FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Media Contact:
Danny Vivenzio
Communications Manager
Downtown Raleigh Alliance
919-821-6977
dannyvivenzio@downtownraleigh.org
Downtown Raleigh Alliance Hosts Inaugural Women with Vision Lunch
RALEIGH, NC (October 4, 2016) – There’s just one more day to register for the Women with Vision Lunch on Wednesday, October 12 from 11 am to 1 pm at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel located at 421 S. Salisbury Street.
The Downtown Raleigh Alliance is proud to host an event that creates an environment of open dialogue among those of various ages and industries who value a strong sense of community and seek to gain professional insight from esteemed leaders in the community.
The luncheon will include a brief networking session, followed by lunch and panel discussion. We invite the media to attend the discussion that includes six women dedicated to leading the community with a passion for their work and the downtown. The panelists will be available for interviews before the discussion.
Adrienne Cole: Cole, Executive Director of Wake County Economic Development, will moderate the panel discussion. As the lead economic development agency for Wake County, Adrienne and her team work with the county’s 12 municipalities, the Research Triangle Park, county and community leaders, and state and regional partners to recruit new business, support existing industries, market Wake County and the region, and help companies attract the talent they need to grow and thrive.
Mary-Ann Baldwin: Baldwin is a five-term member of the Raleigh City Council, Executive Director of the Holt Brothers Foundation, and Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Holt Brothers Inc. She also serves as the city's representative to the Board of Trustees of GoTriangle, chairs the City of Raleigh's Transportation Committee, and is the city's liaison to the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, Artsplosure, and the Wake County Partnership to End Homelessness. Baldwin also co-founded Innovate Raleigh.
Dr. Tashni-Ann Dubroy: Dr. Dubroy is the 17th President of Shaw University. She began her career at BASF, where she quickly moved through the ranks from Research Scientist to Chemical Procurement Manager. As an entrepreneur, Dr. Dubroy is co-founder of Tea and Honey Blends hair care company, and Element Beauty Bar, a hair salon. She also mentors women through her non-profit organization, The Brilliant & Beautiful Foundation.
Kim Hammer: Hammer is the owner of Bittersweet—a cocktail, coffee, and dessert bar in downtown Raleigh. She recently announced a new venture in downtown Raleigh set to open this fall called Raleighwood Provisions. Hammer sits on the Raleigh City Events Task Force representing bars and restaurant interests when city events are planned or proposed.
Gayle Lanier: Lanier serves as Senior Vice President of Customer Services for Duke Energy. Previously, Lanier served as Vice President of Corporate Services for Progress Energy. She’s also held leadership roles at both Nortel and EMC (previously Data General Corp.). Lanier is actively involved in the community, serving on the boards of trustees for the United Way of the Greater Triangle and Discovery Place and is a former member and secretary for the North Carolina State University board of trustees.
Caroline Sullivan: Sullivan was elected to her first term on the Wake County Board of Commissioners in November 2012 and served as the Board’s Vice Chair in 2015. Caroline serves on the boards of Alliance Behavioral Healthcare, Wake Ed Partnership, and Passage Home and has served on the boards of Wake County Smart Start, Triangle Family Services, and the Poe Center for Health Education. She is the Chair of the NC Association of County Commissioners Public Education Committee and is a member of the Health and Human Services Steering Committee and Legislative Goals Committee.
Their discussion will focus on the similarities and differences of women who lead in the four key sectors of the economy (corporate, government, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial), their leadership styles, and how they support a vibrant downtown.
Registration ends tomorrow. Admission costs $25 for DRA members, and $35 for non-members.
For more information, please visit our website.
Thank you to our:
Hospitality Sponsor: Sheraton Raleigh Hotel
Panel Sponsor: Citrix
Visionary Sponsors: Raleigh Convention Center and Synergy Spa & Aesthetics
Centerpiece Sponsor: Brewery Bhavana
Patron Sponsors: ABC 11, CE Rental, NAI Carolantic Realty, North State Bank, RE/MAX Advantage
Event Partners: e51, Ipreo Women’s Initiative, National Association of Professional Women of Raleigh-Durham, National Association of Women Business Owners of Greater Raleigh, and Project She
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About Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA):
DRA is an award-winning nonprofit organization whose mission is to continue the revitalization of Raleigh’s downtown. The Alliance enhances the quality of life and positively impacts the economic success of downtown through six core services: 1. Safety and Hospitality Ambassadors; 2. Strategic Branding & Community Communications; 3. Events Production; 4. Retail Attraction & Merchant Promotions; 5. Strategic Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement; and 6. Strategic Planning. For more information about DRA, please visit www.YouRHere.com.