The Chamber Announces 2022 Board Leadership, New Board Members, and New Staff Additions
The Chamber Announces 2022 Board Leadership, New Board Members, and New Staff Additions
The Chamber Welcomes New Directors, Announces Officers and Executive Committee Members, and Introduces Two New Staff Members
CHAPEL HILL, NC: The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro elected its 2022 Board Leadership Team and new Board members.
The Chamber is also excited to announce the addition of a new talented staff to support the Chamber’s growing network of 2,500 business leaders and 650 local employers.
“We are coming back together in 2022. Your Chamber has a diverse and energized board of directors focused on retaining and growing our membership, strengthening how we serve the business interests of our communities, and reuniting to deliver valuable programming and services safely,” said newly-elected 2022 Chamber Board Chair Vakesia Graves, Managing Director, Connected Communities at Duke Energy
2022 Board of Directors Leadership
Chamber Board Leadership from top left to bottom right:
- Board Chair Vakesia Graves Managing Director, Connected Communities, Duke Energy
- Board Vice Chair Lori Doherty, President, Doherty Home Inspections
- Immediate Past Chair Tom Wiltberger, Co-owner, Broker, Terra Nova Global Properties
- Board Treasurer and Vice Chair for Finance John Kiley, SCORE
- General Counsel Robert Saunders, Attorney and Partner, Brooks Pierce
- CEO and Secretary Aaron Nelson, The Chamber For a Great Chapel Hill-Carrboro
2022 Chamber Vice Chairs
Chamber Board Vice Chairs from top left to bottom right:
- Vice Chair for Technology Tola Oguntoyinbo, Co-founder, ShineBIG Feedback
- Vice Chair for Strategy Chris Peronto, Healthcare Strategist
- Vice Chair for Membership Connolly Walker, Agent, Harris and Company Insurance
- Chair of the Chamber’s Partnership for a Sustainable Community Creighton Blackwell, Chief Culture & Impact Officer, Coastal Credit Union
- Vice Chair for Government Affairs Betsy Harris, IT Project Manager, Armacell, LLC.
New Board Members
The Board welcomed nine new board members in 2022:
- Sweta Adkin, Managing Partner, Adkin & Associates, CPA
- La-Tasha Best-Gaddy, Founder and CEO, Infinity Bridges
- Chris McClure, Chief Strategic Officer, University of North Carolina
- Anna Richards, ex-officio, non-voting member, Orange County Commissioners
- Caroline Riggsbee, Senior Vice President, Pinnacle Financial Partners
- Michael Rodriguez, Multi-Unit Owner, Subway
- Wes Rowe, General Manager, Graduate Hotel
- Mayor Damon Seils, ex-officio, non-voting member, Town of Carrboro
- Kristin Westbrook, Principal Strategic Advisor, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
Returning Board Members
Sixteen professionals return to The Chamber’s Board for 2022:
- Manish Atma, Atma Hotel Group
- Jes Averhart, Jes & Co.
- Tim Dalton, Truist
- Zoë Dehmer, Damn Good Food
- Karin DeMarco, AICPA
- Greg Fitch, Fearrington Village and Fitch Creations
- Kim Grooms, Non-Profit Executive
- Dr. Nyah Hamlett, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
- Mayor Pam Hemminger, ex-officio, non-voting member, Town of Chapel Hill
- Dan Lehman, UNC Health Care
- Lydia Mason, Piedmont Health
- Poonam Nandani, Hendrick Southpoint Auto Mall
- Eliazar Posada, Posada Strategy Consulting
- Dr. Antoine Puech, Prestige Associates, Inc.
- Ellen Shannon, Triangle Media Partners (formerly Shannon Media)
- Mike Vikitsreth, Spicy 9
- Paige Zinn, Jennings.
Carrboro Business Alliance
The Carrboro Business Alliance (CBA), founded in 2014 on the shared belief that "local matters," is now more than 100 local businesses collaborating to help Carrboro thrive. The CBA is governed by an active Leadership Council and two committees, and all members are Carrboro-serving enterprises.
2022 Leadership Council:
- Chair Josh Moorhead, Weaver Street Market
- Vice Chair Maggie Funkhouser, Carrboro Farmers' Market
- Immediate Past Chair Rae Mosher, Carrburritos Taqueria
- Policy Committee Chair David Jessee, J&J Futures, photographer, and local commercial property owner (106 S. Greensboro Street)
- Marketing Committee Chair Bridget Pemberton-Smith, Art Therapy Institute
- Jon Hartman-Brown, ex-Officio non-voting member, Economic Development Director, Town of Carrboro
- Scott Conary, Open Eye Cafe and Carrboro Coffee Roasters
- Sheila Dalton, Neal's Deli
- Miles Fitch, Fitch Lumber Co.
- Barbara Jessie-Black, CommunityWorx
- Jason McCarter, Craftboro Brewing Depot
- Nathan Mills, Mills Rentals
- Nathan Milian, Carr Mill Mall
- Nora E. Spencer, Hope Renovations
- Erik Valera, El Centro Hispano
Chamber Staff Addition
The Chamber is excited to welcome Member Recruitment Specialist Caroline Koller in January of 2022.
Caroline Koller is charged with recruiting new members to the Chamber. An entrepreneur at heart, Caroline brings diverse sales and marketing experience to her role. Outside of work, Caroline is an avid traveler, actress, and mother to two sons.
To see the full list of the Chamber’s staff, click here.
About The Chamber: The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro 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 of more than 700 member enterprises employs 95,000 workers throughout the region. Together with its strong network, The Chamber is committed to building a sustainable community where business thrives.
The Chamber Vision & Mission: The Chamber vision is for Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro to be a globally recognized community with the talent, infrastructure, and investment needed to drive the success of local employers and support world-class education, public amenities, and thriving downtowns. The Chamber’s mission is to serve and support the business interests of Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro and build a resilient community where business thrives.