Meet The Team

Chamber staff, board of directors, and community investors.

2024-2025 Board of Directors

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Erica Pittman: Chair

Business Development VP
Fidelity Bank
(919) 556-2021

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Valerie Barlow

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

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Dino Radosta

Owner
APC Holdings
(919) 562-4248x11

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Peter Kima: 23-24 Chair

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

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Jonathan Williams

Parther
Focus Design Builders
(919) 453-0200

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Kirk Metcalf

Wake EMC

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Tisha Baker Lowe: VC
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Mauranda Dalziel

Owner
The Gather Group
(919) 446-5511

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Brian Wriston

Radeas Labs

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Shelley Welch: Secretary

REALTOR/Broker
Next Stage Realty
919-760-7363

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Keith Wallace

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

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Shyrl Wood

Pinnacle Financial Partners
(919) 985-7574

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Kristy Brown: Treasurer
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Ryan Hutchinson

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

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Jenna Cameron

Cameron & Furman CPAs

Wake Forest Area Chamber Team

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Julie Kruse-John

Director of
Operations

Julie Kruse-John brings over a decade of nonprofit leadership experience to her role as Director of Operations for the Chamber. She holds a Master's degree in Public Policy and Administration with a minor in Project Management from the State University of New York.

Additionally, Julie is the proud owner of the Wake Forest FUNGO, the town's beloved collegiate summer baseball team. In this role, she has cultivated deep relationships across the local business community through sponsorship development and partnership programs. Her entrepreneurial background gives her a unique understanding of the needs of Chamber members.

Julie's nonprofit management expertise spans program analysis, strategic planning, fundraising, and community outreach. She has a passion for maximizing organizational efficiency and impact. Her skills in project management, relationship building, and public-private partnership development will be invaluable assets as she leads the Chamber's operations.

In her free time, Julie enjoys spending time with her husband and five children, getting outside, and of course watching baseball.

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Kristen Barrick

Director of Marketing & Communications

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!

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Becky England

Director of Programming & New Member Engagement

Becky England brings a wealth of experience in education, technology, and community engagement to her role as Director of Programming & New Member Engagement at the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to joining the Chamber, Becky spent many years with the Wake County Public School System, where she gained invaluable insights into fostering learning and growth among students. Her passion for empowering young minds then led her to Microsoft, where she spearheaded the innovative Family Technology Nights program in elementary schools across the region.

At the Wake Forest Chamber Foundation, Becky's expertise shines through her leadership of two transformative initiatives: the Youth Leadership program for 10th-12th graders and the Young Entrepreneurs program for 4th-9th graders. These programs equip students with essential skills, knowledge, and mindsets to thrive as future leaders and entrepreneurs.

In addition to her work with youth development, Becky plays a pivotal role in facilitating connections and celebrations within the local business community. She oversees ribbon cuttings, welcoming new members through the Ambassador program, and organizing the Chamber's monthly Business After Hours networking events.

With her unique blend of educational expertise, technological savvy, and community-building prowess, BeckyEngland is a driving force behind the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce's commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders and fostering a vibrant, interconnected business ecosystem.

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Nancy Skelly

Administrative Specialist

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

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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!”

Community Champions

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Pinnacle Logo

Community Leaders

Wake Electric Logo
Wake Skin Cancer Center Logo

Community Advocate

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Storedtech Logo

Community Partners

Edward Jones Logo
North State Bank Logo
Walters Insurance Logo

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

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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