Education NC recently spotlighted the NC Chamber’s first Business Summit on Mental Health, where leaders from across North Carolina came together to explore how mental health and workforce strategy intersect. The event highlighted both the human and economic cost of inaction—and the powerful role employers can play in creating positive change. From addressing stigma and burnout to building resilience and inclusion, the summit focused on equipping businesses with tools to create psychologically safe workplaces that support employee well-being and drive performance. Read more > https://bit.ly/3T1UOwm #NCMentalHealth25 (fb)

Ray Starling, general counsel of the NC Chamber and president of the NC Chamber Legal Institute, served as a judge in the People’s Choice contest at the 2025 Whole Hog Barbecue Championship, held during the Got to Be NC Festival. Hosted by the NC Pork Council, the event featured 24 of the state’s top pitmasters for a celebration of one of North Carolina’s most iconic culinary traditions. Starling joined fellow judges Dr. Antoine Alston of North Carolina A&T State University and Dr. Michael Martin of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to help select the crowd favorite. (fb)