Business leaders from across the Charlotte Region are convening in Wilmington, N.C., for the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance’s annual Leadership Retreat. Over the course of two days, leaders will be engaging in collaborative dialogue about the region’s economic future as they aspire to shape a vibrant, innovative, and healthy economy for all in the Charlotte Region.
With a theme of “Legacy of Leadership” to guide and inspire, the group of more than 130 leaders in the public, private, education, and nonprofit communities are convening around the biggest challenges facing the Charlotte Region, and the businesses and people that call it home.
The retreat is also an opportunity to celebrate what has been accomplished and to look forward to what is possible when people collaborate and work together to deliver transformative results for the region.
“As we look to build an even brighter future for the businesses and people who call the Charlotte Region home, it is our greatest hope that through collaboration, connection, and ‘collective hustle,’ we will continue to transform our region into a place that strengthens, endures, and offers opportunity for all,” CLT Alliance President and CEO Janet LaBar said. “It is a legacy of leadership. One that is built on the notion that we are Better All Together. Altogether Better.”
LaBar and incoming CLT Alliance Chair Kieth Cockrell opened the two-day event, outlining their vision for the organization as the voice of business.
“We have a legacy of leadership,” Cockrell said. “One we will always try to honor and treasure,”
“Growth does present its share of challenges and opportunities,” Cockrell continued, keying in on the importance of collaboration and connectedness. “Hopefully, what defines us will be a legacy of leadership and innovation…. We know we are better when we are working together.”
The retreat also features industry leaders, site selectors, and influential speakers including Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Tom Barkin, who offered the keynote address on Thursday.
“Charlotte is outpacing the national economy both in terms of GDP and employment,” Barkin said.
Barkin highlighted the in-migration trends of both talent and companies. In the next 20 years, he said, regions across the country will be grappling with talent shortages.
“The ability to create an environment that talent wants to come to is going to be increasingly important,” Barkin said. “And you get that.”
In a moment of levity and fun, Matt Olin, one half of the Creative Mornings team, entertained the crowd with a song about the legacy of the CLT Alliance. Set to the tune of Pharrell Williams’ “Happy,” the song took a light-hearted look at the impact the Chamber of Commerce, the Charlotte Regional Partnership, and CLT Alliance have had in shaping our region for more than 100 years.
Thursday also gave participants the opportunity to have in-depth conversations about some of the biggest hurdles faced by the business community in the Charlotte Region, challenging the group to be “catalysts for change” in areas like transportation, affordability, social issues, talent, and entrepreneurship.
Friday will bring a sit-down discussion with site selectors about regional trends, strengths and opportunities. Chris Chung, chief executive officer of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, will moderate the panel.
The retreat will close out with a keynote speech from Kevin Carroll. The author, and self-proclaimed “instigator of inspiration and creative catalyst,” inspires businesses, organizations and individuals—from CEOs and employees of Fortune 500 companies to schoolchildren–to maximize their human potential.
As Cockrell closed out his opening remarks, he challenged each person in the room to “have a commitment to do better, to be better, and to dream big.”
“Let’s do what we do best,” he said. “Let’s get to work.”
