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Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce Foundation is LKNConnect’s Outstanding Non-Profit for the month of July. This article is the first in a series of five articles describing their mission, how the foundation supports diversity, education, North Meck CTE, and other scholarship programs in the Lake Norman region. — EH Stafford, Managing Editor
Is the charitable arm of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce. Established in 2009, the Foundation is dedicated to the community development and well being of the Lake Norman region while enhancing the quality of life of people in our region. The Foundation promotes and advances the civic, cultural, economic, and educational interests of the greater Lake Norman region while encouraging diversity, inclusiveness, and leadership development for our citizens.
The Foundation is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors composed of three active Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce officers and six at large Directors selected from the Past Board Chairs of the Chamber. The current officers of the Foundation consist of John Hettwer – Chair, Robert Reed – Vice Chair. Bill Russell – Secretary / Treasurer, and Directors Douglas Marion, Richard Pappas, Charles Knox, Bob McIntosh, Randy Marion, and Mike Russell. All past Board Chairs of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce are ex-officio members of the Board.
Sabrena Stabenaw and Wendy Moran participated in the June 2013 Lake Norman Diversity Council “Chicks with Sticks” Golf Tournament. Photo by John McHugh, Ocaid Photography.
The Foundation, since its inception, has focused its mission on Education and Scholarship, Diversity and Inclusion, and Leadership Development. While the Foundation was originally funded by the Chamber with small startup funds, it received a significant boost when it was designated as the beneficiary of net proceeds from an all-female captain’s choice golf tournament held at the lake.
In 2013, the Lake Norman Diversity Council created a female-only golf tournament to provide social networking opportunities through a recreational event. The “Chicks with Sticks” tournament was a sold-out event with net proceeds going to the Foundation to promote Diversity and Education.
Through the years, the Foundation has assisted the Lake Norman Small Business Network with their High School Skilled Trades Education Fund and the North Mecklenburg High School Booster Club with the Automotive Skills Program. This year the Foundation recognized the Outstanding Teachers of the Year for Public, Private and Charter Schools and played a significant role in the Diversity and Inclusion efforts to bring our communities together.
Over the next five weeks, The Foundation’s specific programs will be highlighted as LKNConnect’s Outstanding Non-profit for July 2020. For more information on the Lake Norman Chamber Foundation, Contact Bill Russell 704-892-1922 or [email protected].
William E. “Bill” Russell, Jr., CCE, IOM
Bill Russell is the President and CEO of the Lake Norman Chamber. He serves on the Boards of Visit Lake Norman, Lake Norman Economic Development., Ada Jenkins Center, and Hugh Torance House & Store. The Chamber has approximately 900 members in the Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, and greater Lake Norman region
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. 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.
In 2008, Bill received his Certified Chamber Executive designation by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives.
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