2024 2nd Quarter Update
The second quarter of 2024 was full of work that supports our mission to champion business growth and business prosperity throughout Union County.
Highlights include the 2024 Union County Job Fair, Annual Safety Awards, and Public Policy work and the largest Women in Business Conference in YOUR Chamber’s history.
Read on to see your membership at work.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
2024 Union County Job Fair
The 2024 Union County Job Fair was the largest one yet. YOUR Chamber partnered with South Piedmont Community College, NC Works, Centralina Workforce Development Board, and Union County Public Schools to host the fair April 30 at the Union County Agricultural Center. 
There were over 530 seekers in attendance, and 83 employers registered for the event. Along with employers, Our Future in UNiSON and UCHRA were on hand to help jobseekers in a variety of ways. 
UNiSON provided resources to help those with barriers to employment. They had information on daycares and transportation options.
UCHRA answered attendees’ questions about preparing resumes or facing interviews.
Workforce development is one of the three guiding principles in our 2024 Legislative Agenda and talent recruitment and retention is the number one concern of business and industry. The Job Fair is one element of our strategic plan focused on increasing the talent pipeline in Union County.
2024 North Carolina Department of Labor Safety Awards
Workforce development efforts reach beyond recruiting and hiring well-skilled workers. It includes ensuring safety for workers across our community. We are always so grateful to partner with the North Carolina Department of Labor for their Annual Safety Awards.
These awards recognize organizations that achieve and maintain good safety records.
Commissioner of Labor Josh Dobson shared an impactful message about lessons learned during his tenure in office at the event held June 5 at the Simpson Special Events Center in Monroe.
One he finished his comments, he presented the awards to this year’s local recipients.
Silver Awards
Criteria: Rate of days from work must be at least 50% below the industry average
Atrium Health, Jesse Helms Nursing Center
Atrium Health, Union West
McGee Brothers Company, Inc., Greenville/Western NC Division
Gold Awards
Criteria: Rate of days away from work, job transfer or restriction must be at least 50% below the industry average.
3M Scott Fire and Safety
AFL Enterprise Services Inc, Enterprise Services Raleigh Division
AFL Enterprise Services Inc, Optical Telecom Division
AFL Enterprise Services Inc., Data Center Monroe Division
AFL Enterprise Services Inc., Monroe Division
ASSA Abloy Door Controls
ATI Specialty Materials, LL, Bakers Powder Operations
ATI Specialty Materials, LLC, East Operations
ATI Specialty Materials, LLC, Monroe Operations
Atrium Health Primary Care, Lake Park Family Medicine
Atrium Health Primary Care, Waxhaw Family Medicine
Atrium Health Union
Berry Global
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
Carolina Structural Welding
Century Contractors Inc
Collins Aerospace, Monroe
Harris Teeter Transportation
Flowers Baking Company of Jamestown, LLC, Henderson Warehouse and Bakery Outlet
Flowers Baking Company of Jamestown, LLC, Indian Trail Warehouse and Bakery Outlet
Martin Marietta Materials, East Division – Charlotte District – Bakers Quarry
McGee Brothers Company, Inc., Greensboro Division
Midway Aerospace
Natural Family Planning OB/GYN
NCDA&CS, Griffin Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
Record – USA
Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute, Monroe
State Utility Contractors, Inc.
ATI Specialty Materials, LLC, Bakers North Operations
Town of Waxhaw
Town Of Waxhaw, Police Department
Union County
Union County Community Action, Inc., Fayetteville Street Facility
Union County Community Action, Inc., Winchester Facility
Union County Community Action, Inc., South Hamlet Facility
Union County Community Action, Inc., Administrative Offices
Windsor Windows and Doors Inc., Monroe
PUBLIC POLICY EFFORTS
Public Policy Committee Raleigh Visit
Several members of the Public Policy Committee took a trip to Raleigh to meet with the Union County Delegation to the NC General Assembly.
Chamber members Dr. Rhett Brown, Clint Lawrence, and Jordan Griffin attended the trip along with Chamber President and CEO Pat Kahle, Director of Communications and Special Projects Jessica Rielly. The trip was organized by Sarah Prencipe and Brian Francis with Lumin Strategies, the Chamber’s Public Policy Consultant.
This event allowed policymakers to hear about legislative issues facing businesses directly from Chamber members.
They met with Representatives Dean Arp, Mark Brody, and David Willis, along with Senators Dave Craven and Todd Johnson and shared their gratitude for the delegate’s work on behalf of Union County and the State of North Carolina.
Committee members also shared the latest version of the Chamber’s Legislative Agenda, along with the blog series focused on informing members and the community about the need for adequate, cost-effective public and private infrastructure essential for business development, growth, and prosperity throughout Union County. They encouraged the delegates to continue to support investments in infrastructure.
Informational Infrastructure Blog Series
As part of our Legislative Agenda, the Chamber supports policies, programs, and initiatives that provide adequate, cost-effective public and private infrastructure essential for business development, growth, and prosperity throughout Union County.
We believe strong infrastructure is foundational for businesses and a thriving community. Starting in June, we began publishing a blog series to provide information to our members and promote discussion on public policy issues affecting businesses in Union County. We kicked off the series with a look at Wastewater Management in Union County.
You can follow the series here.
Future blogs will focus on infrastructure issues such as broadband, roads, energy and water, workforce issues such as childcare and worker skills and other policy issues such as tax and regulatory policy.
SERVING MEMBERS
2024 Women in Business Conference
150 Women attended the 2024 Annual Women in Business Conference May 9 at the Union County Agricultural Center. The theme was “Enough.”
The Conference included an expanded Business Expo with women-owned and women-focused businesses, lunch, time for networking, and several powerful speakers. 
Michelle Lancaster, Executive Director for Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Programs & University Partnerships at Wingate University started the day off with a presentation on what to do when “My Plate is Full, But I want more.”
Due to a medical emergency, the second speaker was unable to make it, and the Chamber team pivoted and invited Lancaster, Dr. Maria Pharr, and Joan White to sit on a panel discussing challenges and opportunities they have faced as women.
“For something that was unplanned and off the cuff, I thought the panel was very well executed and allowed for a lot of interaction,” Nicole Elzayek with Girls on the Run of Union County shared.
Leann Yandle with Monroe Aquatics and Fitness Center said, “I feel this happened for a reason, and we all gained so much knowledge from the impromptu panel.”
The day wrapped up with an empowering, inspirational talk by Kamella Emmanuel reminding women “You are enough.”
“This event was an overall wonderful experience of connecting with other women businesses, offering support of one another, and focusing on positivity that we can include to improve ourselves in our daily life and our businesses to achieve better and for our own personal journey,” according to Angela Blosser with Club Pilates Indian Trail.
Nonprofit Workshop
A strong network of nonprofits help contribute to the thriving community we envision for Union County. As part of our efforts to support the wonderful nonprofits in Union County, we host an annual Nonprofit Workshop. This year’s session was on June 4 at the Chamber.
Social Media is a powerful tool for nonprofits, but it can be a challenge for them as well. We invited Shane and Elise Fraser with SNA Today to share Social Media Strategies for Nonprofits. They shared the latest information on algorithms and tactics to increase exposure for local nonprofits.
The Chamber hosts this workshop as a free event for Chamber nonprofits each year.
THE WORK CONTINUES
It is YOUR partnership and YOUR investment that makes all of this work to champion business growth and business prosperity throughout Union County possible.
