The Chamber Celebrates 2024 Successes and Announces 2025 Priorities at 82nd Annual Meeting
The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro celebrated 2024 successes, announced its 2025 goals, and honored three exceptional leaders at the 82nd Annual Meeting
Chapel Hill, NC – On Thursday, February 27th, The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro hosted its 82nd Annual Meeting: Driving Progress presented by Piedmont Health. Over 200 business and community leaders, including many of the more than 75 new members, convened at Koury Auditorium to celebrate 2024 accomplishments, learn about The Chamber's 2025 priorities, and honor three exceptional leaders.
Fireside Chat with Chancellor Lee Roberts
A fireside chat with UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts, moderated by Chamber President and CEO Aaron Nelson, provided valuable insights into the university’s future and its impact on the local business community. Chancellor Roberts discussed key priorities, including the future of Carolina North, the challenges and opportunities in securing federal research funding, and the university’s role in supporting economic growth and workforce development in the region. He also addressed the importance of housing solutions for faculty, staff, and students and shared his vision for strengthening partnerships between UNC and local businesses.
2024 Successes
Outgoing 2024 Chamber Board Chair Dan Lehman (UNC Health) highlighted a year of purpose and intentionality, focusing on business growth, economic development, and community impact. Under Lehman’s leadership, the Chamber achieved record-breaking fundraising success, engaged more than 600 members, and drove significant Campaign-related policy advancements to improve housing affordability, workforce development, and business retention.
Successes include:
1) Enhancing member value: The Chamber hosted over 100 member programs and events including women's events, young professionals gatherings, and Black Business Alliance socials. The Chamber held a successful 65-member delegation to Ann Arbor for the 2024 Inter-City Visit, studying best practices in downtown activation, affordable housing, economic development, and climate action from a peer community. In addition, The Chamber relaunched chamberexport.com, improving resources for businesses engaged in international trade, and partnered with Catapult to offer discounted HR support to members.
2) Working towards housing goals outlined by The Campaign for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro: Lehman described 2024 wins aligned with The Campaign's housing goal, including leading advocacy efforts to successfully extend the water and sewer service boundary to open land for workforce housing development, passage of $15 million Chapel Hill affordable housing bond and a $20 million affordable housing fund, the coordination of the "Vote Yes to Invest" bond campaign, and the establishment of a land-use ordinance review task force to recommend policy updates for streamlined business and housing development.
3) Small Business Support & Workforce Development: The Chamber has expanded its small business support services, including the hiring of a Business Success Navigator (Taylor Gay) and a Community Advancement Manager (Gregory Raymond) to connect entrepreneurs with critical resources and better align workforce development efforts with employer needs.
Awards
Three extraordinary community leaders were honored with special accolades.
- 2024 Chair’s Award for Service to The Chamber: Scott Maitland of Top of the Hill, for his pivotal role in co-chairing the Chamber’s Campaign for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro, raising over $1.7 million for economic development initiatives.
- 2024 Chair’s Award for Public Private Partnership: Brian Litchfield, Executive Director of Chapel Hill Transit, for his leadership in advancing the North-South Bus Rapid Transit project and maintaining a fare-free transit system
- Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award: Jackie Jenks, President and CEO of Inter-Faith Council for Social Service, for her unwavering dedication to addressing poverty and homelessness in the region.
(Scroll down to read citations)
2025 Priorities
The Chamber's 2025 Chair, Betsy Harris of Armacell, announced the priorities driving The Chamber's year ahead.
1) Enhancing Member Engagement: The Chamber will expand its programming, revise communication strategies, and introduce new networking and professional development opportunities.
2) Driving Economic Growth and Workforce Development: The Chamber will launch an employer-led Workforce Council and continue efforts to support small businesses and startups, particularly those led by underrepresented communities.
3) Navigating Economic and Political Changes: Recognizing the evolving landscape, the Chamber will focus on helping members adapt to shifting economic and policy conditions.
Additionally, the Chamber announced plans to launch a new small business health insurance program in partnership with the NC Chamber and Blue Cross Blue Shield, reinforcing its commitment to supporting business owners and their employees.
"Our members and investors should be confident that we are fulfilling our dual commitments of serving today’s members' needs and undertaking the hard work necessary to ensure our community's long-term success," said Harris.
"Ain't it Good," a poem celebrating Chapel Hill-Carrboro's Black History by Dasan Ahanu
In celebration of Black History Month, the Chamber commissioned poet and cultural organizer Dasan Ahanu to create and perform an original poem highlighting the rich history and resilience of the local Black community. Ahanu’s moving performance paid tribute to the contributions of Black entrepreneurs, activists, and leaders in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, emphasizing the importance of continued advocacy, equity, and opportunity for all. The reading of the poem can be viewed here.
About the Annual Meeting
The 2025 Annual Meeting was held at Koury Auditorium in Chapel Hill from 4:30-7:00 p.m. The event featured live music by Chapel Hill School of Musical Arts, custom, on-the-spot poems by Poetry Fox, and exciting Chamber-themed popcorn by The Mad Popper. The 2024 Annual Meeting was presented by Piedmont Health with the red carpet sponsored by Adkin CPA PLLC. Program Sponsors included Durham Tech, Erickson Advisors, and BOLD Companies. Contributing and award sponsors included Brooks Pierce Law Firm, Duke Energy, and Enbridge Gas NC. The reception was sponsored by Frank Land Design, with catering by 39 West, and cocktails sponsored by Beau Catering.
About The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro
The Chamber is a membership organization that serves and advances the business interests of Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro, including the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro as well as southern Orange, northern Chatham, and southwest Durham counties. The Chamber's network includes more than 600-member enterprises that employ 95,000 workers throughout the region. Together with its network, The Chamber is committed to building a sustainable community where business thrives.
Award Citations
Scott Maitland, Recipient of the 2024 Chair’s Award for Service to the Chamber
*Remarks presented by 2024 Board Chair Dan Lehman
"This award is presented annually to an individual in recognition of their exceptional service to the Chamber, its mission, and its members.
This year’s winner has made a substantial, positive impact on the organization and their work is propelling us forward to tackle some of our community’s most important work.
With a decorated history serving our nation and our community, this leader is both a willing volunteer and an effective volunteer leader.
Our honoree is a West Point graduate, Desert Storm veteran, founder and proprietor of one of our community’s most prominent and iconic restaurants, two-time chair of the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Board of Directors, former Chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, an entrepreneurship teacher at the School of Science and Math, an adjunct professor here at Kenan Flagler Business School, and Entrepreneur in Residence with Innovate Carolina.
Today we honor Scott Maitland, Proprietor of Top of the Hill, for his leadership and service to The Chamber, most specifically, for co-chairing The Chamber’s Campaign for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro which raised for than $1.7 million in funds, pledged over five years, to advance our Chamber’s community and economic impact agenda.
In 2024, Scott served as The Chamber’s Vice Chair for Community Impact where he holds us accountable to, and helps us deliver on, the commitments of our Campaign.
For his service to the Chamber and tremendous work advancing the Chamber’s mission, please join me in recognizing the 2024 Chairs Award for Service to the Chamber Scott Maitland."
Brian Litchfield, Recipient of the 2024 Chair’s Award for Public Private Partnership
*Remarks presented by 2024 Board Chair Dan Lehman
"This award is presented annually to an individual whose work and service helps connect the public and private sectors to the benefit of the entire community.
This year’s award recipient is very familiar with making connections, although he probably hears more often from folks who miss a connection.
The 2025 Award for Public-Private Partnership goes to Brian Litchfield, the executive director of Chapel Hill Transit.
Under Brian's leadership, Chapel Hill Transit has proven the power of collaboration in connecting the public and private sector, connecting employers with employees, and by innovating in public transportation.
For decades, Chapel Hill Transit has operated as a partnership between Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and our University, and this collaboration has been instrumental in providing seamless and efficient transit services to our community. And under Brian’s leadership, Chapel Hill transit has been able to continue to operate as a fare-free bus system.
Brian's leadership and determination continue to advance the North-South Bus Rapid Transit Line. BRT – referred to by some as ‘Buses Resembling Trains’ – is a transformative project that will introduce dedicated bus lanes, high-capacity buses, and improved pedestrian and cycling facilities along Martin Luther King Boulevard, from I-40 in the north, through downtown, past the hospitals, to Southern Village -- providing faster, more reliable service, connecting workers with employment centers, and supporting sustainable growth in our community.
Brian Litchfield's career with Chapel Hill Transit spans over a decade, first joining Chapel Hill Transit in 2011 and becoming transit director in 2014.
Brian, your dedication and commitment to improving public transportation have made a lasting impact on Chapel Hill and Carrboro, and your business community, your hospital, your university, and I are grateful.
On behalf of the Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro, it is my privilege to present you with the 2024 Chair’s Award for Public Private Partnership."
Jackie Jenks, Recipient of the 2024 Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award
*Remarks delivered by Ray Trapp (Duke Energy)
"The Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award is a tribute to those individuals who use their time, talent, and compassion to make a positive difference in the community.
Created to celebrate Duke’s centennial, this year marks our 20th year of partnering with The Chamber to present this award.
This year’s honoree of the Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award is:
• A people-centered leader who empowers and brings out the best in her team.
• A dedicated advocate for social justice and community welfare, committed to improving the lives of the underserved, marginalized, and most in need.
• A problem-solver who has navigated her organization through numerous challenges, including economic downturns and the ongoing impacts of the pandemic.
• A visionary leader who has developed new programs and initiatives to address emerging needs of our community’s most vulnerable members.
Under her leadership, the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service has made significant strides in confronting poverty and building community providing a wide range of essential services, including:
• Emergency financial assistance to help individuals and families avoid homelessness and financial crises;
• Shelter and housing services for those experiencing homelessness; and
• A community kitchen serving nutritious meals to those in need, and a community market distributing groceries and essential items to alleviate food insecurity.
For her leadership, service, teamwork, coalition building, integrity, hard work, and success in improving the lives of the people of our region, I am pleased to present the Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award to Jackie Jenks the President and CEO of the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service."
Note: Jackie was announced as this year’s recipient at the Annual Meeting and the award will be formally presented at an upcoming Town Council meeting.
Contact: Aury St. Germain, Director of Communications and Business Development, The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro, astgermain@carolinachamber.org, 828-674-8982 (direct)