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The Power of Perseverance: Grit and Grace

In this heartfelt, candid conversation, we’ll explore what perseverance really means. We’ll discuss how to combine grit (when the road is tough) with grace (when life calls for compassion and resilience). We’ll also discuss how failure can lead to opportunity and how to incorporate a “Never Give Up” attitude with the discernment of knowing when it’s time to walk away.

Pat will share some personal experiences from her decades-long career that includes banking, entrepreneurship, her time leading the Chamber, and some deeply personal moments of persevering through great loss.

Together, we’ll reflect on how women show up, overcome, and keep going. Perseverance isn’t just about pushing through challenges; it’s about leading with heart, lifting others along the way, and finding strength in every season.

Pat Kahle served as President and CEO of the Union County Chamber from 2013 to 2025, following eight years on the Chamber’s Board, including a term as Board Chair. Her career spans over 25 years in financial services, most recently as Senior Vice President at Park Sterling Bank, and 10 years as a retail entrepreneur in the Charlotte area.
Pat currently serves as chair of the board of the Union County Community Foundation and Chair of the Board of Trustees of South Piedmont Community College. A dedicated Rotarian, she received the Monroe Rotary Club’s 2025 Service Above Self Award and was honored with the 2025 Community Impact Award by Union Diversified Industries. Her past recognitions include Union County Woman of the Year and one of Mecklenburg Times’ 50 Most Influential Women.