10/2025 1:00 PM - 7/10/2025 4:00 PM

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 07:23:37 GMT

This event is open only to Young Professionals Network members.

Supporting the Warehouse Project in Raleigh, NC

Among the largest anti-hunger organizations in the United States, the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina works every day to provide food to people in need while advancing long-term solutions to end hunger in our communities.
For more than 40 years, the Food Bank and Branch locations have served as the central hub of a network that has grown to 700+ partner programs across a 34-county region — including free food markets, pantries, meal sites, and a host of initiatives serving children, adults, and seniors. Together, they are working to overcome hunger and create an environment where everyone in North Carolina can thrive.

Join the Young Professionals Network as we help build a future where everyone has access to the food and essential resources we need to thrive. While assisting the food bank in this activity, please know that volunteers are expected to participate in the following tasks:

Sorting out produce and place them in family-size bags.
Sorting out donations from retail stores such as Food Lion and Harris Teeter.
Cleaning and bagging Capri Sun.
Building CSFP boxes for senior citizens.
Sorting and inspecting food drive donations from individuals and corporate donations.
Cleaning and sorting out eggs.
Bagging cereal, rice, or pasta into family-size bags.
Other activities might be available upon donations.

You must register with the Food Bank at this link, as well as below via the Chamber.
See instructions on how to register here.

Questions?
For questions on content, call 919.664.7090 or email Mimi Miller.
For registration questions, call 919.664.7033 or email Alea Morales.

Let's stay connected!
Facebook: Raleigh YPN
Instagram: @RaleighYPN
LinkedIn: Raleigh YPN
X: @RaleighChamber
#RaleighYPN

Growth & Development Summit 2025 7/10/2025 11:00 AM - 7/10/2025 4:30 PM

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 11:43:06 GMT

Registration 11 - 11:30 a.m.
Program 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The Greater Raleigh Chamber is hosting its first Growth & Development Summit. This event will convene business and community leaders from across industries and sectors to better understand what smart growth looks like, and why it is important for the future of the region.

Keynote Speaker

Richard Florida
Richard is an author, thought leader and researcher, having penned several bestsellers, including the award-winning The Rise of the Creative Class and The New Urban Crisis. He co-founded CityLab, the world’s leading publication for cities and urbanism. Richard last spoke to our region virtually for our 2021 Economic Development Summit. He is eager to return to the community to share insights on how intentional economic growth occurring across the country impacts us here.

Executive Panel

Kendal Bowman, North Carolina President, Duke Energy
Laurie Braxton, Head of NC Operations, SVP, FUJIFILM Biotechnologies
Ward Nye, CEO, Martin Marietta
Mike Smith, CEO, Kane Realty Corporation
Moderator: Kristen M. Hess, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, HH Architecture; Incoming Board Chair, Greater Raleigh Chamber

Breakout Sessions

Smart Growth, Sustainability, and Infrastructure

The Raleigh metro is one of the fastest growing in the nation, attracting new talent, companies, and driving innovation. However, the growth also presents challenges such as pressure on infrastructure and the need for smart growth and density. Addressing growth can be balanced with comprehensive infrastructure development and sustainability. This session will highlight how Raleigh and Wake County can best address these challenges through practices, partnerships, and policies that support growth, not stymie it.
- Rob Herman, Vice President & General Manager, Workstation & Client AI Group, Lenovo
- Derrick Remer, District Manager, Duke Energy
- Darla Rivera, Sr. Engineer, EHS, FUJIFILM Biotechnologies Holly Springs
- Whit Wheeler, Director, Raleigh Water
- Moderator: Mike Munn, President & CEO, McAdams

New Opportunities and Challenges Mean New Funding Tools

Wake County and the region are being presented with an array of opportunities and challenges leading to the need for a wide range of funding tools to support big, bold ideas. This session will provide direct examples from across the country of tools, policies, and practices used to support and drive development.
- Lauren Berry, Senior Manager, Location Analysis and Incentives, Maxis Advisors
- Jeanne Milliken Bonds, Professor of the Practice, Impact Investment and Sustainable Finance, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
- Dr. Jonathan Morgan, Professor of Public Administration and Government, UNC School of Government
- Moderator: Billie Redmond, Founder & Chair, TradeMark Properties

Building a Future-Tech Innovation Hub

Innovation is happening at a dizzying pace. How do we keep up? This session will discuss how the region can become a “Future-Tech” hub and how development choices can impact our innovation ecosystem.
- Tim Humphrey, Senior Site Executive, Chief Analytics Officer, IBM Corporation
- Jamie Royster, Senior Director, K-12 Sales, Lenovo
- Bennet Waters, President & CEO, NCInnovation
- Moderator: Tia McLaurin, Senior Community Lead, AirBnB

Shaping Tomorrow’s Cities

The Raleigh metro is one of a small handful of dynamic, fast growing, innovation-driven communities. What lessons do our peer communities have to offer us? This session will provide insights from leaders of peer metros on pitfalls to avoid and how to capitalize on opportunities.
- Kurt Hartman, Senior Managing Director, Hines
- Nathaniel Hoffman, Vice President of Development, Hoffman & Associates
- Mike Smith, CEO, Kane Realty Corporation
- Moderator: Michael Wagner, Senior Designer, LS3P Associates

The Urban Core-Downtown and the New Economic Geography

It is often said that any community is only as good as its core. Downtown Raleigh is critical to the overall success of the metro. This session will highlight the ongoing evolution of downtown, how to best leverage the cultural infrastructure and the impact of explosive residential growth, and how all support the overall health and vibrancy of downtown.
- Clyde Higgs, President & CEO, Atlanta Beltline, Inc.
- Bill King, President & CEO, Downtown Raleigh Alliance
- Moderator: Brian Leary, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Highwoods Properties

The Future of Growth

Raleigh metro continues to earn top rankings and be recognized as one of the most competitive metros in the nation. What do these accolades mean for our present and our future? This session will provide a glimpse into the Raleigh metro's future and underscore what our trajectory actually means.
- Nathan T. Dollar, Ph.D, Director, Carolina Demography
- Zachery Eanes, Reporter, Axios
- Matthew Martin, Regional Executive, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

No refunds after July 3.

Questions?
For content questions, call 919.664.7035 or email Haley Waxman.
For logistics questions, call 919.664.7080 or email Taylor Sullivan.
For registration questions, call 919.664.7033 or email Alea Morales.
For sponsorship information, email sales@raleighchamber.org.

Join the conversation on social media!
@raleighchamber
#GDS2025

Coffee with Kevin Dick of Carolina Small Business Development Fund 7/15/2025 8:30 AM - 7/15/2025 10:00 AM

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 17:41:00 GMT

This event is for Greater Raleigh Chamber members only.

Coffee with Kevin Dick of Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF)

Learn how different facets of economic development fit together and why small businesses, their access to capital and their growth are so integral to the economy and society.

Kevin Dick began as President & CEO with the Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF) in February 2020 after decades of professional experience working in economic, community, and workforce development at the local government level. He leads a team of 40 full-time employees and has accountability for a $22m+ loan portfolio with $37m in assets under management. Since joining CSBDF, Kevin has helped to bring about a resurgence of the organization as a community and economic development entity with a statewide focus. During his tenure, CSBDF has deployed over $40m in capital and provided loans, grants and technical assistance to over 2000 North Carolina-based small businesses from primarily underserved communities. CSBDF has also conducted economic policy research that has informed government officials, philanthropic organizations, financial services institutions and other key stakeholders. He has worked with the Board and staff to devise a streamlined Strategic Plan, perform an organizational re-alignment and has led the organization to become the #1 SBA Community Advantage Lender in NC for 2022 and the #1 community development financial institution (CDFI) in 2023 for SBA (7a) lending in NC (#22 overall). CSBDF has also become a go-to agency for the administration of public sector loan and grant programs, which has brought relief to thousands of small businesses throughout NC that were adversely impacted by the global pandemic. See Kevin's full bio here.

RSVP by July 8

Questions?
For questions about the agenda, call 919.664.7090 or email Mimi Miller.
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
#ChamberCoffee

Business After Hours - July 2025 7/21/2025 4:30 PM - 7/21/2025 6:30 PM

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 15:34:17 GMT

This event is open to Greater Raleigh Chamber and Young Professionals Network members only.

Meet New Connections and Network at Business After Hours

The premier networking event for local professionals, Business After Hours offers hosts the chance to bring potential customers and vendors on site for a first-hand look at their company. Attendees make new business connections in an informal atmosphere.

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet other Chamber members while you learn more about a local business.

RSVP by July 14.

Questions?
For questions on content, call 919.664.7090 or email Mimi Miller.
For registration questions, call 919.664.7033 or email Alea Morales.

Join the conversation on Twitter!
@raleighchamber
#RaleighBAH

Introduction to the Greater Raleigh Chamber - A Prospective Member Event - July 2025 7/23/2025 8:30 AM - 7/23/2025 10:00 AM

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 15:02:16 GMT

For Prospective Members Only
Registration | 8:30 - 9 a.m.
Program | 9 - 10 a.m.

Learn What the Greater Raleigh Chamber is All About

We invite you to discover the role the Greater Raleigh Chamber plays in our community and how you can be part of the action as a Greater Raleigh Chamber member. Our President and CEO, Adrienne Cole, would enjoy the chance to talk to you about what it means to be a part of today’s Chamber.

The Greater Raleigh Chamber works to sustain and further develop a thriving economy and to enhance our community's quality of life. As the Triangle’s largest business membership organization with more than 1,800 member firms representing two-thirds of the private sector employment in Wake County, we support the interests of the local business community.

From large corporations to local startups, innovation is in Raleigh’s DNA. In the world of economic development, this area has become a model for the country. We invite you to take advantage of the many opportunities we offer. See for yourself why the Raleigh area is consistently named one of the best places to work and live in America.

The Greater Raleigh Chamber membership comes with tangible benefits. As a Chamber member, you will:

Increase visibility for your business and gain access to over 140 curated events and a variety of impactful programs and initiatives to help your business grow.
Invest in the long term livability of our region to help attract and retain a skilled, robust workforce to power your industry.
Build valuable relationships with the largest network of business and civic leaders in the region.
Join your industry peers to lead in shaping our region and strengthening our communities.

Please join us at this prospect-only event to learn more about what we do and get answers to your questions.

*Employees of member firms who are interested in learning more about the Chamber should register for our next New Member Orientation.

Questions?
For questions on content, call 919.664.7036 or email Jackie Huitt.

Perspectives 2025: Strategies for Workplace Success 7/29/2025 8:00 AM - 7/29/2025 3:45 PM

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 16:45:21 GMT

The conference is sold out.
We cannot accommodate additional attendees or walk-ins for the event. We hope you will join us for future Greater Raleigh Chamber events.

Join us at Perspectives 2025: Strategies for Workplace Success!

Employers across the Triangle region want to attract and retain top talent, create and maintain healthy workplaces, and foster innovation and creativity. Teams with a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives help companies achieve these goals.

Perspectives 2025 will provide strategies to expand markets, increase innovation and creativity, and build productive teams, all with the goal of enhancing profitability. This conference will also provide tools to support a welcoming culture, employment and human resources (HR) practices, and top talent attraction and retention.

Breakout topics include:

Workplace Wellness
Creating and Maintaining Partnerships
Assessing and Mitigating Risk

Attendees will also participate in a Key Learning Moment from Al Vivian. For over 30 years, Al Vivian has been a trusted consultant and trainer, helping Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and organizations worldwide navigate cross-cultural leadership.

Register today and take a look at our agenda below.

For sponsorship information, contact sales@raleighchamber.org. Perspectives 2025: Strategies for Workplace Success will be submitted for SHRM professional development credits.

*No refunds after July 11.

Questions?
For questions about speakers or the agenda, call 919.664.7031 or email Serenia Parsons.
For registration questions, call 919.664.7033 or email Alea Morales.
For logistics questions, call 919.664.7080 or email Taylor Sullivan.
For sponsorship information, email sales@raleighchamber.org.

Join the conversation on X!
@raleighchamber
@RaleighWake