Presentation to EDU 132 class at UNC-Chapel Hill

1. Presentation to EDU 132
January 22, 2015

2. Kristen Smith, vice president for
advocacy and engagement
• Government Relations
• Communications
• Community Development
UNC Class of 2002
What did I study at UNC?
Elementary education and sociology

3. What does that mean?
• I go to a lot of boring meetings.
• I’m trying to make this an
easier place to do business.
• I am always trying to
communicate to members and
community.
• I try to make this community a
better place.

4. Our Mission
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro
Chamber of Commerce is
a membership
organization that serves
and advances the
business interests of our
community and builds a
sustainable community
where business thrives.

5. What does that mean?
We are trying to help
businesses get the resources
they need and help make this
community a better place to
do business.

6. • The Chamber advocates for your
organization’s interests and the interests
of our local business community,
• The Chamber connects you with the
people and information you need to
thrive; and
• The Chamber helps you save money.
Which means that…

7. Things for UNC Students
to Know about the Chamber

8. Over 1,200 members strong &
cover the entire region
• We have over 1,200 members, most of them with 10
employees or fewer, including 100 nonprofits.
• Most of our members are in Chapel Hill and Carrboro,
but we have members located all over the Triangle.
• Did you know that the University of North Carolina has
been a Chamber member for more than 40 years?

9. Find Businesses at our Online Business Directory

10. • We formally disassociated with the U.S.
Chamber in 2009 over their position on health
care and climate change.
• We are members of the N.C. Chamber, N.C. Retail Merchants
Association, the Carolinas Association of Chamber of
Commerce Executives and the Association of Chamber of
Commerce Executives.
We have the “same last name” as
other Chambers of Commerce

11. We advocate for projects that
benefit UNC & its students

12. We’re Helping Attract Talent
Find jobs and industries at WorkInTheTriangle.com

13. We have a young professionals network, called
Chapel Hill Young Professionals or CHYP!
carolinachamber.org/CHYP

14. Connect With Us
facebook.com/ChapelHillCarrboroChamber
@CarolinaChamber
flickr.com/photos/carolinachamber
slideshare.net/carolinachamber
linkedin.com/company/chapel-hill-carrboro-
chamber-of-commerce
@carolinachamber
carolinachamber.org

15. Takeaways & Tips for Tar Heels
How can I help YOU?

16. Takeaways & Tips for Tar Heels
Be aware of how you look
– online & offline

17. Takeaways & Tips for Tar Heels
Know your audience and
map your network

18. Takeaways & Tips for Tar Heels
Follow up, follow up, follow up

19. Takeaways & Tips for Tar Heels
Don’t burn bridges…

20. QUESTIONS?

21. Special Offer!
First ten students to give me their elevator pitch,
will get FREE admission to our Monday CHYP
event! carolinachamber.org/CHYP