Chamber Accomplishments
2007 Major Objectives
At their annual leadership retreat in November 2006, the Chamber’s
Board of Directors outlined the following multi-year strategic objectives:
Position the Chamber as a community convener – bringing
leaders together to address local and regional opportunities and challenges
Provide strong membership services and support that earn
our members’ investment and reinvestment
Strengthen the Chamber’s role, position and effectiveness in
economic development
Strengthen Chamber finances and reserves by delivering a
successful Total Resource Campaign
Grow the Chamber Foundation for a Sustainable Community
2007 Successes
- Community Convener
• Hosted first Annual Breakfast with U.S. Representative David Price
• Hosted second annual State Legislative Breakfast
• Founding member of the Orange County Comprehensive Plan Coalition
• Created a comprehensive election Web site – detailing positions of 2007 Carrboro and Chapel Hill election candidates
• Supported the Downtown’s Real Change from Spare Change initiative
• Convened Community Leadership Collaboration with broader membership
• Launched Workforce Housing Web site – underwritten by UNC Health Care
• Hosted first Orange and Chatham County Development Briefings - Membership Services
• Reached 90 percent membership retention rate
• Provided exceptional networking opportunities including First Fridays, Business After Hours, Young Professionals Network events, the Annual Meeting and the 2007 Orange County Business Expo
• Held first Women’s Executive Series event – a sold out event with more than 200 in attendance
• Created new sponsorship, marketing and advertising opportunities to increase referrals to our members
• Added programming for Central Orange and Chatham County members
• Held eighth annual Volunteer Fair – with some organizations reaching more than 100 potential volunteers
• Expanded Membership Services professional staff - Economic Development
• Hired new Director of Government Relations and Economic Development
• Successfully petitioned Town of Chapel Hill to hire first Economic Development Officer
• Convened the Orange/Chatham Economic Development Partnership
• Hosted first Orange County and Chatham County Development Briefings
• Partnered with UNC Athletics to encourage visitor spending in our local businesses
• Created an active economic development committee, which drafted comprehensive recommendations for the Board
• Responded to information requests from new, relocating and/or expanding businesses
• Worked with partner organizations and Town to shepherd Franklin Street businesses through permitting process - Chamber Finances and Reserves
• Completed conversion to annualized dues
• Successfully implemented first Total Resource Campaign
• Grew revenue by 22 percent over 2006 - Foundation for a Sustainable Community
• Created the Certified Sustainable Enterprise metric
• Completed a business plan for the nation’s first metric to certify small businesses sustainable
• Partnered with UNC, Duke and local organizations to create the Institute for Sustainable Development
• Expanded professional staff to include Associate Director, Director of Institute for Sustainable Development and Foundation Program Assistant
• Grew grant writing efforts with grants to the Triangle Community Foundation, Educational Foundation of America and Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
• Implemented two new fundraisers – Bocce Tournament and Community Tuesdays