Christine Lynn, President & CEO, Rowan Chamber of Commerce

Invest: spoke with Christine Lynn, president and CEO of the Rowan Chamber of Commerce, about Livingstone’s contributions to Rowan County, what local employers are looking for in talent, and opportunities for deeper collaboration. “There is also a tremendous opportunity to help Livingstone students see Rowan County as a place where they can build both a career and a life after graduation,” Lynn added.

How does Livingstone College contribute to the business community and economic vitality of Rowan County?  

Livingstone College is an important part of the economic and community fabric of Rowan County. Sometimes we talk about colleges primarily in terms of enrollment and degrees without fully appreciating the broader role they play.

Having recently come from twenty years in higher education and now sitting in this Chamber role, I see institutions like Livingstone as talent developers, employers, community anchors, and partners in the future of our local economy. Livingstone brings students, faculty, staff, families, visitors, and alumni into our community, but its greatest long-term contribution may be the talent and leadership it develops. There is also a tremendous opportunity to help Livingstone students see Rowan County as a place where they can build both a career and a life after graduation. We have businesses looking for talented employees and emerging leaders, and we have students developing skills, ambition, and professional networks. The more intentional we are about connecting those two, the stronger our local economy becomes.

What I appreciate about Livingstone is that it is intentional about connecting its campus to the community. Vice President of External Affairs Pete Teague’s Fridays at the Stone is a great example. This Friday morning program brings the community to campus for breakfast prepared by Livingstone hospitality students and features two speakers—one focused on a community issue or organization and another highlighting what is happening at Livingstone. It creates awareness around important community needs while also allowing the College to showcase everything from its students and academic initiatives to enrollment and special programs like the HOPE Emancipation Project.

Livingstone is also making investments that speak directly to where the workforce is headed. The Home Depot Innovations Lounge emphasizes entrepreneurship, creativity, and the technology skills today’s employers need. Personally, what has stood out most to me are the College’s STEM-focused initiatives, including its Biomanufacturing Hub for workforce training. Those efforts signal a clear commitment to innovation, workforce development, and community impact.

As an HBCU with deep roots in Salisbury, Livingstone brings a perspective, culture, and legacy that are incredibly valuable to our community. Its continued success is not separate from Rowan County’s success—it is directly connected to it.

I think President Anthony Davis has been particularly effective at helping people see that connection and envision what is possible. He has an inspirational personal story, but more importantly, he has created a compelling vision that makes people want to be part of Livingstone’s future, whether it be as a community partner, donor, or prospective student. The nearly $60 million raised since he became president in 2022 is a powerful indication that people are responding to that vision.

Livingstone is setting the stage for impact, both on its campus and throughout our community. As the College continues to grow and innovate, I believe its impact on Rowan County’s economy and future workforce will only grow with it.

What skills and qualities are local employers seeking today, and how can partnerships with Livingstone help address those workforce needs?  

I would put grit and an entrepreneurial mindset near the top of the list.

Employers need people who can communicate with confidence, present themselves professionally, solve problems, work with others, and adapt when the answer isn’t sitting in a manual. Technical skills are important, but employers are also looking for people who take initiative and can think critically.

That is where partnerships with Livingstone can be especially powerful. The best workforce partnerships don’t begin at a career fair when a company has an opening. They begin much earlier.

Businesses can help students develop these skills through mentorship, job shadowing, classroom projects, site visits, and exposure to real business challenges. Livingstone can continue connecting students with experiences that help them understand what opportunities exist beyond campus.

From my experience in higher education, students often don’t know what career possibilities exist until someone opens the door and lets them see them. Livingstone and our business community have an incredible opportunity to open more of those doors together.

As the region grows, where is the biggest opportunities for deeper collaboration between the Chamber, local businesses, and educational institutions? 

I think the biggest opportunity is moving from occasional partnerships to a more intentional talent ecosystem.

Rowan County has an incredible range of educational institutions, training providers, and businesses. Our opportunity is to become better at connecting the right partners to the right challenges. When an employer identifies a workforce need, my first question is not necessarily, “What have we always done?” It is, “Which institution or partner in our county is best positioned to help solve this?”

I also believe we need to think about workforce development as a continuum, from students exploring careers in high school, to college students making professional connections, to adults who need new skills or career pathways.

The Chamber is already doing some of this through Youth Leadership Rowan, Leadership Rowan, our Young Professionals programming, and our connections throughout the business community, but there is room to go deeper.

I would also challenge employers to think beyond the traditional internship. What experiences can we create that allow students to solve real business problems? How can we expose them to industries and careers earlier? And how do we address challenges such as childcare as a business issue and other barriers to work that affect whether employees stay?

The strongest collaboration happens when the Chamber, educational institutions, and businesses are willing to convene, collaborate, and challenge one another. We all have different roles, but when we lean into one another’s strengths, we can create much more opportunity for the people who live, learn, and work in Rowan County.