My name is Josh Bryan, and I recently began serving on the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance’s Young Professionals Board while working as a Relationship Manager at First Horizon Bank.
For a bit of my background, I grew up in Chapel Hill, went to NC State in Raleigh, and ultimately landed in Charlotte after graduation. For those wondering how someone grows up in Chapel Hill and ends up at State, I usually just say I don’t like Duke! Looking back on that progression, it really does feel like I completed the full North Carolina city circuit.
My first experience with young professional leadership came during my junior year at NC State, where I served as President of the Finance Club. At the time, I did not fully understand what leadership meant, but I knew I had an opportunity to make an impact, even if small, and I tried to make the most of it. That experience was incredibly formative for me, both personally and professionally. One of my main focuses was building out an alumni network and strengthening the pipeline into banking and finance, which was an area where NC State had room to grow. While there were several positive outcomes, the most meaningful was that it ultimately helped open the door for my first role post-grad at Regions Bank here in Charlotte. I am incredibly grateful for that first opportunity and for the doors that have opened since.
The next steps in that journey led me to Truist Bank and now First Horizon, which I am proud to call home. If not for these organizations that are intimately involved in the Charlotte community and business world, I may not have found the CLT Alliance or had the opportunity to serve on the YP Board. Being part of a company invested in Charlotte’s growth has allowed me, along with many others, to expand our impact both within the organization and in the broader community. This is one of the many reasons why I get excited when I see Fortune 500 companies (as well as smaller companies) moving their headquarters here to Charlotte. Community and business go hand in hand.
After five years here, Charlotte truly feels like home. One of my favorite things about the city is how often you run into people you know everywhere you go. It’s a growing city of nearly 1 million people, with more than 150 people moving here each day, and now the second-largest financial services hub in the U.S., yet it still manages to feel small in the most endearing way. That sense of familiarity reminds me a lot of Chapel Hill, and it’s part of what has made Charlotte far more welcoming than I ever expected.
As I think about what makes Charlotte and the Carolinas great, it’s not just that we are two hours from the mountains and three hours from the beach, or that everything feels like a 20-minute drive. For me, it’s that I can play golf year-round. Golf has played a significant role in my life. It has given me an outlet for competition, helped me build lifelong relationships, and created opportunities to connect with people across different stages of life, both personally and professionally. One of my highlights from 2025 was finishing 16th in the Charlotte City Amateur, which concluded with a final round at Quail Hollow Club. If you are around this year, come out to the City Am on August 14–16 which will be held at Pine Lake and Cedarwood, with the final round at Carmel.
Shifting back to work, one of the things I enjoy most about my role as a Relationship Manager is how closely my day-to-day work is tied to the Charlotte business community. I value being able to stay connected to what is happening across the city and to play even a small role in supporting the growth of a city and community that I have grown to be so passionate about and care deeply for. In my role as an RM and commercial lender, I have really tried to lean in and focus on working with other nonprofit, community-based, and mission-driven businesses across the city. I get to live that out through my involvement with the CLT Alliance, as well as other organizations like the First Tee of Greater Charlotte. Being placed on the Community Involvement board committee at the Alliance feels like the perfect fit for me and I’m excited to make the most of the next two years.
From my first experience with leadership at NC State to my involvement with the CLT Alliance today, I have been hooked from the start and constantly energized by the work. It has been a privilege to serve alongside fellow young professionals and contribute to the Charlotte region. I am naturally more introverted, and I would not have expected myself to step into a leadership role like this, but it has been a meaningful way to push outside of my comfort zone. I would encourage any young professional in the Charlotte area to get involved with the CLT Alliance or another YP organization, volunteer, and eventually join a board. You may be surprised by what you learn about yourself and the growth that comes from it.
Even in just a few months with the CLT Alliance, one of the themes that has stood out most to me is the strength of the public-private partnerships here in Charlotte. While no system is perfect, this collaboration has contributed to thoughtful growth across infrastructure, culture, and the broader community. I am excited to see how Charlotte continues to evolve, not just this year, but over the next 20.
Fast Facts about Charlotte:
- For anyone visiting the greater Charlotte region, I highly recommend a trip to the Billy Graham Library and the Whitewater Center
- I am a big foodie and live in Plaza Midwood, so a few local favorites:
- Clark Burger from Clark’s Snack Shop (formerly Good Wurst)
- Breakfast burrito from Giddy Goat
- Wings from The Crunkleton
- Anything from Lang Van
Josh Bryan is a Relationship Manager for First Horizon Bank. You can connect with Josh on LinkedIn.
