The Union County Chamber of Commerce hired Audrey Burke as its new Programs and Events Manager in October.
Burke, who moved to Weddington from Michigan during her junior year of high school, brings years of hospitality experience and a local connection to the role overseeing the Chamber's business events, according to the Chamber's announcement.
She earned a bachelor's degree in media and journalism from UNC-Chapel Hill with a concentration in creative advertising and a minor in Spanish. She also spent two semesters in Spain, including one working as an au pair, and speaks Spanish.
Her career took a different path after she graduated during the COVID-19 pandemic. With advertising jobs scarce, Burke shifted to hospitality.
She spent several years at Barcelona Wine Bar, where she rose from server to certified server trainer, traveling trainer and manager. In her training role, she traveled to Houston and Tampa to help open new restaurant locations and prepare their teams to train others.
Her management responsibilities extended beyond the dining room. Burke oversaw recruiting, hiring and onboarding, and helped coordinate special events alongside restaurant leadership and the culinary team.
One project she led was Uncorked, a seasonal wine event pairing selections from the restaurant's wine cellar with tapas. She also developed themes and decorations for holiday celebrations including New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day.
Burke said the people side of the work drives her most.
"Providing above-and-beyond hospitality is so rare these days," Burke said in the Chamber's announcement. "Being able to do that regularly, make genuine relationships with people, continue to cultivate those relationships, and remember details about people is really important to me."
The Chamber said Burke is already focused on building relationships in her new position. The announcement, written by Jessica Rielly, did not specify which Chamber events Burke will oversee first or outline changes to the organization's upcoming event calendar.
