Martha Dockery Named 2026 Triangle East ATHENA International Leadership Award Recipient
Triangle East Chamber celebrates eight distinguished finalists during annual leadership dinner(Pictured from left to right, Susan Watson, Randa Gay, Martha Dockery, Joelina Landa, Kimberly Pickett, and Natasia McLean. Not pictured: Cindy Mason and April Stephens) SMITHFIELD, N.C. — October 7, 2026 — The Triangle East Chamber of Commerce has named Martha Dockery, Founder and CEO of Superior Clinical Research, LLC, the 2026 Triangle East ATHENA International Leadership Award recipient. Dockery was
TA Brown Profit Solutions LLC Helps Small Business Owners Gain Financial Clarity Through Professional Bookkeeping Services
BENSON, NC — October 8, 2026 — Managing a small business involves more than generating revenue. Maintaining accurate financial records, monitoring expenses, understanding cash flow, and making informed financial decisions are essential to long-term business success.TA Brown Profit Solutions LLC is helping small business owners address these challenges through professional bookkeeping and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) services.Founded in 2024, the North Carolina-based company provides financial management
Eight Women. One Prestigious Honor. Triangle East Chamber Announces 2026 ATHENA Nominees
SMITHFIELD, N.C. — September 21, 2026 — The Triangle East Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the 2026 nominees for the prestigious ATHENA International Leadership Award, recognizing eight outstanding women whose leadership, professional accomplishments, community service, and commitment to developing others exemplify the spirit of the ATHENA Award. The 2026 nominees are:Randa Gay — Isaiah 117 HouseCindy Mason — Over the Moon BoutiqueJoelina Landa — United Community BankApril Stephens — The April
Ireland Is Calling… and the Triangle East Chamber Is Answering!
Triangle East Chamber Announces 2027 “Treasures of Ireland” Travel Adventure SMITHFIELD, NC — The Triangle East Chamber of Commerce is inviting the community to pack their bags, grab their favorite travel companion and get ready for an unforgettable adventure across Ireland in 2027! The Chamber has partnered with PREMIER World Discovery to offer “Treasures of Ireland,” a professionally escorted 9-day journey beginning October 12, 2027. The trip is open to everyone—Chamber membership is not required—so
Secure Your spot at Johnston County’s Premier 8th-Grade Career Expo!
SMITHFIELD, NC — Secure your spot at Johnston County’s premier 8th-grade career expo! Featured on WRAL, JOCO WORKS WOW (November 5–6, 2026) is an immersive experience where students explore career paths through hands-on activities with local employers. Led by the JOCO WORKS Collaborative, with the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce at the helm, this initiative directly helps build the local workforce pipeline. Participating businesses gain massive reach, connecting with more than 3,000 students over the
Customer Engagement Strategies Every Johnston County Small Business Should Know
Effective customer engagement means consistently showing up for your customers in ways that make them feel heard, valued, and connected to your business — not just at the point of sale, but before and after. For small businesses in Johnston County, where community trust and word-of-mouth carry real weight, strong engagement isn't just good practice: it's a competitive advantage. Research cited by Textellent shows that acquiring a new customer costs far more than retaining an existing one — up to 25 times
When Your Johnston County Business Hits a Financial Wall, Start Here
When a business faces financial distress, the fastest path back to stability starts with a clear-eyed look at the numbers — not a reflexive cut across the board. Most turnarounds follow the same sequence: identify the critical issues, reduce the burn, renegotiate what you can, and keep your team together long enough to recover. For Johnston County's 568+ chamber member businesses, those steps are real and achievable — but the order matters more than most owners expect.Read the Numbers Before You Act The
Small Budget, Big Turnout: Event Promotion Strategies for Dunn-Area Business Owners
Promoting a local event doesn't require a large marketing budget — the most effective channels are either free or nearly free, and the results can be substantial. Even though budget tops the challenge list for nearly one in three U.S. event organizers, 76% of them still planned to host more events that same year. For small businesses in Dunn, where relationships drive commerce and community turnout matters, strategy wins over spend every time.Start With a Written Plan Before you post anything or send a
Scaling Smart: How Small Businesses Can Manage Sudden Growth Without Losing Focus
When growth hits hard and fast, control becomes the first casualty. Whether you’re a local café that’s suddenly gone viral or a SaaS startup adding hundreds of new clients a month, scaling without structure can turn success into chaos. The key isn’t just growing faster — it’s growing in formation. TL;DR Rapid growth strains finances, team systems, and customer experience. Build scalable structures early — finance controls, team frameworks, and data visibility tools. Focus on governance
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Triangle East Chamber Names First Talent and Leadership Development Manager
Smithfield, NC – The Triangle East Chamber of Commerce has taken a major step forward in its five-year Triangle East Prospers initiative, appointing BriAnna Walker as the region’s first-ever Talent and Leadership Development Manager. The new role marks a significant investment in tackling one of Johnston County’s most pressing challenges: building a skilled workforce. Currently, 63 percent of area employers report difficulty finding workers with essential skills. Walker will lead the charge in developing,
Cracking the Code: How to Turn Local Intel into Business Strategy
You’re sitting on a goldmine and don’t even know it. Right outside your storefront, in the coffee shops and laundromats and food trucks humming a block away, are patterns, habits, and whispers that—if read right—can tell you exactly what your next move should be. Strategy isn’t just spreadsheets and quarterly forecasts, it’s how well you can read the room, especially when the room is your zip code. It’s not glamorous, but that’s the point. What works in Midtown won’t fly in Midtown South, and your biggest
Triangle East Chamber Announces Legacy Awards Celebration
Award Recipients to Be Honored on June 14th, 2022 SMITHFIELD, NORTH CAROLINA, May 5, 2022— The Triangle East Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce their first annual Legacy Awards celebration, an evening dedicated to honoring leaders who are investing their time, talent, and resources to impact our community. Four distinguished awards will be presented: the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Citizen of the Year Award, the Jimmy Creech Small Businessperson of the Year Award, and the Emerging Leader
LEADERSHIP JOHNSTON LAUNCHES CLASS OF 2022
SMITHFIELD, NORTH CAROLINA, January 15, 2022— A fully engaged Leadership Johnston program returns to Johnston County this year! The eleven-month program is designed for those who want to learn more about the county while developing and refining leadership skills. Through a variety of personal growth opportunities, individuals will gain a more in-depth understanding of the many facets of Johnston County, build crisis leadership and change management skills, and learn the skills necessary for effectively
Kelly Wallace Selected for U.S. Chamber Foundation Education and Workforce Fellowship Program
Fellowship Provides State and Local Business Leaders with Opportunities toEngage Nationally on Critical Education and Workforce Issues WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation today announced Kelly Wallace, Vice President & COO of the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce was selected to participate in the fifth cohort of its premiere business leadership program. The Business Leads Fellowship Program trains and equips leaders from state and local chambers of commerce, economic development
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Smithfield-Selma Chamber honors distinguished citizens at Annual Meeting
SMITHFIELD, North Carolina — The Greater Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of Commerce culminated its 2016 year at its 47th Annual Meeting with a farewell bid to its President of 30 years, Rick Childrey; recognitions of members who earned special honors; and, a passing of the gavel from 2016 Board Chair Dr. Dwight Morris, Executive Director of the Johnston County Partnership for Children, to 2017 Board Chair Corina Knott, Senior Account Executive with Interstate Outdoor, Inc. Knott expressed excitement
