The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance® is celebrating Economic Development Week. The Charlotte Economic Development Advisory Council is made up of 15 professionals who work tirelessly to grow the region. Now, they’re giving us a glimpse into their world, answering a series of questions about why they got into the industry, what makes their county the perfect place to do business, who they would cast to play them in a movie, and more. Here are their answers in their own words.
What drove your interest in pursuing a career in economic development?
Alexander: “I was previously employed with the local newspaper which, to a very large degree, is focused on positive promotion of the county. In economic development, I got to continue that promotion but take it a step further by having the opportunity to play a small role in a wide variety of community improvements.” —David Icenhour
Cabarrus: “During my career in marketing and communications, I saw how my clients had such a profound impact on the communities where they were located and I wanted to be part of that process in my own community.” —Page Castrodale
Catawba: “A Senator suggested I should sell the State of North Carolina instead of selling advertising, to which I applied for the NC Department of Commerce (and was hired! Do they not do much research!?!?!?)” —Scott Millar
City of Charlotte: “I wanted to contribute to mission-focused work to make Charlotte an even better place to do business.” —Christina Thigpen
Chester: “I stumbled into economic development with my first job after grad school as an economic development specialist with the Aiken/Edgefield Economic Development Partnership, but I quickly fell in love with the profession.” —Robert Long
Chesterfield: “I wanted to be part of the solution of bringing more and better paying jobs with good benefits to the county I grew up in.” —Libby Lear
Cleveland: “It seemed like it would be a career that could never be boring.” —Kristin Reese
Iredell: “Helping communities grow and creating opportunities for individuals to find prosperity.” —Jenn Bosser
Lincoln: “Growing up in the Mississippi Delta gave me insight into the struggle communities face in competing for jobs both through new investment and business retention measures. I wanted to become part of the process to grow that community, which ultimately led to my wife and I seeking a home with the same passion in local leadership. We found that community in Lincoln County, NC.” — Cliff Brumfield
Mecklenburg: “Economic development is one of the few career sectors where I can utilize all of my talents, skills and education to help people and communities at a large scale. My career started out in architecture, but transitioned into community planning, then later into economic development. Designing cool buildings in school was fun, but the real impact happens when you think holistically about the people who will use that building and that project’s impact on the community.” — Shahid Rana
York: “I had a professor in college that introduced me to the profession and the impact it would have on people’s lives.” —David Swenson
In one sentence, explain why your county is the prime location for business relocation or expansion.
Alexander: “Alexander County citizens are extremely eager for new opportunities, have grown weary of lagging behind other areas, and the county leaders fully support quality expansions and relocations.”
Cabarrus: “We check all of the boxes from a site selection standpoint, but I think the community collaboration is unmatched.”
Catawba: “It’s Charlotte’s Great Northwest, with the best of Charlotte and the best of the Carolinas wrapped up in a business-friendly and accessible location next to the mountains.”
Chester: “Chester County is in the right place at the right time in terms of our geography between Charlotte and Columbia along I-77, talent attraction/labor draw, available sites, and unique attributes like dual-rail service with the L&C Railroad.”
Chesterfield: “Education in this county partners with existing industry for a job-ready workforce giving our dependable, hardworking citizens an opportunity to remain in the county instead of moving away.”
Cleveland: “Being situated in ‘Charlotte’s Backyard NC’ puts Cleveland County in a sweet spot geographically speaking, and companies continue to choose our community because of its convenient location near the CLT airport (approximately 35-45 minutes depending on how fast you drive!), diverse industrial real estate options (Cleveland County and City of Shelby are about to break ground on their 4th publicly-owned shell building – how about that! ), and an incredibly supportive and collaborative local government. (I’m not just saying that to keep my job, they really are that awesome!)”
City of Charlotte: “Built on commerce, Charlotte is a global business destination known for its high quality of life, low cost of living and highly skilled talent.”
Iredell: “We are growing substantially with 13,000 new residents in the last three years and 14 million square feet of industrial development product in the works due to our strategic location just north of Charlotte on the shorelines of Lake Norman.”
Lincoln: “With an eye for education, creative workforce development strategies, proper infrastructure planning, a well performing school system and world class industry support make Lincoln County a prime location for business relocation and expansion, but don’t take my word for it, ask any of our existing industries.”
Mecklenburg: “Mecklenburg County is a prime location for business relocation and expansion because it provides a high quality of life and is family oriented – it’s a great all-around investment.”
York: “We offer the location attributes businesses need, and the variety decision makers want in a place for success.”
What actor or actress would you want to portray you in a movie?
Alexander: Leonard Nimoy playing the role of David Icenhour
Cabarrus: “Jennifer Garner!” —Page Castrodale
Catawba: “Tom Cruise keeps trying, but he’s not quite tall enough to pull it off.” —Scott Millar
Chester: “Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn from Lord of the Rings. ‘A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. This day, we fight!’” —Robert Long
Chesterfield: Lauren Hutton playing the role of Libby Lear
Cleveland: “Liam Neeson, of course. He is the obvious choice to portray me, because as an economic developer I also “have a very particular set of skills…skills that I have acquired over a very long career.” (Hopefully, you’ve seen Liam’s “Taken” movies, otherwise this will make zero sense to you.) —Kristin Reese
City of Charlotte: Sandra Bullock playing the role of Christina Thigpen
Iredell: Julia Roberts playing the role of Jenn Bosser
Lincoln: Will Ferrell playing the role of Cliff Brumfield
Mecklenburg: “Shaq” Shaquille O’Neal playing the role of Shahid Rana
York: Denzel Washington playing the role of David Swenson
To learn more about these economic developers and the economic development success across the Charlotte Region, follow the CLT Alliance on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
