ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ADRIENNE COLE

president, CEO | Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce

Raleigh

Seven years ago, Adrienne Cole broke ground when she became the first female president and CEO of the 129-year-old Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.

Not that anyone questioned her credentials. She shepherded dozens of corporate relocations to the region, totaling $250 million or more and bringing 5,000 or more jobs during her previous role as head of Wake County economic development.

Key highlights included steering the Campbell University law school campus to downtown Raleigh and helping Raleigh-Durham International Airport land a flight to Paris.

During her tenure leading the chamber, the Triangle's reputation as a center for tech and life sciences jobs has soared. So has Raleigh's attraction as a great place to live, as cited in repeated national surveys. The chamber's 2,200 members represent more than two-thirds of the private sector employment in the state's largest county.

Cole majored in political studies and American civilization at Raleigh's Meredith College, then earned a master's in public administration at Appalachian State University. She started her economic-development career as director of the Carteret County Economic Development Council in the late 1990s.

Favorite family tradition: We have a tradition of going to Holden Beach in the summer for two weeks --one week with my husband's sister and her family and the other week with my cousin from Austin and her family. We cook seafood, read, play Putt-Putt, swim, walk, collect shells, roast s'mores and just enjoy being with family. We've been going since our oldest kids, now 21, were babies.

Favorite N.C. place to visit: I love the North Carolina mountains. Ashe and Watauga counties are two of our favorites to visit.

What do you listen to on your commute: Lately I've been listening to Billy Strings. He's amazing.

Career highlight: The opportunity to lead the chamber and work with our talented team and the business community. I am always blown away by the generosity of really busy people who dedicate their time, energy and expertise to the organization.

Favorite hobby after work: I love to walk at the N.C. Museum of Art park. It is a wonderful asset in our community.

Best advice for industry newcomers: You can fake sincerity, but you can't fake showing up. You have to be present and engaged. It takes time to build relationships, but it is worth the effort. You never know when you'll need to call on those people to help get a deal done, to collaborate on a project or to solve a problem. I also think it's important to keep your cool. I've yet to find a situation that freaking out helped.

PAGE CASTRODALE

executive director | Cabarrus County Economic Development Commission

Concord

The suburban Charlotte county has become a hot development site with pharma giant Eli Lilly planning a nearly $1 billion plant in Concord that is expected to employ about 600 people. Another major expansion involves Austrian beverage maker Red Bull and Rauch North America, which plans a $740 million distribution center with about 400 staffers. The UNC Chapel Hill graduate joined the commission in 2018.

BRENT CHRISTENSEN

president, CEO | Greensboro Chamber of Commerce

Greensboro

Christensen has headed the Chamber of Commerce since 2015, after similar stints in Mississippi and Florida, The Gate City has gained national attention because of the nearby Toyota Motor battery plant and plans by Colorado-based Boom Supersonic for a $500 million aircraft assembly plant.

Favorite family tradition: We have birthday cake for breakfast on everyone's special day.

Favorite N.C. place to visit: Grandfather Mountain

Major inspiration: My "why" is simply the people who have gotten a first job, a new job ora better job because of our economic development efforts. At the end of the day what drives me is working to help provide a better quality of life in our community.

Career highlight: The recruitment of Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina and Boom Supersonic.

Favorite hobby after work: After a long day of work you will often find me on the driving range, mindlessly practicing my golf swing. Maybe one day it will get better. Still, it remains my favorite hobby.

Best advice for industry newcomers: Don't be afraid to take risks. Standing out in a crowd is the key to success.

Key industry change in next five years: Success in economic development will require more and more regional collaboration. I am proud that we are at the forefront of that trend in the Piedmont Triad.

CHRIS CHUNG

CEO | Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina

Raleigh

Chung came to North Carolina from a similar post in Missouri in 2015. He has gained widespread respect for helping the state win competitions for Toyota Motor and other big corporate investments, aided by a more robust incentives program approved by state lawmakers. The public-private group works closely with the N.C. Commerce Department.

Favorite family tradition: Annual weeklong house rental in Duck and decorating our home for the holidays by Nov. 1 if we can.

Favorite N.C. place to visit: The Outer Banks, where my wife and I got married.

Career highlight: Being East Carolina University's fall 2020 commencement speaker.

Favorite hobby after work: With a toddler and an infant, just enjoying the post-workday routine of getting them fed and ready for bed offers a sense of accomplishment. Cooking dinner resembles a hobby.

Best advice for industry newcomers: Hone your communication skills. Listen and ask questions so that you continue learning as much as you can about different issues, situations, and subjects.

Key industry change in next five years: Only in recent years has the economic development profession started seeing the linkage between workforce availability and issues like the availability/affordability of housing, child care, dependent care, and transportation.

KIT CRAMER

president, CEO | Asheville Area Chamber

Asheville

Cramer worked at the Charlotte Chamber and International Downtown Association before taking her post in Asheville in 2010. Since then, the city has become an international tourist mecca, which has bolstered business while creating tension with residents preferring slower growth.

Favorite family tradition: Setting a beautiful table for family gatherings. Also love opening two gifts on Christmas Eve, always a book and a new pair of pajamas.

Favorite N.C. place to visit: Charlotte, because of the friends we have there, as well as our son and his wife.

What do you listen to on your commute: Books from my Audible account: dystopian science fiction, murder mysteries, fiction, etc. Or yacht rock.

Major inspiration: Working with a group of volunteers and seeing things come together energizes me.

Career highlight: Winning the national Chamber of the Year award from the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives in 2019.

Best advice for industry newcomers: Take the time to listen and test your assumptions before moving forward.

Key industry change in next five years: Social issues crossing over with economic development.

TRACY DODSON

assistant city manager, economic development director | City of Charlotte

Charlotte

Dodson leads key areas for the state's biggest city, including workforce development and economic expansion. She's helped recruit jobs promised by Honeywell, Lowe's...