Focus Friday Presenter Introduction

Bill Russell introduced Dave Myers as the new presenter for the Focus Friday session on Lake Norman Wildlife, replacing Billy Wilson who had a family emergency. Bill noted that Dave is also a SCORE counselor and requested that he include information about SCORE's free business services in his presentation. The meeting began with attendees introducing themselves, including Pat Jackson from Master Title Agency who chairs the public policy division, and several other business leaders from the community. Jeff Tarte, former Public Policy Chair and 2024 Board Chair emceed the discussion.

Lake Norman Community Updates

The meeting began with introductions and a presentation by Alli Moody, Chief of Nursing at Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center, who discussed the hospital's expansion plans including building a freestanding ED and adding services like nephrology and acute dialysis. The group then learned about SCORE, a national organization providing free mentoring and educational resources to small businesses, with the Charlotte chapter covering 17 counties including the Lake Norman area. The conversation ended with an introduction to Lake Norman Wildlife, one of 26 local chapters under North Carolina Wildlife Federation, which focuses on education, advocacy, and conservation efforts in the Lake Norman area.

Lake Norman Osprey Conservation Achievements

Meyers discussed the Lake Norman Chapter's achievements, including receiving the Governor's Conservation Achievement Award twice, most recently in 2025. He highlighted their work with Duke Energy on the Catawba Watery Habitat Enhancement Program, which involved installing 72 osprey platforms. Dave also explained the challenges faced by ospreys due to DDT and PCBs in the 1970s and 1980s, and the subsequent solutions implemented, including chemical bans and nesting platforms. The discussion included a mention of the Lake Norman Osprey Cam located in Torrance Creek.

Lake Norman Wildlife Restoration Programs

Dave presented on Lake Norman Wildlife's activities, including their work on fish habitat restoration through programs like Christmas tree drops, 3D printed reefs, and button bush planting. The organization manages 72 adoptable islands through their Island Habitat Program and conducts regular cleanups and wildlife monitoring. Bill discussed their efforts to address bird nesting issues on navigational signs and their ongoing initiatives to enhance fish populations and maintain water quality in Lake Norman.

Photo: 2024 Board Chair Jeff Tarte with LKN Wildlife Presenter Dave Meyers and Leah Trowbridge, 2026 Board Chair of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce