The Union County Chamber is excited to welcome Audrey Burke as its new Programs & Events Manager. Bringing a background in hospitality and a passion for creating meaningful connections, Audrey is already focused on what matters most to her: building relationships.
Originally from Michigan, Audrey moved to Weddington during her junior year of high school. She went on to attend UNC-Chapel Hill, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in media and journalism with a concentration in creative advertising and a minor in Spanish. She also spent two semesters in Spain, including one working as an au pair, and can speak Spanish.
A Career Path Change
After graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic, Audrey found herself taking a different path than she originally planned. With advertising opportunities limited, she turned to hospitality, an industry that gave her the opportunity to work with people, which was an outlet for her natural desire to serve others and help people feel valued.
For Audrey, relationship-building has shaped her life from an early age. “Relationships have always been so important to me,” she said. “Even going back to personal relationships and being a good daughter and a good friend, I’ve always wanted to go above and beyond for the people in my life.”
She spent the past several years at Barcelona Wine Bar, where she grew from a server into a certified server trainer, traveling trainer, and manager. In her training role, she was selected to travel to Houston and Tampa to help open new restaurant locations and prepare their teams to train others.
Her management responsibilities extended well beyond the dining room. Audrey oversaw training, recruiting, interviewing, hiring and onboarding, along with operational responsibilities and event communications. She also helped coordinate special events, working with restaurant leadership and the culinary team to create experiences that went beyond the everyday dining experience.
One of her favorite projects was Uncorked, a seasonal wine event that invited guests to sample selections from the restaurant’s extensive wine cellar while enjoying specially paired tapas. She also loved taking the lead on holiday celebrations, developing themes and transforming the restaurant with decorations for New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day.
Above and Beyond
While Audrey enjoys the creative and logistical sides of event planning, what matters most to her is the people.
“Providing above-and-beyond hospitality is so rare these days,” Audrey shared. “Being able to do that regularly, make genuine relationships with people, continue to cultivate those relationships, and remember details about people is really important to me.”
We’re glad to welcome Audrey to the Union County Chamber team and look forward to the ideas, energy, and hospitality she’ll bring to our programs and events.
Last modified: October 21, 2026
