Events

Kyle Touchstone
Kyle Touchstone is the Director of Raleigh Economic Development (RED), bringing over 18 years of economic development experience to his role. A Mississippi native, Kyle has successfully led initiatives through public-private partnerships in various locations, including Northeast Mississippi, Tallahassee, Florida, Chatham County, North Carolina, and the Dallas suburb of Irving-Las Colinas, Texas. Under his leadership, Raleigh has celebrated significant recruitment wins, such as life science manufacturer Indivor, the North American service center for Audemars Piguet, and the U.S. headquarters for Japan Tobacco International. He has also played a key role in major projects like Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Mississippi and McKesson's headquarters relocation from San Francisco to Irving, Texas.

Kyle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communication from Mississippi State University and has completed the Economic Development Institute (EDI) certificate program at the University of Oklahoma. His contributions to the field have been recognized with a Triangle Business Journal 40 Under 40 Leadership Award in 2017. Raleigh Economic Development aims to showcase Raleigh as a premier destination for jobs, business, and innovation while supporting local businesses in recruitment, retention, and expansion efforts. This initiative is a collaborative program of the Raleigh Chamber, the City of Raleigh, and Wake County Economic Development, fostering unity and support for job creation and capital investment in the area

Christopher Chung
Christopher Chung is the Chief Executive Officer of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), a position he has held since 2015. With nearly 28 years of experience in state-level economic development, Chris leads a public-private partnership funded by the State of North Carolina and over 80 organizations. Under his leadership, the EDPNC is responsible for various initiatives, including business recruitment, international trade, small business support, and tourism promotion. The organization has successfully facilitated more than 1,400 corporate location and expansion projects, resulting in over 200,000 new jobs and $100 billion in announced investments across the state.

Chris holds a B.A. in Economics and Japanese from The Ohio State University and has served on multiple boards, including the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. His contributions to economic development have been recognized through several awards, including Business North Carolina's Economic Development Executive of the Year in 2024 and Triangle Business Journal's CEO of the Year in 2018. Chris resides in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his wife Emily and their daughters, Elizabeth and Caroline.

Thanks to our Platinum Sponsor, Bland Landscaping, for sponsoring this event!