Bill Russell

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Following: 73
Following Blogs: 7

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Park Avenue's John Bradford selected Lake Norman Business Person of the Year

Bill Russell posted an article on - Jan 30, 2012, 5:07 pm
John Bradford receives the Lake Norman Business Person of the Year. Photo by Deborah Young John Bradford, owner of Park Avenue Properties, LLC in Cornelius, has been selected the 2011 Robert T. Cashion Business Person of the Year by the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce. The announcement was made at...
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North Mecklenburg High School Principal selected 2011 Citizen of Year by the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce

Bill Russell posted an article on - Jan 25, 2012, 5:17 pm
Matthew Hayes (center) receives the 2011 Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award. Photo by Deborah Young Studios Matthew Hayes, principal at North Mecklenburg High School, was presented the Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award by the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce at the Chamber’s Annual ...
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The Founding Vision…Lake Norman Chamber Chamber celebrates 25 years of service

Bill Russell posted an article on - Jan 22, 2012, 4:05 pm
First week on the job with 1999 Chamber Chairman Scott Hinkle, 1996 Chairman Scott Lawrence, Bill Russell, and Cornelius Mayor Wes Southern This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Lake Norman Chamber which was formed in 1987 as the North Mecklenburg Chamber of Commerce.  It also is my 16th ye...
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Lake Norman Chamber e-Brief for September 21, 2011

Bill Russell posted an article on - Sep 21, 2011, 5:48 pm
Chamber program this Friday examines education Focus Friday: September 23rd 8-9:30a.m. Setser Continuing our month on education, September’s Focus Friday will feature Bryan Setser, a Sr. Partner at Open Education Solutions.  Open Education Solutions is a blended learning service provider which...
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Lake Norman Chamber e-Brief Newsletter for September 2, 2011

Bill Russell posted an article on - Sep 2, 2011, 4:35 pm
Charlotte Mecklenburg School Superintendent to speak at Luncheon Hattabaugh Join us as the Interim Superintendent for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Hugh Hattabaugh discusses the state of the public school system and education trends and priorities for the year at a luncheon to be held Thursday, Se...
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13,500 Warriors Attack Huntersville!

Bill Russell posted an article on - Sep 1, 2011, 10:49 am
When I was 10, I remember coming home one afternoon literally covered in mud.  A new house in the neighborhood was being built and the work crews had dug out trenches for a foundation and a huge basement for this new home.  The net effect was a maze dug nearly ten feet into the ground in one place...
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Lake Norman Chamber e-Brief for Thursday, August 25th

Bill Russell posted an article on - Aug 25, 2011, 10:43 am
    Need a loan for your business but don’t know where to turn? The Chamber is hosting a program this Friday on Capital Investments for your business!  The Chamber has created a program Friday morning especially for our retailers and small businesses who need an injection of cash for their...
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Lake Norman Chamber e-Brief for August 21, 2011

Bill Russell posted an article on - Aug 21, 2011, 8:45 pm
Chamber Members and stakeholders Lake Norman Chamber to host local financing program for area businesses On Friday, August 26th from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. the Chamber will coordinate a program at the Chamber on the Capital Access program.  Several local banks in the region including Aquesta, BB&T, ...
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Lessons Learned Along The Way #6 "Knowing when to stop"

Bill Russell posted an article on - Aug 9, 2011, 9:00 pm
The following is the sixth a ten part series of “Lessons I’ve Learned Along the Way…” Bill Russell, CCE Lake Norman Chamber  Knowing when to stop  While I lead a non-profit Chamber of Commerce today, my first occupation after graduating from college was a marketing representative for an...
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Lake Norman Chamber e-Brief for August 1, 2011

Bill Russell posted an article on - Aug 1, 2011, 11:12 am
Chamber’s Leadership Lake Norman Program Accepting Applications The Chamber is accepting applications for the 2011-2012 session of Leadership Lake Norman.  Leadership Lake Norman is a program to develop a group of informed, committed, and qualified individuals capable of providing visionary a...
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Lake Norman e-Brief for July 19

Bill Russell posted an article on - Jul 19, 2011, 12:18 pm
Thursday Luncheon to focus on 2012 Democratic National Convention Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx will discuss the 2012 Democratic National Convention at a luncheon to be held, Thursday, July 21, at 11:45 at NorthStone Country Club in Huntersville.  Mayor Foxx will address how business and our loca...
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Lake Norman Chamber e-Brief for July 11, 2011

Bill Russell posted an article on - Jul 11, 2011, 12:41 pm
Mayor Foxx Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx discusses 2012 DNC at Chamber Luncheon Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx will discuss the 2012 Democratic National Convention at a luncheon to be held, Thursday, July 21, at 11:45 at NorthStone Country Club in Huntersville.  Mayor Foxx will address how busine...
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Lessons learned along the way… #5 "Dare to be strange"

Bill Russell posted an article on - Jul 5, 2011, 5:10 pm
  Bill Russell, CCE More than two decades ago, I met an accountant who had a slightly different twist on the phrase “Dare to be different.”  Wally Owings was serving as a National Vice President of the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce from Virginia assigned to my home state of  So...
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Lake Norman Chamber Legislative Newsletter – June 29, 2011

Bill Russell posted an article on - Jun 29, 2011, 4:01 pm
Bill Russell, CCE IOM Chamber members and stakeholders Carolinas HealthCare to Present Information on Planned Facility for Huntersville – Thursday, June 30 3:00 pm at the Chamber  The Lake Norman Chamber invites any interested Chamber member to attend a special Public Policy Meeting of the Cha...
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Lake Norman Chamber Legislative e-Brief

Bill Russell posted an article on - Jun 24, 2011, 3:47 pm
Carolinas HealthCare To Present Information On Planned Facility For Huntersville The Lake Norman Chamberinvites any interested Chambermember to attend a special Public Policy Meeting of the Chamberto hear information on plans to build a 44-bed behavioral health hospital in Huntersville. Carolinas ...
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Lake Norman Chamber e-brief Legislative Newsletter

Bill Russell posted an article on - Jun 8, 2011, 10:32 pm
Chamber Members and Stakeholders Representative Sue Myrick to Host Town Hall Meeting At Chamber Rep. Sue Myrick Congresswoman Sue Myrick, Republican N.C . Ninth District, will host a Town Hall Meeting at the Lake Norman Chamber at 1:30 pm on Friday, June, 17, 2011.  Rep. Myrick will speak on iss...
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Lessons I Learned Along the Way #4 – "Love What you do"

Bill Russell posted an article on - Jun 6, 2011, 1:49 pm
The following is the fourth in a ten part series of  “Lessons I’ve Learned Along the Way… Love what you do…” Bill Russell, CCE Lake Norman Chamber I have written many times before of a mentor of mine, Gene Martin, who long ago encouraged me to “Love what you do, do what you love, and ...
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Lake Norman Chamber does not endorse or support local candidates for office

Bill Russell posted an article on - Jun 3, 2011, 11:26 am
Bill Russell, President The letter to the editor below was distributed to The Herald Newspaper and The Lake Norman Citizen in regards to a letter the previous week citing my involvement in recruiting candidates for political office.  While I along with Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors mee...
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Lake Norman Chamber e-Brief for Friday, May 27, 2011

Bill Russell posted an article on - May 27, 2011, 12:34 pm
Chamber Members and Stakeholders: Memorial Day Celebrations As families gather in observance of Memorial Day, let us be focused on what we are honoring – the men and women who have sacrificed so much for the protections of our liberty.  We give thanks to the men and women, from generation to ge...
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"A Look Back" – Message from Chamber Chairman Scott Hinkle – 1999

Bill Russell posted an article on - May 15, 2011, 11:01 pm
Scott Hinkle served as Chairman of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce in 1999.  Sadly we lost Scott December 11, 2009.  I recently came across his Chairman’s Message from February 1999 and was struck by how appropriate much of it is more than a decade later.  Here is the text of that message...
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Lake Norman Chamber Legislative e-Brief for May 12, 2011

Bill Russell posted an article on - May 12, 2011, 6:23 pm
Salute to National Travel and Tourism Week May 8 – 14 Creating the Amateur Sports Capital of the South PowerLuncheon – Friday, May 13th at Havana Banquet and Ballroom Wrapping up our week long salute to “Travel and Tourism Week”  the Chamber will host a luncheon Friday on the subject of...
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Lessons I've Learned Along the Way #3 – "Putting others first"

Bill Russell posted an article on - May 7, 2011, 4:53 pm
The following is the third in a ten part series of “Lessons I’ve Learned Along the Way…” Putting others first In 1994, I joined the Santee Rotary Club while I was Executive Director of the Tri County Regional Chamber of Commerce. It was there I was exposed to the club’s motto “Service ...
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Lake Norman Chamber Legislative e-Brief May 5, 2011

Bill Russell posted an article on - May 5, 2011, 9:37 pm
Chamber Members and Stakeholders: Salute to National Travel and Tourism Week May 8 – 14 Focus Friday – Focus on Hospitality Taxes Friday, May 13 at the Courtyard by Marriott Join us Friday, May 13th at 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott 16700 Northcross Drive in Huntersville as t...
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Lake Norman Chamber Legislative e-Brief April 28, 2011

Bill Russell posted an article on - Apr 28, 2011, 8:43 am
Chamber members and stakeholders: Focus Friday – Focus on Gun Rights vs. Property Rights Friday, Chamber members will have a chance to weigh in on a controversial bill in the North Carolina General Assembly: House Bill 63 Firearm in Locked Motor Vehicle/Parking Lot.  The Chamber’s monthly...
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Lake Norman Chamber Legislative e- Brief April 21, 2011

Bill Russell posted an article on - Apr 22, 2011, 6:27 pm
 Chamber members and stakeholders  Next Focus Friday to take aim at “Gun Control” legislation Chamber members and guests will have a chance to weigh in on a controversial bill in the North Carolina General Assembly: Focus Friday program will feature discussion on the bill led by Brian Sisson...
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Lake Norman Chamber e-Brief Legislative Newsletter – April 13, 2011

Bill Russell posted an article on - Apr 13, 2011, 5:43 pm
Chamber Members and Stakeholders: Lake Norman  -  The Great Lake Just weeks after launching a joint branding campaign, both the Mooresville South Iredell and Lake Norman Chambers are receiving a great deal of news coverage in our local media on efforts to co-brand the region.  There was an inte...
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Networking: Building an effective network

Bill Russell posted an article on - Apr 12, 2011, 7:22 pm
The following is the second in a ten part series of: “Lessons I’ve Learned Along the Way…”   “Some day, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me. But uh, until that day, accept this justice as a gift on my daughter’s wedding day.” Such were the words ...
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Lake Norman – The Great Lake

Bill Russell posted an article on - Apr 11, 2011, 8:08 pm
The following is a Letter to the Editor which was published in several Lake Norman area papers in response to a branding campaign coordinated by the Mooresville South Iredell and Lake Norman Chambers of Commerce. What constitutes “Greatness”? In a sports team do we measure greatness by how old...
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Top Ten Business Advice Tips – #1 Love your people!

Bill Russell posted an article on - Mar 14, 2011, 5:27 pm
W.E. Bill" Russell, CCE IOM The following is the first in a ten part series of: “Lessons I’ve Learned Along the Way…” I’m not sure there is a single principle more important than simply loving your people. I’ve always enjoyed reading books by John C. Maxwell, and in one of his books he...
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Mayor's Task Force unites Lake Norman Hospitality Industry

Bill Russell posted an article on - Feb 28, 2011, 6:09 pm
  William E. "Bill" Russell, CCE (Feb 24, 2011)  At a luncheon in February featuring Lynn Minges, the Assistant Secretary of Tourism, Marketing and Branding for the North Carolina Department of Commerce;  Mike Butts the Executive Director of Visit Charlotte; and Sally Ashworth the Executive D...
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Growing Together at Lake Norman

Bill Russell posted an article on - Feb 28, 2011, 5:56 pm
W.E. "Bill" Russell Robert Copeland once said, “To get something done, a committee should consist of no more than three people, two of whom are absent.”  Mr. Copeland obviously has served on a committee and my guess, had a really bad experience.  All of us at one time or the other have served...
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Lake Norman Mayor's Task Force Taking On Water

Bill Russell posted an article on - Feb 28, 2011, 5:42 pm
Bill Russell, CCE Mayor’s Task Force on Travel and Tourism (Feb 16, 2011) Roughly ten days after the announcement of a Mayor’s Task Force on Travel and Tourism, the mayor appointed committee has been suspended at this time.  As you may recall from last week’s message to the membership and s...
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Reaction to "Mayor's Task Force on Travel & Tourism" at Lake Norman

Bill Russell posted an article on - Feb 11, 2011, 9:39 am
W.E. "Bill" Russell, CCE IOM This past Friday, a press release announced the formation of a “Mayor’s Task Force on Travel & Tourism” appointed by the three North Mecklenburg Mayors, without the knowledge or notice to Visit Lake Norman, the experts charged with the promotion and marketing of t...
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Citizen emails should be kept confidential

Bill Russell posted an article on - Feb 2, 2011, 9:25 am
Bill Russell, CCE  The following is a “letter to the editor” distributed to area media January 31, 2011 regarding The Charlotte Obserever’s request of local municipalities to turn over data on residents as a matter of public record.   As of this date, while The Observer has stated the da...
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The Hidden Consequence of Leadership

Bill Russell posted an article on - Jan 5, 2011, 3:49 pm
W.E. "Bill" Russell, CCE Last year, a young man stopped into the Lake Norman Chamber and inquired about membership.  He, like many in our region, had been caught up in the corporate downsizing of the recent recession.  Shawn Brodof saw this not as a setback, but as an opportunity to pursue a care...
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The Lake Norman Chamber encourages you to "Buy Local" – Shop Lake Norman!

Bill Russell posted an article on - Dec 14, 2010, 5:05 pm
“Black Fridays”…”Cyber Mondays” – one would think the country is under siege, but it’s the latest lingo for describing the America consumer’s buying patterns.  Soon I suppose we’re likely to see Terrific Tuesdays and Super Saturdays join the mix.  One thing for certain is the con...
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Old Huntersville Store Teaches Lessons of the Past

Bill Russell posted an article on - Nov 30, 2010, 11:20 am
Hugh Torance House & Store In 1997, the late Rev Jeff Lowrance contacted me at the Lake Norman Chamber and said there was a piece of history in Huntersville that desperately needed the help of local volunteers. Set back just off Gilead Road in Huntersville is an old two story house that thousands o...
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Reaction of Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce on election of Thom Tillis as Speaker of the NC House

Bill Russell posted an article on - Nov 22, 2010, 9:54 am
Thom Tillis November 22, 2010 Lake Norman’s Thom Tillis to Lead North Carolina House Many of you may have read in yesterday’s paper or heard the news that N.C. Representative Thom Tillis, who represents the 98th District, was elected to Speaker of the North Carolina House on Saturday. This chan...
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Creating Positively Outrageous Service

Bill Russell posted an article on - Nov 4, 2010, 3:32 pm
Dorothy Hamill and Bill Russell at the 1992 Healthy American Fitness Leaders Conference A few weeks ago, Hilary Broadway, our Public Policy Chairman and a local realtor with Allen Tate Realty was sharing a book she really enjoyed – “Positively Outrageous Service” by Scott Gross.  Hilary stat...
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My Day at Lake Norman

Bill Russell posted an article on - Oct 4, 2010, 5:46 pm
Bill Russell, CCE IOM One of my mentors was noted for a charge he would give aspiring young business leaders, when he encouraged us to – “Do what we love, love what we do, and deliver more than you promise.”  Those few words have become a philosophy that I try to put into place daily and I h...
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ABB to Build $90 million Plant and Create 100 New Jobs in Lake Norman Region

Bill Russell posted an article on - Sep 10, 2010, 10:23 am
Bill Russell, CCE Message to the Lake Norman Chamber Membership Today the Lake Norman Regional Economic Development Corporation announced a new corporation relocating to the Lake Norman Region.  ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has selected Huntersville and the Lake Norman ...
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Congress – The American Lost Cause?

Bill Russell posted an article on - Sep 7, 2010, 9:25 pm
Bill Russell with U.S. Rep. Tom Gettys and Bill Sr and Sarah Russell. Congress – Our American Lost Cause? One of my favorite movies is Mr. Smith goes to Washington. In this 1939 film, Jimmy Stewart, the head of the Boy Rangers, is appointed by the Governor to replace the unexpired term of a dece...
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Local picture brighter, but more work remains

Bill Russell posted an article on - Aug 30, 2010, 7:20 pm
Letter to the Editor – August, 27, 2010 Wouldn’t it be nice to pick up a paper and read only pleasant headlines for a change? The news in Washington this week is that we have retired the national debt, unemployment in North Carolina has sunk to it’s lowest levels since 2006, and a group hug b...
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Decline of America's Service Organizations

Bill Russell posted an article on - Aug 2, 2010, 10:47 am
U.S. Junior Chamber President Gary Tompkins, Junior Chamber International Executive Director Benny Ellerbe, and JCI Treasurer Bill Russell in Pusan Korea 1996 This past week, I was speaking to Benny Ellerbe,  Executive Director of Optimist International.  Ellerbe is the chief executive officer of...
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Lake Norman: Our National Stage and the Role of a Lifetime

Bill Russell posted an article on - Jul 27, 2010, 11:03 am
John Hettwer. 2009 LKN Chamber Chairman Huntersville Mayor Jill Swain has offered her insight on the strategic regional partnership of the three North Mecklenburg towns and the positive tangible benefits that partnership has created. Mayor Swain highlighted the efforts of our elected leadership and...
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The Lake Norman Region is stronger when we're equal in the eyes of each other

Bill Russell posted an article on - Jul 10, 2010, 8:19 pm
Bill Russell, CCE Last month, Helen Thomas, the legendary White Correspondent retired. The longtime White House journalist has covered every president since Dwight Eisenhower and broke several barriers for female journalists. She resigned her position as a columnist with the Hearst Newspapers in th...
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Senator Reid's Political Payback Threatens N. Carolina Jobs

Bill Russell posted an article on - Jul 6, 2010, 4:36 pm
Bill Russell, CCE Lake Norman Chamber While Mecklenburg County struggled to create a budget to fund schools, keep teachers in classrooms, and maintain our library system, not to mention a host of other basic human services, U.S. Senator Harry Reid has found a way to pay back the union bosses for th...
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From Where I Stand – Together we do great things

Bill Russell posted an article on - Jun 11, 2010, 2:42 pm
Bill Russell, CCE A few weekends ago, I spent an afternoon helping my dad down at our farm in Rock Hill.  My father, who is retired, still maintains a farm that goes back many generations.  Actually, the land itself was settled by my family going all the way back to Colonial America.  Dad has a ...
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Lake Norman Business Expo – Show & Tell!

Bill Russell posted an article on - May 10, 2010, 10:50 am
Bill Russell, Future Chamber Executive Nearly everyone has experienced “Show and Tell,” whether a student yourself or assisting your child with their project.  When I was in grade school, I was asked to bring something or someone to school of significance to me to share with the class;  as a ...
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From Where I stand – Branding a Legend

Bill Russell posted an article on - Apr 9, 2010, 4:52 pm
Bill Russell, CCE One of my favorite films is “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence” with John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart. It is a western I have seen so many times that I often repeat my favorite lines as they are being said. Among them is a real gem. At the end of the movie, the individual c...
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About Me

Bill Russell, the president and chief executive officer of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce, is a resident of Huntersville, NC. Bill attended Winthrop University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. He served as a marketing specialist for a commercial office furniture dealer for twelve years before entering the field of association management.

Bill serves on the Boards of Visit Lake Norman, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority Visitors Advisory Committee, United Way – Lake Norman, Hugh Torance House & Store, and the Cannon School Cannon Council. He is a past president of the Lake Norman Kiwanis Club and the Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. He is also a member of the North Mecklenburg Rotary Club. In 1996, he was recognized with the Order of the Palmetto, the highest honor bestowed upon a citizen in the State of South Carolina for his civic involvement. He is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Organizational Management and a Fellow with the N.C. Institute of Political Leadership. In 1992, Bill was president of the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees), the largest young people’s leadership training organizations in the country. This year, Bill received his Certified Chamber Executive designation by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. Less than 500 Chamber Executives have received this designation in the 40 year history of the program.

Bill was the first executive director of the Tri County Regional Chamber from August 1, 1993 until December 31, 1995.

He currently oversees the operation and management of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has approximately 1,100 members in the Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, and greater Lake Norman area.


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