NC Chamber President and CEO Gary Salamido has been named the 2026 NC Small Business Advocate of the Year by the North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC).

Salamido was surprised with the recognition Wednesday at SBTDC’s annual Small Business Day event, held at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Durham. The theme for this year’s event was health – making Salamido a fitting tribute in light of his leadership on the Carolina HealthWorks program for small businesses in North Carolina.

“It’s an honor to be recognized as the NC Small Business Advocate of the Year,” Salamido said. “Small businesses are critical to our economy, and small business owners want to do right by their employees – but the cost of health care has been a barrier for many. It is rewarding to know that more than 950 small businesses are now using Carolina HealthWorks to offer competitive benefits to their employees.”

Carolina HealthWorks launched in November as a partnership between the NC Chamber and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina NC (Blue Cross NC).

Through a multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA) model, Carolina HealthWorks allows businesses to pool their resources and access rates and benefits typically only enjoyed by larger corporations. Businesses are eligible to participate in Carolina HealthWorks if they have 2-50 employees, are headquartered in the state, and are a member of a participating chamber, including the NC Chamber.

SBTDC Executive State Director Byron Hicks said the program is just the latest achievement in Salamido’s career that shows his dedication to supporting small businesses.

“It is such a pleasure and privilege to work alongside Gary in his efforts to support business in North Carolina,” Hicks said. “Gary’s leadership and advocacy for small businesses from disaster assistance to health care support to legislative issues is what continues to make North Carolina the best state for business and especially small business.”

Salamido is currently a member of SBTDC’s Statewide Advisory Board. In that role, he advocates on behalf of the small to medium-sized business community and provides feedback and recommendations on SBTDC programs and services.

Before becoming president and CEO of the NC Chamber in 2019, Salamido served as its chief operating officer and acting president and previously led its policy, lobbying, advocacy, and political efforts.

He also worked for 19 years at GlaxoSmithKline. His early professional experience was in hospital and community pharmacy settings.

He is the second recipient of the NC Small Business Advocate of the Year award, which was established in 2025 to honor professionals who remove barriers, open doors, and drive growth for small businesses across the state.