More than 180 top business executives in the Charlotte Region gathered last week at Quail Hollow Club for the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance annual Leadership Summit.
Before the afternoon got underway, CLT Alliance Board Chair David Longo announced the 2025 Citizen of the Carolinas – former Duke Energy Corporation Chair and CEO Lynn Good. The award is the highest honor given by the CLT Alliance. Read more here.
After the announcement, the panels for the day got underway.
Transportation
The first panel on transportation had Ned Curran, founder and president of Stone Cottage Advisors; Marcus Jones, city manager for the City of Charlotte; and Tom Nelson, the chairman, president, and CEO of National Gypsum Company. Walter Price, the managing director and head of public affairs at Moore & Van Allen, moderated.
The panelists spoke about how transportation access is vital to a high quality of life, economic mobility, and job growth. Legislators in the House and Senate have spearheaded the P.A.V.E. Act, legislation that aims to expand Mecklenburg County’s transportation system.
The combined $25 billion plan includes improvements for roads, transit, sidewalks, and micro-transit services. The bill awaits Gov. Josh Stein’s signature and county approval for a referendum to get on voters’ ballots.
We need your support for the referendum campaign. Please contact Chief Advocacy Officer Matt Panik or President and CEO Robert McCutcheon to make your pledge today.
Fireside Chat: Hendrick Automotive
Jeff “JB” Brown, president of Hendrick Automotive, spoke about the company’s growth and diversification, saying they’ve transitioned to building vehicles for the U.S. Army in their Concord facility and retraining NASCAR machinists.
Hendrick is also focusing on the workforce through partnerships with Central Piedmont Community College, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and Queens University. Brown mentioned the company is leveraging artificial intelligence in service and recruitment.
Hendrick Automotive is part of the CLT Alliance Workforce Committee. Read the committee’s charter here and reach out to Laura Foor if you’re interested in joining.
Hometown Brands
Bojangles CEO José Armario, Krispy Kreme CEO Josh Charlesworth, and Compare Foods Supermarkets CEO Omar Jorge spoke about their company’s beginnings and growth before speaking about some of the challenges they’re facing. With moderator Kandi Deitemeyer, the president of Central Piedmont Community College, the panel touched on labor costs, supply chain inflation, transport, and preserving the freshness of brands.
The companies are making a positive impact on the Charlotte Region; each has donated a significant amount of time and money to the community recently.
If you’d like to invest in your community, you can get involved with SHARE Charlotte, which connects people with local nonprofits. Also, save the date for CLTivate Community on Sept. 25, an event designed to connect local nonprofits with volunteers, supporters, and corporate partners.
Economy and Tariffs
Jeff Allen, senior vice president of operations and specialty vehicles at Daimler Trucks, and Bill Christensen, CEO of JELD‑WEN, talked about today’s tariff environment.
In manufacturing, economic strain is showing up in reduced pre-buys, emissions standards, supply-chain shortages, and skilled labor gaps. It’s causing leaders to pivot to automation and near-shoring, for example.
Allen and Christensen said they are using transparency and over-communication to maintain employee trust and morale amid unpredictability.
We tackle challenges like these in our manufacturing council, where we convene regional industrial leaders. Reach out to Laura Foor to learn more.
Industry and Business
Springs Creative CEO Derick Close and Amwins CEO Scott Purviance discussed how tariffs, changing supply chains, and reshoring impact each of their companies. Close said he halted China orders after the tariff changes. He also said his textile manufacturing has returned to Fort Lawn, South Carolina, creating hundreds of jobs in the area.
Overall, tariffs drive uncertainty, placing a strain on businesses and pushing costs to end-users.
But trading has complexities beyond tariffs. Global complications include customs duties, volatile container rates, fuel costs, currency manipulation, and port delays. Labor costs in China have also shifted manufacturing to other countries like India and Vietnam.
Learn about the Charlotte Region’s access to global markets through our Foreign Trade Zone, which is a magnet for foreign direct investment.
Sports and Entertainment
Charlotte Hornets President of Business Operations Shelly Cayette-Weston, Charlotte Sports Foundation Managing Partner, Harris Investment Company and Co-Chair John Harris, and Six Flags CEO Richard Zimmerman talked about the vitality of sports and entertainment to the economy of the Charlotte Region. After discussing investments in the pipeline, the panel talked about their strategy for bringing events to the region. They’re targeting things like ACC Championships, bowl games, and PGA events, and even pursuing long-shot opportunities like the NBA All‑Star game or the Olympics.
Why? Because live events bolster infrastructure, lodging demand, and community engagement. High‑quality venues enhance economic competitiveness, creating seasonal and year-round jobs.
Data from the Charlotte Sports Foundation shows how important sports and entertainment are to the region’s economy. Dive into the findings here.
Takeaways
Last week’s summit highlighted the importance of unified leadership and collaboration. Each panel had a key finding:
- Transportation and infrastructure are catalysts for supporting growth and competitiveness.
- The economy in the Charlotte Region is resilient. Local companies have switched gears, investing in industries like defense, automation, digitalization, and community roots.
- When it comes to tariffs and trade strategy, companies have had to proactively make adjustments, which has led to changes in the supply chain and regulatory foresight.
- Impactful hometown brand leaders emphasized their community ties and national growth.
- Large-scale leisure investments support talent attraction, event tourism, and community pride.
Save the date! On Dec. 2, we’re hosting our annual Economic Outlook, where Lynn Good will officially be presented with the Citizen of the Carolinas Award.
