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The Voice of Business,
Industry & the Professions Since 1942
North Carolina's largest
business group proudly serves as the state chamber of commerce
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NCCBI
News
Amendment
One to Spur Job Growth
With
last month’s passage of Amendment One, economic developers and local
elected officials are looking forward to using a new tool to help them
create jobs. Before voters approved the constitutional amendment by a 51
to 49 percent margin, North Carolina was one of only two states that
didn’t give local governments the option of issuing project
development bonds to finance infrastructure improvements.
During an election season when Republicans and Democrats were sharply
divided on many issues, Amendment One was one of a few they united in
supporting. “The people have indeed spoken. Tonight’s victory shows
how ready North Carolinians are to revive their state and create jobs
that will help improve their lives,” said NCCBI’s Leslie Bevacqua
Coman, who served as steering committee chair for North Carolinians for
Jobs and Progress, the umbrella group that promoted the bonds. “As we
have been saying all along, Amendment One will help communities across
North Carolina return to prosperity. Above all else, North Carolinians
understood the importance of Amendment One and voted to give their local
communities a tool that can only help to strengthen our economy and our
state.”
It was the third time in recent years that NCCBI staff and volunteers
from our membership provided the leadership for a statewide effort.
NCCBI provided the leadership for the 2000 campaign for $3.1 billion in
bonds for the UNC System and the community colleges and the 1996 bond
campaign for $2.75 billion for K-12 school construction and highways. It
also was the third time that project development financing had been on
the ballot; it was defeated in the 1980s and ‘90s.
“Anything less than a total commitment and 100 percent effort would
have resulted in a third-time loss on getting this amendment to our
state constitution passed,” NCCBI President Phil Kirk said. “This is
another example of what NCCBI is all about — promoting economic growth
in order to create good jobs for our citizens and a better quality of
life. Thanks to each of you who helped to make this wonderful victory a
reality.”
Kirk also praised NCCBI Chair Barry Eveland, who served as one of the
campaign co-chairs and made many speeches on behalf of Amendment One;
NCCBI Second Vice Chair Graham Denton, who was the finance committee
chair for the campaign; and the many other NCCBI members who made
speeches, wrote letters, gave money, and promoted the passage with their
employees and friends. Former governors Jim Hunt, Jim Holshouser and Jim
Martin served as honorary co-chairs of the campaign.
Officials said Amendment One bonds most often will be used to redevelop
abandoned factories and plants into small business centers, build new
manufacturing plants and affordable housing, spur community
revitalization, build business incubators and commercial development and
clean up environmentally damaged areas.
North Carolinians for Jobs and Progress, the coalition behind Amendment
One, included representatives from NCCBI, the N.C. Economic Developers
Association, the N.C. Association of County Commissioners, N.C. League
of Municipalities, N.C. Metropolitan Coalition, local chambers of
commerce and the North Carolina Rural Center. More than 400 civic groups
endorsed the bonds.
Former NCCBI Chair Dies: W. Roger Soles, the Greensboro business
and civic leader who chaired NCCBI in 1980-81, died Oct. 20. He was 84.
Soles retired as chairman and CEO of Jefferson-Pilot Corp. in 1993 after
a life-long career with the company. Following service as a combat
navigator in World War II, Soles finished his degree at UNC Chapel Hill
in 1947 and joined a new securities department at Jefferson Standard
Life. He rose through the ranks in his 46 years with the company, and
achieved the top position when Jefferson merged with Pilot Life in 1986.
Soles was very active in charitable and civic activities in the Triad
and statewide. He is survived by two children and two grandchildren
NCCBI Hires New Lobbyist: Elizabeth L. Dalton joined NCCBI as
director of government affairs in November, replacing Julie Woodson, who
held the position for more than five years.
Woodson joined the N.C. Pork Council as director of public affairs,
where she will be responsible for media and membership affairs and
lobbying efforts.
NCCBI President Phil Kirk said, “Julie has done an outstanding job in
so many areas at NCCBI — lobbying, staffing support for many of our
policy committees and the Young Executives Forum, marketing and
organizing the NCCBI Expo at the annual meeting, and much more. She has
done it with enthusiasm, a positive attitude, and a strong work ethic.
She will be missed here and we wish her well in her new position
of responsibility.”
Kirk noted, “The loss of Julie has been lessened by the hiring of
Elizabeth, who has many of the same attributes which Julie brought here.
I have known and worked with her for several years and am confident that
she will be an effective advocate for the business community in a
variety of ways here at NCCBI.”
Elizabeth earned a BA in public policy analysis and political science
from UNC Chapel Hill in 2002. An impressive scholar, she was a Morehead
finalist and American Academy of Achievement Scholar and a Paderewski
Medal recipient in 1998. In 1996 Dalton was a Project Harmony Cultural
Exchange student to Ivanovo, Russia.
Dalton comes to NCCBI from Bone and Associates in Raleigh, where she
served as a lobbyist. At UNC she interned with the Office of Government
Relations, where she researched legislation affecting the university and
assisted with office management.
Dalton also interned with state Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight,,
where she responded to constituent concerns and researched legislation.
While at UNC, Dalton served as president of the shag dance club and
volunteered in the schools’ dance marathon and was an officer in the
Alpha Chi Omega Sorority among other activities.
New Members: Companies that joined or rejoined NCCBI in October,
along with the name of the key executive at each company, include:
American Asset Corp., Paul Herndon, Charlotte; Asset Management
Advisors, J.C. Blucher Ehringhaus, Charlotte; Avery Healthcare System,
Edward C. Greene, Linville; Bill Black Chevrolet Cadillac, William H.
Black, Greensboro; Blue Ridge Cos. Inc., Christopher Dunbar, High Point;
Brentwood Services Inc, Christine Novak, Charlotte; Burlington Insurance
Co. Inc., Kerry Fabor, Burlington; Carolina Ice Co., Tommy Edwards,
Kinston; Carteret County Public Schools, Dr. David Lenker, Beaufort;
Coastal Finance Co., Edward Renfrow, Morehead City; Collett &
Associates, Charles Ellis, Charlotte; Comfort Homes Inc., Julian
Stewart, Clayton; Durham Marriott, Ken Lile, Durham; ELI Research Inc.,
Greg Lindberg, Durham; Flow Imports Inc, DBA Flow Lexus, Paul Hummel,
Kernersville; Graphica, Dina Dunn, Greensboro; Grubb Properties Inc.,
Clay Grubb, Charlotte; HCS Systems, Ray Honeycutt, Garner; Horack Talley
Pharr & Lowndes P.A., Ms. Donna Smith, Charlotte; Institute for
Emerging Issues, Luke Bierman, Raleigh; Iredell-Statesville Schools, Dr.
Terry K. Holliday, Statesville; Lord Corp., David Siporin, Cary;
Lutheran Retirement Ministries Inc., Chan Chandler, Burlington; McGuire
Woods, John C. Fennebresque, Charlotte; McNair & McNair, J. Frank
McNair, Winston-Salem; MCO Transport Inc., Hon. Daniel F. McComas,
Wilmington; Mid Eastern Athletic Conference, Dennis Thomas, Greensboro;
Mulvaney Group Ltd., Mick Mulvaney, Charlotte; N.C. Shakespeare
Festival, Pedro Silva, High Point; Nationwide Insurance, Ted Seagroves,
Chapel Hill; Norton & Associates, Robert H. Norton, Elizabeth City;
Office of J. Phil Coyle, J. Phil Coyle, Gastonia; Office of Robert W.
Mitchell, Robert W. Mitchell, Wilmington; Peanut Processors Inc., Rhee
Sutton, Dublin; Phoenix Associates, Luther H. Hodges, Chapel Hill;
Progressive Development, Steve Goodman, Charlotte; Quintiles
Transnational Corp., Dr. Dennis Gillings, RTP; Randolph Electric
Membership Corp., Dale F. Lambert, Asheboro; S.B. Coleman Construction
Co., Stewart B. Coleman, Asheville; Sandhills Place To Place Inc.,
Marshall Joyner, Southern Pines; Scott Insurance, Bret Grieves,
Greensboro; Smith Rental Inc., Rodney Smith, Burlington; The Cato Corp.,
John P. D. Cato, Charlotte; The Watkins Group LLC, Robert S. Whitener,
Cornelius; TIC of Apex, Nader Shahin, Apex; Triple T Parts &
Equipment Co., Jeff Battle, Wilmington; Windsor Athens LLC, James deS.
Shaffner, Charlotte; Zenith Freight Lines LLC, Jack Hawn Jr., Conover.
Fed
Official to Address Economic Forecast Forum
The
new president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Jeffrey M. Lacker,
will be the keynote speaker at the third annual Economic Forecast Forum
on Monday, Jan. 3. The event, co-sponsored by NCCBI and the N.C. Bankers
Association, will be held at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Research
Triangle Park beginning at noon. Held on the first business day of each
New Year, the forum provides insightful briefings to business leaders on
key trends in finance, interest rates and credit availability.
Dr. Harry M. Davis, the noted professor of finance at Appalachian State
University and chief economist at the Bankers Association, also will
address the gathering and deliver several predictions on economic trends
for the year ahead. Other speakers will be announced later.
Last year’s luncheon event drew roughly 700 people and an even larger
crowd is expected this year. Prices for individual tickets are $50 or
$500 for a reserved table. Sponsorship opportunities also are available.
Interested persons should contact Rosemary Wyche at 919-836-1413. Watch
your email for registration and ticket ordering information.
Lacker, 48, was promoted to president of the Richmond Fed on Aug. 1 upon
the retirement of J. Alfred Broaddus Jr. after 34 years with the bank.
Lacker has been with the bank since 1989, most recently as senior vice
president and director of research. A native of Kentucky, he received a
bachelor’s degree in economics in 1977 from Franklin and Marshall
College. He then joined Wharton Econometrics in Philadelphia and went on
to earn a Ph.D. in economics in 1984 from the University of Wisconsin.
Lacker was an assistant professor of economics at Purdue University for
five years before joining the Richmond Fed.
Lacker is only the seventh person to lead the Richmond Fed in its
90-year history. The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond is one of 12
District Reserve Banks that together with the Board of Governors in
Washington, D.C., make up the Federal Reserve System. The Richmond Fed
serves the Fifth Federal Reserve District, which encompasses the
District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia
and most of West Virginia. A nine-member board of directors governs the
Richmond Fed. North Carolina has two members of the board, Ernest J.
Sewell of Greensboro, president and CEO of FNB Southeast; and Theresa M.
Stone of Greensboro, CFO of Jefferson-Pilot Corp. and president of
Jefferson-Pilot Communications Co.
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