NC Chamber Vice President of Member Engagement Beth Shore leads the Chamber’s member engagement team in building relationships with people and companies to further our shared mission to secure and protect a nationally competitive statewide business climate.

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As we close out January and move into February, the NC Chamber team has been busy setting our strategies for a successful 2022 and surveying the landscape for opportunities to put those strategies into action.

This year, our plans include giving you even more opportunities to engage with our team, fellow Chamber members, and other pro-growth partners to foster success for our companies and our state. Here’s an overview of the many ways you can maximize your NC Chamber membership in 2022.

Regional Member Roundtables

Our complimentary Member Roundtable Series brings together leaders from regions across our state and connects them with NC Chamber leadership to discuss the unique issues impacting your companies and your people. Open only to a limited number of guests, these gatherings are exclusive to NC Chamber members and offer a wonderful opportunity for leaders like you to network with your peers and engage with our team in a personal setting.

Talent supply challenges remain the single biggest concern reported by our members, and that’s where the NC Chamber will be directing much of our energy in 2022. In February, NC Chamber President and CEO Gary Salamido is participating in a series of Roundtables focused specifically on workforce competitiveness, with four meetings throughout the state: Greenville (Feb. 1), Raleigh (Feb. 3), Jamestown (Feb. 8), and Charlotte (Feb. 23). Learn more

Manufacturing Council and Ag Allies Webinar Series

The NC Chamber Manufacturing Council is a new webinar series offered complimentarily to executives at Chamber Cornerstone Members. These virtual gatherings will take place on a quarterly basis, allowing leaders in manufacturing to process recent trends, share ideas and solutions, and discuss pressing issues with state and national subject-matter experts. Supply chain resilience – another focal point for the Chamber and our members this year – will be a major topic of discussion as we begin this series on March 3. Subscribe here to receive updates and contact NC Chamber Senior Member Relations Manager Jake Sipe to learn more.

Like manufacturers, farmers and agribusinesses face many issues specific to their industry, which is why we’re thrilled to be picking up where we left off with our popular Ag Allies Webinar Series (subscribe here). On Wednesday, Feb. 2, we kicked off our 2022 Ag Allies series by hosting American Farm Bureau Federation Economist Shelby Swain Myers and NC Farm Bureau National Resources Director Keith Larick for a discussion on carbon markets and what they mean for agribusinesses in our state. Learn more

80^th Annual Meeting

On Tuesday, March 22, we’ll be hosting job creators and our partners from across the state for the NC Chamber’s 80^th Annual Meeting – both virtually and with limited in-person attendance. With presenting sponsor Food Lion, co-sponsor Martin Marietta, and a host of Gold, Silver, and Bronze sponsors making it all possible, we’ll discuss the biggest issues facing our businesses, including a panel on the March 2022 launch of the NC Chamber Foundation’s Institute for Workforce Competitiveness. We’ll also recognize three individuals who have left a distinctive mark on our state through their contributions and accomplishments. Learn more

Complete the online form here to receive more information about the Institute for Workforce Competitiveness and learn how you can get involved.

Signature NC Chamber Events

Of course, we would not be the NC Chamber without offering our signature slate of events all throughout the year. These events offer NC Chamber members like you the perfect chance to grow your network, learn about relevant issues, and expand your marketing footprint through sponsorships and speaking opportunities.

Here are a few of these opportunities waiting just on the horizon:

• Energy Summit (Feb. 15): This event offers attendees front-row access to the experts and ideas shaping North Carolina’s fast-evolving energy future – and the chance to ensure your organization’s perspective is part of the conversation. Register
• Transportation & Infrastructure Summit (April 28): As our Destination 2030 Coalition continues to lead a business-driven dialogue around the urgent need to modernize transportation funding in our state, we’re setting the agenda for this future-focused gathering to lay the cement for a 21st century transportation strategy.
• Women > A Force in Business: Charlotte (May 17): The first of our annual Women > A Force in Business events will convene women and our allies in Charlotte to promote personal well-being and leadership development strategies for women, in the workplace and in life. Sponsorship opportunities remain to foster these crucial conversations!
• Government Affairs Reception (May 25): With our government affairs team busy gathering steam for the 2022 session (a short one – we hope!), join us in May to network with policymakers and learn where the opportunities for pro-jobs advocacy lie.

We’ll continue to nail down event agendas and announce new offerings throughout the year, so remember to subscribe to our event updates to ensure you stay on top of these valuable networking, marketing, and learning opportunities.

Cornerstone Member Exclusives: Thought Leadership for Job Creators

Our marketing and communications team is currently offering several engagement outlets exclusively to executives and their teams at our Cornerstone Member companies. The Business Playbook is a new monthly podcast spearheaded by NC Chamber Director of Marketing Emmy Boyette for leaders to share case studies and strategies for workplace success – you can indicate your interest in participating or share topic ideas here.

Meanwhile, we’re hoping to feature more guest authors from our Cornerstone Members in this very newsletter, Executive Memo. If you’re a Cornerstone Member with a unique perspective to bring on a major business issue, contact NC Chamber Communications Manager Sam Gunnells and let him know of your interest and ideas.

Connect with Our Team

The many talented individuals who make up the NC Chamber team are always here to answer questions and listen to concerns and ideas from members like you. Whether it’s a sponsorship question for our events teams or a visionary idea for our leadership team, we’re eager to engage with you to keep our companies – and our communities – growing and thriving!

Sincerely,

Beth Shore
Vice President of Member Engagement