"Out and About with Dana Wooten: A Month of Engagement and Impact"

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!