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Student Impact
Students in the CLDA program have reported acquiring valuable skills such as communication, teamwork, public speaking, and self-confidence. Feedback from participants highlights the program’s impact on their academic performance, career awareness, and personal development. Eighth graders who complete the program have the opportunity to become Student Mentors, providing support and guidance to new participants while further developing their own leadership skills. These mentors have expressed appreciation for the chance to help peers, enhance their own leadership capabilities, and contribute to their community.
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Business and Community Impact
Businesses benefit from the CLDA through future workforce development, community investment, economic and educational growth, and fostering leadership and innovation. For students, the outcomes include informed career choices, educational and career planning, skill development, increased motivation and engagement, community connections, and leadership growth. We expect the long-term benefits of the program to be extensive, including the development of a skilled workforce, economic growth and stability, increased educational attainment, retention of local talent, innovation and entrepreneurship, improved quality of life, enhanced social capital, and a diverse and resilient economy.
If you are interested in partnering with the Wilmington Chamber to sponsor this Leadership Development program or hosting students on-site at your business, please contact Jacki Booth, Manager of Leadership Programs, at Booth@wilmingtonchamber.org.
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Session Topics
Session Topics have been identified based on the industry clusters targeted for growth in the economic mobility report adopted by the New Hanover County Commission in April 2022.
- Digital Technologies
- Warehouse, Logistics, Supply Chain, and Transportation
- Life Sciences and Pharmaceuticals
- Hospitality and Live Entertainment
- Real Estate, Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Trades
- Manufacturing and Clean Energy
- Healthcare
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Industry Partners
Thank you to all of our Industry Partners that make career exploration days possible!
Real Estate, Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Trades
- Andrew Consulting Engineers
- Becker Morgan Group
- Bolton & Menk
- Clancy & Theys Construction Company
- Brawley
- New Hanover County Building Inspectors Office
- LS3P Associates LTD.
- McKinley Building Corporation
- Monteith Construction Corp.
- Samet Corporation
- Thomas Construction Group
- Rodgers Builders
- McKee Homes
Healthcare
- Alzheimer's Association
- Area Agency on Aging
- Avance Care
- Cape Fear Community College
- Carolina Bay at Autumn Hall
- Elderhaus, Inc.
- Infinity Acupuncture
- New Hanover County Department of Health and Human Services
- New Hanover County 911 Operations
- New Hanover County Fire and Rescue
- New Hanover County Sheriff Department
- Novant Health Coastal Market
- University of North Carolina Wilmington
- Wilmington Health
- Peak Resources Wilmington
- SEAHEC
- The Davis Community
Hospitality and Live Entertainment
- Blind Cinema Sound
- Big Dawg Productions
- Theatre for All
- Cucalorus Film Foundation/Jengos Playhouse
- CFCC Wilson Center & Film Department
- Dark Horse Studios
- UNCW Theatre Department
- Thalian Hall Center for Performing Arts
- Thalian Association Community Theatre/Hannah Block USO
- WECT/Gray Media
- WWAY TV3
- Cinespace Studios
- Thalian Association Community Theatre
- Minnie Evans Arts Center (NHCS)
- Lighthouse Films
- Wallaby Films
- aLoft Wilmington at Coastline Center
- Beau Rivage Golf & Resort
- Cameron Art Museum
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront
- Hotel Lela
- Trailborn Surf & Sound
- Wrightsville Manor
- YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina
- Perfect touch Rental
Manufacturing and Energy
- Acme Smoked Fish
- Cape Fear Mold
- Cape Fear Energy Systems
- Cygnus Technologies
- Duke Energy
- GCM
- GE Hitachi
- IKA Works, INC.
- Wilmington Grill
- Cape Fear Community College
- Corning
- IRR-Industrial Reliability and Repair
- Mojotone
- Polyhose
- Port City Signs
- Protocase
- Rulemeca
- Salt Air Heating & Cooling
- Yogasleep
Warehouse, Supply Chain, Logistics, & Transportation
- Advanced Marketing International, Inc.
- City of Wilmington Fire Department
- Dominion Trucking
- MegaCorp Logistics
- NFI Industries
- Modern Aviation
- New Hanover County Landfill
- New Hanover County Schools Transportation, Maintenance, and Shipping/Receiving
- North Carolina State Ports Authority
- Wilmington International Airport
- Graybar Electric Co.
- Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina
- WAVE Transit
Life Sciences and Pharmaceuticals
- Alcami Corporation
- Cape Fear Museum
- Cape Fear Public Utility Authority
- CFCC Pharmacy and Chemical Technologies
- Frontier Scientific Solutions
- Halyburton Park
- NHC Soil and Water Conservation
- NC Coorporative Extension and Arboretum
- NHC 4-H
- National Weather Service
- Lower Cape Fear LifeCare
- UNCW Marine Biotechnology (MARBIONC)
- UNCW Marine Quest
- North Carolina Biotechnology Southeastern Office
- North Carolina Coastal Federation
- Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Young Scientists Academy
Digital Technology
- Approve
- Boys and Girls Club Spark Lab
- Capone & Associates LLC
- CFCC Mechanical Engineering
- Earney IT & Earney Accountants and Advisors
- Greater Wilmington Business Journal
- Live Oak Bank
- Lumos
- nCino, Inc.
- Port City Signs
- Protocase
- 45 Drives
- Salt Air Heating & Cooling
- Valicy
- Vantaca
- UNCW Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- UNCW eSports, Cybersecurity, Randall Library
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Speakers & Program Structure
Each session will be hosted by an industry partner who welcomes participating students on-site for the day. Students will hear from a wide range of employees in the industry who have taken various education pathways to attain those positions. Other speakers from other employers in the region also visit with the students throughout the day. Leadership development sessions are also included as part of the curriculum based on the skills identified in the NC Department of Public Instruction’s Portrait of a Graduate.
Industry Partners in the inaugural year of CLDA included Live Oak Bank, Vantaca, Grover Gaming, Corning, MegaCorp Logistics, NFI Industries, NC State Ports, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Portrett Pharmaceuticals, UNCW, Blockade Runner Resort, Perfect Touch Rental, Rebecca’s Charcuterie, LS3P, Andrew Consulting Engineers, Allen + Shariff, Clancy & Theys, Monteith Construction Corporation, GE Aerospace, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Cape Fear Solar Systems, Duke Energy, Novant Health, Atlantic Prosthetics, Wilmington Eye, Access Dental, Sankofa Training Institute, Dark Horse Studios, Honey Head Films, Wilmington Regional Film Commission and a number of Leadership Wilmington Alumni Council members from across all industry sectors. Now in year four, there are over 90 businesses that partner with the chamber to host and participate in industry exploration days.
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