Promoter gets wacky with khaki.

• Position: Fayetteville Area Economic Development Corp.'s executive director Danny Fore

It seems apt that Fayetteville Area Economic Development Corp.'s executive director spent time in the military. It sure explains his marketing gimmick. Cumberland County has a lot of skilled military personnel at Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base waiting to enlist in the civilian work force, Danny Fore says. So he sends dog tags to corporate prospects that read, "Name: Fayetteville. Rank: Major Labor Pool."

Since taking over the Fayetteville EDC in 1988, Fore has increased business memberships from 78 to 180 and doubled the annual budget to $500,000. Construction started in July on a 1.3 million-square-foot Wal-Mart distribution center that will bring at least 500 jobs. New York City-based lingerie maker Maidenform built a 260,000-square-foot, 350-employee distribution center in 1991. Retail chain Belk finished a 140,000-square-foot distribution center for Eastern North Carolina in June, bringing 75 new jobs.

It's good news when you consider Fayetteville's reputation as a rough military town. "It's not necessarily the easiest sell in the world," Fore admits. "Most people don't realize we're the fourth-largest metro area in North Carolina." In April, he was one of three developers appointed a fellow of the American Economic Development Council. He became president of the North Carolina Economic Developers Association in June.

Fore, 49...