Businessweek Names Raleigh Best City
Mike Davis, Lisa Gerber, Dana Hughens and Chuck Norman at the 2011 Counselors Academy Conference. (It was Western Night!)
With the Clairemont office in the heart of downtown Raleigh, we are delighted — but certainly not surprised — to learn that our city has earned the number one spot on a Best Cities list by Businessweek.com. Not only is it a wonderful place to live, it is an amazing place to work in communications and public relations. THAT is one of our favorite things about Raleigh!
We have the honor of working side-by-side with other local communications professionals from agencies, corporations, non-profit organizations and educational institutions through our active memberships in the North Carolina Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (NCPRSA) and Raleigh Public Relations Society (RPRS). Additionally, with my membership in PRSA‘s Counselors Academy, I have the pleasure of hearing comments such as, “Wow, you have tremendous industry leadership in Raleigh,” each year at the annual conference.
From local chapter leaders like Eva Hornak, Glenn Gillen, Kelly Hubbard and my PRSA chapter co-delegate Cindy Stranad (to name just a few), to my local Counselors Academy friends Karen Albritton, Chuck Norman, Roger Friedensen, Mike Davis and Mike Herman, I could describe the type of business community these PR pros represent in a word: collaborative.
Speaking of Mr. Herman, as the 2009 PRSA Gold Anvil recipient, he alone
brings so much PR cred to Raleigh. Thank you Mike for sharing your words of wisdom last week at our PRSA chapter luncheon. Clairemont is fortunate to have you as a strategic adviser, and I am honored to call you a friend.
Fellow Raleigh communications professionals, what do you love most about being in our industry in this fine city? Other Raleigh folks, what do you love most about it? Visitors (Abbie Fink!)… what keeps you coming back? While you think about your answers, here’s our profile from Businessweek to give you an idea of why we’re number one…
Raleigh, N.C.
Mayor: Charles MeekerWhy it’s ranked: Taking more than a dozen data points into account, Raleigh ranks as the best place to live in the U.S. The city sports a high number of bars, restaurants, and cultural institutions as well as a thriving social scene, great parks, and good schools. Raleigh reflects the cultural graces that go along with anchoring the so-called research triangle, home to North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Of course, it’s also much more. The city offers a great deal on nights and weekends, from concerts and opera to the 30,000-sq.-ft. State Farmer’s Market. North Carolina’s state capital is tops in our book.
How it ranked:
Percent with bachelor’s degrees: 47.5
Percent under poverty level: 13.9
Median household income: $53,370
Violent crime rate: 492.9
Property crime rate: 3,403.2
School score: 74.4
Pro sports teams: 1
Foreclosure rate: .0056
Percent Unemployment: 6.9
Park acres per 1,000 residents: 30.8
Bars: 110
Restaurants: 867
Museums: 51
Colleges: 10
Libraries: 18
Air Quality Index: 83
(6) awesome comment(s)...
Abbie S. Fink -
September 26, 2011 at 3:47 pm
I have had the chance to visit your beautiful city on two different occassions. I found the people warm and welcoming and there is so much to do there. A rich history, culture, great restaurants. Not to mention some of my favorite people live there!
Dana Hughens -
September 28, 2011 at 5:49 am
And where else will you get a rap song written all about you (and your breakfast)? I think Raleigh needs Abbie on a more regular basis. Come back!
Mike Herman -
September 26, 2011 at 2:48 pm
Dana, thanks for the kind words. I think this community and this area have some of the best strategic and tactical minds in the country when it comes to providing coaching, services and leadership to the organizations, businesses and industry…not only in North Carolina, but around the world.
Mike
Dana Hughens -
September 28, 2011 at 5:47 am
I agree! It is wonderful to have access to such great minds.
Eva Hornak -
September 26, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Dana – thanks for pointing out all the wonderful human resources we have in this city. I’ve certainly always thought we seemed lucky to have such talented professionals, but then I wonder if I’m a little biased. 🙂 I am continually thankful for their mentorship and support.
I’ve also never really wanted to live anywhere else. LA was fun for a while, but nothing beats NC.
Evie
Dana Hughens -
September 28, 2011 at 5:45 am
Congrats on executing another successful awards event tonight at the RPRS Sir Walter Raleigh Awards!