July 10: Nominating Committee and JOCO Works Meeting Dana, along with the CCOC Chair and Vice Chair, met to determine the Nominating Committee responsible for selecting board members for the open positions for the 2025 year. Applications for these open seats will be sent to CCOC investors in August. Dana also attended the JOCO Works meeting with countywide collaborative partners. The NC General Assembly awarded the JOCO Works Program funding, enabling the Triangle East Chamber to hire someone to manage their program for three years. Plans are underway for the event, which will take place in November 2024.
July 24: Cap Analytics INVEST Launch Conference Dana attended the Cap Analytics INVEST Launch Conference as a guest of Chris Johnson at the Capital City Club of Raleigh. The event gathered a great group of Johnston County leaders, providing valuable networking and learning opportunities.
July 30: Mission in Motion Podcast Recording Dana filmed the "Mission in Motion Podcast: Conversations from the Vault," sponsored by Angelina Corroo of HTR. Guests included Melissa Overton, the current LaunchJOCO project manager, and Joe Russotto, a current LaunchJOCO student. They discussed the LaunchJOCO program and promoted the opening of 2025 applications and the informational sessions that will begin across the county in August.
July 31: Guest Appearance on Jonathan Breeden's Podcast Dana was a guest on Jonathan Breeden's podcast, where she covered all things related to CCOC and what's happening in Johnston County. This appearance helped to further promote CCOC's initiatives and activities to a wider audience.

June 7: CACCE Board of Director Meeting: Dana attended the CACCE Board of Director meeting, where she serves as a director for our area in North Carolina. The board recapped the CACCE Staff Management conference and finalized the speakers for the CACCE Management Conference to be held in November 2024. Dana volunteered to sit on a peer panel discussing training volunteer leadership. It was also announced that the Carolina Panthers “Chamber Day” Game is proposed for September 29 against the Cincinnati Bengals, with a fee of $95 per person. Serving on a statewide board is crucial for a chamber president as it allows for broader influence, the exchange of best practices, and enhanced advocacy for local chambers.
June 10: Johnston County Workforce Alliance Meeting: At the June Johnston County Workforce Alliance meeting, all partners reported on workforce activities within their organizations. Dana provided an update on LaunchJOCO, highlighting the program's progress and impact.
June 13: CTE Advisory Council Meeting: Dana, Past Chair, and CCOC intern Kamilla Gonzolaz attended the CTE Advisory Council Meeting. The group heard from the CTE Teacher of the Year, and JCPS gave updates on the success of the CTE program for the 2024 school year, noting that 25 students were placed in businesses throughout the county for the summer. Kamilla shared her experience as a CTE intern and her reasons for participating in the program. The Chamber's involvement in the CTE Advisory Council is essential for bridging education and business, ensuring students gain practical skills and businesses have a pipeline of skilled workers.
June 14: The Mission in Motion Podcast: Dana recorded "The Mission in Motion Podcast: Conversations from the Vault" with guest intern Kamilla Gonzolez. Kamilla shared her background, interests, and enthusiasm for working with the Latin American Festival task force due to her bilingual skills.
June 18: STEP Workshop: The STEP students and their mentors attended a workshop to discuss calculating the cost of doing business and branding, essential components for their business plans.
June 20: Triangle Business Journal's Corridors of Opportunity: Dana attended the Triangle Business Journal's Corridors of Opportunity event, where investors Michael Sims, Clayton Mayor Pro Tem, Dean Penny of Craig Davis Properties, Chris Johnson of JC Economic Development, and Maureen McGuiness of TEC discussed the growth in Clayton and Johnston County and the upcoming Copper District project.
June 24: Check Presentations: Dana was present for the check presentation of $25,000 from the Johnston County Visitors Bureau to the Chamber for historical building window replacements and repairs. This was followed by the Clayton Chamber Foundation's check presentation to two of the eight First Responders Fund Scholarship recipients.
June 26: State of Sustainability Event: CCOC hosted the State of Sustainability event, "Growing Sustainably, Growing Your Business, and Doing More with Less." Dana served as a host alongside the Novo Nordisk team, who were the sponsors. Novo Nordisk discussed their Circular for Zero project, their quest for Symbiosis in NC and Clayton, and their new expansion project. In the afternoon, Dana attended the Leadership Johnston Advisory Council meeting as a member, planning for 2025 activities and recapping recent classes.
June 27: TEC Ribbon Cutting and Meeting with County Manager: Dana and her staff attended the TEC ribbon cutting in Smithfield for a long-term CCOC investor's new location. Later, she met with county manager Rick Hester to discuss LaunchJOCO, exploring ways to enhance the program's reach and impact.
Stay tuned for more updates on how our Chamber leader is making a difference in the community!

May 6th: Legislative Visit to Raleigh Dana, alongside Valerie, Anthony, the CCOC Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee, and CCOC investors, visited Johnston County Legislators in Raleigh. They presented their Legislative agenda and key talking points, advocating for the interests and development of the Clayton community.

May 8th: NC Federation Luncheon: Dana attended the NC Chamber Federation Luncheon, a prestigious event featuring a fireside chat with NC Chamber President and CEO Gary Salamido, Secretary Machelle Sanders, and Representative Jason Saine. During the luncheon, the trio shared their vision for economic development in North Carolina, offering reflections on the state's current status and future prospects. Additionally, Bent Christensen, a fellow chamber president, facilitated an engaging discussion with leading economic development experts from across the state. The event provided an invaluable opportunity for Dana to network with local chamber colleagues and gain insights into the strategies and initiatives shaping North Carolina's economic landscape.

May 16th: Groundbreaking of the Complete 540 Project President CEO Dana Wooten, alongside Chair Kyle McDermott of UNC Health Johnston, proudly represented the Clayton Chamber of Commerce at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Complete 540 Project. This significant project aims to complete the outer loop of 540 around the Raleigh area. The event saw participation from key stakeholders and elected officials, including representatives from NCDOT and the North Carolina Turnpike Authority, marking an important milestone in enhancing connectivity for Wake and Johnston Counties. This project is crucial for supporting growth, economic development, and connectivity in the region. Additionally, Dana attended the ribbon cutting with the Garner Chamber of 42 Crossing, leased by Merritt Properties.
May 16th: Harbor Strategic Planning Session Dana, serving as a director for Harbor, contributed her insights at their strategic planning session, furthering efforts to support the community and address critical issues.

May 22nd: Team Building Exercise with Novo Nordisk Dana, along with other CCOC investors, assisted Melissa Overton with an Illuminated Training Session in a team-building exercise for CCOC Investor, Novo Nordisk. This event focused on enhancing collaboration and teamwork among participants.

May 28th: Clayton High School Awards Ceremony At the Clayton High School Awards Ceremony, Dana celebrated the achievements of three of CCOC's STEP (Student to Entrepreneur Program) students, RJ McClure, Katie Mason, and Sabrina Coffaro, who were awarded college scholarships for their outstanding accomplishments. The STEP initiative, a significant part of our Education Committee’s efforts, aims to cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit among students by providing mentorship, resources, and real-world business experiences. These scholarships underscore the success and impact of the program in preparing our youth for future entrepreneurial endeavors.

May 29th: Johnston County Industry HR Association Meeting Dana attended a meeting of the Johnston County Industry HR Association, established by the Johnston County Workforce Alliance and led by Joy Callahan. This group, comprising educators, Chambers, and workforce support organizations, focuses on addressing the future workforce needs of Johnston County. This meeting aligns with CCOC's workforce development initiatives, highlighting our commitment to preparing a skilled workforce that meets the evolving needs of our local businesses and industries.

May 29th: Duke Energy Stakeholder Information Session Following the HR Association meeting, Dana attended an informative session hosted by CCOC's Investor, Duke Energy, at JCC. The session featured a power line safety demonstration for area first responders, providing valuable education on handling accidents, storms, and other events that affect power lines and equipment. With the busy hurricane season approaching, this session highlighted the crucial and hazardous work of line workers in restoring power safely and efficiently. Additionally, the session emphasized the importance of keeping up with growth and infrastructure, as well as the need to support the lineman CTE (Career and Technical Education) program in Johnston County to ensure a steady supply of skilled workers for the future.
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May 28th: Visit to Dunn Area Chamber Dana, accompanied by Maria, visited the Dunn Area Chamber to meet with their new Executive Director. They discussed the programs, operations, and initiatives of CCOC, and as an added bonus, they attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new business in Dunn, celebrating local entrepreneurial success. These visits foster relationships between Chambers, enhancing collaboration and support for mutual goals. Building strong relationships is essential for driving economic development and creating a supportive network for businesses across the region.