Boone Chamber Staff East Bound and Down
From Wednesday, March 25, to Thursday, April 2, the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce team was on the move, representing our community at key conferences and gatherings across the state and continuing our commitment to professional development.
Family Forward Summit
Wednesday, March 25 | High Point, NC
Boone Chamber President/CEO David Jackson headed to High Point for the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation's Family Forward NC Summit, a gathering focused on inspiring employers across the state to adopt family-friendly workplace practices that attract and retain top talent, support child development, and strengthen the future workforce.
David was joined by fellow High Country representatives, including Chamber members DMJPS and Elisha Childers with the Children's Council of Watauga County. The event featured a panel including Chris Chung of EDPNC and Cyndi Dancy of Dancy Research, both familiar faces and friends of the Boone Chamber.
Watauga County was also a notable topic of conversation, recognized for leading the state in Family Forward business certifications, with notable employers including UNC Health Appalachian and Appalachian State University, the largest certified employer. It was a fitting callback to conversations had at the High Country Economic Kickoff earlier this year, with panel discussion Workforce R&R: Recruitment and Retention.
Rural Summit
Thursday, March 26-Friday, March 27 | Raleigh, NC
President/CEO David Jackson, Vice President of Events/Chief of Staff Carrie Henderson, and Director of Communications Emma Faulkner made the trip to Raleigh for the NC Rural Summit on March 26-27, joining leaders from across the state under the theme of Infrastructure for All: Connecting North Carolina. Conversations spanned broadband access, roads and transportation, and human infrastructure like childcare, painting a full picture of what it takes to keep rural North Carolina moving forward.
The two-day summit included breakout sessions, the team dove into topics such as downtown revitalization and transportation infrastructure. The summit also featured Governor Stein, as he outlined his priorities for supporting rural communities across the state. The team connected with familiar faces and friends of the Chamber, including Scott Hamilton with the Golden LEAF Foundation and colleagues at NCInnovation.
"Walking away from Rural Summit, I was reminded of how much of what was discussed mirrors what we are working on here at home," said Emma Faulkner, Director of Communications. "From transportation to downtown revitalization to broadband, the infrastructure conversations were impactful, but what stayed with me was the emphasis on human infrastructure. Things like childcare and workforce development, the support systems that allow people to stay and contribute to their communities. These are the day-to-day realities of our members and neighbors, and it was energizing to be in a room full of people who get it, and to come home equipped with tools to put to work."
The conversations around transportation infrastructure and the importance to rural communities is especially relevant to the Chamber's upcoming Vision Northwest NC: Driving Regional Progress summit on May 21.
A special congratulations to Chamber members High Country Council of Governments and Skyline National Bank, both recognized with awards at the summit. The team returned home ready to implement all they learned and excited about the opportunity to bring NC Rural Center's Homegrown Leaders to Watauga County this June.
CACCE Staff Development Conference
Columbia, SC | Monday, March 30-Wednesday, April 1
Member Experience Associate Mario Espinoza made the trip to Columbia, South Carolina for the Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Staff Development Conference, spending three days learning and connecting alongside chamber professionals from across North and South Carolina. Sessions covered chamber industry-specific topics including personality types, work-life boundaries, meaningful events, and AI, with plenty of networking built right into the agenda.
"Flying solo for my first CACCE Staff Leadership Development Conference initially felt daunting, but I was immediately welcomed by my Chamber neighbors and felt right at home! Each session had valuable takeaways, with a special shout out to Anissa Starnes’ Boundaries & Bingo keynote," said Mario Espinoza, Member Experience Associate. "Getting to workshop and network with my peers was both validating and invigorating for a newbie to the Chamber industry such as myself. I look forward to applying what I learned at the conference to my work here at BACC."
Mario also accepted service awards on behalf of the Boone Chamber team, recognizing President/CEO David Jackson and VP of Finance Natalie Harkey for 10 years of service and VP of Member Engagement Patrick Setzer for 5 years. A well-deserved acknowledgment for three individuals who have given a lot to this organization.
Appalachian State University - Hickory Campus
Hickory, NC | Tuesday, March 31
Director of Economic Development Joe Furman and Vice President of Events/Chief of Staff Carrie Henderson joined Watauga County Economic Development Commission board members, Chancellor Norris, and other stakeholders for a tour and reception at Appalachian State University's Hickory Campus. The group also included James Milner of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate, Pete Gerhini, and Suzanne Livesay of the Appalachian Theatre, bringing a well-rounded cross-section of High Country leadership to the visit.
At 275,000 square feet, the campus is the largest building in App State's portfolio, surpassing any comparable building on the main campus in Boone. Formerly a Corning corporate office and manufacturing facility, the space has been thoughtfully renovated across five floors, with the upper floors still undergoing work. Current enrollment sits at approximately 500 students, with growth plans focused on expanding offerings and welcoming older students returning to or entering post-secondary education for the first time.
The tour offered a firsthand look at App State's growing regional presence and sparked valuable conversation about what the campus means for workforce development and education across the High Country.
“I was pleased to be invited to and attend the reception," said Joe Furman, Director of Economic Development. "I had driven by the building many times but had never been inside it. The renovations have been beautifully done to provide an excellent learning environment while incorporating the App State character and brand. Its potential for growth is bright indeed.”
Watauga County Tourism Summit
Boone NC | Tuesday, March 31
Director of Economic Development Joe Furman attended the 4th Annual Watauga Tourism Summit at Mill at Rock Creek, which may have seen its highest attendance yet, a strong sign of the growing momentum around tourism in the High Country. The summit featured several award recognitions, with honorees including Amber Bateman, Grandfather Mountain Foundation, and Elena Dalton with F.A.R.M. Cafe, among others.
Attendees heard a presentation from Explore Boone's media consultant Miles Partnership on the destination's refreshed branding direction, "Feel Something More," which builds on the High Country's outdoor recreation roots while expanding the story to include dining, events, and the arts. The summit also featured a presentation on the NC Travel Outlook covering insights, trends, and opportunities for the region.
"I was impressed by the growth of the event and the enthusiasm and commitment of the participants," said Joe Furman, Director of Economic Development. "Great care is being taken to attract visitors to the High Country and to provide them with a pleasant, memorable experience so they will return."
Strong Homebase with Policy and Pints, Board of Directors Meeting, The Founder's Reception and Watauga Leadership Institute
Boone, NC | Monday, March 31-Thursday, April 2
While the team was out on the road, plenty was happening right here in Boone. Monday, March 31 opened with Policy & Pints at The Cardinal, an invite-only gathering hosted in conjunction with the Advocacy Task Force for a focused dialogue on Blue Ridge Parkway developments. Attendees had the chance to engage directly with the issues shaping our region as the Task Force shared their guiding principles as a framework for the conversations ahead.
April 1 was a full one, opening with a Board of Directors meeting featuring a presentation by Tom Oxholm on Education is Everyone's Business. The group was also joined by joined by Sarah Prencipe of Lumin Strategies. With the traveling crews back in Boone, the full staff was reunited just in time for the main event. That evening, the Chamber celebrated 77 years with the Founder's Reception, bringing together the stakeholders, partners, and high investors who make the work possible for an evening of connection and a well-deserved toast to nearly eight decades of impact in the High Country.
The week wrapped on April 2 with the next-to-last session of the Watauga Leadership Institute, centered on Unity in Community. A special shoutout to Director of Development Ethan Dodson and Director of Operations Lindsay Cook for holding it down at the office and their continued dedication to shepherding this year's cohort through the program.
"This year’s WLI Development and Challenge cohorts represent the fourth dual group to gather in the Chamber’s space to build, strengthen, and elevate their leadership skills," said Lindsay Cook, Director of Operations. "It was a joy to see the office also serve as the setting for our Founder's Reception, further highlighting its role as a place for both leadership development and meaningful community milestones."
