july 2017 developments - ncedajuly 2017 developments lawrence bivins and liz dobbins-smith, editors...
TRANSCRIPT
A Message from Your President
Upcoming Events
2017-18 Membership Renewal
On The Legislative Front
Patron Sponsor Profile
Emerging Executive Profile
Board Member Profile
Annual Meeting Buzz
Job Opportunities
2017-18 Board of Directors
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
July 2017
DEVELOPMENTS
Lawrence Bivins and Liz Dobbins-Smith, Editors
It’s an exciting time to be leading NCEDA. Coming off one of our best annual conferences ever, 2017-18 is off to an exceptional start. Our board of directors includes some of the most creative, results-oriented minds in our profession.
They include two new names: Chris Platé of Monroe-Union County Economic Development and Ben Teague of the Asheville-Buncombe County Economic Development Coalition. Chris and Ben add considerable energy and vision to our board. So too does Dr. Gary Lanier, who was re-elected to a second three-year term. Gary heads both economic development and planning for Columbus County and brings a valuable expertise on workforce readiness, product development, food manufacturing and more.
Dr. Pat Mitchell’s return to the board adds firepower to our advocacy efforts and professional development program. Now on the public administration faculty at Appalachian State University, Pat will serve as our secretary-treasurer over the coming year, an important post that aligns well with her experience as both a county manager and assistant secretary at NC Commerce. Mark Pope, our new vice-president, has engineered nothing short of an economic renaissance in Lenoir County, and his leadership has been and will continue to be pivotal to NCEDA.
Catawba County’s Scott Millar, who was NCEDA president in 2005-06, has begun serving the important role of liaison to the organization’s past presidents. Like his predecessor in that position, the legendary Bob Leak, Jr., Scott will be an ex officio member of the board. I’m grateful to Bob for his many contributions to the organization through the years, as well as the outstanding service of Brenda Daniels, Rick Kiernan and Ernie Pearson, our outgoing board members.
Continuity is important to NCEDA and its governance. We will continue to benefit from the world-class leadership of Andrew Tate as immediate past president. Andrew leaves the organization on very solid footing in every respect – a dynamic new logo, committed legislative allies and newly-redesigned website we’ll see later this summer. His legacy includes a seasoned management team, L2 Event and Association Partners, that will usher the organization into the future. It’s impossible to overstate the positive impact Andrew’s leadership has made on NCEDA, and I suspect he’s not done yet.
Never in its history have we had a more dedicated, success-minded cadre of leaders. I know you share my optimism about the coming 12 months – and the exciting years that lie ahead for North Carolina’s economic development community.
Steve Yost2017-18 President
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT STEVE YOST
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NCEDA is changing its membership year. In the past, the cycle went from July 1 to June 30. We are now migrating to a 12-month membership year that is unique to the month you joined. If, for example, you enrolled or renewed this past spring, your renewal date will occur the same month next year. Not sure when your renewal comes up? No problem. Members will receive reminder emails as their renewal date approaches.
Based on the “fiscal year” cycle we used in the past, most NCEDA members will continue to renew each summer. If your renewal date has passed or is approaching, don’t let the summer slip away without renewing! The renewal process begins on our website (www.nceda.org/register/) and may be completed with online dues payment or with a check via US Mail. Please note our new mailing address: PO Box 30934 – Raleigh, NC 27622.
Contact Liz (888.246.2332 / [email protected]) should any questions or problems arise.
2017-18 UPCOMING EVENTS
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS: CYCLING FORWARD
Please ‘save the date’ for our 2017-2018 conferences. Visit our events page, www.nceda.org/events/, for more detailed information as conferences draw near, including event registration, agendas and speakers.
2017 Fall ConferenceOctober 17-18Renaissance Asheville HotelRegistration will open at the end of August. Hotel block details will be sent out by email next week.
2018 Mid-Winter ConferenceMarch 13-14Pinehurst Resort
2018 Annual ConferenceJune 12-14Holiday Inn Resort Wrightsville Beach
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ON THE LEGISLATIVE FRONT: S223 POSSIBLE IN SPECIAL SESSION
NCEDA continues to seek passage of S223 - legislation that eliminates the annual cap on JDIG awards in Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties. The bill passed the House in late June. The Senate may take the bill up as early as its August 3rd special session. If not, additional special sessions are anticipated in the fall. NCEDA members should encourage their Senate contacts to “concur” on S223 if and when the leadership brings it up for consideration.
PATRON SPONSOR PROFILE: NC COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
Across all its programs, nearly 422,000 learners enrolled in North Carolina Community College System offerings in the spring of 2017. That equates to about 12% of the state’s civilian workforce, making the system a formidable educational as well as economic development asset.
North Carolina’s community colleges generate $21.5 billion in annual direct economic impact, according to a 2013 analysis by Idaho-based Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI). That’s almost 5% of the state’s GDP. “The colleges benefit state businesses by increasing consumer spending and supplying a steady flow of qualified, trained workers into the workforce,” the study reported. “They enrich the lives of students by raising their lifetime incomes and helping them achieve their individual potential.”
The seeds of North Carolina’s Community College System were planted in the years following World War II, as North Carolina’s economic landscape began transforming from farming and forestry into a diversified array of industries. State leaders anticipated the need for educational offerings between a high school diploma and a four-year baccalaureate degree. In 1957, the General Assembly adopted the Community College Act and provided funding for community colleges. Today the system encompasses 58 colleges and even more campuses and learning centers.
In addition to its academic and technical education programs, the NC Community College System serves an economic development mission through its training and support for new and expanding companies in all 100 North Carolina counties. The state was among the first in the nation to offer free customized training, and the program remains highly-regarded for its speed, responsiveness and flexibility.
The system also collaborates closely with North Carolina universities in the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which works to sharpen the competitiveness of the state’s small and mid-sized manufacturers. “For over half a century, we’ve blazed the trail for state-supported industry training. Through 58 colleges statewide, we customize programs for every type of industry – from advanced manufacturing to life sciences, from aerospace to polymers, from logistics to food and beverages,” says Maureen Little, vice president for economic development at the NC Community College System. “We’re proud of that ability and proud of this partnership.”
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EMERGING EXECUTIVE PROFILE: RYAN WETHERINGTON
Ryan Wetherington is a rising star in North Carolina’s economic development community. As a key player in NCEDA’s Emerging Executives program, Ryan helps link newcomers to the economic development profession with opportunities for learning, making important contacts and navigating career options.
Since 2013, Ryan has been vice president of corporate services at Allen Tate Relocation and Corporate Services in Charlotte. The firm provides businesses with a full complement of decision support and logistical assistance, including cost of living comparisons, relocation cost analyses, employee relocation policies and executive relocation programs. “There’s no other company in the Carolinas that can provide the services we do at the level we do,” Ryan says. He appreciates how the company encourages its staff to get involved in groups like NCEDA. “Allen Tate allows me to work and lead in the economic development field, as well as serve other types of non-profit organizations.”
Prior to joining the staff of Allen Tate, Ryan was director of marketing and public relations at the Lancaster County (SC) Economic Development Corporation. “It was my first paid professional opportunity, and the level of activity was remarkable,” he recalls. “It made me realize how much I enjoyed recruiting in North Carolina, because it’s home.” His experience also includes a stint on the research staff at the Charlotte Regional Partnership.
A native of Wilson, Ryan majored in History and Government at Campbell University before pursuing MPA studies at UNC Wilmington. His experiences in grad school led him to choose economic development as a career. “The program at UNCW has an emphasis on non-profit organizations, which provided a good skills-set to build bridges between government and the private sector,” he says. “I’ve also had the benefit of many good mentors, and that has played a big part in my enthusiasm for the profession.” While there, Ryan worked as policy analyst at the Cape Fear Council of Governments and an economic development specialist for Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo.
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BOARD MEMBER PROFILE: ANDREW TATE
As NCEDA’s president in 2016-17, Andrew Tate is by now a familiar presence for those close to the association.
Andrew is the president and CEO of the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development (HCPED). Since arriving there in March 2007, he has led the community on an impressive run of business recruitment and existing industry expansions. Global manufacturers such as RAUMEDIC, GF Linamar, Demmel and Norafin Americas have launched significant new operations there. Other companies, such as Continental Automotive Systems, ASG and Elkamet, have expanded their Henderson County facilities with support from Tate and HCPED.
“We’ve had a lot of big wins, and they were due in large part to the great work that Andrew does,” says Kelly Leonard, vice president at Entegra Bank and a longtime member of the HCPED board. But few of Henderson County’s recent successes gathered more attention than the 2012 arrival of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. The $107 million plant and entertainment venue emerged from a national search by California-based brewer that had considered some 200 possible sites.
Andrew joined NCEDA’s board of directors in 2011, quickly applying his command of local economic development to the statewide policy arena. “Andrew Tate knows what a given project needs in order to be competitive,” says North Carolina Commerce Secretary Tony Copeland. “He is also able to move his thinking to a higher altitude and see the kind of policy landscape we as a state need in order to create the future.”
A 2000 graduate of UNC Chapel Hill, Andrew began his economic development career as a project coordinator at HCPED prior to becoming executive director of the Fuquay-Varina Area Chamber of Commerce. He held that post until his 2007 return to Henderson County. In addition to his service to NCEDA, Andrew serves on the boards of the Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority and Blue Ridge Community College. He and his wife, Brooke, have three young sons.
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ANNUAL MEETING 2017 BUZZ...
Thanks again to all those who joined us in Wrightsville Beach in June for the 2017 Annual Conference. Click HERE to see the attendee list and stimulating presentations we heard. Here are some highlights from our distinguished speakers.
On the Carolina Connector (CCX), an intermodal cargo hub being developed in Edgecombe County:
“[CCX] will help attract industries to North Carolina... Lower logistics costs will make your existing and prospective industries more competitive.”Jim VanDerzee - Industrial Development Manager, CSX Corporation
“Everybody’s about just-in-time. That’s part of our thought process.”Bobby Lewis - COO, NC Department of Transportation
“The Port of Wilmington will be able to connect directly into the [CCX] hub. That will give us a lot of advantages in attracting new businesses.”Paul Cozza - CEO, NC State Ports Authority
“In less than six months we put 700 acres under option. That’s what economic developers do.”Oppie Jordan - Vice President, Carolinas Gateway Partnership
News from Commerce:
“Consultants would agree with me: North Carolina needs to be more predictable right now. That element of unpredictability puts us #4 or #5 on their lists, instead of #1 or #2.”Will Miller - Deputy Secretary, NC Department of Commerce
“It’s one thing to give out grants. It’s another to actually understand what businesses need... We talk about jobs, but what’s really at stake is people’s livelihoods.”Napoleon Wallace - Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development, NC Department of Commerce
“Working with you, we’d like to identify a handful of initiatives in each region that we can work together on and make a difference.”Jeff DeBellis - Manager of Economic & Policy Analysis, NC Department of Commerce
EDPNC Perspectives:
“Commerce focuses on product development; EDP focuses on product promotion... There’s now additional funding for economic development marketing. We have a great product, but that doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have the resources to go out and tell businesses why they should invest in North Carolina.”Chris Chung - CEO, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
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ANNUAL MEETING 2017 BUZZ CONTINUED...
Redesigning NCEDA’s Web Presence:
“We wanted the new site to be both professional and fun.”Colleen Walton - Marketing Strategist, Brand Acceleration
On Garrett Owens, NCEDA Emerging Executive of the Year:
“In just seven years, he went from not even knowing how to spell economic development to being a leader in the field.”Bob Leak Jr. - CEO, Winston-Salem Business Inc.
The Five Big Trends Shaping Your Future:
“We’re fighting two long-term trends: productivity declines and, in the longer term, slowing percentage growth of the workforce..... We’ve been able to win because we’ve been able to attract people to our state... Our manufacturing output is up, but manufacturers don’t need as many people as before.”Ted Abernathy - Managing Partner, Economic Leadership LLC
A Renaissance for Industrial Revenue Bonds?
“Most companies don’t use [IRBs] because they don’t know about it... We try to encourage bankers and economic developers to work together... Our job is to get five different banks to bid for your business.”Sam Macrina - President, Manufacturers Economic Development Financing Associates
The State of North Carolina’s Wood Products Industry:
“The fluff-pulp business is growing globally. As disposable incomes increase in developing markets, they need more fluff for disposable products like napkins and diapers.”Kim Clewis - Communications Manager, International Paper
“NAFTA impacted the US lumber business positively. It’s been good for our area…. The Port of Wilmington is now shipping logs to China. They’re taking our raw materials to manufacture abroad.”Russell Schwartz - General Manager, West Fraser Timber Co.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Economic Development Director – Vance County
Vance County is currently seeking a self-motivated, energetic individual to fill the position of Economic Development Director.
Excellent communication skills, management ability and marketing experience are essential. The candidate should have a proven
track record for industrial growth through expansion and retention of existing industrial bases, and attraction of new industries
and business into the county. The ability to work effectively with business leaders, government officials and community, regional
and state organizations to develop innovative strategies that produce new opportunities. Education/Experience: Bachelor
Degree from an accredited institution in business, planning, economics, or related field, supplemented by training in economic
development and considerable professional experience in industrial or economic development; or an equivalent combination of
education and experience. Proficient in Word, Excel, Charts/Graphs; data minded. Submit resume with a Vance County application
(available at www.vancecounty.org) to Vance County Human Resources as directed on application. A detailed job description is
available on our website. Salary: $64,368 - $83,676, Negotiable DOQ Application Deadline: Applications received until 8/16/17.
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2017-18 OFFICERS
PRESIDENTSteve YostThe Southeastern [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENTMark PopeLenoir County Economic [email protected]
SECRETARY/TREASURERPat MitchellAppalachian State [email protected]
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENTAndrew TateHenderson County Partnership for Economic [email protected]
2018 DIRECTORS
Maureen LittleNC Community College [email protected]
John NelmsDuke [email protected]
Raul PeraltaECS [email protected]
2019 DIRECTORS
Adrienne ColeGreater Raleigh Chamber of [email protected]
Randall JohnsonNC Biotechnology [email protected]
Jessica Martin-LaneMartin-McGillAsheville704.968.1903jessica@martin-mcgill.com
2020 DIRECTORS
Gary LanierColumbus County Economic Development [email protected]
Chris PlatéMonroe-Union County Economic [email protected]
Ben TeagueEconomic Development Coalition Asheville-Buncombe [email protected]
EX-OFFICIO
Chris ChungEconomic Development Partnership of North CarolinaCary919.447.7788 - [email protected]
Tony CopelandNC Department of CommerceRaleigh919.814.4600 - [email protected]
Scott MillarCatawba County Economic Development CorporationHickory828.267.1564 - [email protected]
Lawrence BivinsManaging Director – Policy & Public AffairsNCEDARaleigh888.246.2332 - [email protected]
Liz Dobbins-SmithManaging Director – Membership Engagement & ProgramsNCEDARaleigh888.246.2332 - [email protected]
2017-18 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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