CHAPEL HILL, NC: The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro elected its 2020 Officers, mobilized 100+ volunteers, and is readying its network of nearly 800-member employers for a successful year.
 
“We are off to a strong start in 2020,” said newly-elected Board Chair Ellen Shannon, Vice President of Planning & Development at Shannon Media, Inc – producer of Chapel Hill, Chatham, and Durham Magazines. “With a motivated board of directors, a powerful agenda, and the growing network of members and volunteers, we are well-positioned to build a more sustainable community where business thrives in 2020.”
 

The Chamber has a 35-member Board of Directors led by six elected officers:  
 

Officers of the Board from top left to bottom right: Chair Ellen Shannon, Vice President of Planning & Development, Shannon Media, Inc and Chapel Hill Magazine; Vice Chair Tom Wiltberger, Co-owner, Broker, REALTOR®, Terra Nova Global Properties; Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair Joel Levy, President and CEO, Joel I. Levy CPA, PLLC; General Counsel Robert (Bob) Saunders, Attorney and Partner, Brooks Pierce; Immediate Past Chair Creighton Blackwell, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Coastal Credit Union; Secretary and CEO Aaron Nelson, President and CEO, The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro.
 

The Chamber has appointed chairs of seven active committees in 2020:
 

Committee Chairs from top left to bottom right: Government Affairs Committee Chair Betsy Brucker Harris, Armacell; Board Development Committee Chair Tom Wiltberger, Terra Nova Global Properties; Award Selection Committee Chair Camille Berry, Community Home Trust; Member Hospitality Committee (formerly Ambassadors) Chair Chuck Whalen, Aflac; Technology Committee Chair Tola Oguntoyinbo, ShineBiG; Membership Committee Chair Lori Doherty, Doherty Home Inspection, and Finance Committee Chair Joel Levy of Joel Levy CPA, PLLC.

Newly Elected and Reelected Board Members: Antoine Puech, CEO, Prestige Associates; Lydia Mason, CFO, Piedmont Health; Dan Lehman, Associate Vice President, UNC Health Care; Kim Grooms, Executive Director, YMCA of the Triangle; Manish Atma, President and CEO, Atma Hotel Group, Inc; Paige Zinn, Principal/Owner, Jennings; Karin DeMarco, Associate Publisher, AICPA; Poonam Nandani, Marketing and Communications Director, Hendrick Southpoint AutoMall; Zoe Dehmer, Director of Operations & Planning, Acme Food & Beverage Company; Lori Doherty, Business Operations, Doherty Home Inspection; Eliazar Posada, Community Engagement & Advocacy Department Director, El Centro Hispano; Chris Peronto, Vice President, Head of Enterprise Strategy & Innovation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Review the full list of 2020 Directors of the Board.
 

In addition to the Officers, Committee Chairs, and members of the Board, the Chamber recognizes the leadership of its three affiliate organizations: 
 

Affiliate leadership from top left to bottom right: Carrboro Business Alliance Leadership Council Chair David Jessee, J&J Futures, and Vice Chair, Rae Mosher, Carrburritos Taqueria; Chapel Hill Young Professionals Steering Committee Chair Connolly Walker, State Farm Insurance; the Big Bold Ideas Steering Committee Chair Creighton Blackwell, Coastal Credit Union, and Vice Chair Reagan Greene Pruitt, BCBSNC.
 

The Chamber’s nonprofit affiliate, the Partnership for a Sustainable Community, strengthens and supports the Chamber's economic and community development work. The Partnership applies business leadership to solve community problems and create opportunities. The 2020 officers, who were elected by their board, are Chair Creighton Blackwell, Coastal Credit Union; Treasurer Joel Levy, Joel I Levy CPA; and General Council Bob Saunders, Brooks Pierce.
 

The Chamber network, including the 2019 and 2020 leadership, will gather tomorrow (Friday, January 31, 2020) at the Carolina Club in Chapel Hill, NC for the 77th Annual Meeting. At the meeting, 2020 Chair Ellen Shannon will share the board’s plans for the year and how they will deliver on The Chamber’s vision: “to be a globally recognized community with the talent, infrastructure, and investment that drives the success of local employers and supports world-class education, public amenities, and thriving downtowns.”

The Chamber’s 2019 Board Chair, Creighton Blackwell, will share reflections on 2019 progress and updates on the Big Bold Ideas initiative. “It has been a great joy to serve as 2019 Chair of the Chamber,” said Immediate Past Chair, Creighton Blackwell, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Coastal Credit Union. “2019 was an exceptional year with highlights including sound financial performance, 100 new members, and the launch of Big Bold Ideas. I look forward to continuing my involvement.”

Follow the Annual Meeting conversation on twitter @CarolinaChamber and #CarolinaChamber.

The Chamber is a membership organization that serves and advances the business interests of Greater Chapel Hill, including the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro as well as southern Orange, northern Chatham, and southwest Durham counties. The Chamber's network is growing with nearly 800-member enterprises that employ more than 95,000 workers throughout the region. Together with its network, The Chamber is committed to building a sustainable community where business thrives.
 

 

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