The Charlotte Junior Chamber Blog

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Ignite mantra is “enlighten us, but make it quick.” Two Charlotte Junior Chamber members, Christy Hamlin and Lawrence Shaheen Jr., answered the challenge and, after a competitive selection process, both were chosen to speak in the upcoming Ignite Charlotte 2, on Tuesday, February 8 at 7 p.m.

Christy Hamlin’s topic is entitled, “Vision Casting.” Lawrence Shaheen’s is entitled “Bridging the Gap.”

“As an organization, we are very proud of Christy and Lawrence, two of our newest members, for standing out among a competitive process to earn spots within Ignite Charlotte 2.” said President David Hoffman.  “We fully support Ignite Charlotte 2 as a community effort that allows each person the opportunity to create and hone a meaningful voice.”

The Charlotte Junior Chamber will also provide logistical support for this 100% volunteer-led event.

For additional information please contact Chapter President David Hoffman at 704-806-5111 or Ignite Charlotte media contact Dwayne Waite 412-805-8977.

Ignite Charlotte2 features presenters sharing their personal or professional passions using 20 slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds. The total talk time is five minutes.  Talks come from "everyday people" with a drive to share their passions with the community. Past talks ranging from "Where Ideas Come from" to "How to Talk about Sex without Breaking a Sweat" were developed and presented by local people who showed the courage in order to get on stage to enlighten us with their creativity.  Admission to Ignite Charlotte is FREE with a ticket. For more information, please visit www.ignitecharlotte.com.

The Charlotte Junior Chamber is Charlotte's premiere young professional leadership development organization. We are committed to developing the next generation of civic and business leaders through opportunities to lead right now.  For more information, please visit www.charlottejuniorchamber.com

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The Charlotte Junior Chamber Blog

By Ashley Richardson

After living in Florida for seven years and finally moving back to North Carolina, I was looking for a way to re-connect with people my age and get more involved in the Charlotte community. A colleague of mine and our current president, David Hoffman, introduced me to the Junior Chamber and invited me to a General Membership meeting. I was expecting to go to a typical networking event where I could shake a few hands and be handed a few business cards.

From the beginning I realized I would gain a lot more than business cards. Everyone was welcoming and it  was an easy environment to feel comfortable in as a guest. Not only did that impress me, but I was also  impressed by the numerous opportunities for members and guests to directly reach out to the community  and have an impact on relevant issues. I attended a few more events as a guest, including the M-Night  social at The Wine Loft, and within a month I was a new member.

Fast forward another month and I was signed up to chair my first project – American Cancer Society’s      annual Relay for Life for Central Mecklenburg County. Getting the chance to work with other members and  guests, as well as manage a committee for this event, taught me more than I could learn from most books.  The leadership skills and organizational skills I gained through this experience have translated into my  career and given me more confidence to pursue my goals.

Within a year of being a member, I have developed some of my best working relationships and closest  friends. Although our chapter is diverse in our member’s backgrounds, careers, and interests, working with  our members to achieve a goal and help solve a problem in our community has been a great way to meet  new people and make new friendships. I’ve found that I do in fact have a lot in common with other Junior  Chamber members – first and foremost being our desire to help grow and improve the Charlotte community.

Editors Note: Ashley was recently elected to serve on the board as a Community Development Director.

The Charlotte Junior Chamber Blog

By Will Peters
2010 President

I joined the Jaycees for 3 reasons.  

1. Improve my leadership skills
2. Become connected to progressive professionals in Charlotte
3. Make a difference in and for the Charlotte community

I must admit, that in the beginning I joined for selfish reasons of growing myself and my business.  I’m a small business owner in Charlotte who was seeking to improve the quality of my company and business performance.  To improve the quality of any company I believe starts with improving the people and product of that company.  As the owner of the company, I believe it starts with me.  So leadership development is very important to me.  

I sought to get better in my development by improving my leadership skills, connecting with progressive professionals and making a difference in my community.  The Charlotte Junior Chamber (Jaycees) provided me that opportunity.  I’ve been embracing that opportunity ever since.  

I moved here from Connecticut because of my love at first sight for Charlotte.  I first came to Charlotte in October of 2006.  After a couple trips around Charlotte, conversations and a trip to the small business hub with the City of Charlotte I knew this was the place I would launch my business and raise my family.  Due to my great love of Charlotte and where it’s going, I plan to do what it takes to grow Charlotte as one of the most premiere cities in the world.  

Again, I believe that to improve the quality of a city and it’s performance, begins with it’s people.  The creative minds of Charlotte are a key driver for the future of Charlotte.  With so many creative and talented minds blooming in Charlotte, the city will continue to become one of the most sought out cities in the world.  

The Charlotte Junior Chamber offered me a creative and progressive place to connect with the future of the city.  I was able to gain more than what I asked for.  I asked for leadership development, connections and community service.  I achieved that as well as improved character, communication, vision, impact, meetings with business leaders, community leaders, international leaders, and much more.  Most importantly, I’ve made life long friends along the way.  

The members of this organization along with the heritage of creating previous leaders of our city encouraged me to follow in the foot steps of these great men and women.  Through my years of dedication I have improved my leadership skills, become connected to progressive professionals in Charlotte, and made a difference in and for the Charlotte community.  Thanks to the Junior Chamber, I have been able to translate this experience to my personal life, business life, and community.  

I encourage individuals seeking impact in your lives and community to join us in our journey of becoming Charlotte’s next civic, business and community leaders.

The Charlotte Junior Chamber Blog

By Jennifer Coates
2011 1st V.P, Community Development-elect

I first heard of the Jaycees when I lived in Greenville, NC back in 2005.  They organized the city’s Christmas parade and I thought it would be a great place to meet new people and keep myself busy on Saturday afternoons.  Unfortunately, I never did more than think about it.

When I moved to Winston-Salem a few years later, I again heard of a chapter there.  But again, didn’t act.  Fast forward another year and I’m in Charlotte buying my first house.  That’s when I decided it was time to start being a good citizen and give back to my community.  I searched around exploring several organizations and felt most welcome with the Charlotte Junior Chamber.  I quickly learned this is not just a community service organization -  It's about leadership development.

Never in a million years would I have imagined I’d experience such personal growth in such a short period of time.  Now, it's not just about helping others, but fulfilling new challenges.  I spent the last year identifying some of my weaknesses and how I can overcome them; from speaking in front of crowds, to resolving conflicts and working with people who are nothing like me.  I love learning and growing and with this organization, the possibilities are endless.

The Junior Chamber has helped me learn a lot about myself.  Most of all, it's helped build my confidence which has also improved my work and personal life. And the best part is, I'm not done yet!  Now, as a Vice President, I spend my time helping other members become better leaders.  If you're somone looking to build your resume and exchange some business cards, this is not the place for you.  You must put forth effort to experience the value this organization has to offer.

I encourage everyone to step outside of your comfort zone and take a chance.  I promise you'll be glad you did it, just like me.

Jen Coates is the current Director of the Community Area. In 2011, she will assume the role of Vice President of Community. Professionally, Jen works as producer at a local news station. Jen is passionate about helping members develop as leaders through good work here in Charlotte. Jen has been a Jaycee since 2009. That year she was recognized as Rookie of the Year and was also recognized for developing and chairing the project of the year, the Goodwill Computer and Related items Recycling Drive.