R
ebecca Dickenson’s days as
president and CEO of the
Chatham Chamber of Commerce
are defined by listening, connecting and translating information into action. Her work does not follow a set routine, but flows between conversations with small business owners, nonprofit leaders and public officials, keeping her close to the questions shaping Chatham County’s future. “The Chamber’s role is not to have all the answers, but to convene the right people and create space for progress,” Rebecca says. Her approach reflects a career rooted in communication and collaboration. She began in student media, serving as an advertising director at The Daily Tar Heel and later at The Duke Chronicle before spending seven years at The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro, where Rebecca focused on membership development and operations. “At its core, my work has always been about elevating voices, sharing useful information and building trust,” she says – a focus that has shaped each stage of her career.
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C H AT H A M M AG A Z I N E
SPRING 2026
Rebecca’s life outside of the office centers at home near Back Creek in Graham, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, Calvin Dickenson, their three daughters – Kathleen Dickenson, 14, Nora Dickenson, 10, and Zoe Dickenson, 5 – plus a brindle rescue dog named Periwinkle and a small flock of laying hens. Rebecca has led the Chamber since April 2025 and describes the past year as a pivotal time for the county. The position appealed to her, not just because of the projected growth, but because of the responsibility it carries: helping guide how Chatham evolves while protecting the identity that already defines it. “Chatham felt like [it was in] a moment where growth, opportunity and intentional leadership were converging,” she says. That perspective has guided Rebecca’s recent work, including the #ThisIsChatham Bus Tour on Aug. 28, 2025, which brought attendees together for a behind-the-scenes experience throughout different parts of the county. The daylong tour started at McIntyre’s Books in Fearrington Village and continued with stops at The UNC Farm at Penny Lane, the Chatham-Siler City Advanced Manufacturing Site, The Chatham Rabbit and Bynum Bridge before concluding with a reception at 79° West, where participants heard from community leaders and met with one another. “I feel especially proud when I see people who may not otherwise be in the same room sitting together, sharing ideas and