In early 2011, Dr. Dan Murrey, a spine surgeon and former county commissioner, accepted Mayor Anthony Foxx’s offer to lead Charlotte’s Host Committee in preparation for the Democratic National Convention this September.  In doing so, he took charge of everything from making sure hotels could handle the tens of thousands of guests, assembling a staff, arranging for volunteers, setting up a bid system for local vendors, constructing an official meeting space, providing security and transportation—and raising nearly $37 million to pay for all of it.  More than just tactical, however, the host committee director would be responsible for constructing the face the Queen City presented to the nation in its most visible hour.

Having earned degrees from Davidson College, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, Murrey developed a reputation among classmates, colleagues, mentors, even political opponents, as a man who can synthesize complex issues and find solutions, but above all corral people with disparate agendas and clashing egos and nudge them to work toward a common goal—and do so with minimal fuss and self-promotion.  From his childhood on a Tennessee farm, to success as a health care administrator and surgeon, to public servant — leading Charlotte’s 2012 Host Committee might be the ultimate test of his abilities.

Come join us for breakfast and a candid discussion, as Dr. Murrey reflects on what went well in hosting the DNC, what could have been done differently, and where Charlotte goes from here!