Charge
The Big Bold Ideas Committee on Innovation and Workforce Development was established in 2022 with the charge to agree on a shared set of ambitious 5-year goals and identify and amplify strategies that accelerate innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development.
Committee Vision
To be a great place to start, grow, and sustain an enterprise with the workforce needed to support a thriving economy.
Goals and Measures
The Committee established the following proposed goals and measures after a year of thoughtful research and collaboration:
Strategies and Tactics
In 2023, the committee will enter the next phase to develop the strategies and tactics that will accelerate innovation and workforce development and deliver on the goals.
Committee Members
The following are the leaders in innovation and/or workforce development who were part of the inaugural committee in 2022:
Contact
For questions, contact Chamber Vice President for Community, Economic, and Workforce Development, Katie Loovis.
The Big Bold Ideas Committee on Innovation and Workforce Development was established in 2022 with the charge to agree on a shared set of ambitious 5-year goals and identify and amplify strategies that accelerate innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development.
Committee Vision
To be a great place to start, grow, and sustain an enterprise with the workforce needed to support a thriving economy.
Goals and Measures
The Committee established the following proposed goals and measures after a year of thoughtful research and collaboration:
- Dramatically increase the number of employers, jobs, the amount of investment, funding, and patents issued in Orange County by 2026.
Measures: 1,000 more employer enterprises; 5,000 more jobs; 5,000 more residents employed; $2 billion in announced investments; $250,000,000 in announced new funding; and 750 new patents. - Ensure employers have the talent they need to succeed with 80% of Orange County residents being workforce-ready with a postsecondary degree, certificate, or credential by 2026.
Measures: 9,000 industry-recognized credentials issued to high school students in Orange County from SY21-SY26 and a 6% annual increase in postsecondary degrees, certificates, or credentials issued to Orange County residents by 2026. - Increase the number of women and minority-owned enterprises to more closely reflect the demographics of our community by 2026.
Measures: Improve tracking and reporting of women- and minority-owned enterprises and enterprise creation; identify the creation of 100 new minority-owned enterprises annually; Black and Hispanic per capita income growth to exceed average per capita income growth; and track and improve persistence and retention rates of minority enterprises over time.
Strategies and Tactics
In 2023, the committee will enter the next phase to develop the strategies and tactics that will accelerate innovation and workforce development and deliver on the goals.
Committee Members
The following are the leaders in innovation and/or workforce development who were part of the inaugural committee in 2022:
- Co-chair: Pavani Peri, Acta Solutions
- Co-chair: Sheryl Waddell, UNC-Chapel Hill
- Aaron Nelson, The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro
- Amanda Garner, Orange County Economic Development
- Caraina Garris, NC Works Career Center
- Chi Nwogu, Launch Chapel Hill
- Delores Bailey, Empowerment
- Donna Bell, Congruence Counseling Service
- Dwight Bassett, Town of Chapel Hill Economic Development
- Holly Fraccaro, Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange, and Chatham Counties
- Jerry Jones, Durham Technical Community College
- Jimmy Melton, Carolina Research Venture Fund
- Jon Hartman-Brown, Town of Carrboro Economic Development
- Kathi Breweur, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Career and Technical Education
- Kevin (Kaze) Thomas, Entrepreneur
- Lebone Moses, Chisara Ventures, Inc.
- Margaret Roberton, Central Carolina Community College
- Neal McTigue, SBTDC of the Central Carolina Region (UNC and NCCU)
- Shannon Braxton, Orange County Schools Career and Technical Education
- Steve Brantley, Orange County Economic Development
- Tammy Wall, Regional Workforce Development Board
- Dwight Bassett, Town of Chapel Hill Economic Development
Contact
For questions, contact Chamber Vice President for Community, Economic, and Workforce Development, Katie Loovis.