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DTSTART:20260915T120000Z
DTEND:20260915T143000Z
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SUMMARY:2026 Triangle East State of the Region
DESCRIPTION:Growing with Purpose Starts Here\n\nJohnston County is one of North Carolina's fastest-growing communities. As new residents\, businesses\, and investment reshape our region\, the question is no longer whether we're growing it's how we grow.\n\n\n\nJoin the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce for the 2026 State of the Region\, presented by KS Bank\, as we convene business and community leaders for Johnston County's premier annual leadership forum.\n\n\n\nGuided by Chris Johnson\, Director of Johnston County Economic Development\, this year's program features a regional economic outlook from nationally recognized economist and community development strategist Ted Abernathy\, followed by a Leadership Roundtable with regional leaders exploring the opportunities and challenges shaping Johnston County's future.\n\n\n\nTogether\, we'll tackle the questions that matter most:\n\n\n	Where is our region headed?\n	How do we prepare our infrastructure and communities for what's next?\n	What decisions today will shape Johnston County's next decade?\n	How do we ensure growth benefits businesses\, residents\, and future generations?\n\n\n\n\nAs one of the Triangle East Chamber's premier Signature Events\, State of the Region brings together business executives\, elected officials\, developers\, educators\, nonprofit organizations\, and community stakeholders for Johnston County's most important conversation about growth and regional competitiveness.\n\n\n\nRegistration is now open!\n\n\n\nSponsorship opportunities are still available for organizations that want to demonstrate their commitment to Johnston County's future while connecting with influential business and community leaders.\n\nGrowth isn't the question. How we grow is.\n\nJoin the conversation that's shaping Johnston County's future.\n\n \n\n\nFeatured Speakers\n\n\nFeatured Economist & Strategic Advisor\n\nTed Abernathy\n\nFounder & Managing Partner\n\nEconomic Leadership\, LLC\n\n\n\n\n\nModerator\n\nChris Johnson\n\nDirector\n\nJohnston County Economic Development\n \n\nLeadership Roundtable Panel\n\nMatt Clarke\n\n    Engineer\, North Carolina Department of Transportation\n\nChandra Farmer\n\n    Director of Public Utilities\, Johnston County\n\nPatrick Harris\n\n    Chairman\, Johnston County Board of Commissioners\n\nSusan Keller\n\n    Research & Development\, Carolina Commercial Contractors
X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:<h2>Growing with Purpose Starts Here</h2>\n\n<p>Johnston County is one of North Carolina&#39\;s fastest-growing communities. As new residents\, businesses\, and investment reshape our region\, the question is no longer <strong>whether </strong>we&#39\;re growing&mdash\;it&#39\;s <strong>how </strong>we grow.<br />\n<br />\nJoin the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce for the <strong>2026 State of the Region</strong>\, presented by <strong>KS Bank</strong>\, as we convene business and community leaders for Johnston County&#39\;s premier annual leadership forum.<br />\n<br />\nGuided by <strong>Chris Johnson\, Director of Johnston County Economic Development</strong>\, this year&#39\;s program features a regional economic outlook from nationally recognized economist and community development strategist <strong>Ted Abernathy</strong>\, followed by a Leadership Roundtable with regional leaders exploring the opportunities and challenges shaping Johnston County&#39\;s future.<br />\n<br />\nTogether\, we&#39\;ll tackle the questions that matter most:</p>\n\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>Where is our region headed?</strong></li>\n	<li><strong>How do we prepare our infrastructure and communities for what&#39\;s next?</strong></li>\n	<li><strong>What decisions today will shape Johnston County&#39\;s next decade?</strong></li>\n	<li><strong>How do we ensure growth benefits businesses\, residents\, and future generations?</strong></li>\n</ul>\n\n<p><br />\nAs one of the Triangle East Chamber&#39\;s premier <strong>Signature Events</strong>\, State of the Region brings together business executives\, elected officials\, developers\, educators\, nonprofit organizations\, and community stakeholders for Johnston County&#39\;s most important conversation about growth and regional competitiveness.<br />\n<br />\n<strong>Registration is now open!</strong><br />\n<br />\n<strong>Sponsorship opportunities are still available</strong> for organizations that want to demonstrate their commitment to Johnston County&#39\;s future while connecting with influential business and community leaders.</p>\n\n<h4><strong>Growth isn&#39\;t the question. How we grow is.</strong></h4>\n\n<p><strong>Join the conversation that&#39\;s shaping Johnston County&#39\;s future.</strong><br />\n&nbsp\;</p>\n\n<hr />\n<h3><u><strong>Featured Speakers</strong></u></h3>\n<strong><img alt="" height="100" src="https://chambermaster.blob.core.windows.net/userfiles/UserFiles/chambers/614/Image/2026/TedAbernathyheadshot.png" style="width: 100px\; height: 100px\; margin: 10px\; float: left\;" width="100" /><br />\nFeatured Economist &amp\; Strategic Advisor<br />\nTed Abernathy</strong><br />\nFounder &amp\; Managing Partner<br />\nEconomic Leadership\, LLC<br />\n<br />\n<strong><img alt="" height="100" src="https://chambermaster.blob.core.windows.net/userfiles/UserFiles/chambers/614/Image/2026/ChrisJohnsonheadshot.jpg" style="width: 100px\; height: 100px\; margin: 10px\; float: left\;" width="100" /><br />\nModerator<br />\nChris Johnson</strong><br />\nDirector<br />\nJohnston County Economic Development\n<h2>&nbsp\;</h2>\n\n<h3><u><strong>Leadership Roundtable Panel</strong></u></h3>\n\n<div style="margin-left: 40px\;"><strong>Matt Clarke</strong><br />\n<em>&nbsp\; &nbsp\; Engineer\, North Carolina Department of Transportation</em><br />\n<strong>Chandra Farmer</strong><br />\n&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;<em>Director of Public Utilities\, Johnston County</em><br />\n<strong>Patrick Harris</strong><br />\n<em>&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;Chairman\, Johnston County Board of Commissioners</em><br />\n<strong>Susan Keller</strong><br />\n<em>&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;Research &amp\; Development\, Carolina Commercial Contractors</em></div>\n\n<hr />
LOCATION:Johnston County Ag Center
UID:e.614.12646
SEQUENCE:3
DTSTAMP:20260904T052312Z
URL:https://business.triangleeastchamber.com/events/details/2026-triangle-east-state-of-the-region-12646
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