Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Events Newswire

Emerging Leaders Spring 2026 - Graduation 5/5/2026 8:30 AM - 5/5/2026 10:30 AM

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 19:48:37 GMT

Emerging Leaders

Celebrating over a decade of leadership impact, Emerging Leaders, established in 2011, is a dynamic 8-week program designed to expand the capacity of tomorrow’s leaders. Limited to 20 participants each session, this exclusive cohort experience immerses professionals in leadership strategies, emerging local trends, and peer-driven learning in an intimate, high-impact environment.

Through a curated blend of personal evaluation, small-group interactions, and engagement with Raleigh-area executives and business leaders, participants acquire actionable skills, sharpen self-awareness, and broaden their networks. Since its launch, the program has empowered over 400 participants to elevate their leadership and make meaningful community impact.

For questions, contact Shana Overdorf.

Networking 101 - May 2026 5/5/2026 8:30 AM - 5/5/2026 10:00 AM

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 14:13:09 GMT

Open to the Public

Networking 101

Networking 101 is our quarterly professional development series. In our next session, Dr. Micah Krempasky, WakeMed's Chief Medical Officer of Mental Health & Well-Being, will discuss the unrecognized negative biases around mental health education and where biases exist in daily life. Attendees will have an opportunity to discuss the everyday bias around mental health, challenging conversations, and how we can show up as community members to break the stigma. Attendees will also hear how WakeMed is taking the lead in confronting the current mental health crisis in our community with the development of a Whole-Person Health Campus.

RSVP by May 1

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 X!
@raleighchamber
#ChamberNW101

New Member Orientation - May 2026 5/6/2026 8:00 AM - 5/6/2026 10:00 AM

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 15:15:11 GMT

This free event is for new members who have not attended previously.

Registration | 8 - 8:30 a.m.
Program | 8:30 - 10 a.m.

Maximize Your Membership

Welcome to the Chamber! Find out how to get involved and make the most of your membership, and make your first new connections as a Chamber member. You’ll learn about 75+ members as first-time attendees give 30-second overviews about their companies.

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 social media!
@raleighchamber
#ChamberNMO

Coffee with Leaders - May 2026 5/7/2026 8:30 AM - 5/7/2026 10:00 AM

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 14:37:41 GMT

Registration | 8:30 - 9 a.m.
Program | 9 - 10 a.m.

Join us for a dynamic conversation with Brian DiDiano, Executive Vice President of Bobbitt. Brian brings decades of experience in construction, business development, and executive leadership, with a career built on strategic growth, operational excellence, and trusted relationships across the Triangle and beyond.

This fireside chat will explore Leadership & Growth: Strategic Vision for Business and Community, with conversation centered on how leaders can think strategically, adapt with confidence, and create meaningful impact both inside and outside their organizations.

You will leave with practical takeaways on how to:

Step into leadership roles with intention
Balance short-term execution with long-term strategic vision
Lead with resilience and adaptability during times of economic change
Grow your business while staying grounded in purpose and community impact

RSVP by May 1

Questions?
For questions about the agenda, call 919.664.7037 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

Leadership Raleigh Class 51 - Civic Education & Engagement 5/7/2026 8:45 AM - 5/7/2026 5:30 PM

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 17:36:29 GMT

Leadership Raleigh

Celebrating 55 years of cultivating community leaders, Leadership Raleigh stands as one of the nation’s longest-standing leadership programs. This signature ten-month experience invites around 100 leaders (across two cohorts) to engage deeply with our region through presentations, collaborative panels, immersive behind-the-scenes tours, and civic involvement.

Participants learn firsthand from regional business executives, elected officials, and non-profit leaders, gaining an in-depth understanding of our community’s challenges and opportunities in various areas. They also collaborate on team-based service projects that contribute tangible, meaningful impact across the Triangle.

Though the application period is currently closed, the program looks forward to welcoming a new cohort when applications reopen in Spring 2026.

Learn more about Leadership Raleigh here.

Chamber Professional Women's Luncheon - Lead BOLDly, Part 3: Leadership 5/14/2026 11:30 AM - 5/14/2026 1:30 PM

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 20:34:16 GMT

Registration & Lunch | 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Program | 12:15 - 1:30 p.m.

B.O.L.D. Chamber Professional Women’s Luncheon: Leading with Purpose

Join us for the third installment of the B.O.L.D. Chamber Professional Women’s Luncheon series as we continue our mission to empower, equip, and elevate women across our business community. This session will focus on Leadership — what it looks like today, how it’s evolving, and how women can step into it with clarity and confidence.

Leadership isn’t about doing more. It’s about knowing and owning your lane...at your highest and best.

In this session, Jes Averhart will introduce us to the Fab 4 of Leadership - a fresh lens for understanding how women step into rooms, shift conversations, and drive results! Too often, we're taught to lead like someone else...louder, tougher, busier or more polished. We’re handed unspoken rules about what leadership “should” look like. Not anymore!

Through pop culture references, audience engagement, quick self-discovery moments, and honest reflection, you will:
• Discover your dominant contributor style in real time
• Recognize how your natural wiring shows up in moments of influence and decision-making
• Identify where you may overextend (or hold back)

Expect energy. Insight. And a few “ohhh, snap… that’s me” moments.

This is your main character moment. We'll see you there!

No refunds after May 6.

Parking Options close to The Stockroom at 230.
News and Observer Deck - 2-hour parking $8
Moore Square Parking Deck - 2-hour FREE parking

Questions?
For questions about the agenda, call 919.664.7090 or email Mimi Miller.
For logistics questions, call 919.664.7011 or email Jen Palmer.
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
#RaleighCPW

Growth & Development Summit 2026 5/19/2026 11:00 AM - 5/19/2026 4:30 PM

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 18:51:13 GMT

Join Us for the Greater Raleigh Chamber's Growth and Development Summit 2026!

The Growth and Development Summit 2026 will bring together regional leaders committed to shaping the future of Raleigh and Wake County. Join the Chamber and Wake County Economic Development to connect, learn, and lead conversations around growth, infrastructure, housing, transit, and quality of life.

Keynote Speaker: Bruce Katz
A nationally recognized expert on urban and metropolitan growth, Bruce Katz has served as Vice President at the Brookings Institution, founding Director of the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, and Chief of Staff to HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros. He is also a co-author of The Metropolitan Revolution and The New Localism.

New! Executive Panel

Hear from influential executives bringing new perspectives to the region’s business landscape.

Confirmed Speakers

Michael Bucy, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
Mike DePaulis, President, Weatherby Healthcare
Natasha Pillay-Bemath, Site Lead and Vice President, Global Leader - Talent Acquisition, Executive Search & Onboarding, IBM

Breakout Sessions

Greenway Design Challenge Winner Presentation
Hear from the winner of the regional design challenge to enhance the southern downtown greenway corridor – from Dorothea Dix Park to S. State Street – as they present their visionary concept.

The Impact of Growth on Regional Infrastructure
Prepare Wake County and the Research Triangle for the future through smart investment and collaboration in transportation, utilities, and water systems.

Confirmed Speakers

Derrick Remer, District Manager, Government & Community Relations, Duke Energy
Kendra Parrish, Executive Director of Utilities and Infrastructure, Town of Holly Springs
George C. Jones, Executive Director, Partners for Environmental Justice
Kathy Moyer, Electric Utilities Director, Town of Apex

Housing Innovation: Expanding Options and Affordability in a Rapidly Growing Region
Participate in a fireside chat on creative housing solutions, funding strategies, and adaptive reuse to meet the demands of rapid growth.

Confirmed Speakers

Paul Kane, Executive Vice President, Raleigh-Wake Home Builders Association
Morgan Mansa, Director of Housing, Wake County
Lee Cochran, Senio Vice President of Development, Laurel Street Residential

Transit as a Growth Engine: Unlocking the Potential of BRT-Oriented Development
Exploring how Bus Rapid Transit can drive mixed-use development, walkability, and economic vitality.

Confirmed Speakers

Joe Milazzo, Executive Director, RTA
Gabriel Guillois, Managing Partner, Atlas Stark

The Fun Factor: Designing Vibrant, Lively Communities for a Growing Region
Discover how creative placemaking, experiential amenities, and thoughtful design help build engaging, livable communities.

What Does Growth Really Mean for Our Future? Exploring the Impacts, Tradeoffs, and Opportunities of a Growing Region
Join a discussion on the challenges and opportunities of growth, including infrastructure, land use, education, healthcare, and more.

Confirmed Speakers

David Ellis, County Manager, Wake County Government

Check back regularly for breakout session speakers.

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
#GDS2026

The Owner's Table - May 2026 5/20/2026 5:30 PM - 5/20/2026 7:00 PM

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 18:28:23 GMT

5:30 - 6 p.m | Registration and Networking
6 - 7 p.m. | Table Topic Rotations

The Owner’s Table: This Speed-Strategic Exchange is a peer-to-peer networking experience created specifically for small business owners. In this 90-minute session, owners will connect with peers for candid, fast-paced conversations about the real challenges of running and growing a business. No presentations. No sales pitches. Just practical insight from people doing the work every day.

Designed as a high-value, owner-only experience, this program gives participants the opportunity to pressure-test ideas, share lessons learned, and gain useful perspective they can apply right away. If you are looking for honest conversation, practical takeaways, and meaningful connections with others who understand the realities of business ownership, this event is for you.

Key Takeaways

Honest conversation with fellow small business owners
Straightforward guidance on growth and operational hurdles
Fresh perspective from peers facing similar decisions
Useful ideas and next steps to apply in your business
Meaningful connections in a focused, owner-only setting

Questions?
For questions, call 919.664.7090 or email Mimi Miller.

Leadership Raleigh Class 52 - Civic Education & Engagement 5/20/2026 8:45 AM - 5/20/2026 5:30 PM

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 17:51:40 GMT

Young Professionals Network Program - May 2026 5/21/2026 8:30 AM - 5/21/2026 10:00 AM

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 17:38:11 GMT

Registration and Networking | 8:30 - 9 a.m.
Program | 9 - 10 a.m.

Young Professionals Network Program: Back in the Room: Building Real Community in a Digital-First World

As professionals return to more in-person interactions, many are questioning not just how to network but why it matters to show up at all. After years of remote and hybrid work, young professionals are craving something deeper than transactional conversations and surface-level connections.

This program explores how to build meaningful, in-person relationships that create both professional momentum and personal fulfillment. Attendees will learn how to intentionally create environments, at work and beyond, where people feel seen, supported, and energized.

More importantly, this session will unpack why being in the room matters now more than ever, and how proximity, presence, and shared experiences accelerate trust, opportunity, and well-being in ways digital interactions cannot fully replicate.

Topics include:
- The difference between networking and community
- Why in-person connection creates deeper trust and opportunity
- Designing “third spaces” for professional and personal connection
- Creating belonging in competitive environments
- Avoiding isolation while protecting your time
- The link between community, mental health, and long-term fulfillment

This session explores community development through the lens of a young professional navigating a hybrid, fast-paced, and often disconnected world.

Panelists include:

Lindsey Hubbard, Director of Outreach and Strategic Partnership, College of Education, NC State University

Will Letchworth, Vice President, Transportation, McAdams

Casey Morsell, Real Estate Broker, Empire Properties

Hennessey Stewart, Vice President | Financial Advisor at CAPTRUST (Moderator)

RSVP by May 14, 2026

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 Young Professionals Network (YPN)
X: @RaleighChamber
#RaleighYPN

Business After Hours - May 2026 5/27/2026 5:00 PM - 5/27/2026 7:00 PM

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:31:47 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.

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 social!
@raleighchamber
#RaleighBAH