Represent business. Serve community. Enhance the quality of life.

Meet the Chamber board of directors, team, and community investors.

Wake Forest Area Chamber Team

Liz
Liz Simpers

President

Liz has been with the Chamber since February 2020 when she came on board as the Development Director for the Chamber Foundation. In May 2022, she was promoted to President. Prior to the Chamber, she served our community as an elected official, serving on the Wake Forest Board of Commissioners, and in the business sector as the Associate Executive Branch Director for the YMCA of the Triangle where she was responsible for board development and was a key leader in philanthropy and development. 

“This really is my dream job. I’m excited about the impact we’re making in our wonderful community. I plan on living in Wake Forest forever!”

Julie
Julie Kruse-John

Administration & Events

Julie is with us full-time in events, project management, and administration. And if that's not enough work, she also is a co-owner of Wake Forest's baseball team, Fungo!

Kristen Barrick
Kristen Barrick

Membership Director

Kristen joined the team in July 2022 as Membership Director. With years of engagement and event experience under her belt, Kristen's expertise will guide her in facilitating the Chamber's member retention program, Ambassador program, many of our peer groups, and more. You are sure to see her smiling face at many of our events and programs. Make sure to introduce yourself!

Becky
Becky England

Administration

Becky is the Chamber's newest employee, joining the team in March 2023 as one of our office administrators. Becky will be one of the people you'll talk to about getting the best out of your membership and making any necessary changes. She comes to us from a long career with Wake County Public Schools. We are so glad to have her on our team!

Nancy Skelly
Nancy Skelly

Administrative Specialist

Nancy works part-time with our Chamber Foundation and assists with accounting and administrative functions.

Blanche Taylor
Blanche Taylor

Sales Manager

Blanche is an experienced membership services manager. She joined the Chamber in 2015 and has been making friends and bringing in new members ever since. With a career in non-profits, she works hard to create a sense of community among our members in the Chamber.

A resident of North Raleigh, she travels into the Town of Wake Forest regularly. She’s also the proud mother of a student at Wake Forest University! Blanche says, “I absolutely love having the opportunity to meet so many amazing people on a daily basis. I have made wonderful friends as a result of my role at the Chamber!”

Board of Directors

Peter Kima - Chair

Broker/Owner
Kima Real Estate Group
(919) 609-6777

Charlie Hamaty

Owner
Charlie's Kabob Grill
(919) 554-0938

Annette Rhodes

Attorney
Rhodes Law Firm, PLLC
919-435-3646 

Erica Pittman - Vice Chair

Business Development VP
Fidelity Bank
(919) 556-2021

Mauranda Dalziel

Owner
The Gather Group
(919) 446-5511

Valerie Barlow

Senior Vice President
Wake Med Health & Hospitals
(919) 350-8000

Bryan Miller - Treasurer

Branch Manager
Truist
(919) 556-6961

Ryan Hutchinson

Executive VP for Operations
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
(919) 761-2200

Jonathan Williams

Parther
Focus Design Builders
(919) 453-0200

Shelley Welch - Secretary

REALTOR/Broker
Next Stage Realty
919-760-7363

Keith Wallace

Operations & Business Development
Merritt Properties
(919) 526-0070

Shyrl Wood

Pinnacle Financial Partners
(919) 985-7574

Gordon Coleman - Past Chair

Owner
GCJ Productions
(252) 903-2314

Joe Kimray

Manager
B & W Hardware Co.
(919) 556-3562

Dino Radosta

Owner
APC Holdings
(919) 562-4248x11

Community Champions

Community Leaders

Community Advocate

Community Partners

Community Builders

Businesses in bold type are Integrated Investors. They support both the Chamber and its charitable Foundation.

Alger Financial
Allen Tate Realtors
Atlantic Tire & Service
B & W Hardware Co.
Capital Powersports
Carolina Hurricanes
Crumbl Cookies

Duke Raleigh Hospital
Fidelity Bank
Focus Design Builders LLC
Goldfish Swim School
Granite Construction Services, Inc.
Heritage Golf Club/1250 Heritage Club Restaurant
Modern Day Electric, LLC

NEAT NC
The Sutherland
WakeMed
Wake Forest Federal
White Street Brewing Company

Wake Forest Information

Below are some quick facts about Wake Forest. For complete details on all aspects of living in Wake Forest, visit the Wake Forest Economic Development website. This site includes a variety of community data, including population, education, cost of living, taxes, recreation, arts and culture, industry, major employers, and more.

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Population

Wake Forest: 45,260
Wake County: 1,092,305

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Climate

Average annual temperature: 60.8 degrees
Annual precipitation: 46.68 inches

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Healthcare

World-renowned healthcare providers, including WakeMed Health & Hospitals, UNC Rex Healthcare, and Raleigh Duke Hospital.

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Education

• Award-winning Wake County K-12 public education system (WCPSS) with 48 Magnet school programs, 28 NC STEM designated schools, 18 Career Academies, 2 single-gender Leadership Academies, and 3 Early College programs

• 84 private schools in Wake County serve over 17,589 students, and 20 Charter Schools granted through the WCPSS

• Three top-tier research universities are within close proximity: North Carolina State University (Raleigh), Duke University (Durham), and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill)

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Education

• Award-winning Wake County K-12 public education system (WCPSS) with 48 Magnet school programs, 28 NC STEM designated schools, 18 Career Academies, 2 single-gender Leadership Academies, and 3 Early College programs

• 84 private schools in Wake County serve over 17,589 students, and 20 Charter Schools granted through the WCPSS

• Three top-tier research universities are within close proximity: North Carolina State University (Raleigh), Duke University (Durham), and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill)

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Transportation

Wake Forest is a short distance away from I-95, I-85 and I-40 providing major thoroughfares to all of the key destinations up and down the East Coast and across the region. Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) Airport serves the region.

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Outdoor Activities

Enjoy a wide array of outdoor activities including golfing, hiking, cycling, fishing, boating, swimming and more. The 30,000-acre Falls Lake Recreation Area is minutes away!

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Quality of Life

Wake Forest has 561 acres of local parks, open space, and natural land and trails, which includes five baseball/softball fields, three soccer fields, one pool, six picnic areas, eight playgrounds, eight lighted tennis courts, a dog park, the Wake Forest Community House, Flaherty Park and Joyner Park Community Centers, and more than six miles of greenway trails.

Interested in cultural amenities and events? A plethora take place in Wake Forest: Friday Night on White (April-September), Farmer’s Market, Six Sundays in Spring concerts at Joyner Park, Mardi Gras Street Festival, Holiday Open House, Historic Home Tour, Meet in the Street arts and crafts festival, ARTS Wake Forest events, Forest Moon Community Theater, Wake Forest Renaissance Centre programming and more!

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