Hi there, all! My name is Kathryn Thomason, and in addition to sitting on the CAYP Board of Directors as the board development chair, I am an architect constantly seeking inspiration, a wife constantly seeking a good date night spot, and a mother constantly seeking the perfect work/life balance. There is no better time spent to meet all of my above interests than working with my fabulous co-board members to identify ways to make our gorgeous CLT a better and brighter place to live.
Upon finishing my master’s, I had a few cities that stood out as frontrunners to host “the next great adventure.” I looked at Dallas, Atlanta, Charlotte, and even considered heading home to Miami. It was truly an epic study in pro/con lists. Charlotte stood out to me from a construction perspective- the development was on a well-documented upswing when I accepted a position to join an international architecture and design firm in uptown- and what an exceptional arc it has continued to be. I really lucked out, and was able to cut my teeth during a time in our industry when sheer busyness offered early career opportunities that I could’ve waited decades for elsewhere. The Carolinas are booming in a way that gives you a visceral response. It’s not “some sectors” of growth– we are seeing consistent and prolific draw to the QC and other regional hubs as represented by everyone from Fortune 100 big dogs to unicorn startups.
In this vein, my current role with Lowe’s has given me the opportunity to have a unique front row seat to observe what it feels like to double down on the Carolinas. Lowe’s has been headquartered just north of Charlotte in Mooresville, and prior to that, Wilkesboro. Nearly four years ago, the company announced intent to invest and fund the construction of Lowe’s Tech Hub as a new city presence for our teams. This is far from unique in our region. The presence of fantastic financial partners, adjacency to a major airport hub, and booming talent pool pairs perfectly with an attainable cost of living. Charlotte is proof positive that you can have it all, and I am proud to work for Lowe’s, whose leadership has identified the critical partner that corporations can play to a region by investing in a place, and in a people, and in the things those people find important.
Speaking directly back to my area of focus, the greater Charlotte Region continues to attract companies and individuals that will complete our home as a major Eastern Seaboard hub. Where there is a call to place, there is construction and development. It’s a huge honor to build in this region during this time. We have the rare opportunity to write what’s next, while being at the same time acutely aware that this city was a different place ten years ago, twenty years ago, more. As long as we continue to hold ourselves accountable to everyone who calls the Carolinas home, and remain self reflective and willing to evolve, this region will continue to attract the best partners.
