79°West Innovation Hub’s unique vision for coworking and office community is taking shape with its monthly 79°West Breakfast Club. This relaxed approach to networking encourages local professionals to connect and mingle over a delicious breakfast spread, enjoy acoustic music and gain insights from featured speakers.
September’s Breakfast Club welcomed Rebecca Dickenson, President and CEO of The Chatham Chamber. Since taking the helm in April 2025, Dickenson has prioritized understanding the needs and goals of chamber members and the community at large to build strategic partnerships across the county.
At the Breakfast Club, Dickenson shared how personal experiences deepened her passion for Chatham County’s development. When flooding from Tropical Storm Chantal damaged her home and caused devastating losses, Dickenson’s community rallied around her family to support their recovery.
The “once in a thousand years flood” swelled to the top floor of Dickenson’s home, washing away a barn and submerging the family’s vehicles. In the aftermath of the destruction, Dickenson’s MOSAIC neighbors acted.
Volunteers from 79°West tenant Munson Law Firm assisted with the daunting cleanup, Triangle Media Partners’ Chris Elkins provided lunch, and 79°West Co-Managers Dustin and Katie Miller launched a GoFundMe that exceeded its goal within days. Luke Starritt of Pittsboro’s SERVPRO has also supported Dickenson’s rebuilding.
“Community showed up for me in a way I could not imagine,” says Dickenson. “I felt known, seen and welcomed. I am so grateful for my community.”
Recalling how Will Harris of MOSAIC’s Harris & Company Insurance advocated for her after the disaster cemented Dickenson’s conviction that there is a deep human side to economic development. “I realize how important business relationships are,” she says.
Interested in attending a future 79°West Breakfast Club? It’s Chatham County networking at its finest. Join the next event!
