Thank you for registering to attend the 10th Annual Alamance Chamber ROAR Women’s Symposium, presented by LeAndra “Nikki” Ratliff. We look forward to seeing you NEXT Friday, March 27th at the Alliance Convention Center in Burlington. Please review the information on this page to ensure a successful experience at ROAR!
In addition to this document, you can learn more about the event on roaralamance.com or our ROAR Homepage.
Event Details:
Date: Friday, March 27th, 2026
Time: 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Venue: The Alliance Convention Center
Address: 1214 Turrentine St., Burlington
Recommended Attire:
Business / Business Casual. Just keep in mind, the room can get chilly throughout the day so layers are recommended. Comfortable footwear is encouraged as a short walk is required to access the event entrance from the parking lot.
Parking Instructions:
Please refer to the parking map on the right of this page. Signage and parking attendants will be onsite if you have any questions. A shuttle will not be provided unless there is inclement weather.
Attendee Parking: Upon arriving to the event, general attendees will need to park in the PURPLE lot. Please note, it is a bit of a walk from the lot to the event center entrance. Keep this in mind for shoes!
VIP Sponsors: Some of our sponsors receive VIP parking benefits for their attendees. If this applies to you, a pass will be emailed to you prior to the event. Please show this (phone or printed) to the parking attendant for access to the GREEN Lot. Please note, there is a limited number of spots in this lot so we ask that you do not share this pass outside of your company attendees.
Accessible Parking: Accessible parking will be available in the Blue Lot. All accessible spaces are clearly marked and reserved for vehicles displaying a valid disability parking placard or license plate. Parking attendants will be available to help guide guests from the parking area to the venue to ensure a smooth and comfortable arrival experience.
Check-In Instructions:
Attendee check-in will begin at 7:30 a.m. After parking, you will want to follow directional signage and enter through the North Entrance of the Convention Center (this entrance is marked with a yellow star on the map to the right). Once you enter, you will need to pick your nametag up at the Check-In table. Nametags provided by our Branding Partner, Carolina Custom Promotions.
Important Nametag/Seating Details to Note:
- Sponsors and Sponsor Guests will have reserved seating in the main event room. Your assigned table number will be on the back of your nametag.
- If you are not a sponsor but have a Reserved Table, your table number will also be on the back of your nametag.
- If you are a General Attendee, without a reserved table, you will not have a table number on the back of your card. This means you will have access to open seating at tables 41-59, on a first come-first served basis.
- If you have a reserved seat, you MUST sit at your assigned table. Seating has been carefully arranged, and sitting elsewhere may disrupt seating for other guests.
Cancelation, Substitution & Nametag Policy:
- The deadline for cancelations, refunds and personalized pre-printed nametags has passed. If you are sending someone in your place, please ensure your substitute checks-in, giving the name of who they are replacing. They will need to pick up the nametag of that person and report to the HELP DESK for further assistance.
- As a reminder, this is a large event with over 500 attendees. Our check-in and Help Desk are staffed by dedicated volunteers who are there to help. We kindly ask that you approach any questions or last-minute changes with patience and courtesy as they work to accommodate substitutions as efficiently as possible.
- Outside of substitutions, absolutely NO Walk-ins will be accommodated. Meaning, if you are not registered to attend or replacing a registered attendee, we are unable to accomodate you as the final numbers have been submitted.
Event Agenda:
After check-in, attendees are encouraged to explore the ROAR Marketplace—this year reimagined as the “Sock Market,” proudly sponsored by the Burlington Sock Puppets. The Sock Market will feature local vendors, unique goods, and interactive booths designed to engage and inspire.
A breakfast buffet, provided by Pepper Moon Catering, will be available during this time, along with multiple coffee stations. Coffee, juice, tea, and water will be located near the buffet tables, with two additional coffee stations conveniently placed within the Sock Market area.
The official symposium kickoff will begin at 8:45 a.m. from the main stage. In addition to the morning session, attendees are encouraged to visit the Vendor Marketplace (Sock Market, sponsored by the Burlington Sock Puppets) throughout the day, including during lunch and the Sip N’ Social / Speaker Meet & Greet.
Following the Keynote Session, guests are invited to attend the Sip N’ Social, sponsored by TAPCO, with refreshments provided by Tanner’s Wine Bar. Alcoholic beverages will be available for attendees 21 and over, alongside a selection of non-alcoholic options.
Agenda Overview:
| 7:30 a.m. | Check-In, Breakfast & Vendor Marketplace (“Sock Market”, sponsored by the Burlington Sock Puppets) |
| 8:45 a.m. | Symposium Kick-Off |
| 9:00 a.m. | ROAR Talk |
| 9:30 a.m. | Fireside Chat (Sponsored by: Triangle Grading & Paving) |
| 10:00 a.m. | Vendor Marketplace Break (“Sock Market”, Sponsored by the Burlington Sock Puppets) |
| 10:30 a.m. | Fireside Chat (Sponsored by: Elon University) |
| 11:00 a.m. | ROAR Talk (Sponsored by: The Vernon Law Firm) |
| 11:30 a.m. | Special Poetry Reading |
| 11:40 a.m. | Lunch & Vendor Marketplace (“Sock Market”, sponsored by the Burlington Sock Puppets) |
| 1:00 p.m. | Keynote Session |
| 2:00 p.m. | Sip N’ Social / Speaker Meet & Greet / Vendor Marketplace (Meet & Greet Sponsored by: TAPCO / Sips Sponsored by: Tanner’s Wine Bar) |
| 3:00 p.m. | Event Concludes |
- CLICK HERE to view the full event agenda, including our speaker lineup and session titles.
Other Event Features & Updates:
ROAR Vendor Marketplace “Sock Market”: Be sure to visit our ROAR Marketplace – this year presented as the “Sock Market,” sponsored by the Burlington Sock Puppets —featuring local vendors, unique goods, and interactive booths. This year’s marketplace will feature 40 local businesses and nonprofits who will be selling products, sharing services throughout the day. Please bring payment options if you plan to do any shopping!
- CLICK HERE to view our Vendors
NEW! ROAR Online Store: You asked, we listened! This year, in honor of the 10th anniversary event, attendees can purchase ROAR apparel! Show off your swag throughout the year and help to publicize the largest Chamber event.
- CLICK HERE to visit the ROAR Online Store
Update Your Headshots: Update your headshot during the ROAR Women’s Symposium with our Photography Sponsor, Katie Smith Photography. In just five minutes, you’ll have a polished image ready for LinkedIn, your website, and more. For pricing and to book your spot, click the link below.
- CLICK HERE to schedule your headshot!
Raffle Tickets: Raffle tickets will be available for purchase through lunch, and will be announced at the end of the program. There will be a station and a dedicated volunteer walking around. There are a number of raffle items and they will be displayed to the right of the stage. After purchase, place your tickets in the item(s) of interest. Cash and check will be available at all raffle stations, with Card accepted at one of the stations.
10th Anniversary Gifts: Each attendee will receive a special 10th Anniversary gift that will be placed at each seat. Please do not take more than one gift, or collect any gifts from open seats.
Responsible Business Activity: The ROAR committee has selected the Period Project as this year’s responsible business activity and will be collecting items on Friday. The need of these supplies for girls in our local school system is high, and the impact of your donation is great. Below you will find a list of items that will be collected on Friday. We encourage all attendees to bring as many items as you like on Friday and drop them in the Burton Logistics van as you enter the event.
Requested Items for Collection:
- Menstrual Pads – Please ensure these are menstrual pads and are NOT designed for incontience. Items need to be in packaging that states individually wrapped.
- Underwear Liners
- Boxes of Ziplock Bags (quart sized)
- Tampons

