Cary Chamber

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this month's Business of Women Lunch!

We were honored to welcome Maggie Kane, Founder of A Place At The Table, and Sonali Ratnasinghe, Founder and Executive Director of Youth Ambassadors of Service ssadors of Service, for an engaging and candid conversation about leadership in the nonprofit world.

Representing two different generations of nonprofit leadership, Maggie and Sonali interviewed one another and shared candid stories about building organizations, overcoming obstacles, and staying committed to their missions. Their conversation was honest, insightful, and filled with practical lessons on resilience, purpose, and creating meaningful impact.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor, TowneBank, and to Fourie Group, MetLife, North Carolina Courage, Searstone, The Templeton of Cary, WakeMed Health & Hospitals, and Wallaby Windows of the Triangle Area for supporting today’s program.

And thank you to our dessert sponsors, Hummingbird Creative Group, Red Bird Preconstruction Services, Sales Savvy, and Triangle Smart Divorce!

Last week, we had the privilege of celebrating some of the incredible businesses and organizations that make Cary such a vibrant place to live, work, and do business at the 2026 Business Excellence Awards!

Congratulations to our 2026 Award Recipients:

🏆 Business of the Year – Mr. Handyman of Western Wake County

🏆 Non-Profit of the Year – Miracle League of the Triangle

🏆 Employer of the Year – BSG Advisers

🏆 Community Service Award – Sales Savvy

🏆 Innovation Award – Home for Entertaining

🏆 Impact Award – Alloy Personal Training Cary & Success Curated LLC

We also extend our congratulations to all of this year's nominees. Your dedication, leadership, and contributions continue to strengthen our community.

A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Rebel Health & Performance, along with our Silver Sponsors, Town of Cary, NC & Verizon, and Table Sponsors, for helping make this celebration possible!

This morning, we celebrated the incredible Leadership Cary Class of 2025-26 at our Eye Opener Breakfast Graduation! 🎓✨

Throughout the year, these leaders explored the many facets that make Cary thrive, from education and economic development to healthcare, government, nonprofits, innovation, and the arts. Today’s graduation marked the culmination of a journey focused on leadership, connection, and community impact.

A special thank you to keynote speaker Executive Coach & Leadership Advisor, James White, for sharing powerful insights on leading through times of change and uncertainty. His message reminded us that leadership is not just about managing tasks, it’s about navigating tension, building trust, and staying connected to purpose.

Congratulations again to the Leadership Cary Class of 2026! We look forward to seeing the continued impact each of you will make across our community. 👏

We couldn't have done it without our Sponsors! Thank you to our Eye Opener Series Sponsors, First Bank & Monument Property Group, and a special thank you to our Leadership Cary Program Presenting Sponsors, GenWorks & Town of Cary, NC, Program Sponsor, WakeMed Health & Hospitals, Gold Sponsors, ABB & NeighborUp, and Social Sponsor, Duke Energy!

Clarity is more than confidence — it’s a leadership strategy.

At today’s Business of Women Lunch, Dr. Rita Renee, Ultimate PowerHouse Coach, shared how women leaders can communicate with precision, lead decisively, and protect their energy without falling into burnout or overexplaining. Through her CLEAR Framework, we walked away with practical tools to lead with greater focus, alignment, and accountability.

From clear communication to sustainable leadership, today’s conversation was a powerful reminder that effective leadership starts with clarity under pressure.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor, TowneBank, and to Fourie Group, MetLife, North Carolina Courage, Searstone, The Templeton of Cary, WakeMed Health & Hospitals, and Wallaby Windows of the Triangle Area for supporting today’s program.

And thank you to our dessert sponsors— Hummingbird Creative Group, Red Bird Preconstruction Services, Sales Savvy, and Triangle Smart Divorce!

⚾🎨 Leadership Cary Arts & Recreation Day!

From sports and entertainment to creativity and community, the class experienced another exciting day exploring the spaces that bring people together across Cary.

The morning started with a tour of USA Baseball, where the class tested their skills. Then they headed to Mars, Incorporated, the Cheez-It factory, for a behind-the-scenes look at one of the area’s most recognizable brands. After lunch, the class spent the afternoon learning more about the impact of arts and park, recreation, and cultural resources at the Cary Art Center.

The day wrapped up with a social at Home for Entertaining, ending a fun and engaging day of connection and exploration.

Thank you to all of our hosts who help make Cary such a vibrant place to live, work, and play!

Tuesday night, we had the privilege of celebrating some of the very best educators in our community at our Honor A Teacher Awards Ceremony presented by Hendrick Automotive Group!

What began in 1991 with the Discovery Award from the Ashworth Family and the Clara Knoll Excellence in Teaching Award from Barry & DJ Mitsch has grown into a cherished tradition recognizing more than 37 outstanding teachers representing Cary area schools each year.

Nominated by parents, colleagues, and students, these educators go above and beyond to inspire, lead, and shape the next generation. We are proud to honor their dedication and the incredible impact they make every single day.

A special thank you to our Social Sponsors, Town of Cary, NC, TowneBank, and Cary Sister Cities, to all of our award sponsors for helping make this meaningful program possible, and for continuing to invest in excellence in education throughout our community!

ABB, Charles Ashley Mann, DDS & Associates, Curran Family Foundation, First Bank, First Flight Federal Credit Union, Hendrick Automotive Group, Hummingbird Creative Group, J.M. Thompson Company, Mars Snacking, NeighborUp, Northwest Cary YMCA, Northwoods Associates, SAS, Seven Pearls Foundation, Inc., Smith & Smith CPA, Southern First Bank, StephensonLaw, LLP, SVN Raleigh, Taylor Family YMCA, The Ashworth Family, The Cary Rotary Club, The Pyramid Resource Group, Inc., The Walker, Town of Cary, TowneBank, Cary Sister Cities, Triangle Rock Club, Truist, UNC Health, Wake Tech Foundation, Wake Up Green, Inc., WakeMed Cary Hospital, Wallaby Windows, Wooten Insurance Agency

We wrapped up our final Ladies Lunch & Learn Golf Academy clinic today ⛳️

Over the past three sessions, it’s been incredible to watch this group build confidence, try new skills, and continue sharpening their game alongside Prestonwood Country Club’s Professional Golf Staff. From putting to driving and everything in between, each session brought growth, connection, and a lot of fun.

A big thank you to our sponsors for making this series possible: Drive: Solstice Partners, Chip: Red Bird Preconstruction Services, and Putt: First Bank. We’re so grateful for your support!

Be sure to keep a lookout for a Fall Ladies Lunch & Learn Golf Academy…we can’t wait to be back on the course with you soon!

We’re excited to welcome five outstanding leaders to the Cary Chamber Board of Directors!

Please join us in congratulating:
• Holly Brookover - System Vice President, Duke Health
• Hunter Burnette - Senior Vice President, Shelco
• Nalini M***a - Vice President, Engineering, Fidelity Investments
• Mike Roselli - Vice President, Underfoot Engineering
• Becca Smith - Director of Marketing, Smith & Smith CPA

These individuals bring a wealth of experience, perspective, and passion to our business community. We’re looking forward to their leadership and impact as they officially begin their terms this July!

Small Businesses Do Big Things

Celebrating and Supporting the Small Businesses that Strengthen Cary!

May is National Small Business Month, a time to recognize, support, and celebrate the hardworking entrepreneurs and small business owners who are the backbone of our economy!

Throughout the month, we honor the innovation, resilience, and impact small businesses have on our communities.

🩺 Leadership Cary Health & Medicine Services Day!

A day exploring the people, programs, and innovation driving healthcare in our community. The class spent the day at WakeMed Health & Hospitals, Cary, with a warm welcome from Dr. Doug Trocinski, MD, MBA, and Sabrina Tyndall.

Throughout the morning, participants heard from Alyse Arnold, BSN, RN, CEN, on emergency services, followed by interactive “Show & Tell” sessions featuring everything from robotic surgeries and stroke care to the Women’s Pavilion. We heard from Wake County EMS leaders Jonathan Studnek and Donald Garner, Jr., and had a meaningful conversation on the mental health plan with Marina Ceccia and Sarah Crowley.

Ashley Stallings Simpson shared how the WakeMed Foundation supports patient care, and Karen Robins highlighted the connection between a healthy community and economic development.

Finished with a tour of the Medical Park of Cary, where the class explored advanced imaging, surgery services, and innovative treatment technologies, before ending the afternoon with a social at the new Meridian Cary.

Thank you to WakeMed Cary for the day, but for all your support with the Cary Chamber!