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SALISBURY — Men Tchaas Ari, president of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Communities in Schools, spoke with over 125 business leaders at the Rowan Chamber Power in Partnership breakfast on Thursday morning at Trinity Oaks. The chamber’s Leadership Rowan class No. 31 also graduated at the breakfast that was sponsored by Duke Energy.

“Every leader lives in a fish bowl and others look to you, listen to what you say and see what you do,” said Ari.

He challenged business leaders to have self discipline, execute their ideas and to be a disruptive leader.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg CIS is an organization dedicated to empowering students to remain in school and succeed in life. Serving more than 6,000 students in 56 Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools, he leads the largest CIS affiliate in North Carolina. Before joining CIS, he served as the deputy director of adult and economic services at the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services. Prior to that, he was the chief program officer at Crisis Assistance Ministry.

Originally from Bloomfield, Connecticut, Ari has made Charlotte his home for the past 28 years. Ari’s educational background includes an executive master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Government and an undergraduate degree from Morehouse College.

Graduates of the 2023-2024 Leadership Rowan class are: Byron Alston (Novant Health Rowan Medical Center); Keith Anderson (Livingstone College); Robert Austin (Rowan-Cabarrus Community College); Oscar Bautista (Sharonview Federal Credit Union); David Beasley (Novant Health Rowan Medical Center); Dillon Brewer (Cloninger Ford-Toyota-Scion); Roxie Cashwell (Rowan County government); Lori Cinquemani (State Employees’ Credit Union Granite Quarry); Adam Clark (Rowan-Salisbury School System); Zachary File (Walser Technology Group, Inc.); Kirston Fitzgerald (East Spencer Housing Authority); Brianna Craft (F&M Bank); Marissa Gainey (Rowan Helping Ministries); Isabella Gillespie (Hotwire Communications); Denise Heinke (Smart Start Rowan); Kaela Hierholzer (Catawba College); Marc Keith (Rowan County United Way); Erin Kidd (Lutheran Services Carolinas); Tracy Lee (F&M Bank); Caren Lightfoot (city of Salisbury); Meredith Littell (Rowan County government); Scott Ludwick (city of Salisbury); Jessica McCorkle (Terrie Hess Child Advocacy Center); Sarah Pack (Rowan County government); Christina Rary (formally with Family Crisis Council of Rowan, Inc.); Mollie Ruf (Rowan EDC); Holly Teeter (Meals on Wheels Rowan); Aleshya Spruill (Partners in Learning Child Development Center); Stephanie Webb (Healthcare Management Consultants); Dileika Wilson (Timeless Wigs); and, Margaret Young (Power Curbers Companies, LLC)

The chamber’s PIP program will take a break for the summer and resume in September. The chamber’s popular “Power Card” will once again be offered for those who would like to take advantage of the PIP frequent attender program. Power Card holders receive a discounted price for the series and do not have to make a reservation each month.

Contact the chamber for information on reservations or sponsorship opportunities at 704-633-4221 or info@rowanchamber.com.