Business North Carolina January 2024

HOW DUKE HEALTH, PENDO AND NCINO ARE PLUGGING INTO AI JIM PHILLIPS’ MONEY QUEST | HOW DON FLOW DEALS | BEST N.C. STOCKS FOR ‘ 24

JANUARY 2024

LEAPING LAWYERS Cary patent specialist John Owen celebrates his inclusion in our annual report on the state’s top attorneys.

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JANUARY 2024

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UP FRONT

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POWER LIST INTERVIEW

How Don Flow’s unconventional education path helped him shape an automotive business with more than 50 dealerships.

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PILLARS OF N.C.

Sue Henderson’s understanding of her value launched a groundbreaking banking career.

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NC TREND

Hickory Tavern’s new CEO delivers more than a new menu; Charlotte startup revs marketing for oral surgeons; A 3D printing solution to soil erosion; Investment pros select best stocks for 2024.

88 PROJECT PLANS Economic developers see megasites as key to big economic wins for North Carolina.

COVER STORY

2024 LEGAL ELITE It’s our annual list of top North Carolina lawyers as selected by their peers.

We asked the talented barristers to share briefs about their best career advice, New Year’s resolutions and what fictional attorney they’d like to play.

BY KEVIN ELLIS

26 ROUND TABLE: ADVOCACY

COVE R PH OT O : T E R R E N C E J O N E S PH OT O G R A PH Y

Leaders who help set the agenda for different industry sectors discuss how they plan to achieve their 2024 goals.

80 COMMUNITY CLOSE UP: GASTON COUNTY Textiles built Gaston County’s economy, but major healthcare investments, international businesses and downtown revitalizations are helping brighten its future.

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THE ACC’S QUARTERBACK WORKING SMARTER ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips explains how a $240 million-a-year TV deal for college football put the conference in the bargain bin.

These five N.C. companies and universities are leading the way in using and researching artificial intelligence.

BY CHRIS ROUSH

BY NOELLE HARFF

Start your day with business news from across the state, direct to your inbox.

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January 2024, Vol. 44, No. 1 (ISSN 0279-4276). Business North Carolina is published monthly by Business North Carolina at 1230 West Morehead Street, Suite 308, Charlotte, NC 28208. Phone: 704-523-6987.

All contents copyright © by Old North State Magazines LLC. Subscription rate: 1 year, $30. For change of address, send mailing label and allow six to eight weeks. Periodicals postage paid at Charlotte, NC, and additional offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Business North Carolina, 1230 West Morehead Street, Suite 308, Charlotte, NC 28208 or email circulation@businessnc.com.

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UPFRONT

David Mildenberg VO L U M E 4 4 , N O. 1

ONWARD AND UPWARD

Ben Kinney

bkinney@businessnc.com EDITOR

David Mildenberg

dmildenberg@businessnc.com MANAGING EDITOR

Kevin Ellis

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kellis@businessnc.com

appy New Year!

And it should be a happy year, with many reasons for an optimistic outlook in North Carolina as the calendar turns to 2024. This month’s edition includes a variety of mostly positive projections from leading trade association representatives, investing pros and others.

The odds for an unusual economic “soft landing” appear bright, smothering fears of a recession that many had assumed was inevitable at the start of 2023.

As this edition goes to print, inflation is tapering, the job market remains fairly robust and the stock market is thrilling investors. Medicaid reform is enabling many to qualify for health insurance.

In mid-December, we reported a Duke Energy executive's comment that N.C. electricity demand is growing at the most rapid pace in at least three decades. That surge reflects a dozen-plus expansions by companies making large investments in the state.

It would be hard to find a more relevant data point underscoring that many major businesses have great confidence in the future of North Carolina.

Trees don’t grow to the sky, of course, so there are trouble spots. Bank of America, Truist and other banks have too many unprofitable loans and investments incurred before interest rates increased sharply. A surprising number of office buildings in Charlotte and Raleigh are in receivership because many employers are cutting back on their leased space.

Housing costs remain out of reach for young families. Job hunts are proving more difficult for some. Few are taking the soaring federal deficit seriously.

2024 will be dominated by politics, with our state likely to attract national attention for a gubernatorial election expected to set records for spending and

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divisiveness. Wouldn’t it be awesome if the candidates agreed to reduce the rhetoric and negativity?

In any case, the bigger picture suggests North Carolina is poised for solid, sustainable growth. Mike Walden, the dean of N.C. economic forecasters, expects the national jobless rate to peak at 6% this year, well below the double-digit levels of the past two recessions.

My colleagues and I look forward to covering closely the economic twists and turns over the next year. We hope our loyal readers will stay tuned.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR, DIGITAL

Chris Roush

croush@businessnc.com ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Ray Gronberg

rgronberg@businessnc.com

Cathy Martin

cmartin@businessnc.com SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Edward Martin

emartin@businessnc.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Noelle Harff, Vanessa Infanzon CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Peggy Knaack

pknaack@businessnc.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Cathy Swaney

An annual highlight for BNC is presenting the Legal Elite winners of top lawyers after voting by their peers.

Managing Editor Kevin Ellis and Creative Director Peggy Knaack did a terrific job producing this year’s report, which highlights New Year’s resolutions of the award winners.

We’re always impressed by the wisdom and humor that the lawyers share in response to our questions, and this year is no exception. Kevin was particularly impressed with Raleigh attorney Katie Wong, who won the “Young Gun” honor.

She said in the coming year she wants to “Answer my own questions about what we should do next so that I can better exercise the muscle of making judgment calls and developing strategy.” Greensboro lawyer Amy Kincaid, who won in the Trusts and Estates category, had a simple New Year’s resolution: “To perform a daily act of kindness.” That’s a goal we can all achieve in 2024.

cswaney@businessnc.com CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Alex Cason, Terrence Jones, Bert VanderVeen MARKETING COORDINATOR

Jennifer Ware

jware@businessnc.com

ADVERTISING SALES ACCOUNT DIRECTOR

Melanie Weaver Lynch, eastern N.C. 919-855-9380 mweaver@businessnc.com

ACCOUNT MANAGER AND AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

Scott Leonard, western N.C. 704-996-6426 sleonard@businessnc.com

CIRCULATION: 818-286-3106 EDITORIAL: 704-523-6987 REPRINTS: circulation@businessnc.com

BUSINESSNC.COM OWNERS

Jack Andrews, Frank Daniels III, Lee Dirks, David Woronoff, in memoriam Frank Daniels Jr. PUBLISHED BY

Old North State Magazines LLC

Contact David Mildenberg at dmildenberg@businessnc.com.

PRESIDENT

David Woronoff

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LIST INTERVIEW

HOW A ‘CRAZY SON’ BUILT AN AUTO EMPIRE Flow Automotive CEO Don Flow joined High Point University President Nido Qubein in the Power List interview, a partnership for discussions with influential leaders. BNC’s annual Power List publication spotlights the state’s powerbrokers.

W Don Flow is CEO of Flow Automotive, a dealership business formed by his father in 1957 and now operating more than 50 automobile dealerships in North Carolina and Virginia.

He’s active in many economic development efforts in WinstonSalem and statewide, including board leadership roles at the Piedmont Triad Partnership, Wake Forest University, Atrium Health and the Golden LEAF Foundation. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, a diploma from Regents College and an MBA from Wake Forest. He and his wife, Robbin, have three adult children.

This story includes excerpts from Flow’s interview and was edited for clarity.

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hy did you attend a theological-oriented college in Canada as an undergraduate?

Before I went into the business, I wanted to have my faith grounded in more biblical theology to be able to reflect upon the impact of business on society. How do I want to go about doing business and what role I might play in that? What is going to frame my character personally and how do I think about the nature of business in society?

Regents College was started with the idea that most people know more about their discipline than their faith, and their faith has little impact on their life. I particularly wanted to think about the role of business in society and what role might I play in that.

After that, I was thinking about going to law school. Dad said, “Would you like to come back and join me?” I said yes with a couple of conditions. He said you aren’t in a position to give me conditions.

I said I wanted to work all of the jobs in the dealership. I wanted to feel the dynamics of business itself. Then I’d go back to graduate business school and come back and become a partner in the business. Of course, that meant I borrowed money and worked really hard to pay it off.

He loved that model: A crazy son who went to work all of the time.

What have been the keys to Flow Automotive’s growth?

It began with a clear vision of the kind of business we want to have. It was grounded in how we are going to treat our customers. We call that our covenant with customers, which involves trust. That means starting with every single process and how we sold cars, serviced cars, everything along the way.

Second, we called it a community with one another, organized for a purpose. So we really invested in our people. The last, we called it being committed to the common good of the communities where we do business.

Those would be the three platforms on which we did everything.

I’m not a public company, so I can choose to invest in the way I want to invest. So we paid for college education for each of our employees’ children. We pay $3,000 a year, which primarily covers all of their community college expenses. That was our goal to get all of the children to go to community college, and we augment it some if they go to a four-year college.

We have nurses and family counselors on staff because many people in the blue-collar world do not have access to medical care.

We believe businesses exist within an ecosystem of a community. We think in terms of capitalism as sitting inside of social capital, intellectual capital, aesthetic capital and economic capital. The intersection of all those is how we created our culture.

Why have you been such an advocate for Winston-Salem?

Winston’s history is really remarkable. It’s a history of entrepreneurs, just like High Point.

People who started things. Like many cities, at one point we went from a growth mindset to C A R O L I N A

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a preservation mindset, where it was about preserving instead of imagining something new.

We need to activate our imaginations. That’s what you did at High Point University, Nido. You helped people imagine something they could not imagine. You can’t do something you can’t imagine.

So in this city, we started a fund to give grants to minority businesses, and then we started a fund for friends and family in the community, people who had never invested before. This founders fund has about four meetings a year, and we have 75 investors who are thinking about investing in startup companies. It’s a great thing for a midsized community.

Why did you buy the former GMAC building to foster entrepreneurship?

It’s 18 stories with 340,000 square feet. I thought we could bring together startups, the universities, private-equity businesses and other parts of the ecosystem. We also have a shared workspace called Flywheel that brings energy in a combined space.

We rebuilt the lobby so we could host events there, along with the top floor for other events. And we’re opening the sixth floor as a place for board meetings and dinners in an inclusive space.

It’s pretty remarkable. We redid the building so that it has a more contemporary look. My daughter who is in the art world helped bring some of the leading contemporary artists from around the world here.

Winston has been called the city of arts and innovation, and the question is could we actually do that here. We didn’t just want it to be a marketing slogan but rather the real deal.

What are your leadership traits?

I believe you do things with people and that things get accomplished with others. Institutions matter, and helping them advance their missions is how the world gets better.

Someone in generations before me invested in these institutions, and I have a responsibility to invest myself. I believe it’s important to love your neighbor, love your community, love your state — but what does that actually mean in practice?

It means that if you have certain privileges, it also confers certain responsibilities. How do you use your resources, capacities to improve things, and move the ball down the field in life.

If most of us just move the ball down the field a little bit, we can say we did something with our lives.

My wife says I have a fair amount of energy. I get energized by working with people like you, Nido. During Covid, my wife said, “You need the following: Purpose, people, projects and progress.” I want to do it with people and we have to make progress.

Do the rapid changes facing the automotive industry worry you?

People ask when will you be concerned about the future of the auto business. I say, when I look out my window and see someone flying through the sky without anything on their backs.

That means nothing to sell, nothing to trade, nothing to service, nothing to finance. Everybody is self-propelled. It will be over. It’s time to say goodbye.

But when you are at the center of what gives people mobility, there’s a value creating aspect to that. It’s going to change, it’s going to morph with what happens to internal combustion engines, batteries, ownership.

Things will look different along the way.

We can see early what’s happening with the economy because we represent almost every brand of cars. We represent different kinds of

markets, in bigger and smaller cities. We track what we are selling. Without question, when you are sitting with interest rates at the level we have now, it has affected payments. So I think the Fed is getting what it wanted.

If we are able to bring interest rates down to the 3% range and sustain it, then rates can come down to their basic relation with inflation, which is a couple hundred basis points above that. The economy can handle that, but it can’t handle 8% and 9% interest rates for the long term.

What else makes you optimistic?

Because we had such supply chain problems in the car business, we had pent up demand in our system. Historically the car business sells 16 million cars a year. We’ve had four years of about 13 million in sales.

There is an aging inventory of cars.

Everyone is living longer and they are still buying cars. They aren’t like, “I’m 70 and I’m going away.” They are still active and engaged. Then we’ve got the next generation coming in. For a while, people thought they weren’t going to buy cars. Well, as soon as COVID was over, they started buying cars because they wanted to start going places again.

What will electric vehicles mean for your business?

It’s hard to see what the rate of adoption of electric cars is going to be. At the present we have intense but shallow demand. Now we’re at the pragmatist level. People are asking will it do this or do that and until it does, I don’t want to buy it.

My take is that technology will go slower in its adoption and then it will go fast. At the beginning, everybody will be over-predicting when it will happen and then later, people will think it’s not going to happen and it will happen. It will have some implications. Maintenance repairs will go down in our business, but major battery repairs are big repairs. There’s a lot more electronics and computer software, so the jobs will move from mechanical to computers and software.

Are you pleased with the Triad’s ability to attract new business?

The commitment we’ve made to advanced manufacturing in transportation mobility, including planes and cars, is going to offer dramatic rewards because it creates strong middle class jobs. What’s important for North Carolina is we have to have a full state. Just being the banking center isn’t enough. This creates a whole layer of good jobs which is going to be terrific. Getting that right was very important to me.

What is also important to me is could the Triad be the best place in North Carolina to start and grow a company? Charlotte is going to be an expensive place to start a company. Could that be something we are great at? And what does our workforce need to look like?

I’m a strong believer that a two-year tech degree is a requirement to thrive in our culture of the future. I wish in our counties, if you are a graduate of our public high schools, you could come here and get a technical degree for free.

In the late 1930s, public education in North Carolina ended in the 11th grade. The business leaders got together and said that’s insufficient education for the economy of that time and they required another year of education for people to be ready. So 90 years have passed, and we haven’t felt the world has changed. But people need more education to actually contribute. Imagine if every kid had a chance for a technical degree and a skill that can’t be outsourced anywhere on planet Earth.

Plumber, electrician, technician — all guarantee a middle class income and they can also go into advanced manufacturing because they will have the skills. Doing something distinctive about our community colleges is just critical for us. ■ J A N U A R Y

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SUE HENDERSON Undeterred by a male-dominated industry, the retired banker has sparked change throughout her career.

By Vanessa Infanzon

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Sue Henderson at UNC School of the Arts

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wealth management in 2016. In 2018, Wake Forest University asked her to help create the Face to Face Speaker Forum, a series featuring four annual events with high-profile speakers and a goal of raising the Winston-Salem school’s profile and engaging the local community. She is executive director, helping arrange speakers and form partnerships with nonprofits and schools.

Since its start in 2020, the program has attracted famed leaders including Madeleine Albright, former United States Secretary of State; Chuck Hagel, former United States Secretary of Defense; and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Henderson sits on six nonprofit boards, including Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist-Brenner Children’s Hospital, Brevard Music Center and REACH Women’s Network Board.

In 2016, Doug and Sue received the Gianni Society Award, an honor given by the UNC School of the Arts for service and support. The couple, who have been married 42 years, have two daughters and three grandchildren.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUE HENDERSON

hen Sue Henderson moved to High Point in 1983 for her husband Doug Henderson’s job with the Milliken textile company, she expected to easily find another banking job.

The Savannah, Georgia, native had fallen in love with finance work after earning a bachelor’s degree at the University of Georgia and three years of experience at Atlanta-based Citizens & Southern National Bank, then the largest in the Southeast. But her record didn’t change that she was a woman, then a rarity among bank administrators. She was offered teller and customer service positions.

Henderson persisted and landed a branch manager position with North Carolina National Bank in Jamestown.

That launched a 30-plus year career with Wells Fargo and its predecessors. Among her roles were helping add financial services offerings in bank branches, then an innovative concept.

She retired as senior vice president and managing director for

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Comments are edited for length and clarity.

When we (Doug and Sue Henderson) were transferred to High Point, I was told I was going to the banking mecca and wouldn’t have any trouble finding a job. I’d already been a branch manager and a banking officer, but when I went to apply for jobs, I was turned away. They said, “We don’t have any female banking officers.” I was discouraged.

I called the switchboard operators at all the big banks.

I asked for specific information about the names of the bank executives. That afternoon I called back, and they put me through. When the executive got on the phone, I said, “Mr. Smith, you don’t know me, but if you can give me 15 seconds to share a little bit about my background, I think it would be time well spent.” That’s how I got in with all three banks (First Union, NCNB and Wachovia) and I had a job offer from every one of them.

My first role in North Carolina was with NCNB. I was the branch manager in Jamestown. What I didn’t know was that it was a de novo branch. The day before my first day at my new job, my husband and I drove to Jamestown and realized it was a trailer.

I went to my boss and asked, “What’s it going to take to have bricks and mortar?” He said, “We have to have loans and deposits at a certain level.” I pulled the team together for our first sales meeting and said, “If we want to move out of this trailer, I have to get outside and drum up some business.” I cross-trained the head teller to be the customer service rep. She trained one of the tellers to be the head teller. I could go out and ask for business.

different. It was dynamic and challenging. I did it the hard way: relationship building with the leaders of those branches in seven counties.

In the mid-1990s, Reynolds merged with Nabisco Brands to form RJR Nabisco. This delivered us an interesting market opportunity. Reynolds employees found themselves millionaires a few years later as a result of the spinoff. Brokerage firms moved into Winston-Salem to capture the low-hanging fruit.

I felt so empowered working at First Union. I could see what was happening and understood a potential solution, and they gave me the opportunity. I licensed 10 branch employees with FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) initially, and I hired some outside financial advisers. We were the first in North Carolina, and maybe in the country, to have licensed branch employees.

It launched me into the wealth management space. I was elevated into private capital management, and I stayed there for the rest of my career. I absolutely loved every second of it.

I think Winston-Salem’s landscape has changed because we’ve had a number of big corporations move their headquarters. It’s allowed Winston-Salem the opportunity to reinvent itself. We are a city of innovation and arts and culture.

That spirit has allowed us to be entrepreneurial and attract a lot of business here. ■

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUE HENDERSON

Wachovia had 99.9% of the market share in this town ( Jamestown). I started making connections. Slowly, we grew our loans and deposits, and we were under construction in a little over six months.

The biggest career leap for me was when I was promoted to a regional position over 30 branches in the Winston-Salem area with First Union. It was a huge growth opportunity for me personally, in terms of development. I inherited a region that was struggling with integration. First Union had merged with Northwestern Bank. It was the first merger of equals, at that time. First Union had all the metro market branches. Northwestern had a hold in the community market branches. The cultures were very J A N U A R Y

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NCTREND ››› Restaurants

TAVERN AROUND

A homegrown restaurant chain revives under a new proprietor.

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EO Mark Eason is implementing a new recipe for Hickory Tavern. The Charlotte-based restaurant chain, which has 20 locations in North Carolina and South Carolina, has undergone a menu overhaul since the veteran restaurateur joined the company a year ago.

A new wine list and beer menu were rolled out. He’s closed underperforming locations, including sites in Carrboro and Birmingham, Alabama – the only location outside of the Carolinas – and changed hiring practices. A quarter of a million dollars was spent in 2023 upgrading the restaurants, and the same amount will be spent in 2024. And Eason has a prototype for further expansion on the drawing board.

So far, the results are promising, says founder Brad Smith, who is chair of the 26-year-old company, which has struggled to return to its pre-COVID performance. Customer feedback has turned positive, and sales are stronger. The company has about $60 million in annual revenue.

“He’s a great operator and leader,” says Smith about Eason. “Had Mark not shown his face to us, we would have been hard-pressed to get someone like him for a company our size.”

Smith and partner Tom Hager, his uncle, started Hickory Tavern in, you guessed it, Hickory, in 1997. Smith was working at First Mark Eason Union in Charlotte, but thought Hager, who 10

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was running Charlotte-based sports bar Fox & Hound, had a life “a little cooler than mine.” After the Hickory location thrived, they opened a second restaurant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and then entered the Charlotte market. “We built one store a year as a rule of thumb,” says Smith.

In 2014, Connecticut-based private equity firm Rosser Capital, which specializes in restaurants and retail, bought a majority stake to fund growth. At the time, Hickory Tavern had 16 locations, but added another 10 by the time COVID struck in 2020.

Eason had been chief executive officer of Charlotte-based Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, overseeing an expansion from four locations to 55. He had commuted from his home in Pennsylvania, staying during the week at a Marriott Courtyard in south Carolina near a Hickory Tavern. “It was a place that I could go in and feel comfortable,” says Eason. “It was just a good place to meet and gather with my staff.”

Retirement proved boring, so when Smith and Hager called, he jumped back into the restaurant business. Eason closed the Huntersville location and turned it into a test kitchen, revamping the menu and simplifying how the kitchen operated.

Hickory Tavern had been selling wings taken raw out of a bag and thrown into a fryer. Now, they’re cleaned and seasoned

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HICKORY TAVERN

By Chris Roush

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF HICKORY TAVERN

before they’re cooked. “They taste better, and they’re crispier on the outside and tender on the inside,” says Eason.

Mozzarella sticks are now made internally, as is the marinara sauce. The fish in the fish and chips is now cod instead of grouper. The cheese and the meat in the cheesesteak sandwich were both upgraded. Some menu items, such as baked potatoes, were eliminated. The new menu was rolled out Aug. 28 to all 20 locations. The new menu, when all of the prices are added up, totals an extra $12.

Eason says the changes have been so successful that he’s getting ready to introduce more new menu items, such as cheese fries, cheese tater tots and ribs. And he’s rolling out half-priced bottles of wine on Tuesdays. “We’re OK, but we’re not where we should be, “ he says. “We’re not going to serve automated pre-made food.

We just have to make sure we’re executing. People want great food and great service.”

Staffing remains an issue, and Eason says the company is now paying more than $20 an hour for cooks. “I don’t think we were quick enough and aggressive enough to get back to normal fast enough after COVID,” adds Smith. “We were having a hard time hiring people. We had a limited service and a limited menu.”

Eason is now focused on remodeling and building a prototype.

He’s renegotiating leases to help pay for new furniture, carpets and bars. Both Eason and Smith say there are plenty of potential

expansion locations in North Carolina and South Carolina.

“I think we have an opportunity to pick better locations,” says Eason. “We need to get out there on the highway.”

Smith concedes that the sports bar and restaurant market is crowded. But he adds, “We look forward to six months down the road after people have been able to come in and experience the new menu and the upgraded facilities, that we’ll not only be a survivor, we’ll be a winner.” ■

A revamped menu is part of an overhaul to turn around Hickory Tavern’s performance.

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NCTREND ››› Medical

JAW DROPPING

A Charlotte startup wants to take a bite of the oral surgery industry.

By David Mildenberg

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HEADSHOTS COURTESY OF NATRX

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ral surgeons are sometimes called the fighter pilots support. Flagship also aids the practices by helping them bill of the dental industry because they are called in to and code medical services correctly so that patients receive solve the most difficult challenges of facial pain. maximum insurance benefits. “It’s a super important part of the It’s also not the most well-marketed industry, services we provide,” Lockwood says. prompting a Charlotte-based startup to focus on assisting The company is an alternative to private-equity companies, Southeast oral surgeons expand their businesses. which have revolutionized U.S. medical care by taking stakes Flagship Specialty Partners started in late 2021 after two large in physician practices over the past decade. It’s a controversial North Carolina practices signed on as initial partners. Charlottetrend because some research suggests that prices often increase based Carolinas Center for Oral and Facial Surgery has 22 offices and the quality of care declines after the private-equity in the Carolinas, while Asheville’s Rockcliff investment.

Oral and Facial Surgery has five. Since then, Studies at the University of CaliforniaFlagship has signed on about 10 practices Berkeley show private-equity firms in the Southeast, employing more than 400 controlled more than two-thirds of people, with plans to add a couple more the market for anesthesiology and annually in coming years. gastroenterology in 2021. Irving, Texas“There’s a lot of innovation going in oral based U.S. Oral Surgery Management is a surgery,” says Jason Lockwood, who joined dominant force in its sector with about 100 Flagship as CEO in September. “We’re physician practices in the U.S. It is backed treating real needs and helping real people

by New York-based Oak Hill Capital, a live better, healthier lives.” large PE group.

Flagship acts as a management services In contrast, Flagship is majority owned company that provides the back-office by their partner physicians, with the functions, freeing physicians to focus company’s revenue coming from its service on their patients. Those services include agreements. It hasn’t taken on outside Jason Lockwood, CEO marketing, recruiting, finance IT and facility investors, Lockwood says.

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company’s mergers and acquisitions director is Andrew Gibson, a former healthcare investment banker.

Primis says he was drawn by the opportunity to raise public awareness of the company’s physicians. “A lot of oral surgery practices are pretty small and don’t have massive infrastructure,” he says. “It’s a really interesting space that is ready for more rapid growth.”

Because oral surgeons have to be masters of both dentistry and surgery, the training requirements are among the most demanding of any medical specialty. Most serve at least four years in hospital-based residency programs. That serves as a barrier to entry, but also requires patience given the high cost of medical school. There are about 7,500 oral surgeons in the U.S., compared with about 35,000 orthopedic physicians, Primis notes.

Elective cosmetic surgery makes up about 10% of the revenue of Flagship’s practices, but most of the emphasis is on pain management, including jaw surgery and cleft palates, Lockwood says.

“Oral surgeons can do amazing things,” Primis adds. ■

HEADSHOTS COURTESY OF NATRX

He joined the company after working as a senior executive at some medical-oriented companies, most recently Denverbased Clear Choice Implant Centers, which focused on aiding practices that performed dental implants.

Many of Flagship’s 55 employees are medical-industry veterans, including business-development leaders Danny Ketola and DeeDee Katopadis, who were longtime executives of the Carolinas Center for Oral and Facial Surgery. In mid2023, Blair Primis, the former marketing director of Charlottebased OrthoCarolina, joined Flagship to Blair Primis lead marketing. The

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NCTREND ››› Environment

BENEFICIAL BLOCKERS Raleigh-based Natrx believes it can turn the tide on soil erosion along coastlines in a way that also helps the environment.

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atrx, founded by serial entrepreneur Leonard Nelson and coastal engineer Matt Campbell, has patented a 3D printing process that creates environmentally friendly, less expensive blocks weighing as much as 2,500 pounds that can be used instead of rocks, old tires and other materials. The blocks, which can be printed in various shapes and sizes, are used in rivers, estuaries and other waterways from the Chesapeake River to the Gulf of Mexico by landowners, companies and environmental groups.

The company has now completed two dozen projects and placed more than 100,000 tons of its blocks and recently raised $3.5 million from investors to open production facilities to expand its operations. The backers include Ponderosa Ventures, a San Francisco investment firm formed by billionaire Tom Steyer, a climate change activist and 2020 presidential candidate.

Natrx just signed on for a large coastal restoration project in Hawaii, and it’s talking about performing some mangrove restoration work in South America. In November, it received a $1 million National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research grant to continue development of its remotesensing technology.

“If you can stop the erosion and do it cost effectively and create a healthy habitat, that is the slam-dunk of success,” says Tad Schwendler, the company’s chief operating officer.

David Sneed, the executive director of the Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina, has worked with Natrx on two projects. In October, one of Natrx’s 3D artificial 14

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N O R T H

reefs was submerged near the mouth of the Pamlico River near Hobucken, and in May 2022, a similar artificial reef was installed upstream near the mouth of the Bath Creek.

Each cost about $100,000, says Sneed, who worked with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries to fund the projects. “We like the size of the structures and the shape of them and think they’re going to be a really good fish habitat,” he adds. “We’d like to make this an ongoing activity to where we can do this, as long as [state officials] can get sites approved, at least once a year.” He notes that a previous reef in the Pamlico River was using old tires. “No one thought about it being a petrochemical going into the water.”

Natrx – the name is a combination of “nature” and “technology” – believes the potential market is huge, noting that more than 50% of the world’s population and $100 trillion in assets are at risk from erosion, storm surge and sea level rise. It starts by using satellite technology to review the area a customer would like to address. Then it designs the blocks to fit the habitat and uses its “Dry Forming” manufacturing process created and patented by Campbell, who holds a doctorate in biological engineering from N.C. State University. He previously worked on oyster bay restoration projects in the Gulf of Mexico.

The blocks, or ExoForms, can be as large as a 3-foot cube, and the company can create blocks that will interlock to create a sea wall or breakwater structure. The printer makes the shapes in about an hour, and then they’re cured. “It allows us to create natural-looking heterogeneous structures without having a

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NATRX

By Chris Roush

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Natrx uses 3D printing to build its barriers and then uses technology to analyze their effectiveness.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NATRX

standard form,” says Schwendler. The structures are about 10% of the weight of materials that have been used in the past to slow erosion, and have more than half the carbon footprint. After they’re installed, the company can assess their effectiveness using its satellite technology.

Natrx has worked with individual landowners as well as oil and gas companies, utilities and ports who have buildings or pipelines along the coast. At Hell Hole Bayou in Louisiana, it created a wall that closed erosion in a channel that also led to new oyster beds. The client, oil giant Shell, wanted something to stabilize its pipeline.

For the Maryland Port Administration, it used contaminated dredge to create blocks that halted erosion at Cox Creek, Maryland. “[Natrx’s clients] have specific economic needs, trying to protect their assets in a cost effective and timely way that’s functional,” says Schwendler.

The company, which was founded in 2016, expects to be “self-sustaining in the near future,” he adds. “There are new and better ways to solve these challenges. What we want to do is employ more resilient, healthy ecosystems for customers and better habitats. They can work in concert.” ■

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NCTREND ››› Investing

BEST N.C. STOCK PICKS FOR 2024

By David Mildenberg

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aleigh investor Bobby Edgerton has tracked stocks for decades, showing an infectious desire to sniff out good opportunities. His picks for 2023 had the best performance among our investing pros in the annual Business North Carolina stock picking feature: Amazon gained more than 75% through early December and Insteel Industries increased by about 23%.

While large-cap tech stocks rebounded after a lousy 2022, it was a challenging year for many investors. Eight of the 12 picks by our pros declined in the past year.

BOBBY EDGERTON

Co-founder, Capital Investment Companies Raleigh

FRANK JOLLEY

Managing director and co-chief investment officer Live Oak Private Wealth Rocky Mount

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This year, two investors picked Insteel Industries, which benefits from increased construction activity. Two also picked RTX, a major defense and aerospace contractor.

Just for fun, we threw darts at a board festooned with the tickers of the 60 largest market-cap companies based in the state. We’ll see how the darts compare with the pros.

The companies must be based in North Carolina or have key operations here. Our participants emphasize that smart investing involves the long-term, not just one year.

INSTEEL INDUSTRIES (IIIN)

APPLE (AAPL)

VEEVA SYSTEMS (VEEV)

MARKET CAP: $670 MILLION DIVIDEND YIELD: 0.3%

MARKET CAP: $3 TRILLION DIVIDEND YIELD: 0.5%

MARKET CAP: $27.7 BILLION DIVIDEND YIELD: N.A.

The Mount Airy-based steel-wire reinforcing products manufacturer recently approved a special $2.50 per share dividend. Its free cash flow is more than $100 million, with total cash of $125 million and no debt. It may be the most conservative company in North Carolina, run

by CEO H.O. Woltz III. Continued strong demand for bridges, parking decks and other concrete structures should boost revenue.

The world’s most valuable company, which is creating a major Triangle operation, is the cash flow king. It has cash of $61 billion and total debt of $123 billion, which includes bonds that Apple sold when interest rates were at 40-year lows. The company can now repurchase the bonds at 60 cents on the dollar. The bonds may be cheaper than the stock. My price target is more than $200.

The Pleasanton, California-based company may be the most interesting growth story that I have seen in the past 20 years. It builds software for drug companies, monitoring their sales force and customers and accelerating drug approval. Clients include about two-thirds of the nation’s drug companies. Cash flow approaches a billion dollars, justifying the 28-times cash flow multiple. CEO Peter Gassner is a brilliant man.

BANK OF AMERICA (BAC)

RTX (RTX)

DOLLAR TREE (DLTR)

MARKET CAP: $245 BILLION DIVIDEND YIELD: 3.1%

MARKET CAP: $117 BILLION DIVIDEND YIELD 2.9%

MARKET CAP: $27.3 BILLION DIVIDEND YIELD N/A

The giant bank faces investor fears over unrealized bond losses and a possible recession, which has shares trading down 40% from a peak price of $50 in early 2022. But the shares now trade for only eight times expected earnings, while providing a solid yield. It’s a repeat pick for me from last year.

Formerly Raytheon, the company is an aerospace/defense contractor. Recent problems concerning Pratt & Whitney’s engine manufacturing process has resulted in lower short-term earnings and a 20% decline in the share price.

We believe that the decline is a buying opportunity and expect RTX to benefit from historic demand in commercial aerospace and defense. Backlog is at a record high of $185 billion. The shares trade at 15 times earnings.

Dollar Tree operates the Dollar Tree and Family Dollar store brands. It struggled in 2023 due to economic headwinds, cost pressures and inventory. We look for an improving picture in 2024 as both brands gain market share from competitors. Over the past nine months, Dollar Tree repurchased 3.9 million shares at an average price of $129 per share.

Shares trade 30% below 2022 highs.

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CHRISTY PHILLIPS

Head of equity strategies and director of research Franklin Street Partners Chapel Hill

ANN ZURAW

President Zuraw Financial Advisors Greensboro

DARTBOARD

PICKS

Business North Carolina Charlotte

RTX (RTX)

INSTEEL INDUSTRIES (IIIN)

CISCO (CSCO)

MARKET CAP: $117 BILLION DIVIDEND YIELD 2.9%

MARKET CAP: $670 MILLION DIVIDEND YIELD: 0.3%

MARKET CAP: $197 BILLION DIVIDEND YIELD: 3.2%

The company’s commercial aerospace and defense businesses provide a rare combination of short-term stability and longerterm growth opportunities. RTX should benefit from the recovery in air travel, both in aftermarket parts sales and new installations of its Pratt & Whitney urbofan engine.

The defense segment is poised to capitalize on significant increases in global defense budgets. Three stock price catalysts are 1) recovery from powdered-metal issues; 2) greater 737 MAX deliveries; and 3) increased defense spending.

Following a period of inventory destocking by distributors in 2023, Insteel should see improvement in 2024. We expect the company to benefit from the government’s stimulus and infrastructure projects, which will fuel construction industry growth. As orders pick up, we think the stock will rise in anticipation of a big lift in earnings. Our 12-month target price objective is $60 a share, a 75% gain from early December.

Cisco holds leading market shares across switching, routing, and wireless access, with strong positions in security and collaboration. They continue to be the dominant force in enterprise networking and the only provider with a complete portfolio for both on-premises and the cloud.

Two tailwinds should push the valuation higher; a growing $1 billion order pipeline in artificial intelligence and the planned acquisition of fastgrowing Splunk, expected to close in the third quarter of 2024. Our 12-month price target is $58 a share, implying a 21% return from early December.

SEALED AIR (SEE)

LOWE’S (LOW)

ALBEMARLE (ALB)

MARKET CAP: $4.9 BILLION DIVIDEND YIELD: 2.3%

MARKET CAP: $$219 BILLION DIVIDEND YIELD: 2.1%

MARKET CAP: $15 BILLION DIVIDEND YIELD: 1.3%

The Charlotte-based company renowned for the Bubble Wrap brand encountered a decline in postpandemic sales for protective packaging solutions, which make up 35% of revenue. However, the food business, contributing 65% of revenue, exhibits continued robust performance. Growing demand for packaging, driven by the surge in e-commerce, is resulting in better margins and modest revenue growth.

The Cryovac and Liquidbox brands are aiding faster growth.

Lowe’s is the second-largest retailer in the do-it-yourself space and is seeing sales growth as it adds higher-margin private-label offerings, integrates e-commerce and job-site deliveries and starts other strategic initiatives. Samestore sales growth should improve and exceed 3%, while operating margins are expanding. The recent trading price was about 15 times the 2014 earnings per share estimate. We look for market share gains, and improved earnings.

Albemarle faced a challenging year, including paying $218 million to settle regulatory charges over foreign government bribes, withdrawing from an Australian acquisition and pressure to renegotiate contracts in Chile. Surging lithium production has led to a supply surplus, depressing prices, while demand for electric vehicles has slowed. But the company’s outlook remains strong because of EV sales growth and strong management responses.

Albemarle’s price-to-earnings ratio is only 5.5, while revenue should grow by 30% this year.

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS (AAP)

BRIGHTHOUSE FINANCIAL (BHF)

QORVO (QRVO)

MARKET CAP: $3.3 BILLION DIVIDEND YIELD: 1.8%

MARKET CAP: $3.4 BILLION DIVIDEND YIELD: N/A

MARKET CAP: $10.1 BILLION DIVIDEND YIELD: N/A

Frank Jolley picked the Raleighbased auto parts retailer last year, which turned out to be the weakest selection with shares declining more than 60% in the past year.

(His stock selections in 2022 had been the best of the crowd.) The company hired former Home Depot executive Shane Kelly as its new CEO, and he promptly announced a restructuring plan in hopes of a turnaround.

The Charlotte-based company was spun off from MetLife in 2017. It is a major seller of annuities and life insurance products with revenue of $6.8 billion in 2022. Its shares have traded between $39 and $60 in the past year. One of 13 analysts following Brighthouse rated it as a buy in December, according to Yahoo Finance.

The Greensboro-based company makes computer chips for smartphones, cars and many other applications. Its shares increased about 10% in 2023 through early December. Revenue topped $.1 billion in the most recent quarter, the highest level in a year. Eight of the 24 analysts tracking Qorvo rate it as a buy.

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NCTREND ››› Statewide

CHARLOTTE CHARLOTTE Payzer, a payment software company, was acquired for $250 million by Portland, Mainebased Wex. Joe Giordano and Doug Little started the business in 2012. Wex, which has annual sales topping $2.3 billion, plans to pay as much as $11 million more if certain metrics are achieved by Payzer, which has about 150 employees.

President Fred Whitfield is stepping down from his position at the parent of the Charlotte Hornets and departing the organization after more than 17 years leading the team’s business operations. Whitfield joined what was then Bobcats Sports & Entertainment in July 2006.

The team also announced a partnership with bet365 to let fans gamble on games from their phones. It’s the first N.C. pro sports team with such an agreement.

Former Wells Fargo CEO Tim Sloan filed a lawsuit accusing the bank of failing to pay him more than $34 million after he resigned in 2019 amid a wide-ranging sales practices scandal. Wells Fargo in a statement said that “compensation decisions are based on performance, and we stand by our decisions in this matter.”

Wray Ward, one of the state’s largest advertising agencies, is laying off about 14% of its staff. In total this year, the marketing firm has cut 25% of its workforce, which peaked at more than 150 people. Wray Ward’s clients include La-Z-Boy furniture, Levolor blinds and Moen faucets.

Lithium miner Albemarle said it closed on a collective bargaining deal with two unions in Chile, lowering the risk of a strike. The agreement brought negotiations with the country’s five mining unions to a close, after wrapping up negotiations with the other three unions earlier this year.

Wells Fargo expects to make layoffs in 2024, with CEO Charles Scharf saying that the company may set aside $750 million or more for severance costs. Low employee turnover was cited as a reason for the move. A bank spokesperson declined to say how many layoffs might be made.

The North Carolina Labor Department fined three companies a total of more than $56,000 for an array of violations related to the massive apartment building fire in May that killed two construction workers in SouthPark. The largest of the fines — $46,875 — was issued against MCRT Carolinas Construction, the contractor on the 239-unit Modera SouthPark.

After a 1-10 start, the Carolina Panthers fired head coach Frank Reich less than a full season into his tenure. Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor was named interim head coach by owner David Tepper.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered Bank of America to pay a $12 million penalty for submitting false mortgage lending information to the federal government. The bank also was ordered to develop policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, requiring mortgage lenders to report information to federal regulators.

Diane Morais, a longtime executive at Ally Financial, is leaving the auto lender next year as the company gears up to find a new CEO. Morais was seen as a potential candidate to replace outgoing CEO Jeffrey Brown. Ally has more than $135 billion in retail deposits.

Truist Financial made more senior leadership changes, including naming Vice Chair Beau Cummins to a new chief operating officer post.

Kristin Lesher, who has worked at Wells Fargo for more than two decades, will be Truist’s new chief wholesale banking officer. Truist named Dontá Wilson as its chief consumer and small business banking officer.NGS MOUNTAIN

CLAREMONT

CHARLOTTE Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the seventh-busiest airport in the world for arrivals and departures, set an all-time record for the Sunday after Thanksgiving with an estimated 89,500 passengers. That was an 18% increase compared with last year.

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A residential siding company agreed to invest $14.3 million to add 48 jobs in Catawba County. Millwork & Panel, a residential siding manufacturer, said it will expand its vinyl siding operations here over the next three years. The average annual wage is estimated to be $58,708.

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DENVER

TROUTMAN

JACKSONVILLE

North Carolina Rep. Patrick McHenry, who presided temporarily over the U.S. House for three intense weeks while Republicans struggled to elect a permanent speaker after Kevin McCarthy’s ouster, won’t seek reelection to his seat next year. The Gastonia native was elected to the House in 2004 at age 29. He is chairman of the Financial Services Committee.

A federal grand jury indicted an Iredell County dentist on charges related to an alleged $3 million fraudulent loan scheme. The indictment alleges 58-year-old Matthew Johnson defrauded the Small Business Administration of more than $3 million and committed tax evasion. The alleged fraud involved Johnson’s two companies, Johnson Oral Surgery in Mooresville and Mount Mourne Springs, a real estate development company.

The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles closed a license plate agency here following the discovery of several contract violations, according to an NCDOT news release. The agency had been operated by Cecil Hargett Jr. since 1993 under the business name Hartag LLC.

GASTONIA North Carolina regulators granted Belmontbased Piedmont Lithium more time to complete the state’s review of the application to start a mine in Gaston County, Reuters reported. The proposed mine is expected to become a major source for lithium for electric vehicle batteries. But neighbors and the Gaston County Commission have expressed opposition to the plans.

A massive postal distribution facility is one of two North Carolina sites that will be “the backbone” of the U.S. Postal Service’s 10-year, $40 billion plan to modernize how mail is delivered across the country. It is called the Charlotte Regional Processing and Distribution Center.

EAST DARE COUNTY Unable to overcome local opposition to building workforce housing in Dare County, Woda Cooper, one of the two companies partnering with Dare County to build that housing, is ending its efforts in the county. Woda Cooper had been working with a pot of $12 million in county money to help with its housing development efforts.

FAIRMONT Fairmont Department Store, a staple in town since 1957, is closing. Jay Capps worked at the store since the 1970s before taking over the business founded by his father. He’s retiring and says there’s no one to take over the business.

FAYETTEVILLE

The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball terminated the Gastonia Honey Hunters over a reported $1.1 million in unpaid membership fees. The city of Gastonia filed a lawsuit seeking the court’s help in evicting the team from its home stadium, CaroMont Health Park. The Honey Hunters’ parent company, NC Gas House Gang then filed for bankruptcy protection in Maryland, listing more than $4 million in liabilities. The Atlantic League and the city of Gastonia say they expect to field a new team next year in the city-owned 2,000-seat stadium that opened in 2021.

Fayetteville State University received a $900,000 grant to establish a Build Training and Assessment Center as a part of the Biden Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy announced. The Fayetteville-Cumberland Regional BTAC will aim to strengthen regional capacity to improve energy utilization efficiencies and provide training for highquality, in-demand new energy management jobs.

ROCKY MOUNT Charlotte banker Ralph Strayhorn was elected chair of the Golden LEAF Foundation’s board.

The New Republic Bank executive succeeds Winston-Salem auto dealership owner Don Flow as leader of the Rocky Mount-based foundation, which oversees a $1.2 billion investment fund.

Others elected to board leadership positions include Vice Chair Brian Raynor of Cumberland County.

SUNSET BEACH

Sea Trail Investments acquired the Rees Jones, Willard Byrd and Dan Maples golf courses and commercial property in Sea Trail, a North Carolina resort less than an hour from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Robert Hill and Donald Bean, co-owners of Riptide Builders, and Parker Smith, owner of Golf Trek, are partners in Sea Trail Investments.

TABOR CITY

A supplier of automotive replacement parts will expand and modernize its distribution operations in Columbus County, creating 21 jobs. DMA Industries will invest $1.47 million in its warehouse and distribution facility here.

The average annual salary for the new positions is $40,824. Columbus County’s average annual wage is $38,544.

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NCTREND ››› Statewide TOPSAIL ISLAND

runner-up, Columbus, Ohio-based Huntington National Bank, lent $1.37 billion. Live Oak approved 1,215 SBA 7(a) loans nationwide in 2023.

UNC System Board of Governors fined UNC Wilmington $4.1 million for exceeding its outof-state student enrollment cap two years in a row.

The penalty is the largest since 1986, when the system implemented the cap to ensure campuses in the 16-university system would prioritize North Carolinians in enrollment.

Todd Olson, the CEO of Raleigh software company Pendo, withdrew plans to develop the southern end of the island known as “The Point.”

Olson proposed building six single-family homes on 24 acres of a 150-acre area, which would have included access roads, a swimming pool and cabana, a maintenance building and garage, and an elevated pier with six boat lifts. Olson’s plan faced local opposition.

National Spinning plans to lay off 100 workers and close its Whiteville yarn making facility.

Layoffs were to begin Jan. 15 and will conclude when the plant closes, according to a filing with the N.C. Department of Commerce. President James Booterbaugh blamed declining business conditions over the past few years due to a shift by some customers to import yarns from China, Turkey and India.

WILMINGTON Canapi Ventures, a venture capital fund started by the organizers of Wilmington-based Live Oak Bank, has raised a new fund totaling $750 million. It follows a previous fund that attracted $650 million for investments in financial technology companies. Most of the first fund has been invested in 20 firms, says Neil Underwood, the fund’s co-founder.

Live Oak Bancshares, the holding company of Live Oak Bank, announced the departure of its president and the appointment of a new chief financial officer. Neil Underwood will step down as president of the holding company, replaced

by William (BJ) Losch. Taking Losch’s place as CFO is Walter Phifer.

Live Oak Bank was the most active lender of SBA 7(a) loans for the sixth consecutive year, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Live Oak lent $1.8 billion, while B U S I N E S S

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Flexsteel Industries is opening an additional product development and engineering location here. The new factory will work with colleagues in Dublin, Ga. Flexsteel, which plans to begin operations at the beginning of the new year, also has a showroom at the International Home Furnishings Center.

WILSON

WHITEVILLE

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HIGH POINT

A plant that converts chicken waste into energy will receive a $1 million boost from the federal government, U.S. Rep. Don Davis announced. East Energy Renewables’ Carolina Poultry Power project is among a handful of U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant recipients in North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District.

TRIAD

Pinnacle Financial Partners is buying nine vacant lots in a distressed neighborhood from the city in the East Central district where it plans to develop single-family homes and sell them at cost to low- to moderate-income buyers.

Fiber optic internet firm Lumos, which is headquartered here, has launched fiber internet networks in Goldsboro, Mebane, and Burlington.

The company also added service in the Johnston County town of Clayton.

LINWOOD GREENSBORO

Dai Nippon Printing, a lithium-ion battery pouch manufacturer, plans to create 352 new jobs and invest $233 million to build its first U.S. advanced manufacturing plant in Davidson County. The company says it plans to start operations in 2026. The average annual salary for the new positions is $50,281, which exceeds the Davidson County average wage of $49,956.

MOCKSVILLE Tanger paid $193.5 million to purchase Bridge Street Town Centre, an open-air shopping center in Huntsville, Alabama. Tanger expands its national portfolio to 39 shopping centers. Bridge Street is an 825,000-square-floor retail campus that contains 80 retail stores, restaurants and entertainment venues.

Qorvo named Walden Rhines, former CEO of Mentor Graphics, to be chair of the board.

Ralph Quinsey isn’t standing for reelection at the company’s annual shareholders meeting. The supplier of semiconductor solutions said that Quinsey will leave the board in 2024.

22nd Century Group is exiting the hemp/ cannabis sector after less than two years at a steep financial cost. New York-based 22nd Century, which has its cigarette-manufacturing operations in a 62,000-square-foot plant here, reported that it entered an agreement to sell its GVB Biopharma business for $2.25 million overall to Specialty Acquisition of Nevada.

Plastic parts manufacturer Carolina Precision Plastics will close its plant for the first half of 2024 and lay off 52 workers, according to a filing with the NC Department of Commerce, but a

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company executive says it will reopen. The closing will occur on April 30. None of the employees are represented by a union.

to prevent health problems by putting precision medicine services to work in Alamance, Forsyth, Guilford, Rockingham and Randolph counties.

MOUNT AIRY

North Carolina’s most expensive schools, Wake Forest University and Duke University, had overall cost increases of 42% and 39%, respectively, during the past decade. The total cost to attend Wake Forest is $82,988; Duke’s rate is $82,749. Both schools have robust financial aid programs. Davidson College and High Point University were cited as the third and fourth most expensive N.C. colleges.

Virginia-based Carpenter Co. agreed to acquire the consumer products division of NCFI Polyurethanes. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. NCFI’s Consumer Products Division manufactures foam for the furniture, mattress, aircraft, aerospace, marine and medical industries, along with other market segments.

WINSTON-SALEM Cone Health launched a five-year population genomics research and testing initiative focused on about 100,000 healthy individuals within five counties. Cone is collaborating with Helix, a research firm based in San Diego. The project aims

Novant Health agreed to buy three South Carolina hospitals from Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare. The transaction will include Coastal Carolina Hospital in Hardeeville, Hilton Head Hospital in Hilton Head, East Cooper Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, affiliated physician practices and other related perations. Under the agreement, Novant will pay Tenet $2.4 billion.

For the first time since 2006, Winston-Salem has a new city manager. William “Pat” Pate officially took the helm from longtime manager Lee Garrity at the beginning of November. He previously served as the city manager of Manassas, Virginia. Pate began his local government career as an intern for the city of Winston-Salem.

A former Coca-Cola bottling plant in WinstonSalem has been designated a local historic landmark ahead of its planned redevelopment.

Originally built in 1929, the facility was the first bottling plant designed by Coca-Cola architects.

It’s now owned by Jared Rogers, who is planning to redevelop it into a restaurant and event space.

ProKidney terminated chief operating officer Deepak Jain, who had filled that role since 2016.

Jain will continue as a consultant to the company, which is developing a treatment for chronic kidney disease using a patient’s cells.

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TRIANGLE

Wolfspeed, which produces silicon carbide semiconductors, sold its radio frequency business for $135 million to Lowell, Mass.based Macom, including $75 million in cash and $61 million in stock. Wolfspeed has a new shareholder with a track record of activist investing. New York-based Jana Partners disclosed a $35.6 million investment, representing a roughly 0.75% stake in the company. Wolfpseed’s stock price has declined more than 50% in the past year.

CARY

Biopharmaceutical company Chimerix, promoted Michelle LaSpaluto, current vice president of corporate financial planning and investor relations, to chief financial officer. Prior to joining Chimerix, LaSpaluto was senior director of accounting at AlphaVax. She holds an MBA from East Carolina University and a BA in accounting from Michigan State University.

Video game maker Epic Games won an antitrust lawsuit filed against Google, with a jury finding the tech giant’s mobile phone app store is an illegal monopoly. The decision, if it survives the appeal process, could upend how the two major mobile operating systems control the distribution of third-party apps on devices.

CHAPEL HILL

A new bar is trying to bring the two worlds of bars and college together. Night School Bar offers college-level classes in art, film and literature online or in person at its new brick and mortar location. There are no grades and no credit. Classes are pay-as-you-can. Students can pay as little as $10.

Mary Margaret Frank, the associate dean for faculty development at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, is the new dean of the Kenan-Flagler Business School.

The previous dean, Douglas A. Shackelford, retired in September after the filing of a federal lawsuit against the University alleging race discrimination.

Duke Endowment awarded Duke University $100 million, the largest single award in the university’s history. The gift, which marks the centennial of both institutions, will be used to support a number of initiatives, with a particular emphasis on student financial aid. The program is supporting more than 340 undergraduate students.

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K4Connect, which integrates software for nursing homes and assisted living facilities and their residents, named Mike Weller as CEO. He had been chief operating officer of K4Connect.

He succeeds co-founder Scott Moody, who will remain a director.

N O R T H

Storyliving by Disney, a residential management company under the Disney Signature Experiences umbrella, plans a new housing community to Chatham County by the end of the decade. Plans call for more than 4,000 residential units within Asteria, which will be a mix of single-family homes, multi-family homes and homes for 55+ adults.

KNIGHTDALE

DURHAM

B U S I N E S S

Colorado-based material science company Forge Nano will launch a lithium-ion battery business in Morrisville with an investment of more than $165 million. The new business, Forge Battery, expects its lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant to employ 204 workers and be operational in 2026, according to a release from the state.

PITTSBORO

Kevin Guskiewicz, the University of North Carolina’s chancellor, departed for the presidency of Michigan State University. UNC System President Peter Hans named Lee Roberts as interim chancellor. He is managing director of SharpVue Capital in Raleigh.

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The Local Government Commission gave the N.C. Turnpike Authority permission to borrow up to $1.1 billion to pay for the construction of another section of Interstate 540. The money targets a 10-mile stretch of the massive loop road, extending it south from the Knightdale area to the interchange west of Clayton on the Wake County/Johnston County line that links Interstate 40 and U.S. 70.

UNC Health acquired a 43-acre parcel within Chatham Park for $15.9 million that can accommodate up to 700,000 square feet of medical care facilities. Chatham Park is an 8,500-acre master planned community here. The parcel is just south of the U.S. 64 Bypass and the Chatham Park Way transportation corridor.

Startup biotech Propella Therapeutics is being acquired for Japan-based Astella Pharma in a deal valued at $175 million. Propella is developing a treatment for prostate cancer. It’s currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial. The deal is expected to close early this year.

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NCTREND ››› Statewide RALEIGH Kane Realty’s massive Downtown South district in Raleigh is on hold as the commercial real estate market remains on a downswing.

Kane’s Chief Operating Officer Bonner Gaylord said the company is in a “holding pattern” due to the current economy.

Martin Marietta divested its South Texas cement business and associated concrete operations for $2.1 billion. The acquiring party is Ireland-based CRH.

Gov. Roy Cooper named Jessica Holmes, a former Wake County commissioner, to serve out the remainder of State Auditor Beth Wood’s term in office. Holmes is an attorney who works at the North Carolina Industrial Commission.

The U.S. Department of Transportation will award a $1 billion grant for the construction of a new passenger rail between Raleigh and Richmond. The S-Line would allow for passenger trains to avoid a lot of freight traffic between the two cities and allow for speeds of up to 110 mph.

Raleigh-Durham International Airport added an international flight to Mexico City.

Aeromexico, a Mexico-based airline, said it would begin nonstop flights to Mexico City Benito Juárez International Airport in July 2024.

Lufthansa added a direct flight from RDU to Frankfurt, Germany, last year. Icelandair begins daily service to Iceland this year.

Curi, a health care advisory firm, agreed to buy a majority stake in Chicago-based investment firm RMB Capital. As part of the agreement, the financial advisory business unit, Curi Capital, will combine with RMB, creating an entity with $11 billion in assets under management. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Department of Revenue’s aging tax system is printing tax bills that are wrong. More than half a million North Carolina taxpayers who paid late got incorrect tax bills by the state this year, with the penalty for 10% of their tax bill.

The correct rate is 5%.

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Kimberly van Noort was elected the ninth chancellor of UNC Asheville by the UNC System Board of Governors. A search committee considered 130 applicants. She has been interim chancellor after working at the system’s headquarters. Her base salary is $300,000. The school has seen a sharp enrollment decline in recent years.

WILKESBORO Tyson Farms laid off at least 250 employees at its poultry processing plant, the latest in a series of production plant closures and cutbacks. The reduction affects its second-shift production unit and about 11% of its overall 2,244 workforce at the facility.

TAYLORSVILLE

WEST

Advance Auto Parts hired Ryan Grimsland as chief financial officer. Grimsland had been a senior vice president at Lowe’s.

Insurance Pet Holdings raised $55.6 million from 27 investors, according to a filing. The company recently acquired cat insurance company Felix for an undisclosed amount.

Records obtained by WRAL reveal that North Carolina State University was aware of concerns regarding cancer-causing toxic chemicals inside Poe Hall over a month and a half before the university decided to evacuate the building. Poe Hall closed to students, faculty and staff Nov. 17 weeks after environmental testing revealed PCBs.

N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein sued HCA Healthcare alleging it had degraded emergency and oncology services since the 2019 purchase of Mission Health. HCA says it has met or exceeded terms of its purchase.

ASHEVILLE Greensboro-based Tanger Factory Outlets acquired Asheville Outlets from New England Development for $70 million in an all-cash deal. It’s the company’s 38th location. The mall converted in 2015 from an indoor regional mall to an open-air outlet shopping center. The mall will be renamed Tanger Outlets Asheville in January.

Surya has acquired furniture brand Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, which declared bankruptcy in August saying PNC Bank denied funding. Surya plans to restart manufacturing and assembly operations at the MG+BW facilities here, which will bring jobs back to the area and show “Surya’s dedication to contributing to the economic growth of the area.” ■

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SETTING 2024 GOALS Although the year has just begun, the state’s prominent industry groups and organizations have begun to strategize about their goals for 2024 and how they can accomplish them. Many of the things on their wish lists would require legislation from the N.C. General Assembly or Congress. In the following conversation with Chris Roush, executive editor at Business North Carolina, six industry leaders discussed what their industries, and the state in general, needs to accomplish in 2024.

Photography by Edde Burgess

Chip Baggett

Andy Ellen

Shawn Harding

executive vice president and CEO, North Carolina Medical Society

president and general counsel, NC Retail Merchants Association

president, N.C. Farm Bureau

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The discussion was sponsored by: •Moore & Van Allen •NC Farm Bureau •NC Medical Society •NC Retail Merchants Association •State Employees Association of North Carolina Chris Roush, executive editor of Business North Carolina, moderated the discussion. It was edited for brevity and clarity.

as members. Everybody uses technology.

We’re approaching 700 member entities that employ about a quarter of a million North Carolinians. And a majority are small- and medium- sized businesses, which a lot of people are surprised to learn because the big names are what captures your attention. About two-thirds are headquartered here.

HARDING: I’m Shawn Harding, president, North Carolina Farm Bureau.

The Farm Bureau started 1936 as an agriculture advocacy group, and we are still that. In 1953, we started an insurance company. We have 637,000 members across the state, and we sell a family membership. But at the core, we’re farmers. I’m a farmer. And what I really work on mostly is advocating for agriculture. We call ourselves the voice of ag.

Association of North Carolina. We have about 46,000 active and retired state employed members. It’s a voluntary membership association. Our main job is advocacy. We do provide member benefits, like most organizations do.

We’ve been around in some form for 77 years. And we don’t just think of ourselves as advocates for state employees and retirees. We think of ourselves as advocates for taxpayers because the folks doing the work for the state know where we could save an awful lot of money.

And we look at ourselves as providing infrastructure that is required for business to thrive.

RAIFORD: I’m Brooks Raiford, president and CEO of the North Carolina Technology Association, or NC Tech as we call it. We are, as our name implies, the state’s technology industry association, but I’ve stopped saying it quite that way. We’re the tech sector association because you can be in the tech sector without working for a tech company. Our membership is open. So any company, organization or institution can be a member. It looks sort of like a chamber of commerce list when you read it with law firms and other organizations

WATKINS: I’m Ardis Watkins. I’m executive director of the State Employees

BAGGETT: Chip Baggett, executive vice president and CEO of the North Carolina Medical Society. We were founded in 1849 by a group of seven doctors that rode on horseback to town and said, “We need to stand up and do something for our patients.” And we’ve been doing that now for 175 years. It’s a great legacy.

We offer all kinds of benefits services.

We live and die by our advocacy work, whether it’s advocating on behalf of patients, both at the state and federal level. We have just dipped our toe in the last few years into serving Medicaid patients in partnership with Centene Corp. So we advocate in lots of different ways not just through the traditional manner, but sometimes by actually delivering services directly to patients.

Brooks Raiford

Bradford Sneeden

Ardis Watkins

president and CEO, NC Tech

director of public affairs, Moore & Van Allen

executive director,

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOUR ORGANIZATION, ALONG WITH ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO NORTH CAROLINA.

SNEEDEN: My name is Bradford Sneeden and I’m director of public affairs for the Moore & Van Allen law firm.

We’re one of the biggest law firms in the Southeast. We have about 400 attorneys covering 90 areas of practice focus. I’m in the public affairs practice. We have a team of about 15 people. We represent individuals, corporations, Fortune 500 companies across the state and nation.

State Employees Association of North Carolina

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ELLEN: I’m Andy Ellen, president and general counsel of the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association. We were founded in 1902. So we’re coming up on our 125th anniversary soon. Our organization is a diverse group. It’s onestore operators that you find on Main Street all the way to the largest major retailers in the country. We have about 2,500 members in North Carolina that represent about 25,000 store locations.

Our organization includes grocery stores and pharmacies and drug and gas stations and bottle shops and furniture stores and home improvement, so we touch the customer every single day.

Because of that we’re very involved in advocacy because when you’re customer facing you’re going to be involved in a lot of different issues from healthcare to energy to taxes to workers’ compensation LET’S TALK ABOUT 2024 AND YOUR GOALS. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN 2024?

HARDING: We have got to figure out some way to help our farmers with labor.

We’re talking about a seasonal labor force that comes in here and leaves and does a fantastic job to help our farmers.

Now, that’s a federal issue. We’ve got immigration issues. And so what we’re trying to figure out is what we can do on the state level. We’ve kicked some ideas around about how we have to house these migrant workers and our farmers have to pay for that. And so maybe there’s some way that we can get some help from the General Assembly to just maintain some of that housing to help our farmers.

YOU ALL HAVE SOME GOALS ABOUT WORKERS. ARDIS, YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT JUST THE NEED FOR MORE STATE EMPLOYEES. WATKINS: It’s dangerous. And it’s not just dangerous, where you think, like prisons. It’s dangerous that newborns aren’t being tested properly. I’ve had nurses tell me that. And they’re really 28

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upset about it. It’s things like Carowinds when the roller coaster incident happened.

That’s the kind of thing that shows you just how dangerous things are every day for some of these agencies and the work they do if it’s not done. All of our agency heads have been clear. There’s not any possibility of them keeping up with things like that. But then there’s the other side that affects all businesses. I’ve heard from a lot of business leaders who are saying, we support you in trying to get these vacancies filled because it’s slowing our processes down, whether it’s with the Department of Insurance, Secretary of State’s office, any of those things.

ELLEN: I hear people talk about our companies all the time, and why they have self-checkout, partially because of a labor shortage. I look at it sort of in a sports analogy way, when you have a kid that comes in as a freshman, regardless of the transfer portal, you’re hoping to get him to be a senior. And what we saw during COVID was that we lost a whole class of kids whose first job was bagging groceries or working as a hostess or working at the boutique counter. Those kids didn’t go to work. We lost that whole class of kids that would have matriculated through and would eventually become store managers or maybe going into the corporate world with some of our headquarter companies.

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SNEEDEN: From the C-suite perspective, workforce development is what keeps these guys up at night. I was talking to a CEO of a major construction company here in North Carolina. And he was telling me that’s one of his biggest concerns. And he was talking about the lack of the skilled workforce and specifically, lack of electricians. He said that on all the projects they’ve got going on across the state they just can find enough electricians to do the work.

RAIFORD: I get asked a lot about how we are going to meet the demand. And I always say we have sort of a triple threat of advantages. We do have a lot of great institutions, in community colleges, private colleges, the public system, and we have a really good existing workforce that can be upskilled and trained by the same partner institutions.

And we are a real source of migration for higher-skilled talent.

LET’S TALK ABOUT LEGISLATION FOR 2024. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS? AND HOW DO YOU MAKE THAT HAPPEN? HARDING: Last year, we got money for some ag manufacturing in the budget.

And I’d like to expand on that more. I think they just released the Tier1 county SPONSORED SECTION

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map. And it’s just really stark, the quarter I’m talking about that is just really missing out. And I really think there are opportunities there for ag manufacturing.

And I don’t know that it’s as sexy as Google and Apple and electric cars and all that. But I think it would really change those counties.

BAGGETT: We’re looking at the same counties for healthcare recruitment because for you to have a strong ag industry, you’ve got to have healthcare.

So we’re looking at how we intentionally recruit our loan repayment program folks to go to that area. Our loan repayment is a five-year program that still pays $100,000. Most of those physicians and nurse practitioners will stay right at five years. We need to figure out how to create those bonds early so that those doctors and those farmers are working closely together.

ELLEN: I think we’re focusing on two specific areas. One is organized retail crime. And in North Carolina, we’ve done a very good job in a bipartisan manner to have some of the strongest penalties in the United States on organized retail crime.

And if you look at some of the things that are happening in our state, Homeland Security is very involved because they see it’s tied to the opioid crisis and fentanyl and to human trafficking. And then a couple of alcohol issues. We have a growing state and we need to modernize the permitting system to get the permits out the door because people are trying to open a restaurant or a grocery store or a hotel, and they can’t get their ABC permit for a month or so.

The last one I would say that we’re focused on is trying to get the ready-todrink beverages that you may see that are spirit based, but lower in alcohol content in the grocery store. We think those products

should be in traditional retail, which will also open them up for more into the restaurants and other venues. If you go to a control state like Virginia, you can buy those products off the shelf at your local grocery store. We think you ought to be able to do that in North Carolina as well.

ARDIS, YOU MENTIONED GETTING THE LEGISLATURE TO FUND MORE STATE JOBS, WHICH I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES WE NEED, AND BIGGER PAY RAISES. HOW DO YOU GET THAT DONE? WATKINS: We are funding the jobs. So taxpayers are paying for 100% of those jobs. And they’re getting about 75%. So our argument is, according to consultants, the Office of State Human Resources estimates the cost of turnover to be far beyond what a big raise would be. Why do we keep paying that? And why do

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we keep having taxpayers in the business community suffer with these vacancies and bottlenecks instead of investing to fix it?

The bottom line is sometimes we have to pay more. And the mental health crisis in this state is interwoven into so many things the state government does.

I know that from the discussions we had last year, it certainly seemed to be on the mind of everybody in the business community as well. We’ve made big strides. Sen. Phil Berger made sure there was a considerable amount of money put toward addressing the mental health crisis this year. But we all know, we’re not going to dig out from that overnight. That is absolutely, in my opinion, the single biggest suppressor of having a workforce because people are not well.

We’ve had an ag in the classroom program for years. It’s been successful.

But what we’re thinking about is sitting down with the Department of Public Instruction and saying, “There’s something we could add in the curriculum.” Because we all deal with food. And so we need education about how food is grown, where it comes from.

RAIFORD: Part of our annual report comparing the states shows we tend to do well as a state in net new establishments.

And so when you’re in an environment where there’s the demand for new businesses, and tech is an area where that’s very strong, and you can’t get in process, you can’t get the permitting you need, what a brake that is, in a bad way, on the economy. And that same report shows a 3.05 job multiplier to every tech job. Tech only accounts for 6% of employment, but 12% of all wages paid in North Carolina. So that’s a lot of us, a lot of buying power.

RAIFORD: With favorable tax policy, these sorts of things apply across the board. You may have seen that starting with the incoming class of ninth-graders next year, you’ll have to have a computer science course to graduate high school. So that addresses the supply.

The vast majority of courses taught in schools are taught by people who’ve been themselves certified or trained, but they probably teach something else or their pathway was different. So there are some things like this that they could do policy wise and funding wise to nurture our sector and help provide the workforce that’s needed.

Looking ahead, I need to mention broadband. It ties in here. All this money came our way from the feds, and the state’s done a good job of beginning to allocate those funds in various ways.

North Carolina still is quite rural. And there are a lot of unserved or underserved areas for high-speed broadband. I remember years ago, the information highway was the term of the day, and just getting something other than dial up was important because it makes so much available to a person who’s not in a metro area. Well fast forward, we’re still fighting that fight. Think of the economic development that could come to some of the farther corners of our state if people

I REMEMBER WHEN FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA WAS A STAPLE IN HIGH SCHOOLS. AND I SPOKE TO A FARMER IN OXFORD A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND ALL OF HIS HIGH SCHOOL BUDDIES WERE SHOCKED HE WAS GOING TO BE A FARMER. HOW DO YOU CHANGE THAT PERCEPTION? AND HOW DO YOU INCENTIVIZE THAT, TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO GO INTO THE INDUSTRY? HARDING: Future Farmers of America is still very strong. Obviously, that’s a high school program. What we’re wanting to do is get into the elementary schools.

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ELLEN: And I represent grocery stores, but we need to make sure the kids know that’s not where it actually comes from. It comes from the field or from the hog farm or whoever else.

BROOKS, HOW DO WE CREATE A BETTER ECONOMIC INCENTIVE OR ECONOMIC CLIMATE FOR TECH JOB CREATION?

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could live there and have good jobs. They have to have the connectivity they need to start those new businesses.

CHIP, I HAVE A DAUGHTER-INLAW WHO’S IN MEDICAL SCHOOL RIGHT NOW. AND SHE WANTS TO GO BACK TO THE OUTER BANKS, WHERE SHE GREW UP, TO BE A DOCTOR BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH DOCTORS IN THE OUTER BANKS AND A LOT OF OTHER PLACES IN NORTH CAROLINA. HOW DO YOU INCENTIVIZE DOCTORS TO DO THAT? BAGGETT: There are dozens and dozens of places and not just on the coast that need doctors. I think about state employees being in all 100 counties, and some of them being 60 or 70 miles from tertiary care. So it’s a major issue.

It’s going to have to be done at such a greater scale. And it’s going to have to be done in some kind of greater economic partnership model. Education, healthcare and economic incentives all have to be aligned for business to thrive in a community. And I think that we have elements of a healthcare lag. They’re just not distributed in such a way that we can really drive great education and great economic status.

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BRADFORD, ARE YOU HEARING SOME SIMILAR THEMES WHEN YOU TALK TO CLIENTS? SNEEDEN: The themes from the C-suite perspective, and what we’re going to be tracking and working on with the legislature, is continuing with economic development – what these companies need to come here to North Carolina.

And then the companies that are actually here, when they want to expand their footprint with megasites that are available that have water and sewer already hooked up.

I think that the General Assembly has done a fantastic job of appropriating water and sewer dollars so that our sites are ready and kind of turnkey for these companies that want to expand. I think it was mentioned earlier about how important it is to have people moving to our state. That’s an economic generator, but we’ve got to have the transportation infrastructure in place to accommodate them. And you know, we all know places across the nation where you say, “Man, I love visiting X city, but the roads are terrible.” We don’t want to be that here in North Carolina.

About 10 years ago, we created the STIP program, taking personalities out of transportation funding and putting it through a methodology. And that’s resulted in billions of dollars going into places that need transportation infrastructure investments. And about two years ago, the state modified transportation funding by allocating 2% of the sales tax from the general fund to the Highway Trust Fund. We’d love to see that continue and even have that percentage increase. So that’s something we would want to see the General Assembly touch on.

When I talk to CEOs about tax policy, they want more consistency, and they want predictability. And that’s something that the General Assembly has been very committed to over the last 10 years, getting our flat tax down. They’re trying to get to 3.9% by 2027, and then our corporate tax to 2.5% in 2025.

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ELLEN: I think a major issue coming forward down the pike for the business community is how do we maintain that strong legal climate so that we may get to be the best state to do business in the country three years or five years in a row.

HARDING: We’ve got a lot of great things that are happening. It’s good. That’s what I tell my farmers – it’s good that we have 11 million people in the state.

That’s a backyard market. But yes, those consumers don’t understand agriculture.

They don’t understand why you’re doing the things you’re doing. Why are you on the roads? So there’s friction, and we have to work through that friction.

I WANT TO END BY HAVING EACH OF YOU GIVE ME A PROJECT OR AN INITIATIVE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE BUDGET FOR 2024.

ELLEN: Some funding was put in a couple years ago for a program called Rise Up, which is a retail credentialing program. It was a program that taught kids the basis of running a retail operation all the way up to the supply chain for distribution centers. We got some initial funding for that and we’re also doing some charity work through the Boys and Girls Club. We’d like to see that program expanded similarly to the ag in the classroom project to give people an entryway into that as a career path going forward.

BAGGETT: More investment in rural residency slots. What we found is that we train a lot of doctors in the state of North Carolina. Out of medical school, we keep about one in three, but out of residency and fellowship we keep up to two out of three. So let’s train them in those rural communities where they’re putting hands on people on a regular basis and creating these deeper relationships.

WATKINS: We want to see the state focus – instead of spending that money on turnover costs and burning those dollar bills – on retaining their workforce.

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We’ve got a lot of recruitment incentives out there for the state employees, but nothing to retain. And we wouldn’t have the recruitment issues, obviously, if we could retain.

SNEEDEN: Continued investing in our road infrastructure. Continue to modify our tax policy so it’s the most competitive in the nation. And then workforce development – investing in our existing workforce development programs across the state and investing in our community colleges so they can kind of get more in the weeds and develop that skilled workforce that our businesses need.

HARDING: The ag manufacturing piece. I need a large scale cheese plant in this state for our dairy farms. Nobody drinks dairy anymore. They want cheese.

We just need things like that. That’s an example. We need the sweet potatoes chips that come from the sweet potatoes grown in North Carolina to also be made in the state.

RAIFORD: Bradford touched on investing in the workforce development areas at community colleges, and the universities that are educating and training these existing and aspiring highly skilled workers is important. We need to continue to not just fund but effectively roll out the funding so it’s being deployed around the broadband build out. You have to deploy it in the right ways and still be a good steward of taxpayer money. The key area for us is the physical infrastructure, not just roads, but tech infrastructure, and the talent development. ■

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THE ACC'S QUARTERBACK Jim Phillips plays catch-up as an explosion of money and shifting conference alignments changes the score for college athletics.

By Chris Roush

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PHOTOS OF JIM PHILLIPS COURTESY OF THE ACC

T

he Atlantic Coast Conference may rank first in academic prestige for its 15 universities, particularly with Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley, coming on board next year. But Commissioner Jim Phillips knows in the money-dominated world of college athletics, the ACC is a laggard facing a widening revenue deficit with the Big 10 and Southeastern conferences.

The culprit is a seven-year-old television deal signed before Phillips came on board in 2021, and before the value of college-football broadcast rights exploded.

Its ESPN contract was extended in 2016 to include the ACC Network and runs until 2036. It pays the ACC about $240 million a year, and the conference doles out about $39.4 million to each of its schools, mostly from the TV deal, according to Internal Revenue Service documents.

The Big 10 TV contract, signed in 2022 with Fox, CBS and NBC, is for seven years and pays about $1 billion a year. The Midwest-based conference pays its member schools about $56 million a year. The SEC signed a 10-year deal with Disney’s ESPN and ABC that starts in 2024 and will pay $300 million a year. Each SEC receives about $50 million a year.

Both the Big 10 and SEC will be able to sign new contracts, likely for higher amounts, before the ACC can negotiate a new deal. That means its schools will likely get more money than those in the ACC for the next decade unless Phillips can pull a rabbit out of a hat.

“We’ve been a conference that’s done a lot with not the most,” says Phillips, sitting in his Uptown Charlotte office that overlooks Bank of America Stadium.

“We’re motivated to close that gap and provide additional resources. I think about that every day. But it hasn’t prohibited us from success.”

Increasing revenue for a conference considered by many to be an also-ran in the football revenue standings is no easy task. The gridiron accounts for about

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85% of the revenue from media deals. The ACC will expand in 2024 as part of that strategy. With Cal-Berkeley, Stanford and Southern Methodist joining, the ACC is adding top-10 television markets in Dallas and the San Francisco Bay area.

But to maintain pace in the revenue race, the ACC has to do more. Phillips says he has a four-pronged approach to increasing revenue for the conference: Expanding media partnerships; adding corporate sponsorships; placing championship events in big cities; and creating new events. ACC revenue rose 6.7%, or $38 million, to nearly $617 million in the 2021-22 academic year, the latest numbers available. And TV revenue rose 12% while the money it distributed to its members rose an average of 9%.

The SEC saw revenue decline by $31 million, or 3.7%, to $802 million during the same year. Still, the SEC and the Big 10 are likely to produce at least $150 million more each year for its schools, for at least the rest of the decade, because of its fatter TV deals.

“What’s been playing out is that the university presidents have directed the conference commissioners to generate as much money as they can through the conference media contracts,” says Amy Privette Perko, the CEO of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics and a former Wake Forest basketball player. “That led to an expansion of football TV markets. So the question is, is it the right model?”

The Knight Commission, an advisory group that proposes reforms to college athletics, wants conferences to enact financial incentives and financial accountability, rewarding schools that win conference championships – in both men and women sports – and that spend at least 50% of their revenue on the education of athletes, health safety and well-being. The current approach of conferences “is not in the long-term best interest of college sports,” she says.

“In our view, those kinds of objectives are ones that university presidents should be directing their conferences to implement,” says Privette Perko, who is based in Fayetteville.

“But again, the commissioners have responded to the task that they have been given by the university presidents.”

To be sure, more money means that ACC schools can provide more athletic scholarships and provide facilities that attract the best athletes. Phillips, who holds a doctorate in education administration from the University of Tennessee, truly believes in that mission, according to those who work with him.

“He cares deeply about students,” says UNC Chapel Hill athletics director Bubba Cunningham. “He cares deeply about education. He has worked his whole career to try to balance the ambition of incredible students who want to compete at elite levels…I have a lot of respect for him.”

A Chicago native and the youngest of 10 children, Phillips

James J. Phillips Title: Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner

PHOTOS OF JIM PHILLIPS COURTESY OF THE ACC

Past jobs: Northwestern University athletics director, Northern Illinois University athletics director, University of Notre Dame senior associate director of athletics for external affairs.

Other responsibilities: Only commissioner on the NCAA Constitution Review and Transformation Committee. College Football Playoff management committee. Inaugural chair of the NCAA Division 1 Council and first-ever sitting athletic director on the NCAA Board of Directors and NCAA Board of Governors.

Family: He and his wife Laura have five children – Luke, Madeline, Meredith, John and James.

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ACC'S MONEY EXPLOSION REVENUE

EXPENSES

$800M

$800M

$600M

$600M

$400M

$400M

$200M

$200M

$617M (2022)

$607M (2022)

$0

$0

2011

2022

2011

2022 source: Propublica

was a basketball team manager at the University of Illinois and then an assistant basketball coach at Arizona State University before moving into athletic administration roles. He was senior associate director of athletics at the University of Notre Dame and then athletics director at Northern Illinois before becoming Northwestern University’s AD in 2008.

During his last five years at the Big 10 school, Northwestern spent more than $500 million in new and renovated sports facilities at its suburban Chicago campus. The school’s graduation success rate led all 133 Football Bowl Subdivision schools for his last three years there.

His family is immersed in college sports. His daughter Meredith plays soccer for Yale, and his son Luke ran track at Notre Dame.

Another son, John, plays club soccer at Harvard. “I’ve seen [the impact of college sports] in my own house,” says Phillips.

Phillips succeeded John Swofford, who was UNC Chapel Hill’s athletics director for 17 years and then ACC commissioner for another 17. Swofford negotiated the existing ESPN contract, also reviewed by a committee of athletic directors, for the conference. Phillips’ annual salary is $2.4 million, significantly more than most of the ACC university presidents.

To the chagrin of Triad civic leaders and some conference traditionalists, he engineered the move of conference headquarters in August from Greensboro, where the organization had formed in 1953. It considered Orlando and Washington before selecting Charlotte, aided by a $15 million incentive from state government that hinges on a 15-year commitment to North Carolina.

Charlotte has been “a big plus for the conference and many of the schools from a transportation standpoint and an image standpoint,” says UNC’s Cunningham. It’s easier for representatives from schools such as Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Boston College to fly in and out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport than Piedmont Triad International.

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PAC 12 IMPLOSION Given the jockeying in college football today, a commissioner’s job also includes constant consideration of expansion, and Phillips meets with the school presidents and chancellors on a bimonthly basis. He declines to discuss specifics other than to say, “There wasn’t really anything that made sense to us until this summer.”

That’s when the Pac 12 imploded. Hoping to hold the Pac 12 together, ESPN had proposed a deal providing each school $30 million in TV revenue, but walked away when conference officials asked for $50 million per university.

Oregon and Washington then announced they were leaving for the Big 10, and Arizona, Arizona State and Utah announced they would join the Big 12.

That left Cal and Stanford with just two other Pac 12 members. They quickly agreed to join the ACC along with Southern Methodist, a member of the American Athletic Conference since 2013. The three schools won’t receive a full revenue share from the ACC for 10 years. “I believe that this was the strongest strategic move of the options that existed,” says Wake Forest athletics director John Currie. “Galvanizing 15 presidents and athletics directors to move forward in this expansion is a very significant achievement.”

As part of a less prestigious conference, SMU was receiving only about $7 million a year from the American Athletic Conference media deal. But its donors quickly raised $100 million after announcing the switch to the ACC, reflecting a Texas-sized commitment to football success.

Phillips says adding teams in Texas and California in addition made sense for the conference, which also has members in populous New York and Florida metro areas. “It needed to be additive in value for any move to be made,” he says. “It wasn’t about sheer numbers. It was about value and markets and what would make the ACC better, along with likeminded institutions.”

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NOT AN NIL FAN UNC Chapel Hill, Clemson and Florida State reportedly Ally Financial, the Detroit-based bank with a large presence voted against expansion, with pundits noting that the three in Charlotte, became the title sponsor of the ACC women’s newcomers don’t have powerhouse football programs that can draw strong TV ratings. But the move should add $50 million to basketball tournament and women’s soccer championship in 2023. It’s also the exclusive presenting sponsor of the 2023 $60 million in annual revenue for the ACC, ESPN reported.

ACC women’s lacrosse championship. Phillips also hosted the Phillips says he wasn’t worried about the vote, noting there Disney/ESPN/ACC Network sales summit at the beginning was opposition to adding Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston of the 2023 football season and anticipates making future College to ACC in 2004. “It’s never personal,” he says. “The sponsorship announcements soon. collegiality is the best it’s ever been.”

The conference has been moving its championships to major One frequent criticism of the West Coast expansion is the metropolitan areas to boost revenue from attendance and gain impact of so much travel for student athletics. The existing ACC schools will adjust their non-conference schedules and make those media exposure. The men’s basketball tournament, which had traditionally been held in Greensboro or other ACC cities, was games and matches more local instead of traveling long distances, in Brooklyn in 2022 and will be in Washington, D.C. in 2024.

Phillips says. For football, no school will travel to California New events are also on tap that will in back-to-back seasons, and the two bring in more money. The ACC/SEC divisions have been dropped. Cal and basketball challenge started in November Stanford will travel east together for ACC ALLOCATIONS and included men’s and women’s teams. sports such as basketball, allowing them Pittsburgh .................................. $41.28M In August 2024, ACC schools Georgia to get in two games in one trip.

Virginia Tech ............................ $40.36M Tech and Florida State will play football “The way that we were very quickly Louisville ....................................... $40.37M in Dublin, Ireland in the Aer Lingus able to figure out a schedule model for N.C. State University .......... $40.18M College Football Classic. football that factors in the three new UNC Chapel Hill ................... $40.13M When he’s not working on ways to schools is almost miraculous,” says Wake Clemson University ............. $39.67M boost revenue, Phillips can be found Forest’s Currie. “Everybody had to give Boston College ...................... $39.42M at ACC events. He saw every football a little bit, but the net result vs. where it Wake Forest ............................. $39.28M team play in person and has been to at was two years ago, it’s unbelievable.”

Miami ............................................. $38.91M least one home game for each school. In An ACC study noted that UNC Duke University ..................... $38.83M November, he visited Charlottesville, Chapel Hill had traveled to the West Florida State University ....... $38.61M Virginia, for the field hockey Coast 90 times in the past decade for Syracuse ....................................... $38.30M tournament as well as Cary for the various sports. “The expansion has been Georgia Tech ............................ $37.96M women’s and men’s soccer tournaments. something that we’re still wrestling with Notre Dame .............................. $17.38M He remains concerned about name, to make it as good as possible for all of image and likeness regulations across the the teams,” says UNC’s Cunningham. conference that allow athletes to generate “It’s still too early to tell.”

ACC REVENUE income. He believes that college athletics Phillips’ four-part strategy is BREAKDOWN would be better served by national laws beginning to show results. The Television $443.74M passed by Congress instead of state additional schools will boost the ACC’s Postseason bowls $90M laws that “have created confusion and future television revenue, which rose imbalance.” He also opposes using NIL 11.7% to $443.7 million in the 2021-22 NCAA $65.55M deals to recruit athletes. “We’re in 10 academic year. That figure likely rose Conference championships different states in the ACC, and what again during 2022-23, the first year that $15.51M you can do in Florida is what you can do the country’s largest cable provider, Other $990,065 in North Carolina, and what you can do Xfinity/Comcast, carried the ACC in Georgia is different from what you can Network, which launched in 2019 and source: Atlantic Coast Conference Form 990 (2021 statistics) do in New York,” he notes. airs 1,500 events a year. The conference For those hardcore ACC fans who long for the days of splits the network’s revenue 50/50 with ESPN. Tobacco Road, when basketball dominated the league, Phillips In July, ACC announced a deal with The CW Network to air says it’s a different time. “The regional conference concept has 50 ACC football and basketball games a year through 2026-27.

Although he says that the ESPN deal through 2036 is unchanged, been shattered. It was important for us to move ahead and be progressive. I’m feeling bullish about the future of the conference.”

Phillips is eager to add ACC sports into new markets. The Now he just needs to get ACC’s revenue on par with the Big 10 commissioner has done “a really good job of navigating a very and the SEC. ■ difficult time,” Wake Forest’s Currie says.

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Working Smarter and Harder How AI is impacting North Carolina.

Five North Carolina companies and universities that are using and researching artificial intelligence to create positive impacts.

By Noelle Harff

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efore the wheel, people walked. Before the internet, “connect” meant to talk. The human experience is defined by the latest technology. Right now, millions of dollars are being invested in North Carolina for the development of society’s newest tool: Artificial Intelligence.

For example, computing giant Lenovo has partnered with N.C. State to develop geospatial AI, aiming to optimize agriculture applications. The university has a $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation to study AI’s impact on education.

Cerebras Systems, a Sunnyvale, California-based AI company, is working to develop one of the nation’s largest supercomputers in Asheville. Healthcare, finance and virtually every industry is seeking to integrate AI into their business.

The global artificial intelligence market is currently valued at $150 billion, according to consulting firm NICE, and is expected to grow at an annual rate of 37% for the rest of the decade, with the revenue forecast for 2030 projected to hit $1.3 trillion.

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Smarter solutions: Pendo By collecting every click within a website, Raleigh-based software vendor Pendo can evaluate online consumer behavior, generate comprehensive analytics and offer creative solutions to businesses.

A 2023 survey by Salesforce showed 89% of consumers are more likely to make another purchase after a positive customer service experience. The days of relying on anecdotal evidence to measure customer experience are over because Pendo can provide the numbers with great specificity.

Pendo was among the first software companies to utilize advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence to help firms understand how their customers interact on their website, CEO Todd Olson says. That has helped the company near the $200 million annual revenue mark, with Olson now envisioning sales topping $1 billion as AI technology evolves. Pendo’s market value has been estimated at $2.6 billion.

Before founding Pendo in 2014, Olson was head of product for Rally Software Development. “It was really hard to understand, are people using these features? Are people getting value out of it when you spend all this money and time building something? Is it actually driving positive outcomes for the business?” Olson says.“I lived with the pain point that Pendo now addresses.”

Pendo processes and comprehends vast data points, providing in-depth analytics for clients. “We collect about 20 billion events per hour, totaling 40 billion across 800 million people. So, it’s a tremendous amount of data capture,” notes Olson.

Pendo’s AI feature acts as a personalized consultant. After combing through data sets and generating a comprehensive summary of consumer behavior, AI can offer creative solutions. “For example, if we see a certain part of the user experience that is inefficient or slow, we can suggest, hey, if you fix this, you can improve the experience by 20 or 30%,” says Olson.

“We’ve had plenty of people who have changed what they’re building based on our data,” adds Olson. He explained how these changes have saved companies time and money while simplifying the product.

Goldman Sachs predicts 300 million jobs will be lost or degraded by artificial intelligence. It’s a scary prospect, but Olson offers a nuanced view. “Will AI beat our best sales development reps? Never. Now will AI beat our worst? Yeah, probably.”

Where AI falls short is where humans excel, creativity. Artificial intelligence can only act based on what it’s been trained on. It can only offer solutions that already exist. “It took someone to say, ‘Hey, I want to be different, right?” says Olson. “I think true innovation, doing something from nothing… putting two things together that no one has before… Yeah, AI can’t do that.”

Olson has emphasized his desire to take the 900-employee company public, but a lousy market for initial offerings has slowed that plan over the past two years. It may re-evaluate an IPO next year, depending on market conditions, he has said.

▲Pendo CEO Todd Olson has grown the Raleigh-based software company into an estimated $2.6 billion business since its founding in 2014.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PENDO

A healthier population: Microsoft and Duke In August, Duke Health and Microsoft signed a five-year partnership aimed at using the tech giant’s Azure AI system to simplify and optimize every facet of the healthcare system. It’s difficult to comprehend AI’s unbounded ability in healthcare, Duke officials say. “These models are able to formulate and create new thoughts,” says Jeffery Ferranti, senior vice president and chief digital officer.

“I think this is going to be more disruptive than the internet itself. It’s going to completely change how we practice medicine, how we train medical students, how we do research because suddenly the computer is able to be a copilot in our pocket.”

The partnership’s first objective is to help develop a tech-savvy workforce that can streamline services while benefiting patients While hospitals nationwide are working to improve electronic databases, Azure AI promises to provide a new level of efficiency.

“It allows us to take advantage of all the electronic data assets that have been pulled together over the last decade,” says Ferranti. Now, hundreds of pages of medical records can be quickly and easily understood by doctors and nurses.

Moreover, this technology is aimed at facilitating medical research.

In the next five years, Ferranti predicts a healthier population because of cures being developed at a rapid rate. Medical discoveries that once took 15 to 17 years to get in the hands of doctors can now result in five to seven years because of the power of AI, he says.

Azure AI isn’t a cure all, to be sure. Machine learning models can lie and “just make stuff up,” Ferranti says. “They will even provide references of journal articles and book chapters… and they don’t actually exist.” This is what data scientists call “hallucinations.”

The partnership between Duke and Microsoft, which has not released any financial details, is emphasizing the importance of creating trustworthy technology. Though these models have remarkable potential, “AI should not replace humans. AI should augment humans. And if we do that, I think we’ll be in a good place,” says Ferranti.

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Heart disease killed 695,547 Americans this year, mostly as an unforeseen illness. Moreover, chronic illnesses are responsible for 70% of U.S. deaths, and a majority are preventable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Jared Pelo and Robbie Allen founded Durham-based Bionic Health, an AI-based preventive health care clinic, in January 2023. Though heart disease and cancers are complex, seeing a doctor doesn’t have to be. “Life expectancy has been declining in the last few years, but we have the power to reverse that,” says Allen.

“I know from studies people’s happiness peaks at about age 65 and it goes down after that because of poor health,” says Pelo, announcing the beta launch of Bionic Health in October.

Bionic Health raised more than $3 million in its first three months. “We wanted to automate what a doctor does,” says Allen. He explained how their company was founded around the same time OpenAI’s GBT-4 came to market. “We are based on the latest and greatest technology.”

Before starting Bionic Health, Pelo created an AI “copilot” for doctors called Dragon Ambient eXperience (DAX). This AI model automates clinical documentation, “so the doctor can actually pay attention to the patient in front of them,” says Pelo. The technology was acquired by Microsoft.

“When you sign up, we give you an order to go get blood work done at a local Labcorp… we may collect blood pressure, glucose levels, and eventually we are going to factor in wearable data,” says Allen. AI then summarizes these medical metrics. Finally, a clinical team of doctors and health coaches create personalized treatment plans, and ultimately, catch chronic illnesses early.

Bionic Health is among the few healthcare companies to implement transparent pricing. “I look at how healthcare is done and I often ask ‘Why?’” says Allen. He views clear pricing as integral in instilling trust. “We want you to know exactly why and where the money is going.” Bionic Health operates outside of the traditional health care system, declining to participate in insurance plans. “ I’m not trying to live until I’m 150, but in my last 10 to 20 years, I want to be able to do what I want,” says Allen, “I’m hoping as more people adopt this, they could be healthier for longer.”

▲ Robbie Allen and Jared Pelo, center, right, founded Durham-based Bionic Health in January 2023. The preventive health clinic uses AI to help doctors catch chronic illnesses early. Other photos show patients involved in the advanced technology treatment.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF BIONIC HEALTH AND NCICO

Creating a happier fourth quarter: Bionic Health

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Future of finance: nCino “By automating and accelerating credit decisions, banks can offer access to credit in otherwise underserved communities and demographics,” says Pope. Some academics question that view, contending that biases will be extended through the use of artificial intelligence.

That challenge will require human oversight, to be sure. nCino’s technology has proven a winner in the marketplace, though the company hasn’t thrived for investors. Revenue has soared from $138 million in 2020 to an expected $445 million in the 2024 fiscal year ending Jan. 31. But shares trade for about $30 as of late November, little changed from the $31 IPO price in July 2020 and well below ▲ Britney Pope peak levels in 2020-21.

Many people think AI is going to save the world, and a lot of people think it’s going to end it. In an AI study published in April, Goldman Sachs surveyed more than 900 different occupations and concluded: “Our economists estimate that roughly two-thirds of U.S. occupations are exposed to some degree of automation by AI.” These exposed occupations may see 25-50% of their jobs become automated.

This technology has potential that’s difficult to comprehend. Its ability to work faster – and smarter – is scary.

Still, industry insiders seem optimistic. People will pivot. The internet didn’t make libraries obsolete, it just changed how humans used the space. The hope is that people will, once again, adapt, create and thrive. ■

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BIONIC HEALTH AND NCICO

The financial sector has seen a huge push to go digital in past five years. The number of bank branches in the U.S. has declined by 20% since 2009, with the physical locations largely supplanted by an outpouring of new Internet-based services that have made banking more accessible for many customers.

Now, bankers increasingly view AI as more than just automation of clerical tasks, but more importantly as a tool to elevate the financial sector. In the 2008 recession, many banks collapsed because of a reliance on faulty credit ratings and a conviction that housing values never declined. Would artificial intelligence have caught those problems and prevented failures?

AI advocates contend that traditional lending is constrained by human capacity, personal bias and slow reactions. Opening the door to machine learning models can lead to faster, and better loans.

A survey from The Economist showed that 77% of bankers believe the ability to utilize AI will be the difference between success and failure.

A homegrown leader in the field is nCino, a cloud-based banking software based in Wilmington, that contends it has a head start capitalizing on AI. nCino provides banks with an easy-to-use ecosystem of information, offering access to core systems, credit reporting agencies, and other third-party applications. “Our system facilitates the gathering of deposits, origination of any loan products, onboarding of customers, and portfolio management across all lines,” says Britney Pope, area vice president in nCino’s Global Strategic Solutions group.

AI does more than automate administrative tasks, she says.“It’s about putting intelligence into each step of those processes. Consider AI acting on a credit decision. Since we now have all that data from all those lines of business on a single platform, we can then embed the intelligence leveraging that data and generative AI to gather insights about our customers and how they may potentially behave.”

Historically, credit risk analysis utilizes credit scores and statistical regression models. New machine learning models can learn from large data sets to identify patterns and potential problems that may be overlooked by human or statistical methods. Emerging technology can also help banks flag fraudulent activity and money laundering.

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BE IT RESOLVED

By Kevin Ellis

P

erforming a daily act of kindness. Connecting more with family and friends. Being more present.

Those were a few of the responses Business North Carolina received when we asked this year’s Legal Elite winners to share their New Year’s resolutions.

We also asked them their favorite lawyer joke. Our favorite: Attorneys don’t get dumped, they just lose their appeal. Favorite fictional lawyer? More than a few picked Atticus Finch. These top professionals also share best career advice and debunk myths surrounding their work among other insights.

Business North Carolina appreciates the attorneys who took time to vote on their peers as well as those who participated in this feature.

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It’s the 23rd class of Legal Elite, which honors lawyers chosen by their peers. Business North Carolina contracted DataJoe Research to facilitate an online peer-voting and internet research process. About 1,300 lawyers received votes, with those receiving the most getting recognition in 17 specialties as Hall of Fame members.

The responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Previous Hall of Fame members are listed by their firm at the time of selection, unless otherwise noted.

DataJoe Research is a Boulder, Colorado-based software and research company specializing in data collection and verification, and it conducts various nominations across the nation on behalf of publishers.

DataJoe confirmed that each published winner had, at time of review, a current, active license status with the appropriate state regulatory board. If unable to find evidence of a lawyer’s active registration with the state regulatory board, that lawyer was excluded from the list. In addition, we checked available public sources to identify lawyers disciplined for an infraction by the state regulatory board. They were excluded from the list.

DataJoe presented the tallied results to Business North Carolina for its final review and adjustments.

DataJoe and Business North Carolina recognize that there are many talented lawyers who are not listed. This is a subset of talented professionals across the state. Inclusion in the list is based on the opinions of responding lawyers in North Carolina. DataJoe thoroughly ensures fair voting but the company understands that the results of this survey nomination and internet research campaign are not an objective metric.

CATEGORY WINNERS ANTITRUST | John A. Price APPELLATE | Troy D. Shelton BANKRUPTCY | Jeffrey E. Oleynik BUSINESS | Heather Culp CONSTRUCTION | Greg C. Ahlum CORPORATE COUNSEL | Greg Murphy CORPORATE LAW | John David Love CRIMINAL | Caitlin Poe EMPLOYMENT | Alex Maultsby ENVIRONMENTAL |

Natalie D. Potter

FAMILY | Heidi Bloom IMMIGRATION | Laura Deddish Burton INTELLECTUAL | John Owen LITIGATION | W. Scott Jones REAL ESTATE | Julian Robb TAX & ESTATE PLANNING | Amy H. Kincaid

Disclaimers: DataJoe uses best practices and exercises great care in assembling content for this list. DataJoe does not warrant that the data contained within the list are complete or accurate. DataJoe does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. All rights reserved. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without written permission from DataJoe. For research/methodology questions, contact the research team at surveys@datajoe.com.

YOUNG GUNS | Katie Wong

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ANTITRUST

JOHN A. PRICE FIRM: Calhoun, Bhella, & Sechrest, Durham HOMETOWN: Maryville, Missouri UNDERGRAD: Northwest Missouri State University LAW SCHOOL: Kansas University School of Law, 1972 PRACTICE LAW: 51 years

BE PRESENT AND ENJOY LIFE TO THE FULLEST.

FAMILY: Two grown sons, six grandchildren, wife passed away in 2020 GO-TO ACTIVITY STRESS RELIEVER: Long walks in nature and non-legal reading.

BUCKET LIST: Go back to Maui, my favorite vacation spot.

LEGAL WORK MYTH: Lawyers bill all the time they spend on client matters.

FAVORITE LAWYER JOKE: “You seem to be in some distress,” says the kindly judge to the witness. “Is anything the matter?” “Well, your Honor,” says the witness, “I swore to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, but every time I try, some lawyer objects.”

LAST SHOW BINGED-WATCHED: “Suits” COMFORT FOOD: Ice cream SPECIAL DISH: My wife’s lasagna FAVORITE FICTIONAL LAWYER: Atticus Finch from “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

FAVORITE N.C. HANGOUT: Blowing Rock BBQ - EAST OR WEST?: Texas barbecue LEGAL INSPIRATION: Helping the poor and weak.

BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: As a trial lawyer – be yourself and be authentic.

FICTIONAL COURTROOM WHERE YOU’RE THE LAWYER: “To Kill a Mockingbird” – fighting prejudice.

ALTERNATIVE CAREER: Teacher DEFINE SUCCESS: Doing what you love the best you can.

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ANTITRUST

JOHN A. PRICE

Calhoun Bhella & Sechrest, Durham Cassandra J. Creekman

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh Lisa F. Garrison

Garrison Law Group, Asheboro Henry L. Kitchin Jr.

McGuireWoods, Raleigh Larry S. McDevitt

Van Winkle Law, Asheville Michael T. Medford

Manning Fulton & Skinner, Raleigh Lawrence C. Moore III

Robinson Bradshaw, Charlotte John D. Noor

Roberts & Stevens, Asheville Clinton R. Pinyan

Brooks Pierce, Greensboro George Sanderson

The Sanderson Law Firm, Raleigh HALL OF FAME: Matthew W.

Sawchak, Ellis & Winters, Cary (2002, 2003); Rodrick J. Enns, Enns & Archer, Winston-Salem (2004); Larry B. Sitton, Smith Moore, Greensboro (2005); Everett J. Bowman, Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, Charlotte (2006 ); Douglas Wayne Kenyon, Hunton & Williams, Raleigh (2007); Mark W. Merritt, Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, Charlotte (2008); Mark J. Horoschak, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, Charlotte (2009); Jennifer K. Van Zant, Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, Greensboro (2010); Catharine B. Arrowood, Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein, Raleigh (2011); Jonathan Heyl, Smith Moore Leatherwood, Charlotte (2012); Noel L. Allen, Pinnix & Nichols, Raleigh (2013); John F. Graybeal, Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein, Raleigh (2014); Press Millen, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, Raleigh (2015); W. Andrew “Andy” Copenhaver, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, WinstonSalem (2016); Stephen Feldman, Ellis & Winters, Raleigh (2017); Brad Evans, Ward and Smith, Greenville (2018); Henry “Hal” L. Kitchin Jr., McGuire Woods, Wilmington (2019); Brian Hayles, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, Charlotte (2020); Alan Duncan, Turning Point Litigation, Greensboro (2021); Dhamian Blue, Blue, Raleigh (2022); Denise M. Gunter, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, Winston-Salem (2023)

APPELLATE

TROY D. SHELTON Fox Rothschild, Raleigh

Steven Andrew Bader

Cranfill Sumner, Raleigh

Jaye Elizabeth Bingham-Hinch

Batten Lee, Raleigh

Bo Brandon Caudill

Christopher Watford

Paul A. Fanning

Adam Howard Charnes

Rebecca K. Watts

Joseph Zachary Frost

Villmer Caudill, Charlotte

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Winston-Salem Charles Clanton

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh Alexander C. Dale

Ward and Smith, Wilmington Robert H. Edmunds Jr.

Fox Rothschild, Greensboro Chris S. Edwards

Ward and Smith, Wilmington Samuel J. Ervin IV

Brooks Pierce, Greensboro Stephen D. Feldman

Robinson Bradshaw, Raleigh

Kaitlyn Elizabeth Fudge

James Scott Farrin, Raleigh Ross Fulton

Rayburn Cooper & Durham, Charlotte Narendra K. Ghosh

Surratt and Thompson, Winston-Salem Collins Family & Elder Law Group, Monroe John R. Wester

Robinson Bradshaw, Charlotte

Erik Randall Zimmerman

Robinson Bradshaw, Chapel Hill

HALL OF FAME: Matthew Nis

Leerberg, Smith Moore Leatherwood, Raleigh (2018); Toby Hampson, Wyrick Robbins / N.C. Court of Appeals, Raleigh (2019); Drew Erteschik, Poyner Spruill, Raleigh (2020); Beth Brooks Scherer, Fox Rothschild, Raleigh (2021); Michelle D. Connell, Fox Rothschild, Raleigh (2022); Angela Farag Craddock, Young Moore and Henderson, Raleigh (2023)

BANKRUPTCY

Patterson Harkavy, Chapel Hill Robert Daniel Gibson

Stam Law Firm, Apex

Bonnie Lynn Keith Green

The Green Firm, Charlotte Karen Marie Hinkley

Ward and Smith, Greenville Buckmiller Boyette Frost, Raleigh John Russell Gardner

K&L Gates, Raleigh

Joseph W. Grier III

Grier Wright Martinez, Charlotte Stephen E. Gruendel

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte David J. Haidt

Ayers Haidt, New Bern Jeremy Harn

John T Orcutt, Raleigh Erik Mosby Harvey

Bennett Guthrie, Winston-Salem Cole Hayes

Hayes Law, Charlotte

Jason L. Hendren

Hendren Redwine & Malone, Raleigh Ashley Lee Hogewood III

K&L Gates, Raleigh

Andrew Thomas Houston

JEFFREY E. OLEYNIK Brooks Pierce, Greensboro Rayford K. Adams III

Moon Wright Houston, Charlotte Charles M. Ivey III

Ivey McClellan, Greensboro Britton C. Lewis

Spilman Thomas & Battle, Winston-Salem

Carruthers & Roth, Greensboro

Dozier Miller Law Group, Charlotte

Fox Rothschild, Greensboro

Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey, Winston-Salem

Alexander Ricks, Charlotte

Ellis & Winters, Raleigh

Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, Raleigh

Howard, Stallings, From, Atkins, Angell & Davis, Raleigh

Hedrick Gardner, Charlotte

David R. Badger, Charlotte

Smith Debnam, Raleigh

Offit Kurman, Charlotte

Fox Rothschild, Greensboro

Biggs Law Firm, Raleigh

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh

Davis Hartman Wright, New Bern

Wake Forest Law, Winston-Salem

Sasser Law Firm, Cary

Nelson Mullins, Winston-Salem

Ivey McClellan, Greensboro

Ellis & Winters, Raleigh

Bell Davis Pitt, Winston-Salem

Ward and Smith, Greenville

Fox Rothschild, Greensboro

Fox Rothschild, Greensboro

Butler & Butler, Wilmington

James, McElroy & Diehl, Charlotte

Carter And Carter, Wilmington

Ellis & Winters, Raleigh

Cordes Law, Charlotte

Robinson Bradshaw, Raleigh

Hamilton Stephens Steele + Martin, Charlotte

Davis Hartman Wright Attorneys, New Bern Adam Samuel Hocutt Amy Purwin Hunt Lucy Inman

Brian Richard Anderson Charles N. Anderson Jr. James B. Angell

Jennifer Lyday

Lance P. Martin

Ward and Smith, Asheville

Michael Leon Martinez

Grier Wright Martinez PA, Charlotte Robert Thomas May

Duane Jones

David R. Badger

Alicia Jurney

Paul Rudd Baynard

Patrick Michael Kane

Laurie B. Biggs

J. Blakley Kiefer

John C. Bircher III

John Joseph Korzen

William E. Brewer Jr.

Lorin J. Lapidus

Samantha K. Brumbaugh

Michelle Ann Liguori

Daniel C. Bruton

John M. Martin

William E. Burton III

Kip David Nelson

Algernon L. Butler III

Preston O. Odom III

Oliver Carter III

Jonathan D. Sasser

Stacy C. Cordes

Matthew W. Sawchak

Robert Cox

Michael G. Schietzelt

Hillary B. Crabtree

Mark Russell Sigmon

Damon Terry Duncan

Amie Carol Sivon

Ashley A. Edwards

Tyler J. Russell

Benjamin Robert Eisner

Travis P. Sasser

Michael Best & Friedrich, Raleigh Sigmon Law, Raleigh

Ragsdale Liggett, Raleigh

Christopher G. Smith

Smith Anderson, Raleigh D. Martin Warf

Nelson Mullins, Raleigh

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte Duncan Law, Greensboro Parker Poe, Charlotte

Oliver & Cheek, Wilson William L. Esser IV

Parker Poe, Charlotte

Banzet Thompson Styers & May, Warrenton Jack Miller

Rayburn Cooper & Durham, Charlotte Clinton Shepperd Morse

Brooks Pierce, Greensboro Kathleen O’Malley

Stevens Martin Vaughn & Tadych, Raleigh Ashley B. Oldfield

Rayburn Cooper & Durham, Charlotte George M. Oliver

Oliver & Cheek, New Bern Felton E. Parrish

Young Conaway, Charlotte

Walter W. Pitt Jr.

Bell Davis Pitt, Winston-Salem Benson Thomas Pitts

Pitts Hay & Hugenschmidt, Asheville Alan W. Pope

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte James Price

Price & Williams, Wilmington

Charles Richard Rayburn III

Rayburn Cooper & Durham, Charlotte Ciara L. Rogers

Oliver & Cheek, New Bern Ashley S. Rusher

Blanco Tackabery, Winston-Salem

Ward and Smith, Raleigh Sasser Law Firm, Cary Philip M. Sasser

Sasser Law Firm, Cary J A N U A R Y

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APPELLATE

TROY D. SHELTON FIRM: Fox Rothschild, Raleigh HOMETOWN: Midway (Davidson County) UNDERGRAD: Duke University LAW SCHOOL: UNC School of Law, 2014 PRACTICE LAW: 10 years

FAMILY: Married my high school sweetheart, Molly.

We have two boys and a girl, ages 5, 3 and 1.

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: I started doing Brazilian jiu-jitsu with my son. Unlike anything I’ve done before. I’m hoping we keep it up in 2024.

GO-TO STRESS RELIEVER: Prayer, journaling and exercise to reduce stress in my soul, mind and body.

BIGGEST RISK: Choosing to focus nearly exclusively on appellate work. I knew if I was going to continue being a litigator, this would be my path.

COMFORT FOOD: Detroit-style pizza.

FAVORITE NORTH CAROLINA HANGOUT: Sitting on the beach, watching the waves roll in and out.

BBQ – EAST OR WEST?: Lexington-style barbecue. Everything else is just pulled pork with vinegar.

BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: Being a lawyer is stressful, so it’s important to learn the difference between the things you can control and the things you can’t. Deal with the things you can control and let go of the things that you can’t.

ALTERNATE CAREER: I’m terribly jealous of novelists and short story writers.

2024 MILESTONES: A decade of lawyering.

DEFINE SUCCESS: For me, professional success is getting to do work that I enjoy without it taking away from time with my family.

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C A R O L I N A

12/18/23 1:00 PM

Dirk W. Siegmund

Ivey McClellan, Greensboro Kevin L. Sink

Kevin Sink Law, Raleigh

William C. Smith Jr.,

Manning Fulton & Skinner, Raleigh Emily K. Steele

KL Gates, Raleigh

Glenn Clark Thompson

Hamilton Stephens Steele +Martin, Charlotte Landon Van Winkle

Smith Debnam, Charlotte

Joseph Jude Vonnegut

Hutchens Law Firm, Fayetteville

Thomas William Waldrep Jr.

Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey, Winston-Salem Jill C. Walters

Baker Donelson, Raleigh

Margaret R. Westbrook

K&L Gates, Raleigh

Matthew Alexander Winer

Hamilton Stephens Steele +Martin, Charlotte Brent Wootton

Wootton & Wootton, Durham HALL OF FAME: J. Michael Booe,

Kennedy Covington, Charlotte (2002, 2003); Gregory B. Crampton, Nicholls & Crampton, Raleigh (2004); Richard M. Hutson II, Hutson Hughes & Powell, Durham (2005); C. Richard Rayburn Jr., Rayburn Cooper & Durham, Charlotte (2006); Terri

L. Gardner, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, Raleigh (2007); John A. Northen, Northen Blue, Chapel Hill, (2008); Holmes P. Harden, Williams Mullen, Raleigh (2009); Christine Myatt, Nexsen Pruet, Greensboro (2010); Gerald A. “Jeb” Jeutter Jr., Gerald A. “Jeb” Jeutter Jr. Attorney at Law, Raleigh (2011); Kenneth M. Greene, Carruthers & Roth, Greensboro (2012); Trawick H. “Buzzy” Stubbs Jr., Stubbs & Perdue, New Bern (2013); Benjamin Kahn, Nexsen Pruet, Greensboro (2014); James S. “Charlie” Livermon, Poyner Spruill, Rocky Mount (2015); Richard S. Wright, Moon Wright and Houston, Charlotte (2016); Heather W. Culp, Essex Richards, Charlotte (2017); William P. Janvier, Janvier Law Firm, Raleigh (2018); Richard D. Sparkman, Richard D. Sparkman & Associates, Angier (2019); George Sanderson, The Sanderson Law Firm, Raleigh (2020); John “Woody” C. Woodman, Essex Richards, Charlotte (2021); Rebecca Finch Redwine, Hendren Redwine & Malone, Raleigh (2022); Matt Tomsic, Rayburn Cooper & Durham, Charlotte (2023)

BUSINESS

HEATHER CULP Essex Richards, Charlotte

Justin Evan Agans

Scott Dillon

Nicholas John Bakatsias

Kurtis R. Dumaw

Spengler & Agans PLLC, Charlotte Carruthers & Roth, Greensboro Catherine A. Barnes

James, McElroy & Diehl, Charlotte Marc D. Bishop

Brooks Pierce, Greensboro Matthew S. Black

Envisage Law, Raleigh William P. Bray

Bray & Long, Charlotte

Elizabeth S. Brewington

Brooks Pierce, Greensboro

William Matthew Buckmiller

Buckmiller, Boyette & Frost, Raleigh Michael Burger

NC Planning, Cary

Carruthers & Roth, Greensboro Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh Alan W. Duncan

Turning Point Litigation, Greensboro Joshua B. Durham

Bell, Davis & Pitt, Charlotte Katie M. Ertmer

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh

Joseph A. Fernandez

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte Kerry A. Friedman

Patla, Straus, Robinson & Moore, Asheville Milton Heath Gilbert Jr.

Baucom Claytor, Charlotte

Richard Lewis Glenn III

Garrett Walker Aycoth & Olson, Greensboro

Stephen T. Byrd

H. Brent Helms

Steven Carr

Mark A. Hiller

Manning, Fulton & Skinner, Raleigh Ellinger & Carr, Raleigh

Vincent D. Childress Jr.

Roberts & Stevens, Asheville Ryan William Coffield

Van Winkle Law, Asheville Scott Cooper

Robinson & Lawing, Winston-Salem Robinson Bradshaw, Raleigh Lee Carlton Hodge

Ward and Smith, New Bern Nathan A. Hull

Hull & Chandler, Charlotte Gregory D. Hutchins

Rayburn Cooper & Durham, Charlotte Roberts & Stevens, Asheville Edward “Trip” Coyne III

Scott Jackson

Anne E. Croteau

Jonathan Jenkins

Ward and Smith, Wilmington McGuireWoods, Raleigh

Maynard Nexsen, Greensboro Brooks Pierce, Greensboro

J A N U A R Y

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BANKRUPTCY

JEFFREY E. OLEYNIK FIRM: Brooks Pierce, Greensboro HOMETOWN: Raleigh, but moved a lot with dad’s job UNDERGRAD: William and Mary University LAW SCHOOL: University of Virginia, 1983 PRACTICE LAW: 40 years

FAMILY: Wife, Michelle; daughters, Kaleigh and Megan and sons-in-law, Luke and Hugh NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: Stretch more before getting on my bike, try to consistently go to gentle yoga once a week.

2024 WORK-LIFE CHANGE: Delegate and mentor more.

GO-TO STRESS RELIEVER: Long bike ride, off road, or long lap swim during the summer.

BUCKET LIST: Hike Machu Picchu BIGGEST RISK: Following my law partner, an expert skier, down a serious black diamond run at Sun Valley while in Utah for depositions.

LEGAL WORK MYTH: That the only thing lawyers want to do is bill more hours.

FAVORITE LAWYER JOKE: A lawyer dies and is greeted by Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates. The young lawyer complains, “This is a mistake, I wasn’t meant to die this young.” Saint Peter responds, “Young? According to your timesheets you’re 93.”

LAST SHOW BINGE-WATCHED: “Killing Eve” COMFORT FOOD: My mom’s spicy meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans.

FAVORITE FICTIONAL LAWYER: Atticus Finch from “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

FAVORITE N.C. HANGOUT: North Topsail, where our friend Joe has a house with a great deck and even better view from the crow’s nest.

LEGAL INSPIRATION: My love for economics and how that fits with analysis of business deals gone bad.

BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: Advice received: The best way to settle a case, get a good settlement for your client, is to show the other side you are prepared and ready to try the case.

FICTIONAL COURTROOM WHERE YOU’RE THE LAWYER: The courtroom in “Boston Legal,” with Denny Crane (actor William Shatner) as my “senior partner” who helps me try the case.

ALTERNATIVE CAREER: Teach high school economics and coach the cross-country team.

DEFINE SUCCESS: A client who appreciates your effort and recognizes that you were always prepared for negotiations or hearings.

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C A R O L I N A

12/18/23 1:00 PM

Merrill G. Jones II

Elizabeth Vennum

William A. Blancato

Rebecca Ann Knudson

Nick Kendall

Stephen Brian Walker

Matthew C. Bouchard

Michael Aaron Lay

Ward and Smith, Greenville Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte Robert D. Kidwell

Fox Rothschild, Greensboro April Epley Kight

Schell Bray, Greensboro Ben E. Klein

Sigmon Klein, Greensboro Katherine Kliebert

Kliebert Law, Charlotte

Hull & Chandler, Charlotte Garrett, Walker, Aycoth & Olson, Greensboro Frank Marshall Wall

Cranfill Sumner, Raleigh Jeffrey R. Wolfe

Schell Bray, Greensboro

Robert B. Womble

James A. Roberts III

Lewis Roberts, Raleigh

David Scott Rugani

Rosenwood, Rose & Litwak, Charlotte Daniel K. Bryson

Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, Raleigh

HALL OF FAME: Russell M.

Carl Jeffress Burchette

V. Vaughn Ramsey

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh

Ross Joseph Bromberger

Thomas M. Buckley

Robinson II, Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, Charlotte (2002, 2003); Nexsen Pruet, Charlotte Doris R. Bray, Schell Bray PLLC, Stephen F. Later Greensboro (2004); J. Norfleet Pruden Robbins May & Rich, Pinehurst III, Kennedy Covington, Charlotte David K. Liggett (2005); William M. Flynn, Hunton Ragsdale Liggett, Raleigh & Williams, Raleigh (2006); Robin L. Hinson, Robinson, Bradshaw & Thomas I. Lyon Hinson, Charlotte (2007); Peter C. Manning Fulton, Raleigh Buck, Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, Edward Hallett Maginnis Charlotte (2008); Gerald F. Roach, Maginnis Law, Raleigh Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Robert R. Marcus Mitchell & Jernigan, Raleigh (2009); Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, Charlotte Mark Davidson, Brooks, Pierce, Jeffrey Michael McCraw McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, Crisp Cherry McCraw, Charlotte Greensboro (2010); Stephen M. Lynch, Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, J. Dickson McLean Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed, Charlotte (2011); Amalie L. Tuffin, Whitmeyer Tuffin, Raleigh (2012); Wilmington Grayson S. Hale, Morningstar Law Carolyn P. Meade Group, Morrisville (2013); David D. Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte Beatty, Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec, Jason A. Miller Raleigh (2014); Charles S. Baldwin IV, Miller Monroe Plyler, Raleigh Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey Joseph William Norman & Leonard, Wilmington (2015); James Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte R. Forrest, Forrest Firm, Durham (2016); Gregory S. Connor, The Joshua J. Otto Connor Law Firm, Raleigh (2017); John Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh Babcock, Wall Babcock, Winston-Salem James Ashley Pearce (2018); M. Keith Kapp, Williams James Ashley Pearce, Raleigh Mullen, Raleigh (2019); Matthew Lonnie M. Player Jr. Marcellino, Marcellino & Tyson PLLC, Player McLean, Fayetteville Charlotte (2020); George Stephen Diab, Christopher Poe Murchison, Taylor & Gibson, Wilmington Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh (2021); Daniel Stephen Trimmer, Kevin A. Prakke Skufca Law, Charlotte (2022); John M. Manning Fulton, Raleigh Cross Jr., Brooks Pierce, Greensboro (2023).

Amy Risseeuw

Poyner Spruill, Raleigh

K&L Gates, Raleigh

Christopher Henry Kouri

Tuggle Duggins, Greensboro

Blancato Legal Services, Winston-Salem

CONSTRUCTION

GREG C. AHLUM

Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte

Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte

Ryan James Adams

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte

Aleksandra Elzbieta Anderson

Robinson Bradshaw, Charlotte

Stacey Denise Bailey-Pharr

Hamilton Stephens Steele + Martin, Charlotte

Ryan Lee Beaver

Goldberg Segalla, Raleigh

Rosenwood, Rose & Litwak, Charlotte Benjamin Thomas Buskirk

Poyner Spruill, Raleigh

Christopher J. Campbell

Corporate Counsel, True Homes, Charlotte David Anderson Carmen

Bell, Davis & Pitt, Winston-Salem Ben David Carson

Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte Rebecca K. Cheney

Hamilton Stephens Steele +Martin, Charlotte Adrianne Huffman Chillemi

Hamilton Stephens Steele +Martin, Charlotte David S. Coats

Bailey & Dixon, Raleigh Ashley M. Coghill

Davis Hartman Wright, New Bern Keith E. Coltrain

Wall Templeton & Haldrup, Raleigh Ward Davis

Bell, Davis & Pitt, Charlotte

Adam Reese Denobriga

Bell, Davis & Pitt, Charlotte William S. Durr

Ward and Smith, Asheville Luke J. Farley

Ellis & Winters, Raleigh

John Thomas Floyd

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte David B. Hamilton

Joseph W. Moss Jr.

Nexsen Pruet, Charlotte

Evan Monroe Musselwhite

Ward and Smith, Raleigh

Joseph Raymond Pellington

Devore Acton & Stafford, Charlotte J. Anthony Penry

Penry Riemann, Raleigh William W. Pollock

Ragsdale Liggett, Raleigh Lindsey Ellis Powell

Anderson Jones, Raleigh Jeffrey M. Reichard

Nexsen Pruet, Greensboro Neil Riemann

Parry Law, Chapel Hill

Richard Lee Robertson Jr.

Robertson & Associates, Charlotte John C. Rogers III

Allen, Moore & Rogers, Raleigh Whitaker Boykin Rose

Rosenwood Rose & Litwak, Charlotte Perry Safran

Safran Law, Raleigh Stephen Safran

Safran Law, Raleigh

Byron Lee Saintsing

Smith Debnams, Raleigh Bryan G. Scott

Akerman, Winston-Salem Nicole B. Slaughter

Alexander Ricks, Charlotte

Mitzi Riana Smith Kevin J. Stanfield Colin Stockton

Walter L. Tippett Jr.

Robert Jason Herndon

Brooks Pierce, Raleigh

Anna-Bryce Hobson

Young Moore, Raleigh

William E. Hubbard

Skufca Law, Charlotte

Jessica Soles Humphries

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte

Edward Aubin Jesson

Van Sickle Law, Cary

Parker Poe, Raleigh

Jay P. Tobin

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, Charlotte

Daniel S. Trimmer

Maynard Nexsen, Raleigh

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, Charlotte Neale T. Johnson Christopher K. Behm Fox Rothschild, Greensboro Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed, Wesley S. Jones Wilmington Wesley Scott Jones, Wilmington

Murchison, Taylor & Gibson, Wilmington

John T. Benjamin Jr., Raleigh

NC Planning, Raleigh

Nexsen Pruet, Greensboro

Marcellino & Tyson, Charlotte

Windle Terry Bimbo, Charlotte

Bryan Lee Tyson

Hamilton Stephens Steele +Martin, Charlotte

Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, Raleigh

Scott C. Harris

James B. Snow

Steven Allen Bimbo

Carmela Mastrianni

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh

Pharr Law, Winston-Salem

Eric H. Biesecker

Tharrington Smith, Raleigh

Hamlet & Associates, Wilmington

Harvey M. Hamlet

George W. Sistrunk III

Clayton Trice

Rod Malone

Smith Bowers, Raleigh

Anderson Legal, Cary

John T. Benjamin Jr.

Rosenwood Rose & Litwak, Charlotte

Hamlet & Associates, Wilmington

Mark Hamlet

Caroline Wannamaker Sink

W. Berry Trice

Nancy Stewart Litwak

Hamlet & Associates, Wilmington

Adams Howell, Raleigh

Matthew H. Stabler

Hamilton Stephens Steele +Martin, Charlotte

Hamilton Stephens Steele +Martin, Charlotte

Robert Rust

Hogue Hill, Wilmington

Cranfill Sumner, Wilmington

John T. Benjamin Jr., Raleigh

Hamlet & Associates, Wilmington Jesson & Rains, Charlotte

Daniel G. Katzenbach

Cranfill Sumner, Raleigh Russell B. Killen

Parker Poe, Raleigh

David C. Kimball

Robinson Bradshaw, Charlotte

Scott M. Tyler

Matthew Van Sickle Jay M. Wilkerson

Conner Gwyn Schenck, Raleigh Steele B. Windle III

Windle Terry Bimbo, Charlotte HALL OF FAME: James A. Roberts

III, Lewis & Roberts, Raleigh (2004); Jeffrey J. Davis, Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte (2005); John L. Shaw, Poyner Spruill, Raleigh (2006); Dudley Humphrey, Kilpatrick Stockton, Winston-Salem (2007); James S. J A N U A R Y

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BUSINESS

HEATHER CULP FIRM: Essex Richards, Charlotte HOMETOWN: Lexington, Kentucky UNDERGRAD: Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) LAW SCHOOL: University of Kentucky, 1997 PRACTICE LAW: 26 years (5 years in Kentucky; 21 years in North Carolina)

FAMILY: Husband Chris, stepson Christopher, stepdaughter Jessica, her husband and their daughter NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: Lose weight and work less – the two are connected!

GO-TO STRESS RELIEVER: Watching true crime series and listening to true crime podcasts. They are engrossing and remind me that things could be a lot worse. Good jigsaw puzzles are also a great escape.

BUCKET LIST: Visit Nantucket, Massachusetts. I’ve read every Elin Hilderbrand book, all of which are set in Nantucket, and it sounds like my kind of place.

BIGGEST RISK: Over the past several months, I have tried to publicly, consistently, and meaningfully stand up for North Carolina’s LGBTQ+ attorneys. It would have been easier to keep my head down, but I’m glad I didn’t.

FAVORITE LAWYER JOKE: A law school professor’s exam questions involved the hypothetical law firm “Dewey, Cheatem & Howe.” That still makes me laugh.

COMFORT FOOD: Three-way Skyline chili SPECIAL DISH: My late maternal grandmother’s homemade bourbon balls FAVORITE FICTIONAL LAWYER: Grace Van Owen (actor Susan Dey’s character on “L.A. Law”) FAVORITE N.C. HANGOUT: The mountains; cooler weather, spectacular nature and views.

LEGAL INSPIRATION: A combination of “L.A. Law” and encouraging junior high school mock trial coaches.

BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: Leave your desk to take advantage of the slower work days because you’ll make up for it during the busier work days – received from a supervising partner in the 1990s and given ever since.

CAREER ALTERNATIVE: Headhunting/recruiting. I like introducing and connecting people.

2024 MILESTONES: Come September, I’ll have been at Essex Richards for 10 years.

DEFINE SUCCESS: Sleeping well at night.

NOTE: Culp was a 2017 Legal Elite winner in the bankruptcy category.

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C A R O L I N A

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Schenck IV, Conner Gwyn Schenck, Raleigh (2008); Michael Wilson, Johnston, Allison & Hord, Charlotte (2009); John B. “Jack” Taylor, Nexsen Pruet, Charlotte (2010); Peter J. Marino, Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, Raleigh (2011); William H. Gammon, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, Raleigh (2012); Richard D. Conner, Conner Gwyn Schenck, Greensboro (2013); Joseph H. Nanney Jr., Meynardie & Nanney, Raleigh, (2014); Bob Meynardie, Meynardie & Nanney, Raleigh (2015); Harper Heckman, Nexsen Pruet, Greensboro (2016); Nan E. Hannah, Hannah Sheridan Loughridge & Cochran, Raleigh (2017); James Johnson, Smith Terry & Johnson, Asheville (2018); Tracy James, Hamilton Stephens Steele & Martin, Charlotte (2019); Jason James, Bell, Davis & Pitt, Charlotte (2020); Bentford “Ben” Martin, Hamilton Stephens Steele & Martin, Charlotte (2021); Erik Rosenwood, Rosenwood, Rose & Litwak, Charlotte (2022); Arty Bolick II, Brooks Pierce, Raleigh (2023).

CORPORATE COUNSEL

GREG MURPHY Nucor, Charlotte

Noel Anderson

Daly Seven Hotels, Greensboro

David Boaz

Replacements Ltd., Greensboro Christopher F. Bucholtz

RTI International, Durham J. Ford Eubanks

UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill John N. Fleming

McGuire Wood & Bissette, Asheville Paul Jason Griffin

The Select Group, Raleigh Kimberly S. Owens

Nuveen, Charlotte

Stuart Hale Russell

Truliant, Winston-Salem Katherine Twiddy

AutoCruitment, Raleigh Michael L. Wilson

Northwood Ravin LLC, Charlotte Brian K Zuercher

Duke University School of Law, Durham HALL OF FAME: James E. Creekman,

First Citizens Bank & Trust Co., Raleigh (2003); Douglas R. Edwards, Wachovia, Charlotte (2005); Stephen K. Coss, Sonic Automotive, Charlotte (2006); Keith Smith, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte (2007); John Taggart, Genworth Financial, Raleigh (2008); B. Judd Hartman, Pharmaceutical Product Development, Wilmington (2009); Gaither M. Keener, Lowe’s, Mooresville (2010); Meredith B. Stone, NACCO Materials Handling

Group, Greenville (2011); Lisa D. Inman, Waste Industries USA, Raleigh (2012) Robert Wicker, General Parts International, Raleigh (2013); Michael A. Springs, Bank of America, Charlotte (2014); Santiago Estrada, Quintiles Transnational Holdings, Durham (2015); Jeffrey M. Davis, Lincoln Financial Group, Greensboro (2016); Gerald L. Walden Jr., The Fresh Market, Greensboro (2017); Andrew Spainhour, Replacements Ltd., Greensboro (2018); Chris Matton, Bandwidth Inc., Raleigh (2019); Jennifer Venable, Capitol Broadcasting Co., Raleigh (2020).

CORPORATE LAW

JOHN DAVID LOVE

Michael Best & Friedrich, Raleigh Alexander R. Atchison

Young Moore, Raleigh Evan K. Auberry

Fox Rothschild, Greensboro W. Alexander Audilet

Fox Rothschild, Greensboro John W. Babcock

Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey, Winston-Salem Sarah Elizabeth Barnes

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Raleigh Amy Meyers Batten

Smith Anderson, Raleigh

Nicole Elizabeth Bleuer

Stephenson Law, Cary Scott Bowers

Baker Donelson, Raleigh David P. Broughton

Womble Bond Dickinson, Winston-Salem Brian R. Brown

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Raleigh Galen G Craun III

Bell, Davis & Pitt, Winston-Salem G. Stephen Diab

Murchison, Taylor & Gibson, Wilmington James N. Duggins Jr.

Tuggle Duggins, Greensboro

Kenneth E. Eheman Jr.

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh John R. Erwin

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Raleigh John Fallone

Fallone, Raleigh

Paul Joseph Foley

Akerman, Winston-Salem John Charles Gilson

Holland & Knight, Charlotte John B. Hoke

McGuireWoods, Charlotte Cyrus M. Johnson Jr.

Womble Bond Dickinson, Charlotte G. William Joyner III

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Winston-Salem Byron B. Kirkland

Smith Anderson, Raleigh Stephen E. Klee

Fox Rothschild, Greensboro

J A N U A R Y

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CONSTRUCTION

GREG C. AHLUM FIRM: Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte HOMETOWN: Lititz, Pennsylvania UNDERGRAD: Wake Forest University LAW SCHOOL: Wake Forest University School of Law, 1987 PRACTICE LAW: 36 years with the same firm.

FAMILY: Wife Emily (married 36 years) and two adult sons, Stuart and Will NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: To become more involved with the performing arts, especially attending more theater productions. Second, to restart our annual family ski trip out West.

2024 WORK-LIFE CHANGE: I currently mediate about 15 construction-related disputes a year. I plan to make myself more available as a mediator.

FAVORITE N.C. HANGOUT: Lake James in Nebo.

It is my escape away from the bright lights and the hustle of the city to crystal clear water, nature, the stars and mountain views all around.

SPECIAL DISH: Hands down, my mom’s apple pie.

FAVORITE FICTIONAL LAWYER: Vinny Gambini (actor Joe Pesci) from “My Cousin Vinny.” Underestimated by everyone, Vinny prevails based on his persistence, his grit and the help of his fiancée, Ms. Vito.

GO-TO STRESS RELIEVER: Long walks with Oakley, our field golden retriever.

BUCKET LIST: To see the Northern Lights. However, if Pink Floyd ever plays together again, it would be to see that concert with my sons.

LEGAL INSPIRATION: I acted in several high school theater productions. Back then, I equated courtroom drama and being a lawyer with being on stage and playing a role. I then worked summers during college at the Trial Court Administrator’s office where I saw lawyers appear in court.

BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: As a construction litigator, you need to be fully prepared and know the case better than anyone, including your client.

2024 MILESTONES: My sons are recently engaged to wonderful women. We have two upcoming weddings.

ALTERNATIVE CAREER: An architect LAST SHOW BINGE-WATCHED: “All the Light We Cannot See” DEFINE SUCCESS: My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer and successfully underwent several surgeries. Watching her go through what she did made me realize that having time is one of life’s precious treasures. Success is having the time to do the things you want to do in life and being able to spend that time with those you love and care about.

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C A R O L I N A

12/18/23 1:00 PM

C. Caroline Grier Kraich

Jones Pharr Byrd Jr.

Michael A. Grace

M. Rashad Moore

J. Christopher Lynch

Timothy Michael Cannady

Lindsey D. Granados

John P. O’Hale

McGuireWoods, Charlotte Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh

Carmen Joseph Marzella

Marzella Law Group, Cary John H. McTyeire

Parker Poe, Raleigh

Robert E. Monroe

Monroe, Wallace, Morden & Sherrill, Raleigh Annalise F. Perry

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh

Thomas Duke Ricks

Alexander Ricks, Charlotte Gerald F. Roach

Smith Anderson, Raleigh Larry E. Robbins

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh Brian Everett Russ

Nelson Mullins, Charlotte

Caroline Marie Richardson Scarff

Akerman, Winston-Salem

Jason Robert Schneider

Schneider Law Group, Raleigh Scott D. Syfert

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte Bryan Thompson

Surratt and Thompson, Winston-Salem David Lee Tkach

David Lee Tkach, Charlotte Amalie L. Tuffin

Hutchison, Raleigh

Neal Steven Van Vynckt

K&L Gates, Charlotte

HALL OF FAME: Russell M.

Robinson II, Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, Charlotte (2002); David L. Ward Jr., Ward and Smith, New Bern (2004); John M. Cross Jr., Brooks Pierce, Greensboro (2021); Jonathan Jenkins, Jenkins Haynes, Greensboro (2022); Rob Rust IV, Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte (2023).

CRIMINAL

CAITLIN M. POE Williams Mullen, Raleigh

Bell Davis & Pitt, Winston-Salem Jetton Meredith PLLC, Charlotte Ashley E. Cannon

Ashley Cannon, Statesville Stephen Lacy Cash

Barbour, Searson, Jones and Cash, Asheville Ames C. Chamberlin

Federal Public Defender’s Office, Greensboro Damon Chetson

The Chetson Firm, Raleigh

Chrissy Clarke-Peckham

Chrissy Clarke-Peckham, Charlotte Andrew Carter Clifford

Clifford & Harris, Greensboro

Andrew Nicholas Clifford

The Clifford Law Group, Raleigh Christopher R. Clifton

Grace, Tisdale, Clifton, Winston-Salem

Grace Tisdale Clifton, Winston-Salem Wiley Nickel, Cary

Elizabeth Freeman Greene

Flannery Georgalis, Charlotte Kelly L. Greene

Lambert Franklin Guinn

Flannery Georgalis, Charlotte

William Scott Harkey

Plumides, Romano & Johnson, Charlotte

Daniel Allen Harris

Powers Law, Charlotte

Adam Hauser

Schlosser & Pritchett, Greensboro

Harkey Law, Winston-Salem Clifford & Harris, Greensboro

Marcus E. Hill, Durham

David T. Courie

Kaufman & Canoles, Raleigh

Kenneth F. Crow

Hubbard Law, Raleigh

Edward L. Hedrick V Marcus E. Hill

Joseph Edward Houchin Meredith Woods Hubbard

Greene Wilson Crow & Smith, New Bern Banks Hudson Huntley C. Melody Cunningham Davalos Banks Huntley, Charlotte Life Law, Raleigh Bradford F. Icard Icard Law, Charlotte Russell W. Dement III Dement Askew & Johnson, Raleigh Gintaras Krulikas Minick Law, Wilmington Christopher Ryan Detwiler Detwiler Law, Raleigh Peter Ryburn Lamm Sean P. Devereux Peter R. Lamm Law, Greensboro Devereux Banzhoff, Asheville George V. Laughrun III Niccoya Dobson Goodman, Carr, Laughrun, Levine & iTicket Law, Chapel Hill Greene, Charlotte Michael Dowling

Aaron Raymond Lee

Sharon E. Dunmore

Thomas Courtenay Leitner Jr.

Triad Legal Group, Greensboro Douglas Perry Edwards

Edwards Law, Asheville James J. Exum

JJ Exum Law, Charlotte

Paige Dorothy Miles Feldmann

A. Brennan Aberle

Granados Law Group, Cary

Daniel D. Abrams

Anna Smith Felts, Raleigh

F. Hill Allen IV

Fialko Law, Charlotte

James Thomas Amburgey

Sandman, Finn & Fitzhugh, Raleigh

Patrick Todd Apple

Sandman, Finn & Fitzhugh, Raleigh

Russell D. Babb

Tharrington Smith, Raleigh

Williford, Crenshaw, Boliek & Frangakis, Fayetteville

Patterson Harkavy, Chapel Hill

Brooks Pierce, Raleigh

Devereux Banzhoff, Asheville

Eric M. Williams, Durham

Beechler Tomberlin, Winston-Salem

Garrett Walker Aycoth & Olson, Greensboro

David G. Budd, Asheville

Tin Fulton Walker & Owen, Raleigh

Lee & Lee, Huntersville

Leitner, Bragg & Griffin, Monroe James Prescott Little

Hatch, Little & Bunn, Raleigh Thomas K. Maher

Amos Tyndall, Carrboro

Thomas C. Manning

Manning Law, Raleigh

Aberle Wall, Greensboro

Anna Elizabeth Felts

Abrams & Abrams, Raleigh

Christopher C. Fialko

Tharrington Smith, Raleigh

William F. Finn Jr.

Dement Askew Johnson & Marshall, Raleigh

Amburgey Law, Asheville

Berryman J. Fitzhugh III

Manning Law, Raleigh

Dummit Fradin, Greensboro

Deno Thomas Frangakis

Mason, Mason & Smith, Wilmington

Bradley J. Bannon

Shana LaVerne Fulton

Andrew B. Banzhoff

Joseph J. Garcia

Christopher Anthony Beechler

Chad Garrett

David G. Budd II

Emily Gladden

Nicholas Patrick

James Ashley Pearce, Raleigh

Christon S Halkiotis, Greensboro

Collin Patrick Cook

The Dowling Firm, Raleigh

C. Melissa “Missy” Owen

Christon Stephanie Halkiotis

Haddock Law, Cary

Edward L. Hedrick V, Taylorsville

Beaver Courie, Fayetteville

Garrett, Walker, Aycoth & Olson, Greensboro

Wendy Hudson & Nicholas Patrick, Thomasville

Brandy L. Cook

Cheshire Parker Schneider, Raleigh

Sean Michael Olson

Kristi Haddock

Christopher A. Connelly

27 District Attorney’s Office, Salisbury

John P. O’Hale, Smithfield

Greene Wilson Crow & Smith, New Bern Tin Fulton Walker & Owen, Charlotte

Mecklenburg County Public Defender’s Office, Charlotte

Christopher A. Connelly, Charlotte

Moore Law, Graham

T. Taylor Manning

Manning Law, Raleigh

Joseph Alexander Marshall Clarke S. Martin Bruce A. Mason

Duncan A. McMillan

McMillan & Smith, Raleigh Aria Merle

North Carolina Judicial Branch, Raleigh Keith Brentten Metz

Metz Law, Charlotte

Joel Hart Miles Jr.

Cheshire Parker Schneider, Raleigh Patrick Melton Mincey

Cranfill Sumner, Wilmington

James Ashley Pearce Gregory Plumides Bill Powers

Jan E. Pritchett

Emily Jones Queen

Burney & Jones, Wilmington Claire J. Rauscher

Womble Bond Dickinson, Charlotte Eben Turner Rawls III

Rawls, Scheer, Clary & Mingo, Charlotte Edd K. Roberts III

Roberts Law, Raleigh

James F. Rutherford

James Rutherford, Wilmington Steven Saad

Saad Law, Raleigh

Elisa June Salmon

Salmon Law, Lillington Tony Scheer

Rawls, Scheer, Clary & Mingo, Charlotte

Adam M. Seifer

SeiferFlatow, Charlotte

Ronald James Shook II

Ronald J. Shook, Gastonia Scott K. Skidmore

Farver & Skidmore, Reidsville William Gray Smith

Mason, Mason & Smith, Wilmington Roger W. Smith Jr.

Tharrington Smith, Raleigh Blake J. Spale

Shotwell Law, Wilmington Ryan Stowe

Stowe Law, Salisbury Paul K. Sun Jr.

Ellis & Winters, Raleigh Raymond Tarlton

Tarlton Law, Raleigh Noell P. Tin

Tin Fulton Walker & Owen, Charlotte Donald Kenneth Tisdale Jr.

Grace, Tisdale & Clifton, Winston-Salem Anne M. Tompkins

Cadwaladar, Charlotte

Otha B. Townsend

Seegars & Townsend, Charlotte Amos G. Tyndall

Amos Tyndall, Carrboro Jamie Vavonese

Vavonese Law, Raleigh

Brett Thomas Wentz

Wentz Law, Wilmington Edwin L. West III

Brooks Pierce, Wilmington J A N U A R Y

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CORPORATE COUNSEL

GREG MURPHY TITLE: Executive VP, Business Services, Sustainability and General Counsel BUSINESS: Nucor, Charlotte HOMETOWN: Lockport, New York UNDERGRAD: Canisius University LAW SCHOOL: University of Michigan PRACTICED LAW: 35 years FAMILY: My wonderful spouse of 35 years, Marcy.

Two adult children – Sean (30) (married to Anna); and Alexandra (27).

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: I try to set short-term goals rather than annual resolutions. I find it easier to stay on track.

GO-TO STRESS RELIEVER: Get outside to walk or go to the gym to get some exercise every day. It refreshes me, clears my mind and (hopefully) keeps me healthy. On the weekends, I like to play golf.

BUCKET LIST: Attend a Ryder Cup; a Masters; a PGA Championship; a US Open; and an Open Championship all in the same year!

LEGAL WORK MYTH: People tend to see legal principles and concepts as straightforward, well defined and clear. They rarely work that way.

LAST SHOW BINGE-WATCHED: “Blacklist.” I know it’s old, but it’s new to me!

COMFORT FOOD: Pizza FAVORITE FICTIONAL LAWYER: Atticus Finch from “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

FAVORITE N.C. HANGOUT: Pretty much any hiking in the North Carolina mountains. I love being outside and the solitude of nature.

BBQ - EAST OR WEST?: Lexington barbeque!

LEGAL INSPIRATION: I rode my bike to a county courthouse one summer day in the mid 1970s and was instantly hooked! I had no lawyers in my family or social contacts.

BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: Take the time to fully understand the facts. The facts decide cases; not the law. Advice given to me by U.S. District Court Judge James B. McMillan.

MOVIE WHERE YOU’RE THE LAWYER: The trial scene from “My Cousin Vinny.” Love that dialogue.

ALTERNATIVE CAREER: Setting aside the utter lack of talent part, a PGA Tour golf professional.

DEFINE SUCCESS: Developing, inspiring and nurturing the talent and dreams of others. Leaving the world a little better.

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C A R O L I N A

12/18/23 1:00 PM

Norman Cole Williams

Cole Williams Law, Durham William D. Young IV

Hatch, Little & Bunn, Wilmington Joseph E. Zeszotarski Jr.

Gammon, Howard & Zeszotarski, Raleigh HALL OF FAME: Wade M. Smith,

Tharrington Smith, Raleigh (2004); James F. Wyatt III, Wyatt & Blake, Charlotte (2005); David Freedman, White and Crumpler, Winston-Salem (2006); Joseph B. Cheshire V, Cheshire, Parker, Schneider, Bryan & Vitale, Raleigh (2007); James P. Cooney III, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, Charlotte (2008); Stephen T. Smith, McMillan, Smith & Plyler, Raleigh (2009); T. Patrick Matus II, Essex Richards, Charlotte (2010); David S. Rudolf, Rudolf, Widenhouse & Fialko, Charlotte (2011); Locke T. Clifford, Clifford Clendenin & O’Hale, Greensboro (2012); Peter C. Anderson, Beveridge & Diamond, Charlotte (2013); Michael J. Greene, Goodman, Carr, Laughrun, Levine & Greene, Charlotte (2014); Robert K. Corbett III, Law Offices of Harold Cogdell Jr., Charlotte (2015); Ryan T. Smith, RTS Law Group, Charlotte (2016); George V. Laughrun II, Goodman, Carr, Laughrun, Levine & Greene, Charlotte

(2017); Les Robinson, Robinson Law Firm, Greenville (2018); Wes J. Camden, Ward and Smith, Raleigh (2019); Kearns Davis, Brooks Pierce, Greensboro (2020); Cristopher L. Oring, Oring Law, Wilmington (2021); Elliot Abrams, Cheshire Parker Schneider, Raleigh (2022); Rob Heroy, Goodman Carr Laughrun Levine & Greene, Charlotte (2023).

EMPLOYMENT

ALEX MAULTSBY

Ramseur Maultsby, Greensboro

Connie E. Carrigan

Katie Weaver Hartzog

Jonathan Tristram Coffin

Sean Franklin Herrmann

Smith Debnam, Raleigh

Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte Seth R. Cohen

Deuterman Law, Greensboro Philip A. Collins

Bailey & Dixon, Raleigh

Edward G. Connette III

Essex Richards, Charlotte

Kelly Margolis Dagger

Ellis & Winters, Raleigh Nia Doaks

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, Winston-Salem Cate Edwards

Hartzog Law, Raleigh

Herrmann Murphy, Charlotte Elizabeth Binion Hilker

Smith Law, Charlotte

Philip Andrew Hinson

Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, Charlotte J. Travis Hockaday

Smith Anderson, Raleigh Benjamin J. Holland

Ogletree Deakins, Charlotte

Paul Siegfried Holscher

Ogletree Deakins PC, Raleigh Tamara Lynn Huckert

Strianese Huckert, Charlotte

G. Bryan Adams III

Edwards Beightol, Raleigh

Heather Bell Adams

Michael Best & Friedrich, Raleigh

John C. Hunter, Asheville

Zachary S. Anstett

Cranfill Sumner, Raleigh

Robinson Bradshaw, Charlotte

William P. Barrett

Gardner Skelton, Charlotte

Jordan Price Wall Gray Jones Carlton, Raleigh

Patricia T. Bartis

Gibbons Law, Charlotte

Ogletree Deakins, Raleigh

Samuel Eric Bass

Ogletree Deakins, Charlotte

Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte

Bridget A. Blinn-Spears

Bell, Davis & Pitt, Charlotte

Smith Anderson, Raleigh

Kenneth P. Carlson Jr.

Hammer Law, Raleigh

John C. Hunter

Van Hoy Reutlinger Adams Pierce, Charlotte

Ashley L. Felton

Parry Law, Chapel Hill

Patrick H. Flanagan

Charles E. Johnson

Parker Poe, Raleigh

Jared Edgar Gardner

Lori P. Jones

Philip J. Gibbons Jr.

Kevin S. Joyner

Elizabeth R. Gift

Patrick E. Kelly

Marc E. Gustafson

Rosemary Gill Kenyon

Holly Hammer

Michael A. Kornbluth

Michael Clyde Harman

Dena Beth Langley

Barrett Law, Raleigh Parker Poe, Raleigh

Venn Law, Charlotte

Nexsen Pruet, Raleigh

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, Winston-Salem

Harman Law, Huntersville

Kornbluth Ginsberg, Durham Brooks Pierce, Greensboro

J A N U A R Y

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CORPORATE LAW

JOHN DAVID LOVE FIRM: Michael Best & Friedrich, Raleigh

FAMILY: Father Ray, mother Debbie, twin brothers Scott and Steve NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: I’m over New Year’s resolutions at this point in my life.

HOMETOWN: Lancaster, South Carolina UNDERGRAD: Clemson University LAW SCHOOL: Campbell University School of Law, 2004 PRACTICED LAW: 16 years

2024 WORK-LIFE CHANGE: Get more efficient with my time.

GO-TO STRESS RELIEVER: Any number of things – a snowboarding trip (season permitting), a walk in the woods, a workout, listening to some relaxing music.

BUCKET LIST: Take a cross-country RV trip. There’s no better way to experience America.

BIGGEST RISK: I’m subject to a confidentiality agreement on that.

LEGAL WORK MYTH: They think it’s as sexy and exciting as what they see on TV. LAST SHOW BINGE-WATCHED: “House of Lies.”

Due to some questionable values at that stage of my life, the lawyer version of Don Cheadle’s character in that show was my aspiration.

COMFORT FOOD: I can make ice cream disappear faster than you can say “shot of insulin.”

SPECIAL FOOD: My mom’s quinoa FAVORITE FICTIONAL ATTORNEY: Sean Penn as David Kleinfeld in “Carlito’s Way.” FAVORITE N.C. HANGOUT: Hanging Rock BBQ - EAST OR WEST?: South Carolina mustardbased is better than both.

LEGAL INSPIRATION: A business law class at Clemson in the fall of 1998. And watching Matt Damon in “Rounders.”

BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: “Sometimes the only justice you get is the justice you take.” I’ve passed that one along many times since I heard it.

FICTIONAL COURTROOM WHERE YOU’RE THE LAWYER: This question is discriminatory against transactional attorneys. We are lawyers too! And I have zero and I mean zero desire to argue a case in a courtroom, either in real life or make-believe.

ALTERNATIVE CAREER: Either an investment banker or a CFO. Maybe a blackjack dealer. Or a professional snowboarder.

2024 MILESTONES: Hopefully several large M&A deals to run point on.

DEFINE SUCCESS: Finding true happiness in helping others succeed, doing it the right way and having others aspire to be like you.

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C A R O L I N A

12/18/23 1:00 PM

Roberta King Latham

Kerry A. Shad

Wood W. Lay

Brandon M. Shelton

King Latham, Winston-Salem Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte Michael E. Lee

Milberg, Raleigh

Catherine E. Lee

Hedrick Gardner, Raleigh

Smith Anderson, Raleigh Ogletree Deakins, Charlotte Mimi Soule

Soule Employment Law, Raleigh

Shannon Sumerell Spainhour

Robert M. Elliot, Elliot Pishko Morgan, Winston-Salem (2008); Sarah J. Kromer, Sara J. Kromer, Charlotte (2009); Susan Brown Grady, SPX, Charlotte (2010); Lisa Grafstein, Disability Rights North Carolina, Raleigh (2011); N. Renee Hughes, Essex Richards, Charlotte (2012); W. Randall Loftis Jr., Constangy, Brooks & Smith, Winston-Salem (2013); Amie F. Carmack, Morningstar Law Group, Morrisville (2014); Nicole Gardner, Gardner Skelton, Charlotte (2015); Mike Okun, Patterson Harkavy, Chapel Hill (2016); Bryan L. Tyson, Marcellino & Tyson, Charlotte (2017); Susie Gibbons, Poyner Spruill, Raleigh (2018); Denise Smith Cline, Law Offices of Denise Smith Cline, Raleigh (2019); Kyle R. Still, Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh (2020); David C. Lindsay, K&L Gates, Charlotte (2021); Meredith Jeffries, Alexander Ricks, Charlotte (2022); Patti W. Ramseur, Ramseur Maultsby, Greensboro (2023).

Whitney Wallace Williams

Wallace & Graham, Salisbury Noelle E. Wooten

Nelson Mullins, Charlotte I. Clark Wright

Davis Hartman Wright, New Bern HALL OF FAME: Charles D. Case,

Andrew William Legg

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, Asheville

Mary-Ann Leon

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Raleigh

Xavier Lightfoot

Womble Bond Dickinson, Raleigh

Kathleen K. Lucchesi

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh

Daniel Christopher Lyon

Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte

Alice Y. Magnuson

Nelson Mullins, Raleigh

Emily G. Massey

Strianese Huckert, Charlotte

Christine Fernicola Mayhew

Anderson Jones, Raleigh

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, Winston-Salem

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte

Parker Poe, Charlotte

Ogletree Deakins, Raleigh

Brooks Pierce, Raleigh

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, Winston-Salem

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh

Stanford D. Baird

Allison Clarice Tomberlin

F. Bryan Brice Jr.

Murchison, Taylor & Gibson, Wilmington

Beechler Tomberlin, Winston-Salem

K&L Gates, Raleigh

Andrew K. McVey

Benton Louis Toups

Cranfill Sumner, Wilmington

F. Bryan Brice Jr., Raleigh

J. Griffin Morgan

Joshua Reed Van Kampen

Van Kampen Law, Charlotte

Earth and Water Law, Raleigh

Alice N. Moscicki

Stase Vonsiatsky

Oxner + Permar, Charlotte

Roberts & Stevens, Asheville

Kevin Patrick Murphy

Jonathan Wall

Higgins Benjamin, Greensboro

Caudle & Spears, Charlotte

Laura Lee Noble

Kyle T. Watson

Watson Law, Charlotte

Womble Bond Dickinson, Raleigh

William Augustus Oden III

Hayley Roper Wells

Ward and Smith, Asheville

Carruthers & Roth, Greensboro

Daniel J. Palmieri

Laura J. Wetsch

Sunny Panyanouvong-Rubeck

Winslow Wetsch, Raleigh

McGuireWoods, Charlotte

Devon Diane Williams

Black, Slaughter & Black, Greensboro

Sanyam D. Parikh

Ward and Smith, Raleigh

Brooks Pierce, Greensboro

GHMA Law, Asheville

Linda Nicole Patino

L. Nicole Patino, Greensboro

Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, Raleigh

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Raleigh

Spilman Thomas & Battle, Winston-Salem

EMP Law, Winston-Salem

Bailey Dixon, Raleigh

Ogletree Deakins, Charlotte

Womble Bond Dickinson, Winston-Salem

Worm Law, Raleigh

Womble Bond Dickinson, Charlotte

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte

Kornbluth Ginsberg, Durham Leon Law, Greenville Ward and Smith, Raleigh Jackson Lewis, Charlotte Emp Law, Charlotte

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh Ward and Smith, Raleigh

Sarah Jo Spangenburg Theresa M. Sprain T. Cullen Stafford

David Erik Stevens

Phillip John Strach

Christopher Robert Strianese Jill Susanne Stricklin

Karin M. McGinnis

Tory I. Summey

Michael Douglas McKnight

Jessica Beauvais Thaller-Moran

William Joseph McMahon IV

Linda D. Tindall

EMP Law, Winston-Salem McGuireWoods, Charlotte

Herrmann Murphy, Charlotte Noble Law, Charlotte

Ward and Smith, Wilmington Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh

HKM Employment Attorneys, Charlotte Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh

Jeremy R. Williams

Jeffrey D. Patton

Benjamin Winikoff

J. Heydt Philbeck

Virginia M. Wooten

John E. Pueschel

Kathleen N. Worm

Richard L. Rainey

John A. Zaloom

Sabrina P. Rockoff

McGuire Wood & Bissette, Asheville Nicholas J. Sanservin Jr.

Edwards Beightol, Raleigh Robert A. Sar

Ogletree Deakins PC, Raleigh Jeremy Regan Sayre

Fox Rothschild, Raleigh

Robert S. Schenk III

Williams Mullen, Raleigh

HALL OF FAME: Philip M. Van Hoy, Van Hoy, Reutlinger, Adams & Dunn, Charlotte (2002); George J. Oliver, Smith Moore, Raleigh (2003); Penni Pearson Bradshaw, Constangy, Brooks & Smith, Winston-Salem (2004); Jonathan R. Harkavy, Patterson Harkavy, Greensboro (2005); Patricia L. Holland, Jackson Lewis, Cary (2006); Louis L. Lesesne Jr., Essex Richards, Charlotte (2007);

ENVIRONMENTAL

NATALIE D. POTTER Essex Richards, Charlotte

Charles S. Carter Billy Clarke

Boyd Alexander Correll Jr. Hayes Jernigan Finley John M. Flynn

David A. Franchina

Hunton & Williams, Raleigh (2002; 2003); H. Glenn Dunn, Poyner Spruill, Raleigh (2004); George W. House, Brooks Pierce, Greensboro (2005); William D. Dannelly, Hunton & Williams, Raleigh (2006); Benne C. Hutson, Helms Mulliss & Wicker, Charlotte (2007); Amos C. Dawson III, Williams Mullen, Raleigh (2008); Richard C. Gaskins Jr., Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, Charlotte (2009); Stephen W. Earp, Smith Moore Leatherwood, Greensboro (2010); Ramona Cunningham O’Bryant, Smith Moore Leatherwood, Greensboro (2011); William Clarke, Roberts & Stevens, Asheville (2012); Grady L. Shields, Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh (2013); Craig A. Bromby, Hunton & Williams, Raleigh (2014); Garry S. Rice, Duke Energy, Charlotte (2015); Sean M. Sullivan, Troutman Sanders, Raleigh (2016); Carol Jones Van Buren, Van Buren Law, Charlotte (2017); Steve Berlin, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Winston-Salem (2018); Keith Johnson, Poyner Spruill, Raleigh (2019); Amy Wang, Ward and Smith, New Bern (2020); Susan H. Cooper, Womble Bond Dickinson, Charlotte (2021); Mary Katherine Stukes, Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte (2022); Amy Rickers, Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte (2023).

FAMILY

HEIDI C. BLOOM Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh

Robert J. King III

Carole R. Albright

Steven J. Levitas

Janet Haney Amburgey

Alan H. McConnell

Marcia H. Armstrong

Peter J. McGrath Jr.

Matthew Robert Arnold

Kathleen Elizabeth Perkins

Lillie Ashworth

Melissa A. Romanzo

Carly Grace Baker

Amanda Kitchen Short

Margaret Aiken Barrow

Benjamin William Smith

Rachel Carter Beard

Benjamin Lee Snowden

Jennifer Bell

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Raleigh Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte

Hunton Andrews Kurth, Charlotte Robinson Bradshaw, Charlotte Parker Poe, Charlotte

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Raleigh Fox Rothschild, Raleigh Mona Lisa Wallace

Wallace & Graham, Salisbury Steven D. Weber

Parker Poe, Charlotte

James Smarr Whitlock

Davis Whitlock, Asheville

Armstrong Law Firm, Smithfield Arnold & Smith, Charlotte Marshall & Taylor, Raleigh Wake Family Law Group, Raleigh Tharrington Smith, Raleigh

Wake Family Law Group, Raleigh Strickland Agner Pittman, Goldsboro Shelby D. Benton

Benton Family Law, Goldsboro Tamla Tymus Beverly

Tymus Beverly, Raleigh

Andrea Bosquez-Porter

Bosquez Porter Family Law, Raleigh J A N U A R Y

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CRIMINAL

CAITLIN POE FIRM: Williams Mullen, Raleigh HOMETOWN: Raleigh UNDERGRAD: University of Georgia LAW SCHOOL: University of Virginia School of Law, 2012 PRACTICED LAW: 10 years

FAMILY: Husband Christopher Poe, and children Poppy and Colin NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: Go to bed earlier.

GO-TO STRESS RELIEVER: Exercise – movement is medicine!

BUCKET LIST: My husband and I love going to sporting events. Top of the list would probably be a Final Four or a Masters Sunday.

BIGGEST RISK: Moving down the street from my parents.

FAVORITE LAWYER JOKE: Lawyers don’t get dumped, they just lose their appeal.

LAST SHOW BINGE-WATCHED: “Righteous Gemstones” FAVORITE FICTIONAL LAWYER: Bob Loblaw (actor Scott Baio) from “Arrested Development.”

LEGAL INSPIRATION: My grandfather, Don McLaughlin, is the coolest person I’ve ever known.

He was a career FBI agent and attorney, and literally wrote the book for them on how to follow the Miranda rule. Later in life he was the judge of the Quantico moot court. He’s deceased now, but I’ve got his Black’s Law Dictionary on my office bookshelf.

BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: “Facts animate legal principles.” I received it, and now I give it.

FICTIONAL COURTROOM WHERE YOU’RE THE LAWYER: Defending the theory of evolution – not in the Scopes Monkey Trial, but in [TV sitcom] “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” when Mac convinces the gang it isn’t real.

ALTERNATIVE CAREER: Luxury hotel management DEFINE SUCCESS: With two little kids and two working parents, success is getting through a day without too many tears and without visible stains on my clothing.

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C A R O L I N A

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Jennifer M. Bradley

Samuel Thomas Currin II

Kyle Frost

R. Maria Hawkins

Molly Lyle Brazil

Nicholas Lee Cushing

Katherine Ann Frye

Jessica B. Heffner

Triangle Smart Divorce, Cary Dummit Fradin, Greensboro

Andrew Steven Brendle

Soni Brendle, Winston-Salem Amy Lynn Britt

Parker Bryan Family Law, Raleigh Chad M. Buckingham

Regent Law, Charlotte Laura B. Burt

Wofford Burt, Charlotte Lindsay Byers

Dummit Fradin, Winston-Salem Ashley B. Bonomini

Sodoma Law North, Charlotte Adrienne R. Cherry

Leitner, Bragg & Griffin, Monroe Holden Blake Clark

Hometown Counsel, Gastonia James A. Clyburn

J. Albert Clyburn, Wilmington Charles W. Coltrane

Coltrane & Overfield, Greensboro Michelle D. Connell

Cranfill Sumner, Raleigh Stephen Corby

Emblem Legal, Charlotte

Rik Lovett & Associates, Raleigh Miller Bowles Cushing, Charlotte Tayler Raine d’Alelio

Parker Bryan Family Law, Raleigh

Maren Tallent Funk

Godley Glazer + Funk, Mooresville

Paul A. DeJesse Jr.

Kavita Christina Desai

Kaylan M. Gaudio

Nathalie M. Doran

Wesley Peter Gelb

Nicole Applefield Engel

Seth Andrew Glazer

Steven Bruce Epstein

Kelley Louise Gondring

David W. Erdman

Nancy M. Grace

Hatcher Law Group, Charlotte

Sodoma Law, Charlotte

James, McElroy & Diehl, Charlotte

Sodoma Law, Charlotte

Wilson, Reives, Silverman & Doran, Sanford

Connell & Gelb, Raleigh

Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte

Godley Glazer + Funk, Mooresville

Poyner Spruill, Raleigh

Gondring Law, Winston-Salem

Erdman Hockfield, Charlotte

Wake Family Law Group, Raleigh

Candace Strickland Faircloth

Collins Family Law Group, Monroe Christine R. Farrell

Mulligan Attorneys, Wilmington Jonathan Daniel Feit

James, McElroy & Diehl, Charlotte Marilyn Feuchs-Marker

Fox Rothschild, Greensboro Joshua Finney

Tamela T. Wallace, Charlotte

Katherine Wiggins Fisher

Jessica Ketchem Culver

Kathryn Foster Fowler

Dummit Fradin, Greensboro

Frye Law, Raleigh

Chelsea Elise Gajewski

Amanda Marie Cubit

Dozier Miller Law Group, Charlotte

Offit Kurman, Charlotte

Battle Winslow, Rocky Mount

Fitzgerald Hanna & Sullivan, Raleigh

Marli Dabareiner Grady

Godley Glazer + Funk, Cornelius Jordan Marie Griffin

Leitner, Bragg & Griffin, Monroe

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh

Penelope Lazarou Hefner

Sodoma Law, Charlotte Kara Q. Helms

The Helms Firm, Winston-Salem Kimberly Herron

Tamela T. Wallace, Charlotte

Molly Amanda Hilburn-Holte

ER Law, Greensboro

David Eric Holm

Parker Bryan Family Law, Holly Springs Paul Doughton Horton

Sodoma Law, Charlotte Evan Horwitz

Tharrington Smith, Raleigh Christine Houston

Collins Family & Elder Law Group, Monroe Hilary Workman Hux

Jordan Hardy Gross

Garrett, Walker, Aycoth & Olson, Greensboro

Monica R. Guy

Bell, Davis & Pitt, Winston-Salem

Stauff & Gross, Raleigh

Kurtz Whitley Guy Sanders & Rainey, Winston-Salem Michael S. Harrell

Manning Fulton & Skinner, Raleigh Tia G. Hartley

Tia G. Hartley, Charlotte

James Gregory Hatcher

Hatcher Law Group, Charlotte

Clara Ann Ignich Paige E. Inman

Ward and Smith, Wilmington Juliana S. Inman

Ward and Smith, New Bern Jill Schnabel Jackson

Jackson Family Law, Raleigh Stephanie Jenkins

Parker Bryan Family Law, Raleigh

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EMPLOYMENT

ALEX MAULTSBY FIRM: Ramseur Maultsby, Greensboro HOMETOWN: Spartanburg, South Carolina UNDERGRAD: Davidson College LAW SCHOOL: UNC Chapel Hill School of Law, 1991 PRACTICED LAW: 32 years FAMILY: Wife, Terri Maultsby, daughter Katherine Maultsby Harris, sons Mac and Perrin Maultsby NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: Exercise more. Fix my herniated disks from sitting at a desk all these years.

Shout out to Katie Curry at Body Balance Pilates in Greensboro!

2024 WORK LIFE CHANGE: Learn something new about employee benefits law – it’s so complicated and I sorta hate it.

BIGGEST RISK: Starting our own law firm in 2020 during a global pandemic. Like any good lawyer, though, I mitigated my risk by doing it with Patti Ramseur.

LEGAL WORK MYTH: That it is about the courtroom, when in reality most of it is decidedly not.

FAVORITE LAWYER JOKE: Don’t like them. It’s fine to make fun of me, but I get defensive about our profession. Who else has such stringent ethics rules that, if violated, can ruin your livelihood? Yet still, all these supposed jokes about unethical lawyers. After 30-plus years, I still have not met any. Seriously.

LAST SHOW BINGE-WATCHED: Season One of “True Detective”. It’s older, but I never saw it until last month.

FAVORITE N.C. HANGOUT: Two words: “Asheville.

Breweries.” Or wait, “Beach. Sunshine.” Coin toss.

BBQ - EAST OR WEST?: Eastern. I mean, when you grow up with grandparents in Whiteville and have had many a Joe’s BBQ meal, you are set for life.

LEGAL INSPIRATION: Davidson College taught me a sense of service and an appreciation for excellence. I chose the law because it provides intellectual challenges, you can help people, and a legal career offers great flexibility. That’s no exciting origin story, but it’s the truth.

ALTERNATIVE CAREER: College basketball coach.

However, I would have needed to play more hoops growing up than merely church league with my dad as coach and intramurals at Davidson.

2024 MILESTONES: Fifteen-year wedding anniversary to my very patient wife, Terri.

DEFINE SUCCESS: Having your family love you and loving them back. And, side note: getting all your kids through all their years of education.

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Jonathan Mack Jerkins

Lisa LeFante

Barbara R. Morgenstern

Katherine Adkins Rech

Emily Catherine Jeske

Tiffany Anne Lesnik

Gena G. Morris

Andrew Charles Rheingrover

Jerkins Family Law, Raleigh

Bosquez Porter Family Law, Raleigh

Triangle Smart Divorce, Cary Lesnik Family Law, Raleigh

Richard B. Johnson

Lauren Vaughn Lewis

Bradley Jones

Alexa Noelle Litt

Jana Kelly Jones

Kristen Longmire

David Meade Kern

Rik Lovett

Plumides, Romano & Johnson, Charlotte

Essex Richards, Charlotte

Parker Bryan Family Law, Raleigh

Collins Family & Elder Law Group, Monroe

Jana K. Jones, Charlotte

The Law Corner, Raleigh

James, McElroy & Diehl, Charlotte

Rik Lovett & Associates, Raleigh

Irene Patrice King

King Collaborative Family Law, Charlotte Kate A.D. Kovats

Kate A.D. Kovats, Charlotte

Carolyn Lovejoy Krueger-Andes

Hamilton Stephens Steele + Martin, Charlotte David Matthew Krusch

Plumides, Romano & Johnson, Charlotte Jon B. Kurtz

Kurtz Whitley Guy Sanders & Rainey, Winston-Salem Dara Duncan Larson

Duncan Larson Law, Charlotte Daniel Larson

Duncan Larson Law, Charlotte Lydia Bree Laughrun

Jeffrey E. Marshall

Marshall & Taylor, Raleigh Justin L. Mauney

Morgenstern & Associates, Greensboro James, McElroy & Diehl, Charlotte Bethany M. Mulhern

Miller Bowles Cushing, Charlotte Erica R. Nesmith

Stephen Edward Robertson

Corey Alexander Noland

Casey Taylor Robinson

Daniel O’Malley

William F. Rogers Jr.

Dozier Miller Law Group, Charlotte

The Nesmith Firm, Charlotte

Stephen E. Robertson, Greensboro

Arnold & Smith, Charlotte

Billick Rogers, Concord

Epperson Law Group, Charlotte

Tom Bush Law Group, Charlotte

W. Carey Parker

Howard, McCoy & Bolton, Raleigh

Kisha Patel

GHMA Law, Asheville

Cheri Patrick

Montford Family Law, Asheville

Carolyn T. Peacock

Laura Anderson McCoy

Harbinson Parker, Statesville

Patrick S. McCroskey

McIlveen Family Law Firm, Raleigh

Joy Gragg McIver

Patrick Law, Durham

Benjamin McLawhorn

Peacock Family Law, New Bern

John P. McNeil

Cordell & Cordell, Greensboro

Jonathan Stephen Melton

Garrett, Walker, Aycoth & Olson, Greensboro

McIlveen Family Law, Raleigh

Chelsea Anderson Peele LeeAnne Quattrucci

LeeAnne Quattrucci, Wilmington Gailor Hunt Davis Taylor & Gibbs, Raleigh Lauren Taylor Quinn James W. Lea III Ward and Smith, New Bern Christopher D. Miller The Lea Schultz Law Firm, Wilmington Miller Bowles Cushing, Charlotte Bennett D. Rainey Kyle Wesley LeBlanc Kurtz Whitley Guy Sanders & Rainey, Jennifer P. Moore Hamilton Stephens Steele + Martin, Charlotte Marcellino & Tyson, Charlotte Winston-Salem Essex Richards, Charlotte

Hamilton Stephens Steele + Martin, Charlotte Kimberly R. Robertson

Dozier Miller Law Group, Charlotte

McNeil Law Firm, Raleigh

Mark D. Riopel

Allman Spry, Winston-Salem

Steven Blaine Ockerman

McLawhorn & Russell, Raleigh

Conrad Trosch & Kemmy, Charlotte

Anna Warburton Munroe

Wake Family Law Group, Raleigh David Michael McCleary

Rech Law, Charlotte

Rachel D. Rogers Hamrick Michael Romano

Plumides, Romano & Johnson, Charlotte Thomas R. Sallenger

Sallenger Law, Wilson

Claire Joanne Samuels

Charlotte Collaborative Divorce Professionals, Charlotte Deborah Sandlin

Sandlin Family Law Group, Raleigh Linda B. Sayed

Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed, Wilmington Ryan Binderup Schultz

Lea/Schultz Law, Wilmington David Kenneth Self

David Self Law, Cornelius

Abigail Comfort Seymour

Camino Law, Greensboro

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FAMILY

HEIDI BLOOM FIRM: Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh HOMETOWN: Yonkers, New York UNDERGRAD: UNC Chapel Hill LAW SCHOOL: Wake Forest School of Law, 1995 PRACTICED LAW: More than 25 years

FAMILY: Husband Woofer Davidian is a Wake County District Court judge; two kids, Pierce and Isabel NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: I prefer “annual aspirations” – things I want to accomplish or do, places I hope to go, people I want to see more, new things to try, etc. For 2024, I “aspire” to relish every minute of the remainder of my son’s senior year and my time with him; focus more on my health; improve my tennis and pickleball game; and cheer unabashedly for my Carolina Tar Heels and Dallas Cowboys.

BUCKET LIST: A toss-up between going to Iceland and seeing the Northern Lights and playing Pebble Beach golf course.

LAST SHOW BINGED-WATCHED: “Ted Lasso” – which combined my love of sports, humor and positive messaging.

SPECIAL DISH: My mom is German and her German beef rouladen, which are rolled strips of beef, filled with bacon, onions, mustard and spices, makes me crave them just writing about them.

BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: According to my longtime associate and now partner, this is my best advice: 1. Give back to your profession; 2. Don’t take yourself too seriously or be too critical of anyone – especially in family law which is extremely challenging and at times emotionally charged; 3. Before agonizing over something, consider whether it will matter in five years. If not, slow down and keep things in perspective; 4. Exercise the 24-hour rule before reacting; 5. If you want to solve a problem, pick up the phone and call people; and 6. Listen more than you speak; ask questions if you don’t understand or can’t relate; and as much as possible err on the side of compassion.

ALTERNATIVE CAREER: ESPN sportscaster. Erin Andrews is my idol.

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C A R O L I N A

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Jim Siemens

Siemens Family Law Group, Asheville Susan Sullivan Simos

Craige Jenkins Liipfert & Walker, Winston-Salem Tonya Graser Smith

Grasersmith, Charlotte Sean P. Smith

Grasersmith, Charlotte Megan E. Spidell

Essex Richards, Charlotte (2016); Afi S. Johnson-Parris, Ward Black Law, Greensboro (2017); Chris Eatmon, Eatmon Law Firm, Wake Forest (2018); Kristin M. Hampson, Hampson Family Law, Raleigh (2019); Mariana Godwin, Barefoot Family Law, Raleigh (2020); Cary Close, Close Smith Family Law, Raleigh (2021); Richard Gantt, Gantt Family Law, Raleigh (2022); Ketan P. Soni, Soni Brendle, Charlotte (2023).

Spidell Family Law, Greensboro

Dale Virginia Stephenson

Ward Family Law Group, Cary Robin J. Stinson

Bell, Davis & Pitt, Winston-Salem Alice Stubbs

Tharrington Smith, Raleigh

IMMIGRATION

LAURA D. BURTON Fox Rothschild LLP, Greensboro

Carrie Tortora

Shauna A. Arroyo

John Paul Tsahakis

Cynthia A. Aziz

Tortora Family Law, Raleigh James, McElroy & Diehl, Charlotte Shannan Barclay Tuorto

Tuorto Family Law, Asheville

Arroyo Law, Raleigh

Aziz Law Firm, Charlotte Omar Baloch

Law Offices of Omar Baloch, Raleigh

Helen Laura Tarokic

Helen Tarokic Law, Wilmington Douglas Bradley Thie

Dogwood Patent and Trademark Law, Raleigh

Joan M. Waldron

Morningstar Law Group, Raleigh

Elizabeth Ann Wood

Stanek Lemon, Raleigh

Clawson and Staubes, Charlotte Waldron Law Firm, Matthews EA Wood Law, New Bern HALL OF FAME: Laura Edgerton,

Edgerton Immigration Law, Raleigh (2018); Gerard M. “Gerry” Chapman, Chapman Law Firm, Greensboro (2019); Murali Bashyam, Bashyam Shah, Raleigh (2020); Gigi Gardner, Gardner Gordon, Charlotte, Raleigh (2021); Devon Senges, Dummit Fradin Attorneys at Law, Greensboro (2022); Benjamin A. Snyder, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi, Charlotte (2023).

INTELLECTUAL

Penni B. Bradshaw

JOHN R. OWEN

Cordes Law, Charlotte

Rosa Maria Corriveau

Alton Luther Absher III

Modern Legal, Charlotte

Zachary Michael Underwood

Ashley Johnson

John Timothy Kivus

Shawna Cannon Lemon James L. Lester

MacCord Mason, Greensboro Robert Joseph Morris

Smith Anderson, Raleigh John Morrow

Womble Bond Dickinson, Winston-Salem Justin Robert Nifong

NK Patent Law, Raleigh Kelli Ovies

Womble Bond Dickinson, Raleigh Gavin Bryce Parsons

Coats & Bennett, Cary

William Kevin Ransom

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte Erica BE Rogers

Ward and Smith, Raleigh David W. Sar

Coats & Bennett, Cary

Meghan A. Van Vynckt

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, Winston-Salem

Theresa Eileen Viera

Ogletree Deakins, Raleigh Jennifer Cory

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Winston-Salem

Adam Vorhis

Womble Bond Dickinson, Charlotte

Ani Agrawal

David Andrew Creech

NK Patent Law, Charlotte

Andrew R. Shores

Asheville Family Law Group, Asheville Jammie Lynn Wacenske

David Creech Law Firm, Wilmington

Albert P. Allan

Amanda Carrano Franklin

Allan IP Litigation, Charlotte

Reinier R. Smit

Matheson & Associates, Raleigh

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte

Michael J. Allen

Steven H. Garfinkel

Carruthers & Roth, Greensboro

Jason M. Sneed

Tamela T. Wallace, Charlotte

Wake Family Law Group, Raleigh

Tamela T. Wallace

Danielle Jessica Walle

Marcellino & Tyson, Charlotte Elise Morgan Whitley

Kurtz Whitley Guy Sanders & Rainey, Winston-Salem Lindsay Woodard Willis

Rosen Law Firm, Raleigh

Anna N. Westmoreland

Westmoreland Legal, Charlotte Rebecca Wofford

Wofford Burt, Charlotte Tiasha L. Wray

Wray Law Firm, Charlotte Melissa Davis Wright

Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed, Wilmington Arlene M. Zipp

Roberson Haworth & Reese, High Point HALL OF FAME: John H. Parker,

Cheshire, Parker, Schneider, Bryan & Vitale, Raleigh (2007); Carlyn Poole (retired), Tharrington Smith, Raleigh (2008); Richard D. Stephens, Dozier, Miller, Pollard & Murphy, Charlotte (2009); Lana S. Warlick, Law Office of Lana S. Warlick, Jacksonville (2010); Michael F. Schilawski, Wake Family Law Group, Raleigh (2011); D. Caldwell Barefoot Jr., Barefoot Family Law, Raleigh (2012); Stan Brown, Hamilton Stephens Steele + Martin, Charlotte (2013); Lori M. Vitale, Vitale Family Law, Raleigh (2014); Kimberly Bryan, Cheshire Parker Schneider & Bryan, Raleigh (2015); Rob Blair,

Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm, Charlotte Stephen Smith Ashley Jr. Ashley Law Firm, Charlotte Vanessa Ann Gonzalez Sloan L.E. Carpenter Vanessa A. Gonzalez, Wilmington Parker Poe, Raleigh Rebekah Goncarovs Grafton Carla Hermida Clements Fay Grafton Nunez, Raleigh Womble Bond Dickinson, Charlotte Jordan Forsythe Greer Cauley Forsythe Immigration, Charlotte Kathryn Gusmer Cole Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte Hannah Faith Little Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm, Charlotte Ticora Elaine Davis The Creator’s Law Firm, Charlotte Catherine Lafferty Magennis Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm, Charlotte Arthur J. Debaugh Bell, Davis & Pitt, Winston-Salem Jeremy L. McKinney McKinney Immigration Law, Greensboro Angela Powers Doughty Ward and Smith, New Bern George N. Miller Nicolas Eason Dozier Miller Law Group, Charlotte Smith Anderson, Raleigh Colleen Forcina Molner Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm, Charlotte Amy H. Fix Barnes Thornburg, Raleigh Thomas Spencer Morrow Butler, Quinn & Hochman, Charlotte Eva Gullick Frongello Smith Anderson, Raleigh Ana Sofia Nunez Fay Grafton Nunez, Raleigh Darrell A. Fruth Smith Anderson, Raleigh Jorge Ivan Pardo Pardo Law Firm, Charlotte Stephen D. Gardner Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Helen Louise Parsonage Winston-Salem EMP Law, Winston-Salem John L. Pinnix

Michelle M. Glessner

Susan Waller Ramos

Arlene D. Hanks

Allen Pinnix, Raleigh

Womble Bond Dickinson, Charlotte Emily Elizabeth Scotton

EMP Law, Winston-Salem

Stephen Hugh Smalley

Ogletree Deakins, Raleigh

Julie Christine Spahn

Spahn Law Firm, Charlotte

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte

Rebecca E. Harasimowicz

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte William G. Heedy

Van Winkle Law Firm, Asheville Blake Patrick Hurt

Tuggle Duggins, Greensboro

Brooks Pierce, Greensboro Trevor P. Schmidt

Hutchison, Raleigh

Jeffrey J. Schwartz

Schwartz Law Firm, Charlotte Williams Mullen, Raleigh Tuggle Duggins, Greensboro Sneed, Davidson Eric Stevens

Poyner Spruill, Raleigh Todd C. Taylor

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte Steven N. Terranova

Withrow Terranova, Cary

Christopher M. Thomas

Parker Poe, Raleigh

Christina Davidson Trimmer

Shumaker Loop & Kendrick, Charlotte Robert Charles Van Arnam

Williams Mullen, Raleigh Jennifer Van Doren

Morningstar Law Group, Raleigh

Thomas Glenn Varnum

Brooks Pierce, Wilmington Devon E. White

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh Lance S. White

Apollo Sports & Entertainment Law Group, Charlotte Benjamin Withrow

Withrow + Terranova, Cary HALL OF FAME: Mitchell S. Bigel, Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec, Raleigh (2002; 2003); Kenneth D. Sibley, Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec, Raleigh (2004); Wesley Thaddeus Adams III, Adams Evans, Charlotte (2005); J. Scott Evans, Yahoo!, Charlotte (2006); Philip Summa, Summa, Allan & Additon, Charlotte (2007); Susan Freya Olive, Olive & Olive, Durham (2008); David M. Carter, Carter & Schnedler, Asheville (2009); David M. Krasnow, Smith J A N U A R Y

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IMMIGRATION

LAURA DEDDISH BURTON FIRM: Fox Rothschild, Greensboro HOMETOWN: Charleston, South Carolina UNDERGRAD: Duke University LAW SCHOOL: University of Virginia, 1997 PRACTICED LAW: 26 years FAMILY: Husband, Will, also a partner at Fox

Rothschild; daughter Sarah, son Billy

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: To keep in closer and more meaningful touch with family and friends.

2024 WORK-LIFE CHANGE: Keep on keepin’ on.

GO-TO STRESS RELIEVER: Reading a good book on our front porch swing.

BUCKET LIST: Travel around the Greek islands by sailboat; they are so beautiful in photos, and I’ve always wanted to see them in person.

LEGAL WORK MYTH: Every minute is fast-paced courtroom drama and/or that all lawyers are unscrupulous bad apples.

FAVORITE LAWYER JOKE: Why don’t sharks bite attorneys? Professional courtesy.

LAST SHOW BINGE-WATCHED: “Daisy Jones and the Six” SPECIAL DISH: Lamb tagine – my mother learned how to make it in Morocco, and it was perfect and delicious.

FAVORITE FICTIONAL LAWYER: Lt. Cdr. Joanne Galloway (actor Demi Moore), “A Few Good Men.” Haven’t we all wanted to say, “I strenuously object!” at one time or another? Now it’s a family inside joke.

FAVORITE N.C. HANGOUT: Blowing Rock BBQ - EAST OR WEST?: Eastern, of course. I do cheat with South Carolina mustard-based from time to time.

LEGAL INSPIRATION: Watching my father, a career Navy JAG attorney, while I was growing up inspired me to become an attorney as well. It turns out that private practice is just a little bit different.

BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: The importance of “planting the seed” for both professional and business development. You won’t see the results immediately, but with time your career will grow strong and be fruitful. This was particularly helpful for me as patience is not my strong suit.

ALTERNATIVE CAREER: When I generously provide my thoughts on medical symptoms or diagnoses, my husband points out that I am neither a doctor nor do I play one on TV. DEFINE SUCCESS: To have family and friends you treasure and a career you love. I feel truly fortunate to have achieved this measure of success.

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Moore Leatherwood, Raleigh (2010); William J. Mason, MacCord Mason, Wilmington (2011); E. Eric Mills, Ward and Smith, New Bern (2012); Anthony Biller, Coats & Bennett, Cary (2013); Larry L. Coats, Coats & Bennett, Cary (2014); Sarah E. Nagae, Triangle Trademarks, Raleigh (2015); Maury M. Tepper III, Tepper & Eyster, Raleigh (2016); John C. Nipp, Additon, Higgins & Pendleton, Charlotte (2017); Matthew Ladenheim, Trego, Hines & Ladenheim, Charlotte (2018); Julie H. Richardson, Myers Bigel, Raleigh (2019); Russ Racine, Cranfill Sumner, Charlotte (2020); Rick McDermott, McDermott IP Law, Charlotte (2021); Rebecca Crandall, McGuire Wood & Bissette, Asheville (2022); Kimberly Bullock Gatling, Fox Rothschild, Greensboro (2023).

LITIGATION

W. SCOTT JONES

Searson, Jones, Gottschalk & Cash, Asheville Douglas B. Abrams

Abrams & Abrams, Raleigh Noah Breen Abrams

Abrams & Abrams, Raleigh Eric M. Albright

Fox Rothschild, Greensboro David Neal Allen

Allen Chesson, Charlotte Karl J. Amelchenko

Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, Raleigh Chad Alan Archer

Blanco Tackabery Attorneys, Winston-Salem Katherine Marie Barber-Jones

Hartzog Law Group, Raleigh Dauna L. Bartley

The Brocker Law Firm, Cary Stephen Mark Bennett

Arnold & Smith, Charlotte

Jonathan A. Berkelhammer

Ellis & Winters, Greensboro Ryan D. Bolick

Cranfill Sumner, Charlotte Robert C. Bowers

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte J. Bryan Boyd

Edwards Beightol, Raleigh

Ashley Kamphaus Brathwaite

Ellis & Winters, Raleigh Seth Peter Buskirk

Clark, Newton & Evans, Wilmington Anthony T. Capitano

Erwin, Capitano & Moss, Charlotte Andrew S. Chamberlin

Ellis & Winters, Greensboro

Benjamin Smith Chesson

Allen Chesson, Charlotte Steven Corriveau

Martin & Jones, Raleigh

Richard A. Coughlin

Fox Rothschild, Greensboro Dale A. Curriden

Van Winkle Law Firm, Asheville Eric M. David

Brooks Pierce, Raleigh

Alexandra “Alli” Davidson

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte

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INTELLECTUAL

JOHN OWEN FIRM: Coats & Bennett, Cary HOMETOWN: Cary UNDERGRAD: Duke University LAW SCHOOL: UNC Law School, 1996 PRACTICED LAW: 27 years

FAMILY: Wife Denise NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: Find more joy and share it.

2024 WORK-LIFE CHANGE: Cut back on the number of days I am working as part of the glide path to retirement.

GO-TO STRESS RELIEVER: Go for a long walk with the dog. The dog reminds me to be present in the moment and to enjoy simple things.

BUCKET LIST: Visit New Zealand BIGGEST RISK: Leaving a good engineering/ management career to go to law school.

LEGAL WORK MYTH: It is all about conflict, when it is actually more about relationships and understanding your client.

FAVORITE LAWYER JOKE: Only lawyers can write 80 pages on a single subject and call it a “brief.”

LAST SHOW BINGE-WATCHED: “Love, Death + Robots.” It is alternately hilarious and thought provoking.

SPECIAL DISH: The now-closed Magnolia Grill’s famous panko crusted chicken with lemon caper sauce, prepared by my wife Denise.

FAVORITE FICTIONAL ATTORNEY: Mitchell McDeere from “The Firm.”

FAVORITE N.C. HANGOUT: Umstead State Park LEGAL INSPIRATION: The challenge of continuous learning and a great example in Professor John Conley.

BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: A wise lawyer told me argument is not just about facts and law, it is about telling a compelling story.

FICTIONAL COURTROOM WHERE YOU’RE THE LAWYER: The trial to determine if Lt. Cmdr. Data is sentient in “Star Trek Next Generation” because of the importance of the issue to a fundamentally good “person.”

ALTERNATIVE CAREER: Wine and craft beer merchant.

2024 MILESTONES: My 13th year of waiting for Patrick Rothfuss to finish and release the sequel to “The Wise Man’s Fear.”

DEFINE SUCCESS: Knowing you made a positive difference.

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Kearns Davis

Michael James Hoefling

Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette

Nathaniel J. Pencook

Brian Forrest Davis

Dana H. Hoffman

John P. Marshall

Jim W. Phillips Jr.

Brooks Pierce, Greensboro Davis Law Group, Asheville Michael D. DeFrank

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh Jessica C. Dixon

Parker Poe, Charlotte J. Nicholas Ellis

Poyner Spruill, Rocky Mount

Thomas Russell Ferguson III

Womble Bond Dickinson, Charlotte Andrew Larry Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald Litigation, Winston-Salem Paul T. Flick

Miller Monroe & Plyler, Raleigh J. Scott Flowers

Hutchens Law Firm, Fayetteville Deedee Rouse Gasch

Cranfill Sumner, Wilmington Charles George

Wyrick Robbinsn, Raleigh

Matthew W. Georgitis

Spilman Thomas & Battle, Winston-Salem Reginald B. Gillespie Jr.

Wilson Ratledge, Raleigh Jeffrey C. Grady

J. Grady Law, Charlotte

Christopher T. Graebe

Morningstar Law Group, Raleigh William T. Graham

John Locke Foundation, Raleigh Dustin Timothy Greene

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Winston-Salem Kirkland Hardymon

Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte Young Moore and Henderson, Raleigh Ryan Hoffman

Alexander Ricks, Charlotte Gregory G. Holland

Fox Rothschild, Greensboro John W. Holton

Dennis Lee Martin Jr.

Roberts & Stevens, Asheville

Brooks Pierce, Greensboro Michael R. Phillips

Hagwood And Tipton, Charlotte

Thomas Richmond McPherson III

Robert Bryson Pike

Viral Mehta

Donald R. Pocock

Carrie Meigs

Anastasia Pressel

Samuel C. Merritt

Kenneth Raynor

Jeffrey R. Monroe

David Redding

Jacob M. Morse

Joel R. Rhine

McGuireWoods, Charlotte

The Pike Law Firm, Morehead City Akerman, Winston-Salem

Michael Best & Friedrich, Raleigh

Ricci Law Firm Injury Lawyers, Raleigh

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte

Raynor Law Firm, Charlotte

Miller Monroe & Plyler, Raleigh

TLG Law, Charlotte Rhine Law Firm, Wilmington

Wallace & Graham, Salisbury

Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, Raleigh

Womble Bond Dickinson, Charlotte

Turning Point Litigation, Greensboro

Ian Richardson

Venture Law Firm, Raleigh

Morgan Hunter Rogers

Nelson Mullins, Raleigh

Erik M. Rosenwood

Yarborough, Winters & Neville, Fayetteville

Adam Lewis Ross

Tin Fulton Walker & Owen, Charlotte

Adam M. Ruley

Mallory G. Horne

Teague Rotenstreich Stanaland Fox & Holt, Greensboro Ann Patton Hornthal

Roberts & Stevens, Asheville

Matthew Thomas Houston

K&L Gates, Raleigh John Hughes

Michael Ingersoll

Jason Burke James

JD Law Carolinas, Charlotte Shannon Joseph

Morningstar Law Group, Raleigh Lori R. Keeton

Law Offices of Lori Keeton, Charlotte Christopher R. Kiger

Smith Anderson, Raleigh

Charles Bailey King Jr.

Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis, Raleigh

Sammy M. Naji

Vann Attorneys, Raleigh

Brandon S. Neuman

Parker Poe, Charlotte

J. Thomas Neville

Rosenwood, Rose & Litwak, Charlotte

Lauren O. Newton

Amanda Pickens Nitto

Kimberly Jill Kirk

Philip Andrew Olivier

Heryka Rodriguez Knoespel

David J. Overton

Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte McGuireWoods, Charlotte

Trey Lindley

John Alexander Heroy

Harrison A. Lord

Lindley Law, Charlotte Lord Law Firm, Charlotte

Amy E. Richardson

Allison Mullins

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, Charlotte Robinson Bradshaw, Charlotte

J.D. Hensarling

James, McElroy & Diehl, Charlotte

White Allen, Kinston

Nelson Mullins, Raleigh

Mehta & McConnell, Charlotte

Miller Monroe Plyler, Raleigh

Rayburn Cooper & Durham, Charlotte Adam Langino Langino Law, Chapel Hill L. Cooper Harrell Kenneth T. Lautenschlager Mullins Duncan Harrell & Russell, Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte Greensboro Vann Attorneys, Raleigh

McGuireWoods, Raleigh

Garrett, Walker, Aycoth & Olson, Greensboro Ricci Law Firm, Raleigh Leslie C. Packer

Ellis & Winters, Raleigh

Paige Loralea Pahlke

Pahlke Law, Charlotte

Michael J. Parrish

Ward and Smith, New Bern Alan Parry

Parry Law, Chapel Hill

James, McElroy & Diehl, Charlotte

Bell, Davis & Pitt, Winston-Salem Stephen M. Russell Jr.

Mullins Duncan Harrell Russell, Greensboro Megan Sadler

Venn Law Group, Charlotte William Kirk Sanders

Hendrick, Bryant, Nerhood, Sanders & Otis, Winston-Salem Frank E. Schall

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte

Bradford “Brad” Searson

Barbour, Searson, Jones & Cash, Asheville Thomas Hamilton Segars

Ellis & Winters, Raleigh

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LITIGATION

W. SCOTT JONES FIRM: Searson, Jones, Gottschalk & Cash, Asheville HOMETOWN: Shelby UNDERGRAD: UNC Chapel Hill LAW SCHOOL: University of Virginia, 1991 PRACTICED LAW: 32 years

FAMILY: Wife Karen, children Olivia, Matthew and William NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: Continue to do the work that I enjoy, run consistently and appreciate family time.

2024 WORK-LIFE CHANGE: Fortunate to practice with three great lawyers who are also good friends.

We have three additional lawyers joining us: Tikkun Gottschalk, Elizabeth Newman and Bob Deutsch.

GO-TO STRESS RELIEVER: I started running 15 years ago to improve my physical health, but it also has benefitted my mental health.

BIGGEST RISK: Left the only law firm I had ever practiced with and some of my closest friends to start my new firm in 2008. It was scary at first, but it was a great decision.

LAST SHOW BINGE-WATCHED: “Shetland” SPECIAL DISH: My grandmother made a wonderful cubed steak. My wife’s cubed steak one-ups even my grandmother.

FAVORITE FICTIONAL LAWYER: Theo Boone, kid lawyer, from John Grisham book series about a teen who fights to right injustices.

FAVORITE N.C. HANGOUT: Asheville BBQ - EAST OR WEST?: My favorite barbecue is my own. I have had a Big Green Egg for 20 years and have a Kamado Joe now too. I even have a “secret sauce,” which has an Eastern lean.

LEGAL INSPIRATION: In elementary school, I watched the Watergate hearings. U.S. Sens. Sam Ervin, D-N.C., and Howard Baker, R-Tenn., inspired me.

BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: “People are complicated.” Too often in litigation, the parties jump too quickly to ascribe only bad motive and evil intent to the other side. Often it is more complicated, just like people.

ALTERNATE CAREER: College chemistry professor.

2024 MILESTONES: Sons Matthew and William will become college freshmen, leaving Karen and me to start our empty nest chapter.

DEFINE SUCCESS: Raising my children to be people who contribute their skills to society and who enjoy their lives. Success in litigation is putting clients in a better position than they would have been if they had not come to see me.

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Timothy Alfred Sheriff

CR Legal Team, Charlotte

Patricia Pursell Shields

Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo, Raleigh Grant Sigmon

Sigmon Klein, Greensboro

Christopher James Skinner

Broughton Wilkins Sugg & Thompson, Raleigh Samuel A. Slater

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh Allen C. Smith

Hedrick Gardner, Charlotte Ryan Hayden Smith

Ryan The Lawyer, Raleigh Eric Spengler

Spengler & Agans, Charlotte Joseph H. Stallings

Howard Stallings, Raleigh

James B. Stephenson II

Stephenson Law, Cary Wyatt S. Stevens

Roberts & Stevens, Asheville

Conrad Boyd Sturges III

Davis, Sturges & Tomlinson, Louisburg E. Winslow Taylor

Taylor & Taylor, Winston-Salem Christopher M. Theriault

Theriault Law, Oak Island Rebecca Thornton

Michael Best & Friedrich, Raleigh

HALL OF FAME: James T. Williams

Jr., Brooks Pierce, Greensboro (2002; 2003); Clarence W. Walker, Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman, Charlotte (2004); Gary S. Parsons, Brooks Pierce, Raleigh (2005); William K. Davis, Bell, Davis & Pitt, WinstonSalem (2006); Dan J. McLamb, Yates, McLamb & Weyher, Raleigh (2007); Robert D. Walker, Walker, Allen, Grice, Ammons & Foy, Goldsboro (2008); J. Donald Cowan Jr., Ellis & Winters, Greensboro (2009); G. Gray Wilson, Wilson, Helms and Cartledge, Winston-Salem (2010); James H. Kelly Jr., Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Winston-Salem (2011); Daniel L. Brawley, Williams Mullen, Wilmington (2012); Lee M. Whitman, Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh (2013); Michael J. Byrne, Byrne Law, Raleigh (2014); Jonathan D. Sasser, Ellis & Winters, Raleigh (2015); Jean Sutton Martin, Law Office of Jean Sutton Martin, Wilmington (2016); Greg Merritt, Harris, Creech, Ward & Blackerby, New Bern (2017); Ward Davis, Bell, Davis & Pitt, Charlotte (2018); Elizabeth Scott, Williams Mullen, Raleigh (2019); Clay A. Campbell, Marcellino & Tyson, Charlotte (2020); Kristen L. Beightol, Edwards Kirby, Raleigh (2021); Fred W. DeVore III, DeVore, Acton & Stafford, Charlotte (2022); Ross Fulton, Rayburn Cooper & Durham, Charlotte (2023).

B. Elizabeth Todd

Law Office of B. Elizabeth Todd, Charlotte Christopher Donald Tomlinson

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte Anna Claire Turpin

Henson Fuerst, Raleigh Andrew R. Ussery

McAngus Goudelock & Courie, Charlotte Cynthia Van Horne

Poyner Spruill, Charlotte

Jennifer K. Van Zant

REAL ESTATE JULIAN ROBB

Blanco Tackabery & Matamoros, Winston-Salem William Albert Anderson II

Kennon Craver, Durham Charles V. Archie

Brooks Pierce, Greensboro

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh

Vann Attorneys, Raleigh

Ashley Law Firm, Charlotte

Villmer Caudill, Charlotte

Dement Askew Johnson & Marshall, Raleigh

James R. Vann

Mary Burgett Ashley

Matthew M. Villmer

Garland L. Askew

Stephen Brian Walker

Holly S. Bannerman

John Bowen Walker

Catherine Price Barr

William W. Walker

Anthony J. Barwick

Garrett Walker Aycoth & Olson, Greensboro

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte

Ragsdale Liggett, Raleigh

Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte

Craige Jenkins Liipfert & Walker, Winston-Salem

Brooks Pierce, Raleigh

Wallace & Graham, Salisbury

Steven K. Bell

Paul H. Bass

Daniel Wallace

Law Office of Paul H. Bass, Charlotte

Zachary D. Walton

Steven K Bell, Trent Woods

Judson A. Welborn

Hutchens Law Firm, Fayetteville

McAngus Goudelock & Courie, Charlotte Manning Fulton & Skinner, Raleigh

Susan R. Benoit

Kenneth R. Benton

Ellis & Winters, Greensboro

Baucom, Claytor, Benton, Morgan & Wood, Charlotte

Ward and Smith, Wilmington

Ragsdale Liggett, Raleigh

Dixie T. Wells

Jeremy M. Wilson Nevin Wisnoski

Napoli Shkolnik, Wilmington Ellen P. Wortman

Wortman Law Firm, Wilmington

Ashleigh Elizabeth Black

Jonathan Matthew Bogues

Michael Best & Friedrich, Raleigh Justin Nicholas Bolling

Bolling & Ghannam, Charlotte

Joseph Beaman Brewer IV

Janeen Hogue

John R. Buben Jr.

George E. Hollodick

Littlewood Law, Raleigh

Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte Scott Kenyon Burger

Allen Stahl + Kilbourne, Asheville

Miller-Hogue Law, Charlotte Blanco Tackabery, Winston-Salem Scott Thomas Horn

William G. Burgin

Allman Spry Davis Leggett & Crumpler, Winston-Salem

Margaret S. Burnham

Brooks Pierce, Greensboro

Michele Andrejco Callaway

Adams Howell, Raleigh

Kristen Kelley Callihan

Humphries Law Firm, Wilmington

Hope D. Carmichael

Hutchens Law Firm, Fayetteville

Tuggle Duggins, Greensboro Maynard Nexsen, Greensboro Adams Howell, Raleigh

Boyles & Callihan, Wilmington Jordan Price Wall Gray Jones & Carlton, Raleigh Alison R. Cayton

Manning Fulton & Skinner, Raleigh Barbara R. Christy

Schell Bray, Greensboro Louis Penn Clarke

Longleaf Law Partners, Raleigh

George W. House

Currie Tee Howell

Justin K. Humphries

Hilton Terry Hutchens Jr. William T. Hutchins

Kennon Craver, Durham Susan K. Irvin

Irvin Law Group, Cornelius Marc L. Issacson

Isaacson Sheridan, Greensboro Brooks F. Jaffa

Donna R. Cohen

Cranford, Buckley, Schultze, Tomchin, Allen & Buie, Charlotte

William Richardson Daughtrey

Womble Bond Dickinson, Winston-Salem

Donna R. Cohen Attorney at Law, Raleigh Alexander Ricks, Charlotte

Joseph B. Dempster Jr.

Poyner Spruill, Raleigh

Trent E. Jernigan Peter U. Kanipe

McGuire Wood & Bissette, Asheville

Jeffrey P. Keeter

Doyle Wallace, Charlotte

Block Crouch Keeter Behm & Sayed, Wilmington

St. Amand & Efird, Charlotte

K&L Gates, Raleigh

Ellinger & Carr, Raleigh

John W. King, New Bern

Regent Law, Charlotte

Kirk Palmer & Thigpen, Charlotte

Akerman, Winston-Salem

Regent Law, Charlotte

Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders, Charlotte

Ragsdale Liggett, Raleigh

Carter Law Group, Salisbury

John Charles Livingston

Matthew Peter Doyle James Scott Efird

Michael F. King

Susan Y. Ellinger

John W. King Jr.

Randall Wayne Faircloth

William B. Kirk Jr.

Andrew Steven Felts

William F. Kirk

Walter D. Fisher Jr.

Benjamin R. Kuhn Michael V. Lee

Jennifer Flynn

Lee Kaess, Wilmington

Samuel Benjamin Franck

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Raleigh

Scott C. Gayle

Knipp Law, Charlotte

Jonathan Peter Goldberg

Weatherspoon & Voltz, Raleigh

Austin Grabowski

Parker Poe, Charlotte

Stephanie E. Greer Fulcher

Roberts & Stevens, Asheville

Ward and Smith, Wilmington Tuggle Duggins, Greensboro Alexander Ricks, Charlotte

Grabowski Law Firm, Charlotte

Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders, Charlotte Jennifer Hall

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh

Jonathan Robert Hankin

Hankin Law, Charlotte

Mark Joseph Hanson

Alexander Ricks, Charlotte

Robert Charles Lawson

Williams Mullen, Raleigh

Allen Crosby Livingston III Nicole Sabourin Loeffler Timothy P. Logan

Kathryn Maultsby Madison Jeffrey J. Malarney

Jeff Malarney, Kitty Hawk Joseph R. Marek

Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte

LaDeidre Dianne Matthews

Fox Rothschild, Charlotte

William C. Matthews

Womble Bond Dickinson, Charlotte Craig T. McCall

McCall Law Firm, Raleigh

James Bryant Haynes

James C. McCaskill

David Layne Hillman

Andrew Martin McCullough

Brooks Pierce, Greensboro Ellis & Winters, Raleigh

Thomas Patrick Hockman

Schell Bray PLLC, Greensboro

Longleaf Law Partners, Raleigh Venn Law Group, Charlotte Gary T. McDermott

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REAL ESTATE

JULIAN ROBB FIRM: Blanco Tackabery & Matamoros, Winston-Salem HOMETOWN: Johannesburg, South Africa UNDERGRAD: UNC Chapel Hill LAW SCHOOL: Wake Forest School of Law, 1998 PRACTICED LAW: 25 years FAMILY: Wife, Jessica, and children, Ellie (16) and Liam (14) 2024 WORK-LIFE CHANGE: A better mentor to the firm’s new attorneys.

GO-TO STRESS RELIEVER: A great read shields you from the shenanigans of the workday.

BUCKET LIST: A week in the Hebrides in Scotland and leap from distillery to distillery. I love Scotland (my father was born in Greenock), but I’ve never been to Islay or Skye and I imagine a whisky-soaked week to be a delightful way to spend one’s time.

BIGGEST RISK: Real estate attorneys take no risks.

It’s not in our DNA. Biggest risk was going to law school at age 22.

COMFORT FOOD: Finding a good chicken parmesan sub in North Carolina is like finding gold in the Yukon.

SPECIAL FOOD: My mom made the best mac & cheese.

FAVORITE FICTIONAL LAWYER: Ben Stone (actor Michael Moriarty) from “Law & Order.” Stone is such an ornery fellow. He has the bedside manner of an accomplished malcontent, but is stubbornly principled and highly proficient.

FAVORITE N.C. HANGOUT: Pinehurst BBQ – EAST OR WEST: With all the objectivity that being a non-native brings, I can say with certainty that eastern North Carolina is clearly better.

LEGAL INSPIRATION: College summers spent working for a Charlotte law firm allowed me to see behind the fourth wall, to see attorneys work hard and interact with clients and staff. It made me want to emulate the best of them.

BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: I was a young attorney, struggling with a demanding client.

The firm’s managing partner told me never let a client treat me as a functionary. He said that we are here to advise our clients, not do their bidding.

I loved that advice, and with time developed the confidence and proficiency to put it into practice.

MOVIE WHERE YOU’RE THE LAWYER: The courtroom from “A Few Good Men.” I would love to yell “I want the truth” at a witness.

DEFINE SUCCESS: I define success by reputation.

The attorneys I respected as a young attorney in Winston-Salem, like Kim Gallimore, Don VonCannon and Frank Bell, had unimpeachable reputations. I think the most successful of us attorneys are those who are regarded highly by our peers.

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Heather Dawn McDowell

Ashley H. Ray

Ashley H. Terrazas

William H. Weathers Jr.

Daniel Adam Merlin

Jonathan Scott Raymer

Thomas E. Terrell Jr.

D. Robert Williams

Ellinger & Carr, Raleigh

Alexander Ricks, Charlotte Peter F. Morgan

Peter F. Morgan, Charlotte

Ragsdale Liggett, Raleigh

Black, Slaughter & Black, Greensboro Holden Reaves

Reaves Law, Fayetteville

David William Murray

John F. Renger III

James A. Oliver

B. Ford Robertson

Joseph Daniel Orenstein

John R. Rose

The Odom Firm, Charlotte

Renger & Reynolds, Charlotte

Hatch, Little & Bunn, Raleigh

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Raleigh

Coltrane Grubbs Orenstein, Kernersville

Goosmann Rose Colvard & Cramer, Asheville

Kelly Motycka Otis

Akerman, Winston-Salem

Cathy M. Rudisill

Roberts & Stevens, Asheville

Scott Andrew Schaff

Andrew RW Paschal Jeanne A. Pearson

Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte James K. Pendergrass

Pendergrass Law Firm, Raleigh Stephen J. Perry

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh Nolan Ray Perry

Morgan & Perry Law, Fuquay-Varina Tonya B. Powell

Nexsen Pruet, Raleigh

Samuel Sutherland Price

Stephenson Law, Cary

David T. Pryzwansky

Pryzwansky Law Firm, Raleigh Robert J. Ramseur Jr.

Ragsdale Liggett, Raleigh

Rudisill, Raleigh

Womble Bond Dickinson, Winston-Salem Lawrence Joseph Shaheen Jr.

McIntosh Law Firm, Davidson Douglas John Short

Manning Fulton & Skinner, Raleigh Jeremy Stephen Shrader

Carruthers & Roth, Greensboro

Jonathan Trent Sizemore

Adams Howell, Cary

Kyle Abraham Smalling

Capital City Law, Wake Forest Richard Stephenson

Stephenson Law, Cary Molly Stewart

Morningstar Law Group, Raleigh Brinson Taylor

Longleaf Law Partners, Raleigh

Parker Poe, Raleigh

Fox Rothschild, Greensboro Daniel A. Terry

Terry Law Firm, Charlotte Mark V. Thigpin

King & Spalding, Charlotte

Lindsay Parris Thompson

Weatherspoon & Voltz, Raleigh Price & Williams, Wilmington Cameron Clark Winfrey

Adams Howell, Cary

Thomas Carlton Younger III

Longleaf Law Partners, Raleigh

HALL OF FAME: Alfred Adams, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, Winston-Salem (2004); Barry D. Brooks Pierce, Raleigh Mann, Manning, Fulton & Skinner, Kathline Tran Raleigh (2005); Brent A. Torstrick, The McCall Law Firm, Raleigh Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, Charlotte (2006); Samuel T. Oliver Jr., Christopher TG Trusk Manning, Fulton & Skinner, Raleigh Williams Mullen, Raleigh (2007); Charles Gordon Brown, John M. Tyson Brown & Bunch PLLC, Chapel Hill Judge John M. Tyson, Fayetteville (2008); C. Steven Mason, Smith, Andrea Matt Van Trigt Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell Murchison, Taylor & Gibson, Wilmington & Jernigan, Raleigh (2009); Timothy Nikhil Pankaj Vyas G. Sellers, Sellers, Hinshaw, Ayers, Vyas Realty Law, Raleigh Dortch & Lyons, Charlotte (2010); Frank M. Bell Jr., Bell, Davis & Pitt, David Eric Wagner Winston-Salem (2011); George W. K&L Gates, Raleigh Sistrunk III, Hamilton Stephens Steele Henry Frazier Wallace II & Martin Charlotte (2012); Robert Doyle Wallace, Charlotte Charles Lawson, Williams Mullen, Joshua Tyler Walthall Raleigh (2013); Michael G. Winters, Boerema Blackton, Raleigh Ellis & Winters, Raleigh (2014); Holly Cameron Todd Ware H. Alderman, Schell Bray, Chapel Hill Johnston Allison & Hord, Charlotte (2015); Brian W. Byrd, Smith Moore Leatherwood, Greensboro (2016); Anna James Matthew Waters P. McLamb, Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh Jordan Price Wall Gray Jones & (2017); Beth Voltz, Weatherspoon Carlton, Raleigh

Van Winkle Law Firm, Asheville Anna Hartzog Tison

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TAX & ESTATE PLANNING

AMY H. KINCAID FIRM: Schell Bray, Greensboro HOMETOWN: Gainesville, Georgia UNDERGRAD: Clemson University LAW SCHOOL: UNC Chapel Hill School of Law, 1998 PRACTICED LAW: 25 years

FAMILY: I met John Kincaid at Clemson University, and we have been married since August 1993. We have two daughters, Ellie and Emma.

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: To perform a daily act of kindness.

GO-TO STRESS RELIEVER: I jog about two miles in the park near my house by myself without any music or podcasts. It’s just nice to be outside.

BUCKET LIST: Live in Spain for six months and learn conversational Spanish.

BIGGEST RISK: I only applied to one law school.

LEGAL WORK MYTH: Any attorney can draft a good will.

FAVORITE LAWYER JOKE: What do you get when you cross the Godfather with a lawyer? An offer you can’t understand.

LAST SHOW BINGE-WATCHED: “Jessica Jones” (Disney/Marvel Series) COMFORT FOOD: Spaghetti and meatballs SPECIAL DISH: A filet from the Fresh Market cooked medium rare with Dale’s Steak Seasoning cooked by my husband, John.

FAVORITE FICTIONAL LAWYER: Jack McCoy (actor Sam Waterston) on “Law & Order.”

FAVORITE N.C. HANGOUT: We have a cabin on Badin Lake. There are so many fun things to do. We hike in the Uwharrie National Forest, boat, ride jet skis, and paddle board. At the end of last summer, we kayaked down the Uwharrie River and learned an important lesson. It’s always important to check the water levels before kayaking, or you may end up hiking down the river with a kayak in tow instead!

LEGAL INSPIRATION: My family always discussed controversial issues at dinner. My father often told me to pick a side and prove my point. I got lots of practice and learned that I enjoyed winning those debates.

FICTIONAL COURTROOM WHERE YOU’RE THE LAWYER: I would cross-examine Jack Nicholson’s character in “A Few Good Men.” You can’t handle the truth!

ALTERNATIVE CAREER: Pilot DEFINE SUCCESS: “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” – Maya Angelou

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& Voltz, Raleigh (2018); Annika M. Brock, The Brock Law Firm, Asheville (2019); Allen York, Smith Anderson, Raleigh (2020); Diana R. Palecek, Fox Rothschild, Charlotte (2021); Philip Hackley, Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh (2022); Joanne Badr, Ward and Smith, Asheville (2023).

TAX & ESTATE PLANNING

Kara Gansmann

Lauren Campbell Maxie

Evan Michael Gilreath

Blaire McClanahan

Craige Brawley Liipfert & Walker, Winston-Salem

William Thomas McCuiston Jr.

Womble Bond Dickinson, Winston-Salem

Robert H. Merritt Jr.

Smith Anderson, Raleigh

William Lee Mills IV

Brooks Pierce, Greensboro

Christopher Scott Morden

McGuire Wood & Bissette, Asheville

Jonathan David Morgan

Elderlaw Firm, Greensboro

Cranfill Sumner, Wilmington Gilreath Shealy Law, Hendersonville Edward Weede Griggs

Womble Bond Dickinson, Winston-Salem C. Wells Hall III

Nelson Mullins, Charlotte

Christopher E. Hannum

Culp Elliott & Carpenter, Charlotte John Randolph Hemphill

AMY H. KINCAID Schell Bray, Greensboro Nathan R. Adams

Pittman & Steele, Burlington S. Kyle Agee

Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte David Eric Anderson

David E Anderson, Wilmington Michael F. Anderson

Anderson Law Firm, Charlotte Brian Carl Bernhardt

Fox Rothschild, Charlotte Andrew Blair

Poyner Spruill, Raleigh Chris N. Bobby

Manning Fulton & Skinner, Raleigh Julie Marion Bradlow

Darrow Everett, Charlotte

Gwendolyn C. Brooks

Kennon Craver, Durham Joshua D. Bryant

Smith Anderson, Raleigh

Madison E. Bullard Jr.

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh John J. Carpenter

Culp Elliott & Carpenter, Charlotte Michael R. Cashin

Womble Bond Dickinson, Winston-Salem John R. Cella Jr.

Ragsdale Liggett, Raleigh

Ansley Chapman Cella

Smith Anderson, Raleigh David R. Chambers

Chambers & Ennis, Raleigh Christian P. Cherry

Crisp Cherry McCraw, Charlotte John A. Cocklereece Jr.

Bell, Davis & Pitt, Winston-Salem Thomas A. Cooper

AustinCooper, Charlotte Charles M. Crisp

Crisp Cherry McCraw, Charlotte Stephanie Daniel

Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, Charlotte Janice L. Davies

Davies Law, Charlotte

C. Joseph DelPapa

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh Mark Doby

Wallace & Graham, Salisbury Jordan L. Faulkner

Young, Morphis, Bach & Taylor, Hickory John W. Forneris

Robinson Bradshaw, Charlotte Elinor J. Foy

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh

Hemphill Gelder, Raleigh

Mary Robinson Hervig

Roberts & Stevens, Asheville Christopher N. Hewitt

Womble Bond Dickinson, Winston-Salem Carl W. Hibbert

NC Planning, Cary

Law Offices of Cheryl David, Greensboro

Kimberly Quarles Swintosky

Bailey & Dixon, Raleigh

Adam Patrick McInnis Tarleton

Culp, Elliott & Carpenter, Charlotte

Sarah Sparboe Thornburg

Monroe Wallace Morden & Sherrill, Raleigh

Dennis Toman

Morgan & Perry Law, Fuquay-Varina

Jeneva Alicia Vazquez

Narron Wenzel, Raleigh

Connie J. Vetter

Mitchell Kemp Mosley Marcus L. Moxley

Hicks Guinn Law, Charlotte

Lawrence Moye IV

Parker Poe, Raleigh

Caroline Corry Munroe

Robyn Alise Hicks-Guinn

Edwards Craver Veach, Winston-Salem

Kay Linn Miller Hobart

Womble Bond Dickinson, Raleigh

Reed J. Hollander

Blanco Tackabery & Matamoros, Winston-Salem

Mary C. Immen

Michael Christian Murray

Cranford, Buckley, Schultze, Tomchin, Allen & Buie, Charlotte

Murray Moyer, Raleigh

Tuggle Duggins, Greensboro

Anthony D. Nicholson

William W. Nelson

Bradley L. Jacobs

Smith Anderson, Raleigh

Kelly Rains Jesson

Jesson & Rains, Charlotte

McPherson, Rocamora, Nicholson, Wilson & Hinkle, Durham

Carruthers & Roth, Greensboro

Schell Bray, Greensboro

Ronald P. Johnson

Timothy A. Nordgren

Linda F. Johnson

Holly Berry Harris Norvell

Senter, Stephenson, Johnson, Fuquay-Varina Jacob A. Johnson

Robertson & Associates, Charlotte Timothy William Jones

Jones Branz & Whitaker, Raleigh Jill Lynn Peters Kaess

Lee Kaess, Wilmington Warren P. Kean

Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, Charlotte John G. Kelso

Van Winkle Law, Asheville Adam Gates Kerr

Kerr Law, Greensboro

Joseph A. Kimmet

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh Amy S. Klass

Fox Rothschild, Greensboro

Meghan Naomi Knight

Lynch & Eatman, Raleigh Margaret Troy Kocaj

Kocaj Consulting, Charlotte Jennifer L.J. Koenig

Schell Bray, Greensboro Paula Alyse Kohut

Kohut, Adams & Randall, Wilmington Zachary F. Lamb

Ward and Smith, Asheville David Tyler Lewis

Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte Harris M. Livingstain

McGuire Wood & Bissette, Asheville Paul H. Livingston Jr.

Schell Bray, Greensboro

Robert D. Lyerly Jr.

Nexsen Pruet, Charlotte

Kimberly H. Stogner

McCuiston Law, Cary

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Raleigh

Nelson Mullins, Raleigh

Rebecca Lane Smitherman

Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte Tanya Nicole Oesterreich

Bray & Long, Charlotte

Connie J Vetter, Charlotte

Robert Hammock Wall

Akerman, Winston-Salem Janice A. Walston

Narron & Holdford, Wilson Carter Webb

Van Winkle Law, Asheville Michael J. Wenig

Tuggle Duggins, Greensboro

Catherine Loden Wilson

McPherson, Rocamora, Nicholson, Wilson & Hinkle, Durham Keith A. Wood

Carruthers & Roth, Greensboro H. Denton Worrell

Worrell Sides, Raleigh

Paul Anthony Yokabitus

Cary Estate Planning, Cary

HALL OF FAME: Robert C. Vaughn

Jr., Vaughn Perkinson Ehlinger Moxley & Stogner, Winston-Salem (2002; 2003); W. Curtis Elliott Jr., Culp Elliott Law Office of Jason R. Page, Wilson & Carpenter, Charlotte (2004); Ray S. Jonathan M. Parisi Farris, Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte Spangler Estate Planning, Greensboro (2005); Elizabeth L. Quick, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, Winston-Salem Erin Bray Patterson (2006); James W. Narron, Narron, Erin Patterson Law, Charlotte O’Hale & Whittington, Smithfield Abigail Elizabeth Peoples (2007); E. William Kratt, Herring Mills Law Firm Of Abigail E Peoples, Greensboro & Kratt, Raleigh (2008); Christy Eve Christian Lee Perrin Reid (died May 8, 2014), Robinson, Perrin Legal, Charlotte Bradshaw & Hinson, Charlotte (2009); Michael H. Godwin, Schell Bray Branson A. Pethel Aycock Abel & Livingston, Greensboro Shelby, Pethel and Hudson, Salisbury (2010); Maria M. Lynch, Lynch & Galina “Allie” Petrova Eatman LLP, Raleigh (2011); Graham Petrova Law, Greensboro D. Holding Jr., Robinson, Bradshaw & Thomas J. Rhodes Hinson, Charlotte (2012); Andrew H. Narron & Holdford, Wilson Veach, Edwards Craver Veach, WinstonSalem (2013); Robert H. Haggard, Van Larry H. Rocamora Winkle Lam, Asheville (2014); Michael McPherson, Rocamora, Nicholson, A. Colombo, Colombo, Kitchin, Wilson & Hinkle, Durham Dunn, Ball & Porter, Greenville (2015); Jennifer Marshall Roden Jason Walls, The Walls Law Firm, Apex Craige & Fox, Wilmington (2016); Debra L. Foster, Foster Royal, Heidi Elizabeth Royal Charlotte (2017); Elizabeth “Liz” Heidi E. Royal Law, Charlotte K. Arias, Womble Bond Dickinson, Raleigh (2018); Jean Gordon Carter, Maria Magdalena Satterfield McGuireWoods, Raleigh (2019); Rudy Satterfield Legal, Charlotte Ogburn, Young Moore and Henderson, Joseph D. Shealy Raleigh (2020); Jessica Mering Hardin, Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte Robinson Bradshaw, Charlotte (2021); John R. Sloan Brooks Jaffa, Cranford, Buckley Ward and Smith, Wilmington Schultze, Tomchin, Allen & Buie, Charlotte (2022); Michael Cory Howes, Amy K. Smith Strauss Attorney, Raleigh (2023).

Bell, Davis & Pitt, Winston-Salem Oesterreich Law, Concord Jason R. Page

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YOUNG GUNS

KATARINA “KATIE” WONG FIRM: Brooks Pierce, Raleigh HOMETOWN: Port Jefferson, New York UNDERGRAD: Duke University LAW SCHOOL: Duke Law School, 2019 PRACTICED LAW: 4 years FAMILY: Andrew (husband) NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: Connect more with family, friends and colleagues.

2024 WORK-LIFE CHANGE: Answer my own questions about what we should do next so that I can better exercise the muscle of making judgment calls and developing strategy.

GO-TO STRESS RELIEVER: Running. Fresh air, beautiful places, exhaustion and disassociation.

BUCKET LIST: Follow tradition of former-Englishmajors-turned-lawyers-turned-novelists.

BIGGEST RISK: Teaching 12th grade English to students who were nearly the same age. What did I know about the world that they didn’t?

SPECIAL DISH: In high school, the dad of my friend Patricia Luksich would bake chocolate chip cookies for our weekly viewings of “Avatar, the Last Airbender.” I don’t think I’ve ever eaten a more perfect cookie in a more welcoming place.

FAVORITE FICTIONAL LAWYER: Kim Wexler (actor Rhea Seehorn) from “Better Call Saul.” She loves the law, cares deeply for her clients. Her success is based on hard work and attention to detail.

FAVORITE N.C. HANGOUT: A spot on Jordan Lake to float around and paddleboard.

LEGAL INSPIRATION: In an ethical reasoning class, the professor used cold calls similar to the Socratic settings in law school. It was terrifying and thrilling to be put on the spot. A class on religion and democracy incorporated texts from legal scholars on public discourse. I loved these classes because they were more legal-centric than public policy centric.

These undergraduate classes shaped the way I taught my high school students. My students impressed me. They were so much more aware than I was at their age. It made me want to participate in spaces where I could engage with others in dialogues about questions that did not have easy answers.

BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: Take ownership of your work and drive your case forward.

That principle has helped me be creative and independent.

TV SHOW WHERE YOU’RE THE LAWYER: “Trial and Error” featured a New York lawyer learning how to navigate a small-town, Southern courtroom. The big city lawyer found his home in the quirky town and its people. I wouldn’t mind practicing in a court that felt like home.

DEFINE SUCCESS: Doing your best and doing the work for a cause that will serve other people well.

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YOUNG GUNS

KATARINA “KATIE” WONG

Vince Eisinger

Scottie Forbes Lee

S. Collins Saint

Alan Buford Felts

Benjamin Leighton

Joseph Robert Shealy

Cranfill Sumner, Raleigh Tuggle Duggins, Greensboro Casey Christine Fidler

Tharrington Smith, Raleigh

Ellis & Winters, Greensboro Alexander Ricks, Charlotte Alexa Noelle Litt

Brooks Pierce, Greensboro Katten, Charlotte Sadie Short

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh

Lauren E. Fussell

Collins Family & Elder Law Group, Monroe

McCollum Law, Cary

Alexis Gadzinski

James Scott Farrin, Charlotte

Fox Rothschild, Greensboro

Stephen Charles Gambill

Skufca Law, Charlotte

K&L Gates, Raleigh

James Van Cleave Gambrell

Brooks Pierce, Greensboro

Gabriel Snyder

Johnson & Groninger, Charlotte

Grace Glover

Poyner Spruill, Charlotte

Kendra Nicole Stark

Teague Campbell Dennis & Gorham, Raleigh

Aaron Michael Goforth

Allen Stahl + Kilbourne, Asheville

Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh

William S. Graebe

Smith Anderson, Raleigh

John William Graebe

Brooks Pierce, Raleigh

Patrick H. Archibald

Williams Mullen, Raleigh

Lisa Williford Arthur

Marcellino & Tyson, Charlotte

Benjamin T. Aydlett

Ragsdale Liggett, Raleigh

Helen Somerville Baddour

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte

Heather Tonelli Baker

Marshall & Taylor, Raleigh

Sophia V. Blair

Hatch, Little & Bunn, Raleigh

Kara Marie Murphy Brunk

Morningstar Law Group, Raleigh

Elizabeth Buckner

Morningstar Law Group, Raleigh

Katie Burchette

Law Offices of Oliver & Cheek, Greenville

Matthew C. Burke

Jeremy Scott Maddox Alexia Virginia Martin Agustin M. Martinez

Kelsey Nicole Hendry Mayo Hannah Katherine Michalove Worth Mills

Samuel Benjamin Simmons

Crisp Cherry McCraw, Charlotte Marie Celeste Skinner

McKnight Law, Raleigh Olivia Smith

Wallace & Graham, Salisbury

Ward Black Law, Greensboro Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, Raleigh Isla N. Tabrizi

Christopher Andrew Moore

Collins Family & Elder Law Group, Monroe

Daniel Mullins

Manning Fulton & Skinner, Raleigh

Claudia Mundy

North Carolina Republican Party, Raleigh

Longleaf Law Partners, Raleigh Williams Mullen, Raleigh

Brian Zachary Taylor Jr.

Hartzog Law Group, Durham

Philip Ryan Thomas

Van Winkle Law, Asheville

Ralston Benton Byerley & Moore, Statesville

Robert Charles Trimble

Diane B. Burks

Ogletree Deakins, Charlotte

Cranfill Sumner, Raleigh

Joshua Robert Valentine

David Busch

Brooks Pierce, Raleigh

Ward and Smith, Greenville

Sarah Warren

Ashley Barton Chandler

Ward and Smith, Raleigh

Law Office of Gentry Palmer, Greensboro

Brooke E. Webber

James Bradley Cheek

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte

Roberts & Stevens, Asheville

Jennifer W. Winkler

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte

Linda B. Green

Brian Donald Gulden

Sigmon Klein, Greensboro

Young Moore, Raleigh

Meredith Hamilton

RaShawnda Trenise Murphy

Katten Muchin Rosenman, Charlotte

Amanda San Mei Hawkins

Jane Francis Nowell

Caulder & Valentine Law, Shelby

Alexander Ricks, Charlotte

Justin Tyler Hill

Gentry Alexander Palmer Jr.

Trinity Partners, Raleigh

Fox Rothschild, Greensboro

Fielding E. Huseth

Gracie Katherine Paulson

Howard Stallings, Raleigh

Rogers Patrick Westbrook & Brickman, Charlotte

Michael James Hutcherson

Jasmine Michelle Pitt

Nelson Mullins, Charlotte

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Charlotte

Longleaf Law Partners, Raleigh

Mikail Orestes Clark Kevin Cline

NC Republican Party, Raleigh Carter B. Cole

Hannah Sheridan & Cochran, Raleigh Chamberlain Elizabeth Collier

Ragsdale Liggett, Raleigh

Max Edward Isaacson

Christopher Ward Jackson

Ellis & Winters, Greensboro Emily Catherine Jeske

Bosquez Porter Family Law, Raleigh Diana Santos Johnson

Payton Rose Collier

Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey, Winston-Salem

Drew Culler

K&L Gates, Charlotte

Tyler Andrew Diekhaus

Pope McMillan, Statesville

McAngus Goudelock & Courie, Raleigh Ward and Smith, Raleigh Johnson & Groninger, Durham Jones Childers Donaldson Webb, Mooresville Ashley Victoria DiMuzio

Surratt and Thompson, Winston-Salem Christy Cochran Dunn

Young Moore and Henderson, Raleigh

Mary Scott Kennedy Christian Kiechel

Kristen Marie Kirby

McGuireWoods, Raleigh

Kasey Elizabeth Koballa

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Raleigh Anna Gray LeBlanc

Offit Kurman, Charlotte

Akerman, Winston-Salem

Jackson Connelly Pridgen

Johnston Allison Hord, Charlotte Brittany Alexis Puckett

Akerman, Winston-Salem Elizabeth Ann Ray

CR Legal Team, Charlotte Christopher Cowden Wardlaw Rayburn

Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte Preetha Suresh Rini

Robinson Bradshaw, Raleigh

Keith Manning Rivenbark

Marcellino & Tyson, Charlotte Kasi Wahlers Robinson

Brooks Pierce, Greensboro Courtney Roller

Roller Law, Thomasville

Jamie Elizabeth Rudd

Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, Raleigh

Hall of Fame: J. Christian Stevenson, Kirk Palmer & Thigpe, Charlotte (2012); George Mason Oliver, Oliver Friesen Cheek, New Bern (2013); Michael F. Easley Jr., McGuireWoods, Raleigh (2014); Alvaro R. De La Calle, Calle Law, Greensboro (2015); Aaron Lay, Hamilton Stephens Steele + Martin, Charlotte (2016); Elie Foy, Wyrick Robbins, Raleigh (2017); Matthew T. Marcellino, Marcellino & Tyson, Charlotte (2018); Nancy S. Litwak, Rosenwood, Rose & Litwak, Charlotte (2019); Antonia A. “Toni” Peck, Nelson Mullin, Raleigh (2020); Holden B. Clark, Holden B. Clark, Attorney at Law, Gastonia (2021); Carl Burchette, Rosenwood, Rose & Litwak, Charlotte (2022); Keith Boyette, Director of State Government Relations, North Carolina Healthcare Association, Raleigh (2023). ■

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Thank you to our talented photographers

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GASTON COUNTY

BUILDING BLOCKS Gaston County is revitalizing its downtowns while strengthening foundations in healthcare, education and manufacturing.

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ustic textile mills, the foundation of Gaston County’s economy a century ago, remain part of its support system as downtown revitalizations, major healthcare investments and international manufacturing build this Piedmont county of a quarter-million residents.

In the county seat of Gastonia, Trenton Cotton Mills, established in 1893, and the Loray Mill complex, have been repurposed into lofts and apartments near downtown.

Construction is scheduled to begin in first-quarter 2024 on Franklin Yards, a $50 million project to create 250 residential units and 7,000-squarefeet of commercial space in the former YMCA in Gastonia’s Franklin Urban Sports and Entertainment (FUSE) District.

The former Choice USA Beverage building on East Franklin Boulevard, known as the Coke building, will be a loft complex called The Dillinger, with another building re-created into a retail/ 80

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restaurant/classic car display called Hangar 618, in FUSE. Nearby in Mount Holly, the county’s second-largest municipality, the Mount Holly Cotton Mill built in 1875 is being transformed into Muddy River Distillery, to open this spring. And new owners of Woodlawn Mill, a former textile mill, plan to convert it to apartments and commercial.

“I remember as a young child coming downtown and now, quite frankly, you can’t find a parking spot anymore,” says Gastonia native Mike Sumner, owner of Sumner Group Marketing & Branding,which operates in the historic Love Building in downtown Gastonia. His company has been in business 36 years. “You have to get here early if you want to park. Downtown has been forgotten for so many years, but now it’s changing.”

That change is drifting in from the east, as growth in Mecklenburg County crosses the Catawba River into Gaston.

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Belmont and Mount Holly, which border the river, are exploring land-use plans to accommodate increased residential and commercial activity while remaining nature-friendly, with parks and walkways.

“We here in Gastonia are winning by default,” says Sam Robinson, a Sumner Group staffer. “Charlotte has run over, Belmont has run over and we have a progressive group of people in Gastonia who really want to make things happen. There’s a huge demand for apartments, and you can be in Charlotte in 35 minutes.”

Adds Kristy Crisp, director of economic development for the city of Gastonia: “If you’d asked me five years ago, I’d never have envisioned where we are today. We are growing at such a fast rate. It’s like the chicken and the egg – we’re building our residential, so we need shopping, but the shops need residential density to be successful.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF .THE CITY OF MT.HOLLY AND THE CITY OF BELMONT

Aerial photo from recent Summer Concert Series, from left, a mural in downtown Belmont, Firehawk Brewpub in Mount Holly, Moonlight on Main exhibition in Belmont and amenity area for the 55-year-old and older community Imagery on Mountain Island Lake, help show the diversity of Gaston County.

downtown now, so in five years from now I see a strong residential corridor, a thriving FUSE District, downtown hotels, a lot of activity and continued growth.”

Momentum in Gastonia hit a speedbump in late November when the Gastonia Honey Hunters baseball team, which played in FUSE’s CaroMont Health Park, were kicked out of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, potentially leaving the 2,000-seat stadium without a tenant. Various lawsuits are ongoing with the league and city of Gastonia, though Atlantic League president Rick White says “the Atlantic league intends to field a team in Gastonia in 2024.”

The $26.2 million stadium opened in May 2021, fueling a string of investments in downtown, including repurposing former mill buildings into residences.

“The support of the business community will be there for a new team,” Sumner says, “no question in my mind.

Gastonia will support a major league

team. If somebody makes a commitment to Gastonia baseball, the community will in turn make a commitment back to that team. People here are family-oriented, and Gastonia will do everything to make it work if you put in the right program.”

“Our plan is definitely to play baseball in 2024, that’s the goal,” Crisp says. “We want to make sure CaroMont Health Park is successful.”

Demographically, Sumner says, the city of 81,200 has a downtown a mere four stoplights long. “Just today,” he said in mid-November, “we were out taking a walk and within those four blocks we saw 14 building projects.”

An old theater has become Webb Custom Kitchen, and a former law building is transformed into the Esquire Hotel. Across the street, a $20 million apartment project on West Main Avenue – Center City Crossings – will begin leasing in January.

The Franklin Yards project will include intersection improvements at Franklin

and Trenton streets, with Trenton “being straightened up,” Crisp says. “We’re making it more pedestrian friendly, putting in new signals and pedestrian markers and making it very much a sense of placemaking, of being part of FUSE.” “We have a small downtown. You can walk from one end to the other in five minutes,” Sumner says. “I tell people all the time, there’s a lot of development over in Belmont, but people judge an area by its downtown. We’re trying to connect to Charlotte on one side (of the county), and the downtown had been forgotten. Now it’s changing. The rents are going up and that’s good, because we need to have people who are committed and are bringing in the types of businesses the people in the apartments need. Just about every business except the banks is a local business.”

Away from downtown, many businesses are not local.

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The Congress of New Urbanism took a tour of historic Mount Holly Cotton Mill (circa 1875), which is being renovated by Muddy River Distillery.

“We have a large manufacturing base; we are a manufacturing county, and healthcare is right behind it,” says Alisha Summey, assistant director of the Gaston County Economic Development Commission.

“Manufacturing creates the largest amount of wages and employment.”

Manufacturing employs 15,984, according to the EDC, followed by healthcare and social assistance at 12,555. Germany leads the foreignbased list of those doing business in Gaston County with 11 companies.

South Africa is second with three. Also in the group: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands and Turkey.

“Gaston is so attractive for foreign companies. They’re drawn here. And when we have prospects, such as if they’re a German company, they ask to interview other German companies,” Summey says. “There’s also a lot of workforce initiatives. We partner with the Gaston Workforce Development Board, and both campuses of Gaston College, and it makes doing business a little easier.”

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Sumner’s building on West Main Avenue is part of the countywide uplift.

“We took an over-120-year-old building and renovated it,” he says. “It’s a dramatic change, here, in what had been a ghost town for several years. It’s been an amazing transformation.”

OTHER DOWNTOWNS

Growth around Belmont Abbey College is trickling into the city of Belmont, which is updating its Comprehensive Land Use Plan adopted in 2007 and initially revised in 2018. The plan is divided into six sections detailing initiatives in housing, recreation, commercial development, parks, industries and mixed-use possibilities.

“This update is expected to build on the existing plan while also responding to evolving priorities within our community as we grow and develop,” says Tiffany Faro, the director of planning and zoning.

“Recently, Belmont, which borders the Catawba River, has updated our Pedestrian Plan and begun exploring opportunities to introduce new housing forms within our community. Additionally, we will be developing a multimodal network plan simultaneously with our

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Land Use Plan to stitch land use and transportation planning efforts together.”

Belmont has opened a CityRec Center, its only public indoor Parks and Recreation facility, across from the Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park and skateboard park, says Jamie Campbell, the city’s public information officer.“This is the beginning of the development in east Belmont, the river side,” Campbell says.“We also have recently partnered with building and business owners in east Belmont to remove an old metal slip cover from the outside of the old buildings there. It has given a new life into that area.”

Also along the Catawba, two proposals are in the works – a senior living community and a development called the Crescent Project that would have 24,550-square-feet of commercial use, 63 townhomes, 230 multi-family flats and four live/work units, with other amenities. A series of community meetings to discuss the Crescent Project begin in January.

The future Abbey Creek Greenway is a 1.2-mile trail from the river, along the creek south of Wilkinson Boulevard with connections planned to Kevin Loftin Park and the recreation center. “The greenway also will run behind Gaston College Kimbrell Campus, which will open its new Fiber Innovation Center in early 2024,” Campbell says.

The center at the college’s Belmont campus, will be 39,000-square-feet with an extrusion lab, spun yarn and filament processing areas, and incubation space for entrepreneurs, according to its website. It calls the center “a worldclass facility focused on the future of the textile industry.”

Up the river, Mount Holly leaders have compiled Plan Mount Holly, a twopart roadmap divided into a land plan to align future growth with various elements of the community, and a park plan, to develop parks, recreation and open spaces. Population grew 29% from 2010 to 2020, with 4,407 new residents, says city Planning Director Greg Beal.

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various meetings and during the annual budget process,” Beal says.

“There are 111 specific recommendations in the Action Plan, and as of this date (early December), 36 goals have been completed with 22 more in progress.”

The city reworked its entryway off Interstate 85 with architectural designs. “Those steps have surely paid off, as the South Gateway is seeing several major projects, including the Mount Holly Medical Center, with OrthoCarolina and Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates occupying the first two buildings in summer 2024,” Beal says.

Along the water, the city is expanding its River Hawk Greenway, with Dutchmans

Mount Holly’s River Hawk Greenway part of the Carolina Thread Trail.

Creek Pedestrian Bridge opening in 2025. And, Beal says, “The city is focused on establishing a mixed-use site by utilizing a request for proposal process for the Veterans Park Expansion Project, which will create more housing, commercial space and a downtown park for all to enjoy.”

PHOTO CREDIT CAROLINA TREAD TRAIL

PHOTO COURTESY OF .THE CITY OF MT.HOLLY

“Going all the way back to January 2003, the city held a Vision Process, where more than 150 citizens and supporters came together in a series of charrettes and recommended that the city and its partners focus on five needed projects,” Beal says. Those were: a great main street, greenways and green connections, a downtown connector trail (Linear Park, constructed from a $5 million bond referendum), a restaurant with docks and an event space and museum. “All of these goals were either accomplished and/or are being built upon, such as the entire River Hawk Greenway System, a part of the Carolina Thread Trail.”

A Strategic Vision Plan was adopted in 2008, and in January 2019, following several public meetings and workshops, Mount Holly formed its Strategic Vision Plan Update and Implementation Strategy and Action Plan. “It guides a lot of land use decision-making for the city and is commonly referenced by council in

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Aerial view of Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park in Belmont, which is along the Catawba River.

MANUFACTURING

Riverbend Township in northeastern Gaston County includes parts of Mount Holly, Stanley, Spencer Mountain, Mountain Island and Lucia. It’s adding Riverbend Preserve, a project with about 450 homes and 2.5 million squarefeet of industrial space along N.C. 16 at the Gaston-Lincoln County line. The Gaston County Board of Commissioners approved a development agreement in October. Charlotte-based Childress Klein is leading the industrial portion.

Apple Creek Corporate Center in Dallas is home to GNT USA, Knoll America, Rankin USA and Premix and has five pre-graded, shovel-ready sites. “We have some announcements in the works,” Summey says. “We have a food manufacturer looking to purchase in Apple Creek, a fiber-optics manufacturer looking at Belmont and a robotic equipment manufacturer at a new industrial building off Mount Olive Church Road.”

Last June, the city of Mount Holly and Gaston County EDC announced that Gold Bond Building Products, 84

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an affiliate of National Gypsum, will invest $90 million in expanding its Mount Holly facility, a move that will retain 100 existing jobs and add 11.

Organizers note that more than half of the company’s employees live in Mount Holly or nearby.

HEALTHCARE & EDUCATION

CaroMont Health, Atrium and Novant are represented in county healthcare, with CaroMont the main player with 4,500 employees in 60 locations across the region. Last May, it opened its South Tower at its CaroMont Regional Medical Center on Court Drive in Gastonia, part of its $350 million commitment to invest in area locations. The first three floors of the 176,811-square-foot tower contain the Intermediate Medical Care Unit, Medical Surgical ICU and Cardiovascular ICU. “Utilization of the floor reserved for future development will be guided by clinical needs of the hospital and the future allocations of licensed acute beds,” says a CaroMont Health spokesperson.

CaroMont Regional Medical Center - Mount Holly, which opened in January

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2015, is a 38,000-square-foot freestanding emergency department with six rapid-evaluation rooms, 10 exam rooms and stations for CT scans, X-ray, ultrasound, resuscitation and labs.

CaroMont Regional Medical Center-Belmont is under construction on land leased to the hospital by monks of the Southern Benedictine Society.

Belmont Abbey College, which the monks support, was recognized in a release that states, “The college’s Master of Healthcare Administration online program earned top honors for its overall quality, affordability and commitment to student success.”

The 66-bed hospital that will anchor the Belmont medical campus, will include a 16-room emergency department, maternity unit with labor and delivery, surgical suite with two operating rooms, an OB/GYN suite and endoscopy suite, comprehensive imaging and diagnostic services, and a four-floor medical office building.

In January 2023, the Abbey marked its first semester of its new RN-BSN and Master of Science in Nursing Leadership programs with nine CaroMont employees receiving full tuition.

In October, Belmont Abbey received $9 million from the North Carolina General Assembly toward construction of a performing arts center to “provide opportunities for theater and stage productions, as well as dance competitions, art exhibits and conferences, making Gaston County a desired destination for large, highquality events and performances,” according to the college.

When Gaston College received its $60 million allocation in November to construct a building to increase its health sciences program with a Health Science Education and Simulation Center, President John Hauser said it would be “the only regional facility open to industry that is capable of providing training opportunities to existing healthcare professionals as

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GASTON COUNTY well as students through a full range of in-house simulation capabilities.”

The construction project is an expansion of the David Belk Cannon Health Institute on the Dallas campus.

A spokesperson for the college says there isn’t a set timeline, but “Gaston College has received approval from the N.C. State Construction Office to release a Request for Proposals to select an architect.”

“The partnership with Gaston College has resulted in expansion of clinical simulation, the addition of new health care programs and development and funding of scholarship programs for students and healthcare professionals,” the CaroMont spokesperson says. “Of note, the North Carolina Community College System and the State Board of Community Colleges awarded Gaston College and CaroMont Health the Distinguished Partners in Excellence Award for 2023. This award ‘recognizes an exemplary employer, business or industry group that has demonstrated decisive involvement and firm commitment to the professional development of its employees and/or to the development of North Carolina’s workforce through its partnership efforts with one or more of the 58 community colleges in the North Carolina Community College System.’”

According to a release, Gaston College’s existing healthcare program offerings include five nationally accredited programs, 13 health and human services programs, 13 university transfer partners, a health academy at East Gaston High School, and Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences

through Gaston County Schools. Through the new Health Science Education and Simulation Center, the college’s programs will grow to include several new programs, new national accreditations, and new apprenticeship pathways.

“Investing in education is a priority for CaroMont Health,” the spokesperson says. “Long-standing partnerships with Gaston County Schools, Gaston College, and Belmont Abbey College have led to the development of healthcare training programs, experiential learning opportunities and a robust workforce pipeline.”

RECREATION

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in September for Gaston Aquatics’ $11million, 34,000-square-foot aquatics center on Carpenter Street in Dallas. The facility is scheduled to open in 2024 with a 50-meter pool, warm water pool, water therapy and safety instruction classes, a weight room, hospitality suite and seating for 1,200. The pool will be homebase for the Gaston Gators swim team.

Gaston County is comprised of Belmont, Mount Holly, Cramerton, McAdenville, Lowell, Gastonia, Dallas, Stanley, Ranlo, High Shoals, Cherryville, Kings Mountain and Bessemer City, intermingled with the natural beauty of Crowders Mountain State Park, Spencer Mountain and Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; vintage places like the Hoyle Historic Homestead, built in 1760 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places; and McAdenville, Christmas Town USA, which lights up every December and attracts hundreds of thousands to

drive or stroll through the tiny mill village.

Visitor spending in Gaston increased from $241.6 million in 2015 to $291.9 million in 2019, making it No. 17 among North Carolina counties. County statistics show tourism employment in 2019 at 2,000 with a payroll of $49.14 million and $21.27 million collected in state and local taxes.

According to the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, from mid-2021 to mid-2022 about 113 people moved to the Charlotte region every day, with the “outer rings” of surrounding counties seeing spillover growth.

“We’re not getting ahead of ourselves (with downtown residential and commercial construction) because we’ve become part of the Charlotte region, and Charlotte is such a healthy market,” Crisp says. “We saw that when Trenton opened, when Loray opened and there’s a wait list, so we see the demand for housing. There are a lot of amenities to living here. We have FUSE, a cheaper cost of living and the downtown restaurants and bars, and a new social district, a pedestrian–friendly area on the Main Street corridor near the breweries.”

“The days of just lawyers and bankers and city workers, all that is changing,” Sumner says. “You can see and do a lot.”

“I want people to know they can come visit Gastonia,” Crisp says. “Visit Tony’s Ice Cream, go to a ballgame, visit our social district. We’re really excited to be able to offer that friendly atmosphere.” ■ — Kathy Blake is a writer from eastern North Carolina.

PHOTO CREDIT: GASTON AQUATICS

Rendering of the Gaston Aquatic Center, which is expected to open this year.

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PROJECTPLANS ››› Insights on the state’s growth This is first in a series of stories on key economic development issues in North Carolina.

MEGASITE MATTERS

North Carolina speeds its efforts to attract major investments on massive tracts.

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iesel fumes roil up from trucks ferrying construction materials to the mammoth building rising in Ellabell, Georgia, a half hour west of Savannah. It’s the site of the pending $5.5 billion Hyundai auto assembly plant.

By all appearances, the site could be in Moncure, about 30 minutes south of Raleigh, where VinFast plans its $5 billion electric-vehicle factory.

The two sites are the front lines of the high-stakes economic development struggle as states battle for billions of investment dollars and tens of thousands of jobs.

Not far from the 2,100-acre Triangle Innovation Point megasite, where VinFast says it will someday employ 7,500, is the 1,400-acre Chatham-Siler City Advanced Manufacturing Megasite. Durham-based Wolfspeed says it will invest $5 billion and generate 1,800 jobs at a chip making plant there.

But North Carolina has a tenuous standing in the megasite race. “We have 12 projects we’re pursuing, all with at least $1 billion in capital investment,” says Chris Chung, CEO of the North Carolina Economic Development Partnership. “We only have five megasites now.”

Chung praises Gov. Roy Cooper and Tar Heel legislators for a 2023 budget that Chris Chung includes nearly $100 million for the Megasites Readiness program. It will help expand the state’s inventory of thousand-acre-plus sites from five to seven, and kick in $10 million to help find as many as 15 sites smaller than 1,000 acres.

“We need to work to stay ahead so we don’t find ourselves with nothing to sell and an empty cupboard,” Chung says.

Georgia has eight sites of 1,000 acres or more, A spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Economic Development says her state places less emphasis on the size of sites than their “shovel-ready” nature, or being ready for prospects to get down to business.

Chung says acreage is often less important than availability of rail and highway access, topography and an available labor force. He and Adam Bruns, editor of Site Selection magazine, say megasites now dominate how states battle for projects. That’s particularly true for

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electric vehicles and their batteries, which have shattered investment and job-creation records in recent years.

Plants announced for North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and Kentucky in the past five years will create $83 billion in investments and 95,000 jobs, Standard & Poor’s reports. That amounts to two-thirds of the national total, compared with 25% for Midwestern states.

Megasites don’t come easily, with development costs of as much as $100 million, Chung says. Sites such as a 1,300-acre Person County project offers electricity from two utilities and a large water supply, and the 1040-acre International Logistics Park near Wilmington, with access to the state’s main port 18 miles away, require lots of money with no guarantee of a return.

States rarely luck into what developers call brownfield sites, such as the 2,100-acre former Philip Morris campus in Concord. Alevo Group, a now-bankrupt Swiss auto-battery maker, paid nearly $70 million for it in 2014. It is now owned by a private investment group, which has landed a $740 million Red Bull beverage bottling plant, and $1 billion Eli Lilly &Co., plant that is under construction.

Chung says the state’s universities and community colleges frequently partner with megasite developers to let potential prospects know tailored training is available. For more than a year prior to Toyota’s announcement of its 2021 battery plant, N.C. A&T engineering school officials worked secretly to help the company map out training and research. “They were key,” says Randolph County Commission Chair Darrell Frye.

Megasites can cause resentment in rural areas, where residents often complain their concerns are often ignored. Landowners sometimes contend they are underpaid for their property. The VinFast plant is taking about 30 homes, convenience stores and other businesses. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2005 ruled that under eminent domain law, states could seize private land for industrial parks that would benefit the public.

Chung is optimistic about North Carolina’s position in the megasite race. “Companies like Toyota are looking not only for sites, but skilled workforces, training, clean energy and with a competitive rate structure,” he says. “We won’t win every deal, but we’ll almost always be in the conversation.” ■

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