At a packed luncheon of community and business leaders, 2022 Board Chair David Keith and Diversity Chair Dan Houston recognized Cheryl Banks Barber for her efforts to make our community and region a more inclusive and better place to live and work. The 2022 Individual Diversity Champion Award was presented at the Annual Luncheon held at Northstone Country Club in Huntersville.

Chamber President & CEO Bill Russell emceed the program and saved the individual award as the last recognition after presenting the Corporate, Small Business and nonprofit recognitions. Joining Keith and Houston in presenting the recognition was past Diversity Chairs Pat Brown from CPCC Merancas Campus and Chris Hailey from Atrium Health.

Russell told those in attendance, "This individual has served on our Diversity Council since 2017 and I wish we had the time to turn the podium over to Chris, Pat and Dan because they could attest to her energy, commitment, and passion when it comes to bringing “folks together.”

"From her work on our diversity council as the Chair of the Women’s Conference, her role with the Charlotte Rotary, her church and position with the United States Probation and Pretrial office – her dedication is always on display.

She’s a cancer survivor, a volunteer, a Reading Buddy, a mentor and today … she’s our Diversity Champion of the Year – Cheryl Banks Barber."

In receiving the award, Cheryl remarked, "It is always a joy to serve on the Leadership Planning Team for the annual Lake Norman Chamber Diversity Council Women's Conference and to see the tremendous turnout each year is most fulfilling! I look forward to another great year of serving as a LKN Chamber Diversity Council member!"

Pictured below with her husband Elton Barber and Chamber President Bill Russell.