Scale Up CLT participants in Austin, Texas
As an entrepreneur, the chance to connect with like-minded business owners and leaders in the community can provide invaluable experiences and opportunities. The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance® Foundation provides that interaction to deserving entrepreneurs through the Scale Up CLT initiative. In partnership with the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) and the city of Charlotte, Scale Up CLT accelerates the growth of minority-owned businesses. This year, participants in the program were part of the delegation that traveled with the CLT Alliance to Austin, Texas, for the annual Exploring Economies trip. We asked the entrepreneurs to share their biggest takeaways from that experience. Here are some of their responses, in their own words.
Richard Cuebas, Integra Design Group
Richard Cuebas is the co-founder and vice president of Integra Design Group, an architecture and engineering firm with offices in Charlotte, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Cuebas specializes in design and ideation, infrastructure planning and design, and construction management and consulting.
For me personally and professionally, the trip to Austin was a great experience. It was good to (re)connect with many important business and government leaders from Charlotte. It was well worth having three days to disconnect from my business’ “day-to-day” to be able to develop great relationships with my business peers from Charlotte!
It was also great to see what a true peer city (Austin is so similar in scale and vibe to the CLT!) has done good and what it can do better. Charlotte can learn a lot from this:
- think strategically about the mobility plan and sales tax referendum,
- elevate and celebrate entrepreneurship (big and small),
- be proactive to combat affordability challenges.
I want to specifically thank the CLT Alliance and EO Charlotte for the opportunity to attend via the ScaleUp program. I will look for ways to pay it forward as soon as possible!
David Goodson, American Electrical Company
David Augustus Goodson is the CEO and founder of American Electrical Company, an electrical contractor specializing in new construction, maintenance service, special projects, residential, commercial and industrial wiring.
Let me start by saying “thank you” to Austin, Texas, for so graciously hosting us. I’d also like to acknowledge the great work Charlotte Regional Business Alliance is doing for all small businesses. Your inclusion and direction are invaluable.
As I unpack and reflect on our trip together I must say it was great fellowshipping with Charlotte’s leaders. We are the example of change the world needs to see. The trip participants gender’s numbers were the perfect match. The balance between races could only have been put together by God. Whatever you want to call the magic, Charlotte attracts the right people.
As for Austin, the only thing I was impressed by was the vastness of the city’s skyline. Then again, it wasn’t as colorful and vibrant as Charlotte’s skyline.
Don’t get me wrong, I look forward to visiting Texas again. I just don’t think we should be “weird” when our city is great. They need what we got.
Nesha Pai, Pai CPA
Nesha Pai is the managing partner at Pai CPA, an accounting firm with a niche in outsourced accounting services. Pai specializes in developing customized solutions for growing businesses.
I would give this entire trip a 11 out of 10.
One of the most important experiences was connecting with Kieth Cockrell, president, Bank of America Charlotte; and Les Lambert, senior vice president at Bank of America. Networking with Les immediately led to other valuable connections at BofA.
Under everyday circumstances, being a small business owner, my path would never have crossed Keith’s. But thanks to the ScaleUp program, I was able to meet him and many of Charlotte’s leaders.
What makes me most in awe of meeting him is knowing that he came from humble means to becoming a top leader in Charlotte, and his most cherished role is dad.
When I came to Charlotte to work for Arthur Andersen in 1993, there was one Black man, (and then me) in the whole office. And he wasn’t even in leadership. There was no one else that looked like me.
Keep working on it, Charlotte, we still have more work to do, but I’m so proud of what we’ve become and where we are going! Bravo, Kieth!!!! Can’t wait to see what you do next!
Desmond Wiggan, Battery XChange
Desmond Wiggan is the co-founder and CEO at Battery XChange, a rental platform for portable battery chargers. The technology company, with kiosks across the southeast, is providing solutions for mobile phone users on the go.
My favorite panel was the entrepreneur panel. I learned a lot about how corporations are really infusing dollars into the ecosystem to help foster its growth. There are a lot of programs for elementary and middle school students to get exposure to entrepreneurship and it’s in the curriculum.
We need to be intentional on expanding our corporate recruiting into 2-year and community colleges. Everybody also has to be all hands on deck supporting the transformational work at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Some other key takeaways from the leaders in Austin who spoke on the first day:
- I like that Austin has 911 options for mental health.
- What do we have to do to get the federal infrastructure grant for the city of Charlotte?
- Intentional peer programs for students are important to stay with them through their matriculation. This is the data we need.
- Having their own grid is important for the provision of power.
- I liked the idea of text messages to job seekers on opportunities.
The biggest blessing that I don’t take for granted is the ability to connect socially with the biggest leaders within the corporate world and government from the city of Charlotte.
Charlotte has a huge opportunity to grow and have identity if we can accept people as they are, allow them to feel comfortable being themselves, celebrate, and provide support for them. As we look at diversity and growth, we have to embrace that. It’s ok for some of this to be messy.
