The Chamber Welcomes its Most Diverse Class of New Directors, Announces Officers and Executive Committee Members, and Recognizes Affiliate Leaders

CHAPEL HILL, NC: The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro welcomed its most diverse class of new Directors, announced 2021 Officers of the Board and Executive Committee Members, and recognized leaders of four affiliate organizations.

“We are energized to have these diverse and talented new board members, who will help lead our Chamber and deliver on our mission: To serve and support the business interests of Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro and build a more resilient community where business thrives," said Tom Wiltberger, 2021 Chair of The Chamber Board of Directors.

New Board Members

The Chamber welcomed a diverse slate of seven new Directors to the Board for 3-year terms.

New Board Members with three year terms from top left to bottom right:

• Jes Averhart, Creator of Reinvention Roadmap™, Jes & Co.
• Zoë Dehmer, Director of Operations & Planning, Damn Good Food Businesses (Acme, Plum, Heyday Brewing, & Carrboro United)
• Lori Doherty, Co-owner, Doherty Home Inspections
• Poonam Nandani, Marketing & Communications Director, Hendrick Southpoint Auto Mall 
• Eliazar Posada, Acting President and CEO, El Centro Hispano
• Mike Vikitsreth, President, Spicy 9
• Connolly Walker, Insurance Professional

The Chamber also welcomed three board members to one-year terms: 

• Tim Dalton, Market President, BB&T Now Truist
• Greg Fitch, Vice President, Fitch Creations, Inc. and Fearrington Village 
• Chris Peronto, Vice President, Business Transformation Executive, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina 

Officers & Executive Committee Members

The Chamber has a 35-member Board of Directors led by a ten-member Executive Committee.

Officers and Executive Committee Members from top left to bottom right:

• Tom Wiltberger, Co-owner, Broker, REALTOR®, Terra Nova Global Properties, and Chamber Chair of the Board
• Vakesia Graves, Director, Business Strategy & National Accounts, Duke Energy, and Chamber Vice Chair and Board Development Committee Chair 
• John Kiley, Retired executive and former SCORE volunteer, and Chamber Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair 
• Robert (Bob) Saunders, Attorney and Partner, Brooks Pierce, and Chamber General Counsel
• Ellen Shannon, Vice President of Planning & Development, Shannon Media, Inc and Chapel Hill Magazine, and Chamber Immediate Past Chair 
• Creighton Blackwell, Chief Culture & Impact Officer, Coastal Credit Union, and Chair of The Chamber's nonprofit affiliate, The Partnership for a Sustainable Community 
• Aaron Nelson, President and CEO, The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro, and Chamber Secretary and CEO
• Lori Doherty, Co-owner, Doherty Home Inspections, and Chamber Membership Committee Chair
• Betsy Harris, IT Coordinator, Armacell, and Chamber Government Affairs Committee Chair
• Tola Oguntoyinbo, Founder and President, ShineBig Feedback, and Chamber Technology Committee Chair

Learn more about The Chamber's 2021 Board of Directors and review the full roster of Directors and staff members.

Affiliates

The Chamber recognizes the leadership of its four affiliate organizations: Big Bold Ideas, the Carrboro Business Alliance (CBA), the Chapel Hill Young Professionals (CHYP), and the Partnership for a Sustainable community (The Partnership).

Affiliate leadership from top left to bottom right:

• Creighton Blackwell, Coastal Credit Union and Chair of the Big Bold Ideas Steering Committee and Chair of The Partnership
• Reagan Greene Pruitt, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Vice Chair of the Big Bold Ideas Steering Committee
• John Kiley, Retired Executive and Treasurer of The Partnership
• Paige Marrow, Extraordinary Ventures and Chair of the Chapel Hill Young Professionals
• Rae Mosher, Carrburritos Taqueria and Chair of the Carrboro Business Alliance Leadership Council
• Robert (Bob) Saunders, Brooks Pierce and General Counsel for The Partnership

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 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 mission is to serve and support the business interests of Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro and build a resilient community where business thrives.

Contact: For questions, contact Chamber Vice President for External Affairs, Katie Loovis, at KLoovis@carolinachamber.org or (919) 696-0781 (cell).

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