“Advocacy is a critical element of our ability to shape a bright future for North Carolina, not just for the business community but also for all who live here. So I urge you to rededicate yourself to the work of this Chamber.”
North Carolina Chamber Chairman Bill Johnson, Progress Energy
Mission & Focus for NC Business Spotlighted
Chamber’s Annual Meeting about Shaping NC's Future
The North Carolina Chamber proudly hosted its 66th Annual Meeting in Greensboro last week. The meeting focused on the Chamber’s collective vision for North Carolina’s future, which envelops businesses of all sizes, sectors and regions of our state and stands to benefit all who live and work here. The meeting convened a large group of businesses to celebrate North Carolina and consider together how best to make our great state an even better place in which to live, work and do business.
Our Chamber’s Annual Meeting gives us the opportunity to reflect on accomplishments of the previous year, as well as highlight aspirations and challenges for the coming year. Over the past 12 months, our Chamber developed and adopted a five-year strategic planned to better position our advocacy organization to meet member expectations and deliver the results our customers deserve. We saw strong revenue growth and exceeded new-member goals. We saw the number of Cornerstone Investors in our Chamber increase by more than 60 percent to more than 150 businesses, and there are now nearly 80 local Chambers that are grassroots advocacy partners in our Chamber Federation.
Looking ahead, the theme for our Chamber’s Annual Meeting was “Shaping North Carolina’s Future.” Chamber leaders drove home the point to nearly 1,000 guests that North Carolina businesses should be involved in shaping our state’s future to ensure not only a globally competitive business climate that attracts and grows the best jobs for our residents, but also an exceptional quality of life.
Special Session on Education
Unites Business Leaders on Dropout Prevention
At our Chamber’s Annual Meeting this year, a Special Session on Education convened a panel of business, education and non-profit leaders to address how North Carolina businesses can help curtail the dropout rate. Every year, tens of thousands of North Carolina students drop out of school. Given the magnanimous costs, our state’s dropout problem is an issue that affects us all, particularly the business community which relies heavily on an available talent pool to maintain competitiveness in a global economy.
Panelists and 300 participants in the Special Session agreed that state businesses, non-profits and schools have the ability to keep students in the classroom, engaged in their work, and prepared for the future workplace. It was a dynamic interchange about an important competitiveness issue for our state. Dr. Jim Goodnight opened the event and Chris William of Wachovia and Carolina Business Review moderated the panel discussion. Additionally our Chamber was honored to have Governor Mike Easley speak at our Annual Meeting luncheon on the important role that North Carolina businesses play in ensuring an effective educational system for all children on all levels.
The conversation that took place is a starting point to organizing and increasing engagement on the part of the business community on this issue on a statewide basis. As we continue to work together to help curtail the dropout rate, please tell our Chamber what specifically you and/your company will do to help by completing our dropout challenge on our Chamber’s website:
http://www.ncchamber.net/mx/hm.asp?id=dropoutchallenge
Chamber Recognizes Exemplary North Carolina Leaders
One of the highlights of our Annual Meeting each year is the presentation of two prestigious awards for exemplary service to North Carolina and our residents. It is appropriate and relevant that the leading advocate for business in North Carolina invests time each year to recognize outstanding North Carolina citizens and public servants. It is decades-long tradition of our Chamber to present Awards for Distinguished Citizenship and Distinguished Public Service.
Jim Hyler, retired from First Citizens Bank, received the Corning Award for Distinguished Citizenship for his commitment to our state and his constant desire to make North Carolina a better place to live and work. Martin Lancaster, past President of the NC Community College System, received the Chamber Award for Distinguished Public Service for his leadership and dedication to public service and workforce preparedness and development in North Carolina.
Where does NC and the Chamber Stand Tomorrow?
Chairman Bill Johnson’s acceptance of the chairman’s gavel from outgoing Chairman John Atkins included a poignant statement about the importance of involvement in advocacy on the part of North Carolina businesses: “Advocacy is a critical element of our ability to shape a bright future for North Carolina, not just for the business community, but also for all who live here. So, I urge you to rededicate yourself to the work of this Chamber. Help us take on the responsibility of leadership, of playing a high-impact role in shaping North Carolina’s future,” Johnson said.
“We intend to be positive, progressive and proactive as we step up our advocacy and step up to the leadership challenge,” Johnson added. “We need to recognize that it is a pivotal time for North Carolina and we urge the business community to stand together in planning for tomorrow.”
Vision 2013: Shaping North Carolina’s Future
Under the leadership of our Chamber’s Long-Range Planning Committee, we have developed a five-year strategic plan designed to better position our Chamber to fulfill its mission and realize our members’ vision for North Carolina’s future. Past Chairman John Atkins appointed a Long-Range Planning Committee during his term to develop a strategic plan to enable our Chamber to realize its full potential. That committee, led by then Vice Chairman Bill Johnson, developed a progressive and ambitious plan that will provide the framework within which our Chamber will work to: achieve customer expectations, meet goals, measure success and better position our business advocacy organization to empower an organized business community to shape North Carolina’s Future.
Joining the Important Transportation Discussion
During the Board of Directors meeting, which preceded the Annual Meeting, members had an opportunity to discuss the important topic of transportation infrastructure and funding options. There is no disputing how critical our state’s transportation systems are to the ability of North Carolina businesses to remain competitive. It is also clear that there are serious transportation infrastructure needs going unmet in our state and significant challenges around funding needs and the processes by which our systems are built and maintained. Any campaign to identify, present and secure solutions to our state’s increasing transportation challenges will require a high level of effort and resources on the part of our Chamber and the business community.
Chamber Video Debuted at Annual Meeting Luncheon
At our Annual Meeting luncheon, our Chamber debuted a video that encapsulates our members’ vision for North Carolina’s future and highlights not only North Carolina’s competitive advantages, but also the rate and pace of change in our state and the world that necessitates we never become complacent about our competitive position. The video clearly illustrates why it is so important that North Carolina businesses be involved in shaping North Carolina’s future. Click here to watch the video (top left):
http://www.ncmagazine.com/annual-meeting/videos/videos-main.html
Mark your Calendars: Exciting Upcoming Chamber Events
North Carolina Chamber Hosts Government Affairs Conference
Our Chamber will host a first-of-its kind Government Affairs Conference on Wednesday, May 14th in Raleigh at the Marbles Museum on Hargett Street. Morton Kondrake, executive editor of Roll Call Newspaper in Washington, DC and a contributor for Fox News Channel will keynote the noon conference.
In addition to the luncheon keynote, the Conference will host the leadership of the North Carolina House and Senate to discuss the upcoming legislative session, as well as the all-important 2008 political season. The conference will also feature a Political Reporters Roundtable comprised of members of the Capitol Press Corps and a panel of experts who will talk about how to use strategic messaging to position your organization’s top issues in the political and policy arena.
You can find more information on this highly anticipated event at:
http://www.ncchamber.net/mx/hm.asp?id=08govaffairs
Second Annual Manufacturing Summit Set for June 10th
Our Chamber proudly presents its 2nd annual Manufacturing Summit, which will be held at the Grandover Resort and Conference Center in Greensboro on June 10th. The theme for the Summit is “What North Carolina Makes, Makes North Carolina.” The event will serve as a forum for manufacturing issues and ideas to be discussed, including legislative, regulatory, and legal issues confronting a vital sector of our state’s economy.
Last year’s Manufacturing Summit was a highly successful event with over 350 attendees where our Chamber launched its Manufacturing Council. During this year’s Summit, our Chamber will present the results of a study called, “What North Carolina Makes, Makes North Carolina.” The study will highlight the economic impact of manufacturing in our state, as well as the benefits and potential of modern manufacturing here.
You can find more information on this expected sell-out event at:
http://www.ncchamber.net/mx/hm.asp?id=mfgsummit08
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