Bringing together North Carolina leaders to discuss statewide business, government, and public policy issues.
May 15, 2026 | 8:30 am – 12:00 pm
NC Museum of Natural Sciences
11 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601
2026 PANEL DISCUSSIONS
The New North Carolina: Migration, Housing, and the Politics of Belonging: Explosive in‑migration is reshaping North Carolina’s electorate, housing market, and school systems faster than budgets, infrastructure, and politics can adjust, especially in fast‑growth metros and exurban counties. The state’s “purple” profile and reputation for affordable growth are now strategic variables for business, local government, and both political parties.
- Phil Rubin, (D) Wake County
- David Willis (R) Union County
- Chris Moeller, CEO, Orion Growth
- Jay Chaudry (D) Wake County
Health, Rural Hospitals, and Medicaid Politics After Expansion: Rural hospital financial distress, provider shortages, and Medicaid costs are front‑burner issues in both rural and metro districts, cutting across partisan lines and directly affecting access to care and regional economies. Post‑expansion, Medicaid policy sits at the intersection of state budgets, employer health costs, workforce participation, and business recruitment.
- Tim Reeder (R) Pitt County
- Susan Mims, CEO, Dogwood Healthcare Trust
- Carla Cunningham, (D) Mecklenberg County
Purple Power: Does a Split State Help or Hurt Business? North Carolina’s status as a rare, truly competitive “purple” state shapes tax, regulatory, and budget policy and also how the state is perceived by corporate prospects and national political players. The balance—or gridlock—between partisan control can drive stability and moderation or volatility and policy swings that directly affect business planning and investment.
- Adrienne Cole, CEO, Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
- Chris Chung, CEO, EDPNC
- Morgan Jackson, Co – Founder, Nexus Strategies
Energy, Climate, and the New Manufacturing Boom (with Data Center Focus): North Carolina is winning large industrial and data‑center projects at the same time it faces grid‑reliability questions, rising demand from AI infrastructure, and long‑term climate and carbon goals. Decisions on energy policy, incentives, and siting will shape power prices, local tax bases, community impacts, and the state’s appeal for EV, semiconductor, and advanced manufacturing projects.
- Senator Tim Moffitt (R) Henderson, Polk, Rutherford Counties
- Leigh Cochram, Economic Development Director, Rockingham County
- Andrew Tate, Managing Director, Economic Development, Duke Energy
