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features 2 8 cover story
nice guys fin ish first It's been a long, hard road to the top of NASCAR. Along the way, master engine builder and team owner Robert Yates has earned not only the Winston Cup Championship, but the respect of the racing world as well.
22 banking in charlotte: in the shadows of giants Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Charlotte's rise as a global financial center is
•
the proliferation of small and mid-size banks that successfully serve the local market. How do tt- ~y
survive, and even thrive, in a city dominated by two of the largest banks in the country?
-fl i "'
de artments
After a 20-year detour in
publisher's post
4
from the editor
6
biz digest
9
the music man
.
"
a~~
•
14
the radio business, Fred Story finally got the gig he always wanted: composing
music. These days, he gets to write to his heart's content as the head of his own recording and audi: production studio. And he's backed-up by an avtard-winning team of audio professionals.
34
a display of success Mik= Walker used to worry about going bankrupt. But after repositioning his display design and fabricating company, now all h-: has to worry about is how much to expand his wa re house to accommodate his company's growth .
38 thinking outside the box(ers)
regional biz:
10
gaston's new attitude
Independent-minded Gaston County has a new spirit, and recent developments paint a bri 0 ht future for Charlotte's western neighbor.
guest column:
20
charlotte usa
Why a regional approach to marketing greater Charlotte is essential to our economic success in the years to com e. by Michael Almond of the Carolinas Partnership
professional perks:
dana's got game
44
It's time to get back into the swing of things, and Dana Ryder's Golf School at Ballantyne Resort can hel p improve your game. on the cover: This month's cover feawres (l tor): Richard Yates, Robert Yates and Doug Yates of Rebert Yates Racing with the 1999 Winston Cup Series championship trophy and Dale Jarrett's #88 car at the company's headquarters in Charlotte. Photo by Wayne Morris.
If you could sell one thing men don't like to shop for at the mall, but might buy over the
•
Internet, what would it be? Two local entrepreneurs hope the answer is underwear. Here's the "skinny" on how t hey plan to do it.
g - eater charlotte biz
cliaflotte the magazine for the successful business exe<:utive
www.gre atercharlotte bi z.com
may 2000
3
[publisher's
cliaflotte
post]
..........
IZ
May 2000 Volu me 1 • Issue 4
our stories ... It has been a grand experie nce to travel about the greater Cha rl otte marketplace and meet the amazing
Publisher
people who live, work and gu ide their compa nies
john Paul Galles
through th e economic maze of competition and
jgalles@greatercharlottebiz.com
change. We really enjoy finding good stories and have an outstanding mix for yo u this month.
Associate Publisher
Maryl A. Lane maryl.a.lane@greatercharlotteb iz.com
In time for the
ASCAR race here in Charlotte at Lowe's Motor Speedway, we
bring you a story about Robert Yates a nd his racing team. He is a true Charlottean who has helped transform racing into a multi-billion dollar business. The son of a Baptist preacher, Rob ert started working on cars in high schoo l when his father would
Editor
Timothy j. Parolini tpa roli ni@grea terch a rlotteb iz.com
not let him play football. li e mowed lawns of church parish ioners and saved his money to buy a '57 Chevro let. Robert still works on cars, but now he has 143 employees and more high tech machines and instruments than you can imagine. Along with the other racing teams in the Charlotte area, he contributes real character and sp irit to Charlotte. We are also quite p leased to tell you about crea ti ve business owners like Fred
Account Executives
Sharon Kearns skea rn s@greaterch a rlottebiz.com Breon Klopp bklopp@greatercharlottebiz.com
Story of Fred Story Productions and Mike Walke r of G. Michael's . To be in their businesses, you might think that you were in Manhattan or Los Angeles. Their innovative productions and designs co ntribute to projects around the wo rld . Mike has just completed a studio set for M1V to host their talent search for a VJ in Spencer. Fred Story is comp leti ng full orchestrati ons for a French film . Mike Almond, president of the Carolinas Partnership, provides a guest colum n
Contributing Writers
to further describe the marketing orientation of "Charlotte USA. " His wo rkin g knowl -
Muhammad Abdullah
edge of this community and his d edication to its promotion wi ll help us all grow and
Bonni j. Herndon Chris jensen Kathy Mendieta Nethea Fortney Rh inehardt Contributing Photographer
Wayne Morris Greater Charlotte Biz is published
12 times per year by: Galles Commun ications Group, Inc. 804 Clanton Road, Suite B Charlotte, NC 28217·1358 www.greatercharlottebiz.com
expand our opportun iti es around the globe. We have also added another new dimension to our magaz ine - regional profiles. These insights into local business growth wi ll help us learn about the potential for and the diversity of eco nomic opportunity throughout the region . This month fea tures Gaston County w hi ch, once divid ed, is now unifying behind common economic ini tiatives. Chris Jensen's story describes how the county is posturing itself for the future. O ur feature thi s month co ncerns the proliferation of banking in this community. The Director of Pfeiffer University's MBA Program, Muhammad Abdu ll ah, visited with many loca l CEOs and provides you with his observations and insights. Our information technology story this month is abo ut a start-up dot com, yo urunderwear.com . Jimmy Poag and Nolan Mills are marketing skivvies over the Internet from Belmont. Their experience may inspire others to build their own dot corns and help transform more companies, products and services from the "old economy to th e new economy." And our executive pe rk this month is abo ut the Dana Rader Golf School. In this
For editorial or advertising inquiries, call 704.676.5850. Please fax subscription inquiries to 704.676.5853 or e-mail them to info@greatercharlottebiz.com
go lfing m ecca, w ith so m a ny great golf co urses so close, from Augusta to Pinehurst, you owe it to you rself to either lea rn the gam e or improve your game. Dana's schoo l is accessib le and reasonable, a nd yo u'll want to give it a try. We hope you enjoy these community stories. Thanks to the following individuals for their suggestions and help with this month's articles: Bill Loeffler of Loeffler Ketchum Mountjoy, Chris Jensen of Corder Wilson Phillips, Bradley Thompson of SouthTrust
All contents© 2000, Galles Communications Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproductio n in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Products named in these pages are trade names or trademarks of their respective companies. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of Greater Charlotte Biz or Galles Communications Group, In c.
4
may 2000
Bank, Bob Taylor of MacThrift and Andy Giordano of Giordano Advertising. John Paul Ga ll es jgalles@greatercharlottebiz.co m Phone: 704.676.5850 Fax: 704.676 .5853
greater charlotte biz
HO\\rCASEOF GRANDEUR
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Qt~ee.l:
FOXCROFT 2.'01 St-dltj
i<..tJ.?:!!
PIPER
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6921 Shrnntc;x :k Hill
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704-?tS-6942 66 ~ 8Fain'ie'~V Read . Charlott:, Nortb CarcL·_a23210 • w•wrJlentate.ccrr_
ESTAT·Es OFI"-IE~R .:...
• • • • • • • • •
racetown usa Destinati o n Charl otte, a Charl otte Chamber-spo nso red group, recently un veiled its wish li st fo r seven down town tourism pro jects (see page 9). At the to p of the list is an arena to ho use the Cha rl o tte Ho rn ets and host other sporting events, concerts and acti viti es. Of all the suggestions made by Destin ati o n Charl otte, tho ugh , the o ne th at has the greatest po tential to increase to urism is the "moto rspo rts museum ." Wh ether yo u are a racing fan or not, numbers do n't lie. Mo re tha n 6 million peo pl e attend ed NASCAR's 33 Winsto n Cup races last yea r, a nd new tracks are pl anned or being built in Kansas City, Chicago, Baltimo re, Kentucky a nd Nas hvill e. Do nald Tru m p a nd International Speedway Corp ., owner of Dayto na, Talladega and three other tracks, have announced pl ans to build a superspeedway in th e New Yo rk area . And NASCAR recently signed a 6-year estim ated $2.4 billion televisio n dea l with NBC, Fox a nd TBS. Charlo tte leaders have not embraced the world of NASCA R th e way Indi ana po lis has used the Indy 500 to prom ote itself over th e years. And th at's too bad . As Lowe's Motor Speedway (LMS) president H.A. "Humpy" Wh eeler says, "If you as k so meo ne from anywhere in the country who kn ows racing, they imm edi ately recognize Charlotte as the true epicenter o f the racing wo rld ." Not o nl y do the race events at Lowe's Moto r Speedway in Co ncord attract hundreds of tho usa nds of fans from all over th e country, Charl otte and its surro unding counties - especially Iredell and Caba rrus - are ho me to hundreds of race tea ms, including the to p Winsto n Cup, Busch Series and Craftsm an Truck teams. This is where the drivers and their crews live a nd wo rk. And to urists are continually to make pilgrimmages to th eir shops. Charl o tte also has the heritage. The first ever NASCA R race was held at th e Charlotte Fa irgrounds in 1949, and th anks to th e leadership at LMS, Charl o tte has been the innovato r in racing ever since. Picture an interactive, high-energy facili ty that pays ho mage to th e history o f racing and the Cha rlotte regio n's ro le in it. In additi o n to race memo rabili a and videos, im agine virtual reality simul ato rs where peopl e ca n "race." And hands-o n learning exhibits that show kids of all ages how an engine wo rks, how computers are used to fin e-tune performance, and how engi neering and physics determine raci ng success. Co nsider the tax revenue fro m merchandise sales. It may not be highbrow, but unlike the po pu lar Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, there is no debate regarding its proper home. This is uniquely Charlotte's, and we need to cl aim it. An arena wo n't help revitalize downtown, much less attract to urists. I've been to many arenas, including the newer o nes like the Philips Arena in Atl a nta, a nd the pattern at each o ne is the same. Peopl e dri ve to th e arena, pa rk th eir ca rs, attend the event, get back in their cars and leave. They do not arrive earl y o r stay late to go to a nearby restaurant o r retail store. This is true at NBA and NHL events - pl ayed mostl y during the winter and at night - and it's especially true fo r suburba n co mmunities like Charlotte. The o nly way a downtown arena will be a successful catalyst is if it's part of a larger develo pment plan where people will spend their time and mo ney even when there isn't an event at th e arena. Yes, Charl otte is better off with th e Ho rnets. But as business leaders, governm ent officials a nd their cadre of co nsultants co ntinue to re-shape Charl otte into their coll ective visio n of a "world-class" city, we all need to re-think o ur place in the wo rld. Like it o r not, we are Racetown USA. Let's embrace it, pro mote it and pro fit from it. Tim Parolini tparolini @grea tercharlottebiz.co m
6
may 2000
greate r charlotte biz
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NO RTH CAROLINA O FFICE
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101 orth Tryon Street Suite 1900 Charlotte, C 28246 704.377.2536
The Guardian Building 223 East Main Street- Suite 600 Post Office Drawer 12070 Rock Hill, SC 29731 803.325.2900
A Professional Association
http:/ /www.rbh.com
-
-
[biz
biz news and notes from around the region
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• •
•
Chamber group urges city council to spend $300 million downtown
The M etrolina Entrepreneurial Council <www.mec.org>, in coopera-
Destination Charlot e, a Charlotte Chamber
tion with the Charlotte Chamber, will host ·'Revival of the Fittest:
Energizing entrepreneurs
<www.charlottechamber.org> sponsored group, wants
Energizing Entrepreneurs To Excel" on May 24 from 7:30AM until
the Charlotte City Council to ante up $300 million in the next
2:30 PM at the Charlotte Convention Center. The unique regional
decade to help buii:J a downtown arena and fund six other
conference on entrepreneurship will integrate
tourist-related projects. Members of the 13-member committee, led by developer Johnny Harris, joine<l a chamber effort this fall to draft a plan to enhance tourism in Charlotte over the next 10 years. The other projects on Destination Charlotte's list, as
•
digest]
ranked by the group are:
theory and real life experience in a series of panel discussions and interactive workshops. Keynote speakers wi ll indude: Tansukh V. Ganatra, vice chairman and CEO of Charlotte-based US LEC Corporation
<www.uslec.org> and Bennie L. Thayer, president and CEO of the
ational Association for
the Self-Employed (NASE) <www.nase.org> .
•
Conference fees are as follows: MEC Membership and Conference: $200
•
Non-member Conference Fee: $125 MEC/Chamber Members (before 5/10): $75
•
MEC/Chamber Members (after 5/ 10): $100 You can register online or call the MEC at 704.708.4050 .
• • • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • •
• • • • • • • •
Tourism impact totals $11.5 billion statewide Urban retail/entertainment. A "shoppertainment" district would combine stores, themed restaurants and
marchFIRST <www.marchFIRST>, the new The tourism industry generated $11.5 billion in
other attractions . The Charlotte trolley. A center city loop, mostly inside Interstate 277, woukl allow easy travel between downtown attractions .
Whittman-Hart and USWEB/CKS become marchFIRST
revenue for the state of North Carolina in 1999, said state Secretary of
global Internet professional services com pany created by the merger ofWhittman· Hart and USWeb/CKS, recently introduced its new name and corporate identity . "march FIRST is literally a business imperative for our clients. If they want to lead their industry, to be the first with strat-
Minor-league baseball. The Charlotte Knights, which now play in Fort Mill, S.C., are already drafting a plan to move to downto'Nn.
Commerce Rick Carlisle .
egy, to be the first to market, to be the first
That annual total is
to shareholder value, they need Internet
5.7 percent higher
A motorsports museum. Such a project would take advantage of Charlotte's proximity to Lowe's Motor Speedway.
than the tourism-related revenue in 1998 .
solutions that are capable of radically transforming their business," said Robert Bernard, march FIRST president and CEO. In addition to the corporate news, local marchFIRST managerT.J. Felice
International travelers to The Mint Museum. The group wants the city's main
• •
branch of its art museum in the center city, where
North Carolina spent
tourists can easily find it.
$472.4 million last year,
• • •
Discovery Place expansion. The project that often rivals
generated $671 million
• •
its expansion, a prJ posed aquarium, would cost twice as much to build, Harris said.
in state tax revenue.
greater charlotte
biz
and the travel industry
revealed new Charlotte offices have opened at 2725 Water Ridge Parkway in Suite 350 of Six LakePointe Plaza. Their new phone is 704.329.4600. He added, "We now have all the tools to provide our clients with the solutions necessary to compete in the new economy." may 2000
9
[re,gional biZ]
by chris j e n s en
.......................................
gaston's "new attitude" independent-minded county turns its gaze eastward Gastonia, second-largest city in
This proud history can lead to a
result, has the average pay per employee
the Charlotte region, is located
distorted view of today's Gaston County.
increased significantly?"
While it seems that every textile mill clos-
Last year was indeed a banner year
ing in the county makes front-page news,
for industrial development and diversifi -
Often, it seems much farther
Donnie Hicks, executive director of the
cation in Gaston County. Investments in
than that, separated as it is
Gaston County Economic Development
new and expanding industry in 1999
Commission <www.gaston.org>,
totaled more than $162 million. This tally
only 25 miles from Charlotte.
by Charlotte's west side, the
points out an often overlooked fact that
includes almost 40 companies located
Catawba River and a decidedly
Gaston County
throughout the county,including an
independent spirit.
has been
investment of $100 million by Buckeye
Lately, however, that independent
Technologies in Mount Holly, $14 million
spirit has given way to a more coopera-
by Case Farms in Cherryville, $10 million
tive attitude. Anyone who regularly
by Mastercraft in Cramerton , $7 million by Rutgers in Gastonia, and $6.5 mil-
spends time in Gaston County can sense
lion by Wix, also in Gastonia.
an emerging optimism and renewed com-
As for the additional criteria
munity pride. And there's plenty of evi-
Hicks suggests for assessing economic
dence to support an optimistic outlook.
development, one need only drive past
Building momentum
the totally renovated Eastridge Mall and 1 the expanded Franklin Square shop-
While Gaston County has the
ping center to gauge the expansion of
second-largest population of any county
; retail activity in the past two years. And
in the Charlotte region, its growth rate
a short cruise along Court Drive will
has been slower than the others in
~=:~::::;;;;;;;;;;;;;;= showcase recent medical office develop-
recent years with an increase of "only" 5.2 percent from 1990 to 1998. Some
ments. The centerpiece of this neighbor-
Investments in new and
would argue that this is a healthy rate of
expanding industry
growth, protecting the county from being
in 1999 totaled more
overwhelmed by demands for new roads
than $162 million.
hood is Gaston Memorial Hospital, a stateof-the-art complex that belies its age. "We've had a really strong run for the past 24 months," Hicks says. "Our
and schools, and not surprising for a county
investments in infrastructure- in water,
that was heavily developed years ago. named consistently as one of the top
sewer and technology parks- are paying
manufacturing plant in 1848, Gaston
10 counties in the state for new jobs and
off in a big way."
County quickly grew to become the lead-
investment throughout the nineties
From the opening of its first cotton
(North
" There is a growing awareness that we are an integral part of Carolina the Charlotte region . Issues rela ted to transportation and the environment have to be addressed by the region as a whole." -Phil Hinely, Gaston County Manager
More good news The first part of the year 2000 has
Depart-
brought more good news for the county.
ment of
A number of major players in the busi-
Commerce
ness community are making long-term
rankings).
commitments to stay put, with projects
"You need
that reflect pride in Gaston County's past and genuine confidence in its future .
ing textile manufacturing county in the
to look at other criteria such as retail
nation, consuming more cotton and
growth, medical office development and
boasting more active spindles than any
industrial investment," he adds. "Has the
BB&T is erecting a new $5 million facility
other county in the country.
mix of industries changed, and as a
(figure includes building and equipment). ~
10
may 2000
In the heart of downtown Gastonia,
greater charlotte biz
If lOu Can Imagine It. .. We Can Print It.
WALLACE INTEGRATED GRAPHICS'" Co mm er cial Printing
o lu t io ns . Na ti o n wid e.
Manufacturi ng plants conven iently located th roughout the L nited States.
C KWr!-..11 1\ P lli.\TI \ G
Coli P I \
1
Wa llace compa nv 2700 Westinghouse Blvd. • P.O. Box 7000 (28241 -7000) Charlotte, NC 28273 • phone: 704 I 588-2120 • fax: 704 I 588-5966 A
Why did BB& T <www.bbandt.com> decide to build in the center of an area
Watching Gaston County GrOL1'... A nurn':Jer afrevr pro_·ec ~ 1.1erc i!ilr er camplei eC .:.,.launched in Gast:Jr Cot.."'""t_/ in 1J!l9. PidureC: tre.-e are jus~ 1 fe.v ofthos=.
that some say resembles Dresden after the bombing? "Gastonia needs a strong center city, and BB& T wants to maintain a major presence there, well into the future," explains John Corbett, senior vice presi-
Quality r/e1a s co1.;cl'catEd
dent/ city executive for the Gaston County
opErations ir ~ ll!irne~J
offices of BB& T. "We are building on an
sic n
excellent site, and part of BB& T's mission
mEt31 fc:briciHrg r: lant
is to be a good corporate citizen -to give
>
back to the community that supports us."
$1C milliJ
p t~ec
n Bessef'le · Citt.
Meanwhile, Gastonia's largest homegrown company has concluded its search for a new headquarters site. Parkdale Mills <www.parkdalemills.com> , the largest U.S. manufacturer of sales yarns Pass & S~mour/Lesrc: n d, an ele-ctrical compo r ents manuractu rer, locat~d a n:!w 530 rrill"o'l plant in t1:! G.;;ill!n -echno~lC• f'{
Park, just sou~h of
Gastor1 Cc·lege. -oo(
and the second-largest private company in the state, recently unveiled plans to build a new world headquarters in Gastonia on 10 acres of a future 21-acre business park on South New Hope Road. Andy Warlick, president of Parkdale Mills, says that four separate management offices will be consolidated at the new headquarters. "We have traditionally
Di~i ~
focused on achieving efficiencies in our
Industrial S_Jp.l(
manufacturing processes and, as a result,
moved it.; new $10 rr " lion readqu 3r~er.;
overlooked the potential for increased
to Bel. oot in
efficiencies in administration . And, we
thE Oaks ( oil mET•: £ •::enter
just had to have more space ." Visitors to the new 50,000 squarefoot building will encounter a unique center atrium, designed to resemble an oversized cone of yarn, like those Parkdale Mills has produced since 1918. IJiounl HoUy'5 Buckeye -echnokg es' $100 11illi·Jn
And just across town, a new world headquarters will be built for another one
project wiU be comp etec
of the county's largest manufacturers . On
in 2DC 1, next to t1is
the heels of Parkdale's announcement this spring, Wix Filtration Products announced plans to break ground in June for a new world headquarte rs on Union Road in Gastonia. This seven-acre, campus-style complex will replace the century-
C'<liW-Gert.-.o manJ~ctm ~r o:>f a·: ousli·: insulat 01 fo· the au tomo- i~~E
industrv, J ilt
$7 -nillion U .5.
a
h:!cd •:J,~a-ters
and proclLctioo ~art i1 the Delt3 lr"du.;tri3 l Pi r ~.
>
old office building on Ozark Avenue.
Com ing together The most remarkable changes occurring in Gaston County, however, cannot be measured in terms of dollars or square feet. How do you measure a fundamental change in attitude?
12
may
z:oo
greater charlotte
biz
"We must never
"We must never draw a line around ourselves. What's
<www.gastongov.org> admits that in the
draw a line
good for Belmont is good for Gastonia and vice versa."
past, county residents have been very inde-
around our-
pendent. "Most have been in denial about
selves," Gastonia
Phil Hinely, Gaston County Manager,
- Jennie Stultz, Gastonia Mayor
anything east of the Catawba River," he
Mayor Jennie Stultz says. "What's good
assumed a leadership role in bringing
says, half-jokingly. But Hi1ely predicts that
for Belmont is good for Gastonia, and vice
together a number of key groups to devel·
in the not-too-distant futue, when the
versa. And what's good for our county is
op a cou n-y-wide strategic plan . This lead-
western part of 1-485 is completed, along
good for the region."
ership group, still in its formative stage, will
with the U.S. 321/7 4 bypass, Gaston
Stultz, Gastonia's first female mayor,
include representatives of the Chamber,
County will be singing a new tune and mak-
defeated the incumbent mayor in last
the Gastor County Economic Development
ing the most of the Charlotte connection.
fall's election with a rallying cry of "City
Commission and the Greater Gastonia
Pride." That renewed city pride is evi-
Development Corporation . They hope to
"There is a growing awareness that we are an integral part o f the Charlotte
denced by a whole array of current proj-
involve many other organizations, as well,
region," Hinely says. "Issues related to
ects, many of them made possible by pri-
such as the YWCA, the Arts Council, and
transportation and the environment have
vate-public partnerships.
key service clubs.
to be addressed by the region as a whole." Inter-county cooperation aside, the
14 separate municipalities within Gaston
For example, the city of Gastonia
issuing a call to action," says Duane
system, boosted recently by a $130,000
McCallister, Chamber Chairman and pub·
County don't have a long history of coop-
grant from the Community Foundation .
eration. This, too, is beginning to change .
And in downtown Gastonia, business
In March, Belmont Mayor Billy Joye invited
owners have joined forces with the city to
all of the mayors in the county to meet-
hire john Elkington whose firm special-
to build consensus, share ideas and
izes in mixed-use development of down-
address shared challenges. Topics dis-
town areas. Elkington is best known for
cussed included transportation needs,
his work on Beale Street in Memphis.
environmental protection, economic development and legislative issues.
"What the Chamber is doing is
is developing an extensive greenway
lisher of the Gaston Gazette. "Our goal is to develop an actionable strategic plan, with broad participation and enough buy-in to ensure that the plan is implemented , not put on a shelf somewhere." A plan sh ould be developed by year-end with implementation beginning next year.
The Gaston County Chamber of Commerce <www.gastonchamber.org>has
See Gaston, continued on page 43.
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may 2000
13
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[biz A ·
{'Afe]
by kathymendieta •
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emus1cman F ed Story finally got the gig he always wanted: composing music. These days, he gets to write to his heart's content as the head
of his own record "ng and audio production studio. After a 20~year
detour in the radio
business~
it's musk to is ears.
N 0 one at Fred Storv" Productions works.. Everno ibis •:::ha~:ou~.t:a.>a:l :u:.dio
s~VEL- p~~«l
'ie:h3~
14
ccmJ:MOY
p rnid~
origill:ll mll5i;:.e:Ldfo
pos~-prcduo:ion
an:i ~ew::d d£S.ig:l s'='TI.ica fx aili.e:!Ei:tg. ::ocporX?. oU:.ti-
c; g~ard pfa::J::> and st:ate-<If-the-art acccsti~- It's ·ust one n:.ur~ step fur.vard f.::;~ ±~: :res~ :w~.r;:·~c at:cE•:
na::
~aoc
arti.m.
>-
: r~ ate. r .: h 2 rfo ttE t' .L
II 1S99 A·.vards
red b as a ·;-c.~. di,ci ITtedr aeativ~
b3ldc41."' :oay3 Gary
people -,~-c will sto forward ;md offer assistance ifwe'.e C?e r.Nhel-ned. They' ll stay lorg hXIrs. ln:ey lc-"e tl:eir work
Mirt M JseLm of Craft +Design
L.dwick pes.:im: :( The Creati·re Gq:c:trner.t Ludwick h 3Pvo-.:<c:I ""i h Hcryfc- over 10 yc3r~. ·He'~ ne t jL..<a. a rn :.:::ic w1iteL lie t:lks ·ny onc.ero ' l;or 3 Tarketing ~rob l !:':ll an::. t:•Jn ::.s :)3G \<\ith a 5ood ans~r. --li:> sci.Jlicn r:::3~ the mark>,ing efbr: n.-o~r t']- :-::>mplemel11ing t·1e klgical si-:~ v.itl: an emolion a. co1 -::o~itic :-1. 'You pr~icx.sh h::.c b ;o t::> Atlanta, t-.ew ~!cd:: c·r .ft. ·c·:- music productic<fl. Now LI-E :•n .y rc: nn
his dau;(1trr wJ.; rrn 'Y::>u want to
Sil~erTel
you ~c !Me i; f::.- re::rcatiY_ tt?d was ::•ne dthe =-cs:.~=.: q: lc t· fJ , t~ 1 s
help yoor fr ~ n:ls." As fo - aeat ve ·reed on:, McGin'1is
nich e nd do t 'Ad .-
and sound mgmea Anthon;~ Fedele
the vibe
take the :•)lll:p<'ll! into: coropletely new
EMMYS "Te 3 :>arl'/'
PS.t., NBC-6 Ch.cr~x:!E
Stin5. Pro11o, VJSOC-1'.'
ITh.A
~i .ver
Reel
lVPSA
y
Anch Jr Bani<. TV
LH\VH
rapport amo05 tl- t:
e:~e mlJ=lary
c:>m-:>~.·s
Presb)1eric.n H:spital ~J (2 :~wa - :is)
seeing i.t
N:wfTl:m Se:ylor G'Egory
in tJ- err su:cess. Tve neVEr seen s..u::fl
HTC Co11fT1 Jnicat ons
Jearn,
3
toTogenous
group," h::: say:s '·1 die. :r;cr :OC radic
LH\1/1PhoebE Pu:ney IV emori3 H :sp tal TV 12 c.'Nard5)
ever.; day ovitt :it?:afi·.,. w :-~::: u - ::>r tw::l turn3rXIr:.d . '1-:J_ :::l'l.l d::> -J-:o t ~:i nd or
).S. Ec·cdsc n 3 Pcrtne ·.;
rapid tururcon-:l group eof peo; le
W=.
v. orked
WAXH 1<\:~ic·n 64
the high ?l:eSSI.lie dtno:sphEr=-' SIOry- feels rb!Es.,o::'d tl-.a-: tre pe::>ple
N c.f i cofl~l Firali.>t- Best
"L
d .\1.5~ H.:m~en
Copt Wri1hg:
&. Ho rn
her:e fou-d 1het ""~-Ja·; here."
N<l· iona l Firali5t · Origin31 J n gho:
Mil Horres Na ~ ion3L Fir ali "==- E.est Us? r~ e
16
Haven
rr ay '- 0 CC•
•)f I\' us~::
ing the tine th_ Stays s.hm·ved up when
') a~.s :
n i1 .w
D~l
that will soon
field. Stoary coCLB'c~c- i1ei- s· eps into uncharerl _e-ri.ory "V\.1-} not. ~bc~r'·JC
'NOn
more
for the lc..s:t two ;cilJS: SteH-r affirms "It's tht.i- cr£alr .'
the interlude StC•IY d dn' oft:u~ ine~E..
om to build this A. >EI..._Ta·_,ght guitarist,
k
band a 1J later pi ~~d up piano. I le thouglu he ...,,o_id 2a:::h a:n.d become a band d i-c:cor. "i
-<
membc:r ....tJ£:1 I was in eighth
grade, D d. g,3~ 1'-1 : m 2. g::>rgoous set of crystal NaJ.er gob I.e-; ~:r r th eir anniver-
11e b::>a5t,f "T hey rei-~- : lS p;.s~iorate about wJ-...c.t t_-ey j::: 1il am ;~ b::> ut
sary. Tl er= h.apre::r'Cd tote 2 ofth~m,"
writ n:~ music" ...,:mriding h i3 tz r o wLtl-t a se~:sz of
Story recCl.. n.ts. '!.f2 r st:e 01=ened them, they we: t o_t for co an:live-s3.ry dinner.
ownersl.if: in th.e corr"Jan·,- cemomtrates
1 filled a prt.::het w1h "v3t~r and spcot
his ad -oiiLtiC•:l fer rLcir ab ilitic~. "~h~'s tittl ~ we. kep :-:h-ate other
hours u.mi lf, ttEnr. I had jmt begun
thar. h.di-Jidual sa T'le Fina P.3nc~
my bos >." !.leGiT-:.! remarks, remember-
he learned trombooe fn jun c r high
ball c-.En wit.l. tb ~ -.c luoe oi W'Crrk md
Fa::e 't::ur Phobi:t: Han5€n &. Hc-1
and volum.:' -un ct peak lcve!E. "Fre:l is by ..,armor~ m·r f·iend than
rei ly function-
"\.T C• ar·~
lV Self Punoti:m
Nc.licrill Whne- Ra:lio CamJaign:
ment thrt t:n~cx. rJg ~s cr2atfl..e production, whik c..- th.:' s.:nt<: tim·~ making it loads o = -u.,_ Tb~ rc~ L t s tb3t qualiry
type
u--e Ma·Jberry' ::ollection"
Siller !Microphone Awarc:s (Rccfo) 6 i!iwards
master 'II -..rturin§ .a ·..v:)f·<i.rg environ-
y:J_ h.ve a
ing s:roo:l.ly. I ~R- _h.rl a 1roppd
wor~:
poser a 1J Ecunc :!;signer; Stary is a
awardsfo: t - is cc~::.~ than 1 have
spot:> with thmJ <N.}ea:.
w-.J ~~
Eacb othe-"
Acccrcing tJ .MiL lvkGir nis, com-
a rnaj:::r cc--llribtr ir...g factor
lV
who
lo~
have a
Ludwick alte>t; to thE ;os
and
an ~s,'
he 'C)<}: Iill ns.
"Bill s, fin3nc.1l g::::.al; a:r:. d -==~pacy goa~ a·e :::lear and I<...KI ::> t. n.j e·.rerlone cont<1:m~s. '· _.-li:> •..;ife :me busiD2Ss : r:ner, Bed~?, mms up ~~ ~ c.tnn~pheP- w1th the ·11ord 'family" .;-Cif! rcc.Lil7 agrees. ·•rt tus bern a fll•· st p: ~srr t surJ:riJe. 've wo:r.<~ ·-'71"11 :rr::1az.ng leve .. s cf :ea ~o -1:: h tl-.o pat but never encoume~d w he- t £ ~illb Ni-:hin these wall.~. Mm.ici£m ::a l il 'th-:: "i'ibe ' Tl-:e
playiJ'§ A ley C<.t c 1 th£ gcbbs with two bu_ter ~ J.ivc:s ~..hen they >valke · in the door. ll11t INES -: ro:-Jbl ~." Uncl3mt=d, be: "VelnJaLy -ose tc All State tom.J:•nc
pj<OJe~
at Ur ir-oi County
High S-boJI. ir El"'-iDr Te:1n., entertained ~enn:.l schJa3IUJ= o:fers and settled orr
Ea~t
majoriog h
T'ernenet'
Stat~
University
m~ic ~duca tion.
HO\~R:r, iti~
::ntEit: career was
waylaid. Wb.at t•egm a~ a rar:-time job in hig!- 5clwol at a nd io station ushered in a 2{}-re:ol ra·:io :art'c
gre3 t e r e1arlotte biz
In · ')81 , he l.ar jed
3
job in
CJ-ar,otte .Ni.h -..vBCY, -
:1 107.9
n::>w tr ~ Ll 'iK. T1er:c. he met
Be::hy Ken.:. T ffi:y mar od in 1:>!:Z. ShE- V"Jukl ccntriJute t1ene:1d<»~ to th ~ ::c. ldmg of his future .aVV"3.nJ-wirnir_g cc mpany tbrorJ gh J-.::r .4-\.Dting ..~:.c:<: l 3nd d ra:u c.tic _:~IE.r~ as "Veil .as :~dmin istrative
[:U)fic~ncy.
"Free
W •)uid
te I
~
about
this .:ireai- bu . n e'~"er e ai :Zed the scope <Jfjt J ntil \ 'C "'!loved h ~re:
she: c.•.rmils. g~s l11 - ing arcounj trr.i - sudio 011 Souh Olurch
sn~l .
BKk kn Eeck.r ~broad :c.sthg th :' o ; e-nig:-n: Ell JW. Fred .va> hosting l:c a fta:r ::>n
~how.
To h ep hi :> fi u :~rs ii'. ---.Jsi.::: a:; he rc•Sf throL~~ I.C<ii o's rc_-.ks _o cre:~ti·'~
servii:e.; d -ectc·r, .bt~ wrote and jii giE. ~ He also
:ommerc~l;
p ayed ke~-'b.:- ar:::l and -... ---o te music ruo puLec ~eth ~r
fc r : be bar c Fli g-rt 10 8:.
~ l thcog1
t:be b c:mc VIa5 togethe ~ 13 years, ;u-::eied vithartists like ~ay Cbari3, Kalny -:::;, .":3rl Klugh arxl :Ja·.re Val t 1 , - nd p rocued four
-ec rds, S •)r:" ::msid e~:.hinself onty a m:':dioca. rnuiicia11 . Td s - dc)\.. n :c p.x:ice c. t the piano anc"'" t "' n -'lve .--:ri1utes be wTiti -:g a rnn= .. f ive 1oo-s late- I'd gEt UF and hadn't [•-.:cicec a :lit- but I h K sc r:1 ething:_ v-Tia n _.,
the music teacher ::teali;; ,-~ !-~ :rcd...1.. help. he b"W!n lesfOIIS v.ith :":ig_:;-J HurNitz, a N ~·N YJrk be_ h : o1r. p E::.ist who pl c:!'d tak i ~g
vv tJ- g ·eat ~ :.mdf lih Woo::ly 1-1 ~- m <:. n . ..,, len J lur.Ni!z moved to J:,Jr c·tte, 1 tiight aa:l perfcrmed
n--.us.i :: anc "';as th e nl!S : al director fc31-c\v"S tha. c:= rnc thoq;h town . 'WitJ---in 1·;:: rr i•u ..r"'!. Ziggr looked 3.t mt: and <.s.-e:: m ~ x i· :. I L~an y warned 10 d=/ St<X). re nini ~ cc.L. 'I tokl him r ....,.ml~ d to ~ r::T piar_o 1 -:an' t help ) C• J ther ; he tdd r ~. Hoe l31ed c oser a'ld .1skec. me :Jg3in 'Wrct 1c you really .vant to do?' Cc m pos11 . was my ans .ver.. C r ' I can v::ip -;ou :hat'. "
....,n--
Jrecter cll .rlo t :::: biz
(l ~ • ;~a·l tf,.:G/nnis, Barblfra Levris. ·C'fis rc • · ~ "'' ... The team at Fred Story Pro~:le~ FrF: i Sb~~ l'!eN5S11 Curlin. Becky Kent Story, Anthony TI1at begar a seven- ?ear rcl ' lion -1--:ip that undergirded Story's. carr:er. "Everything that really r att E.r~
Yc bring jc bs to Z.&'5Y· He j critiquf' them
about mus.ic, ~nrything 1 eery ' 'Aid: me. I lea-ned from Ziggy," the -+-=--year- :Xd
.v::>uld cc.ll himself a omposer.
with the deep . r usky raci c "<>ice >ays. :c:. he b ~comes emotional. 'He was 1 fai.ttful mentor who had a "'-<IY Clf brc3d.en-ing your horizons so mLch ;ou P-c.li:z ec what you cidn't know. He rrtired a""lc mo~d to Florida and p;:.ssed aw<.y shorJy aftnwards. "
hitting the right notes In 19E3, lo:Jn Shre'-es vas ""'JrkinE a pilot br-:\1 for J ~ ffersc· r Producti:-m 1 1d 1sked Be::ky to o -h•JS: ·:he sl-c·w_ "I asked -what he was dning ~ : heme music; says &or:-, '"an::! a~<ed nim to let me write a th.::me If hi' dicn': ike it, he cidJ1't have to use i .. " Shreves liked it. The following -A-eek, on his reom mendati• n , Arci-.c a_;: :x1
'\.dvertising as <e-d Stcry w m ite a j ngle _:"or a 1V spo t.. Two week~ l a ~r anJt'-ter "J roducer called.
~nd
help me do the next jJb better. " E'"Cn so, it was J long ti::r.e before Story "It ~1. to e- lofty. I remember the day came io real!:; fn.J&tr<-tEc asking, -what illl
I doing? Why am
bctherin;s? I want
c achie\.e sometJ-iog... si~nificant ? Ziggy Jf'ered, ' Don' t worry, ,rc L'II get ·J~r it: -1 ..vas ye::us be"ore I u lee-stood . 1 hat's x:t what i:'s ab ::>U . L ':; al:out doing this :h ng you .jo r.gh: no..., the best y(lu can lc it. Th3tS th ~ pH .' Story nevu saw him1 zlf as an :: repreneur eilher. "I li <ed the sec.Jri:yd collecting a :yched a nd hwing be:J ~fits. B~c<y and Hruck < d eaL Free arc~ woukl ::>e an .- :.rled scu ·ce c•finco---.ae ~ d take the ~Jney I rr a de writrng on the side and -einvest .t to bwld a srud .J - a I except -:''""A>ugh lo take a '/acati c r every ye:ar. -/ , l en I was ma <in& ti-e Some ao c unt I --nade in radio and sawd :nougb b pay -~ housz mor:gage f::r ;1 -,rear, I'd :juit :-a:l io and go into b.Jsines > full tirre." >11-3~
2000
17
.\iter ~ ach job, he'd plan vhat piecz o:: e::}ui :o:nent he would bu~lo make the 1ext ~ ro;ect sound better. ~:.A.y studio in the ~are bedroom "":: eca..t .e a beast. It was 10 cowded, fd run 1 mi.: :me the next room l<Jr singers." l.s demos became oo~ s:>phisti.cated, 5tor:" had to learn to run recording >tud.. ~·- Dwid Floyd, scund engineer for Fl igh.t 108, became his I1£_<f: memo:. Hmician friends wcLid come to :1is 1- ou:I: ilnd demo the p rcj~ct -"hoping ::·ur -~igh bor wouldn't f:r2 t:p the .awn noV'o"f'J right then," into:> Ect~ Becky. Once I landed a jo:J I'd hire musirial13 and go to a real nudio to produ::e ;; trOC:.<." says Story. "AU ttis was jl.ISt a mear:.s t:> an end. All I -wanted to do was writ.:- ::r..1sic."
i t~.rite the songs 1 oJved out of the house in 1990 into 1 300 square foot ~pal:e on 8th St. to see -.:1at wo uld happe:1 . On my lunch ho u ~ c.f:er work and on voeekends, I'd o szssio1s for clients. Revenue dc ubled c.nd I re lized the pow=:r of percep:ion ."
11-.a: ye:~r he met his goals. The FCC also resciodo:d the duopoly rule allowing ow-:er~hip o: multiple stations. r.My wcddoad doubled with the :arne S;l!iuy. 1 saw the writing on the ·-vall but I still wasn't ready to make the _ump," he adoits. Story made an appointTJent wdt General Manager Reta Thorn :o set ur a p1an to transition him out. "Th1t s ...-hen it hit me," he says. "I N C.s be:ir:g a ·Nimp. The only way this ..vodd wo:k was to make a commitment 1nd do it. I handed in my resignation. " "J was so busy I kept asking Becky ~o :tclp me ·mite lyrics. After a few spots, ~a hzed sh was really good . She :>ecam<> the designated writer. I kept her 30 bus:,r that in 1994 we had a discus>ion o•rcr a ~cDonald's fish sandwich :m d she fi:tally resigned from radio." The Sto::ys carefully gathered their team. They -,;aw the value in finding peoplE who a:celled in their craft and s iving them the freedom to do what th2'Y d.d hes:. Along with McGinnis and Ferl-d e. 8arbara Lewis, a singer looking lo ~o mufic on her own terms, became
production coordinator. Melissa Curlin became production assistant. Untill999, all their business came by word of mouth. "We'd thrown together a brochure and demo for referrals. It had a 30 percent hit rate. In 1996, Gary Ludwick, my marketing mentor, convinced me that I needed a really good CO/brochure package. It was a lot of money, but he put it in terms of how many jobs it would take to pay for it and I saw the value. I felt we owed it to ourselves and to those who referred clients to us to have something professional to send out. He wrote the script and warned me not to send it out unsolicited or I'd have more business than I could handle. The next year, our hit rate from referrals jumped to 70 percent."
the beat goes on By 1999 Story had a good foundation in the region, but had a national and international vision. Making that vision a reality became Kenn Buckner's job as director of sales and marketing. The vision included film scoring, which has materialized this year. Story's current
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-;h-; Cicrlotre Region has a t;ad.ition o{ fiffTI end ..,:deo oroduct:.:r1 aatin;} bt:JU ro the 1950s. 199~.
11-n nvestnerf in tr:! rer·on fur fe-atJre a1d t •:m~ne-cial prodt.ctions reached $156 mi..ion an:J i1cludec films ;uch-c; Th!' Pa!rict stai1g Mel Gibs: n, and a CBS 111i1i-serie:s, Sha*e f..:: I./'! & .l?o,/ Alblugtl fe-atJre films . l:e Davs of lh .n:Je.- and &Jd:e b·ine, in stars l t.e Ton CrLise an:i Wh:>opi ::::>.dterg, conrrercial work anc in4J~tri:ol \'ic ec; are stil bread arj butter for man~ locc:l productoo compa-ies.
In
Fe11tu:e productic.ns Pl'719d in !.;~ r~g:o, include. Black D•Jg 1-'e Got Game (.:)lin BoltfCount Edx!ie tl.ell Days :>fThu der 29th5treet eorrToRate Black Rainbow fremTheHip StollE' Ace Th!! ColOr Pvple Aoadkll Thef;eud Reuben, Reuben Mr. taestlny l'he- BOneyard
Jrojtct .s futl
or.:h~:;St;atic.~
m marchFIRST
for a Frt:n :}-
lim, L€ Olemb Du R£10:J-:-. dirrcted b~ Javd M.urn.y And anoth~::- director is Jlr~ady knocking on tt e door. l::I th s tednologio::al 'lge, th:: JO:e:rjal 3e~ms limitless. ''Audio is no ong. r -he ste:_::child, '· St:)ly apoun:is.. IV h3s pmgressed frcm monc to " ter~.:. 1od N€ have the ca;Jahiliti€> for 500 :ha!"lllcls, all needing m ·.1ii: . With torr~: :h eater ;ysterr s. music and 5our:d a r~ "Jecornbg in _c,sirgly m ::! r~ i-::JOrun! c the S'.Icn>:ss of a producion. ".w..ullimedia is an m :i.:ely new 'ield T.'le~e's so mLch to lzarr., like h:Ji"V ;ou 'NOIJld treat music di:':erently in o rE "crm of media nan in an•Jdler. 1: a.l :~o:IEs \•ell for our ind:.~stty." ~tc•ry has one mcojcr ru k for r:l mr.ir.s =cr the :'u:u:e: "I look ahelrl f.ve yean md rrug n~ myself dcin§ w I'm ::Joi~ llOW. Then l ask. 'V..illL<at be "Ln?' 'A'hen lt1~ ~n~r is :;.o its tioE X: :lo sorr.et1i1g else.'
m march FIRST 2725 Water Ridge Parkway Su ite 350 Six LakePointe Plaza Charlotte, N.C. 28217 704 .329.4600 www. marchFI RST.com
'<aih! Mef'd.'eta IS a Cu:trl~e-bcsed creelunce #rite -.
ma y 2000
19
[guest
column]
by michael a. almond, president/ceo, carolinas partnership
............................
charlotte usa a "balanced" approach to marketing greater charlotte On March 9, 2000, the 15-county Charlotte region was reintroduced to the world as "Charlotte USA." Sponsored by the Carolinas Partnership and championed by Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory for the Charlotte Chamber's Advantage Carolina Initiative, this new brand identity clarifies the region's position as a global player in today's international economy. Charlotte USA stands as a promise of value to the world, representing the unique balance of the Charlotte region's three chief attributes: business strength, accessibility and quality of life.
Busines S rength Our strength as a business powerhouse is a function of the depth and diversity of our regional economic base. We are the second largest financial center in the nation, and our factory workers
offering easy access to deep sea ports at Charleston, Morehead City and Wilmington.
Quality of Life With our healthy communities, top-quality medical facilities, and numerous cultural and region-
consistently rank among the leaders in terms of productivity. From manufacturing
al attractions, the Charlotte region boasts
and technology companies to a thriving
a style and grace of liv-
tourist and film industry, the Charlotte
ing, a quality of life that is second to none.
region continues to have both the
Charlotte ranks #1 in per capita giving to the
resources and the resourcefulness to compete successfully around the globe.
arts and sciences, and with NBA basketball, NFL football, NASCAR, and numerous special
Access bâ&#x20AC;˘l 'I The Charlotte region enjoys easy access to the world economy. Offering air service to more than 22 million people a year, Charlotte/Douglas International Airport ranks #1 in flights per day per capita among the top 30 metro regions in the country. With daily non stop service to London, Frankfurt, and Paris, Charlotte USA is at most
events, Charlotte USA is recognized as one of America's major sports hubs. All this, blended with our pleasant climate, rolling landscapes and safe, quiet neighborhoods, continues to mark the Charlotte region as quite possibly the perfect place to visit, work and live.
one plane change away from virtually any major business destination in the world. Our region has attracted more than 300 trucking firms. The Charlotte region is also connected to the nation's largest consolidated rail system, linking 22 states on the East Coast and
20
may 2000
replace existing marketing efforts. Instead, this symbol, and its inherent message of balance, is meant to complement existing messages, logos and taglines currently used by regional businesses, cities, towns and organizations. By linking our messages together under this promise of balanced value, we will continue to strengthen our efforts, while still encouraging each organization to communicate in its own style to individual audiences. To learn more about the "Charlotte USA" branding initiative, just visit
<www.charlotteusa.org.> No organization understands the importance of regional balance better than the Carolinas Partnership. The Carolinas Partnership believes strongly in the concept of regionalism, both globally and as a local strategy for economic and community development.
Pegionalism Regionalism is the driving force behind everything we do. We believe that our fifteen counties, working together as a team, can accomplish things for the benefit of all of us that are beyond the reach of any of us acting alone. That is why the
Balance
Carolinas Partnership is committed to raise
While other regions may compete with us in terms of business strength or accessibility or even our quality of life, it is the balance of these three assets which makes Charlotte USA unique in the world. In the coming months, many will see our new brand used in communications by institutions, corporations and organizations marketing the Charlotte region. But our new brand and logo are not meant to
the profile of Charlotte USA and to provide leadership for regional thinking and to be a catalyst for regional action. How are we doing t his? Economic development, of course, remains our top priority. But we are working to expand traditional notions of economic development to promote and facilitate strategic partnerships, joint ventures and other greater charlotte biz
r------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
new approaches to business. The
From commercials and television pro-
creating over 120,000 new jobs, almost
Carolinas Partnership has also emerged
grams to major motion pictures, the
27,000 in 1999 alone.
as one of the leaders in the North
Charlotte region has emerged as one of
Carolina Partnership for Economic
:he premier locations in the country for
Partnership, working with local communi -
Development, a consortium of seven
"ilm production. In 1999 alone, over
ties, chambers and state governments,
regional economic development partner-
$156 million was spent on film and
represents the future of our region .
The regional strategy of the Carolinas
If you are interested in learning more
'Jideo production in the Charlotte region.
ships. We are also working closely with Governor Hunt's North Carolina Rural
That's real cash, real checks paid to local
about the Carolinas Partnership and how
'Jendors and suppliers. The Carolinas Partnership is also
you can get involved in making Charlotte
"Jrimarily responsible for marketing the Charlotte region . In the last 10 years, new
your children, please contact Michael
USA a better pla ce to live, work and raise
and expanding businesses have invested more than $11 billion in our region,
Almond, Mark Heath, or Charlotte Myers at 704-347-8942 or online at
Prosperity Task Force to develop programs that will help our rural ar2as (42 percent of the region's population) prosper. Workforce development has also emerged as a critical is5ue in our region. The Carolinas Partnership has joined with the 10 regional community and technical colleges in forming the Charlotte Region Workforce Development Partnership. The Carolinas Partnership understands t hat workforce training is essential in keeping the promise we have made to local businesses that "whatever skills your company requires ... we provide." In an increasingly borderless economy,
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it is important that the Charlotte region have an aggressive inte 路national recruitment program. The Carolinas Partnership maintains an office facility in Frankfurt and has hosted several international business eve nts in the last two years. In the fall of 1998, the Carolinas Partnership was the host organization for the fourth annual Trc.nsAtlantic Business Dialogue here in Charlotte.
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Last October, Carolinas Partnership representatives and local developers participated in the Third German Foreign Trade Congress in Bremen, Germany, and in November, the Carolinas Partnership co-hosted an Internation al Business Summit which focused on
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[biz abdullah feature] by. .muhammad .....................................
banking in charlotte:
â&#x20AC;˘
Ill
e shadows
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Charlotte's rise as a global financial center is the proliferation of small and mid-size banks that successfully serve the local market.
Let me warn you right now. This is no ordinary banking story. Yes, there a re characters in three piece suits who prefer to be call ed mister, and o thers for whom a simpl e first name wil l do. Some who practice the changing art of ba nking from places high in the sky; o thers who do so fro m the street front. So me who have always ca ll ed o ne bank ho me; o thers wh o have worked at mo re banks than one hand can count. So me fo r whom banking, traditi o n and famil y are nea rly interchangeable terms; o th ers fo r who m inn ovati o n and th e entrepreneuria l sp irit are the order of the day. So me wo rk at banks with names you would expect; o thers at banks whi ch wear nam es th at will cha ll enge your im aginati o n . So me yo u have heard of; so me yo u o ne day will. All ca ll themselves ba nkers. No ne of them wo rk fo r the two giants - Bank of America o r First Unio n - altho ugh many of them o nce did . It is because of them that Charl o tte is kn own as a banker's town, where well over 30 banks are finding a way to survive and even thrive in the midst of Charl o tte's co mpetitive banking envi ro nment. We wo ndered why and we wondered how. The a nswers may su rp rise you .
22
may 2000
>
great er c harlotte bi z
gre c: ter c c:rlotte b¡ z
rr c: y LJ â&#x20AC;˘) 0
23
o say that Charlotte is a banker's town is as enlightening as ..__.. saying the South is a Bible Belt. Sure, there are a lot of bankers, but it's a very curious mix of two Goliaths and a surprising number of Davids. First Citize ns Bank <www.firstcitizens.com>, the largest family-controlled bank in the United States, is the classic story of fami ly passing the torch of economic and ivic responsibility from one generation to the next. It began with R.P. Holding, who started as a cashier at the bank when the 20th century was barely underway. By 1934, he had worked his way up to beco me president and chairman of the board in a fashion that the great leader of his time, Tuskegee's
from the ranks of coll ege and MBA grad-
name," but a bank with littl e capability
uates, it is still possible for employees
- just the one ATM in the bank lobby. Stedman laughs it off. It only indi cates
without such degrees to ascend the ranks by virtue of their performance at
to him that his bank and banks like his
the bank, much as R.P. Holding did nearly 100 years ago. The bank credits
must be having an impact upo n the market share of the big banks. The numbers
much of its longevity to its conservative lending practices. Even during the 1920s
suggest he may be on to something. Stedman, for whom banking is the family
depression, First Citizens had resisted the lure of lending to ordinary investors
business, is quick to explain the numbers. '1ne big three [Bank of America, First
who were specu lating on the stock market; instead focusing its lending
Union and WachoviaJ have about 70 percent of the market. Even if you add
on crop loans to farmers .
in BB&T, the number does not exceed 80 percent. That gives them 16,000 of the
Centura Bank www.centura.com> was formed in 1990 by the merger of
20,000 small businesses in the Charlotte area, whicl1 still leaves 4,000.
Peo ples Bank of Rocky Mount with over $1 billion in assets "People want to deal with a decision and Planter's Bank, also with $1 billion in asse ts. Some 25 more mergers and acquisitions and ten years later, the bank now has nearly $20 billion in
maker. We can provide that."
"Right now, between jim Bolt at First Trust, Wes Sturges at First Commerce and us here at Scottish Bank, we don't have two
assets. Six years ago,
percent market share. Therefore, while we
First Citize ns is led by Lewis "Snow"
one of those acquisitions, First Charlotte
Holding, who is joined at the helm by other members of the Holding family:
Bank, made it possible for Centura to enter the
small businesses
thus th e trad ition continues. Allen Woodward, First Citizens' executive vice president for the western
Charlotte market.
"up by your bootstraps" Booker T. Washington, wou ld have admired. Today
region of North Caro lina, underscores that, in addition to the bank's hiring The largest family-controlled bank in the U.S. still rewards employee performance.
Allen Woodward, Arst Citizens Bank
24
may 2000
expect to run into that may have been approached or may be doing
David, Goliath and Market Share
business with the big three or the big four, we rarely run
into each other. When Jim Bolt jim Bolt, Arst Trust Bank And, we compete stumbled upon a go lf ball bearing the name: "First Trust," he well with th e big banks." knew he had found the name he needed Stedman is right about the to go after the more than 20,000 small opportunity in the small business businesses in Charlotte. market. Charlotte issues over 200 new The bank opened two years business licenses each month . The small ago with assets of $11million and is business market is growing. But, how do now approaching over $70 million, these smaller banks compete so well with a cl ear indication that First Trust the large ones? <www.first-trust-bank.com> is making On this question, jim Bolt pulls no headway in the small business market. punches. "The mergers and acquisitions "We weren't on the top 25 banks list last of the big banks have left many disenyear, but we will be this one," says Bolt. chanted and disenfranchised custom ers When you walk into John Stedman, and employees out there." Bolt believes Jr.'s Scottish Bank, the smell of popcorn th at in First Trust, they can find a home, is in the air. It reminds you of the comand he's committed to helping them mercial the big banks put out about the find it. Bolt is passionate about banking. littl e bank with lots of cookies, personal Be in g with him for five minutes is attention, "where everybody knows your
greater charlotte biz
akin to sitting in the presence o f a great coach who inspires and mo ti va tes yo u to hit the fie ld of comp<>titio n with no fear- equi pped with a "take no priso ners" atti tude - b elieving a nything is possibl e. Maybe that. is the secret: passionate conrmitment.
The Personal Touch Jo hn Fo rlines, d1airman of the boa rd of the Bank of Granite <www.bankofgranite.com>, puts it mo re simply. "It's th e personal to uch, that's what peopl e wan: ." And Fo rlines
focus." He adds th at "banking is an o ld econo my business - o ne based o n personal relati o nships." As Forlines quips, "What is the difference between banking 50 years ago and today? Air conditioning. " It's a remark he heard a colleague make during the question and answer period foll owing a ceremo ny in whi ch President Reagan had appo inted Forlines' co lleague to a prestigio us banking post. Relati o nship is the key factor fo r all banks, big and small. Wachovia's <www.wachovia.com> CEO Will Spence,
ano ther 30-year ba nking veteran, is equ ally co mmitted to building relatio nships with both his custo mers and hi s employees. He makes an average of 11 calls o n custo mers each wee k. It keeps him in touch with the heart o f the bank's business, and he seems to be pretty good at it. Spence is well -liked tl1rougho ut the ba nking co mmunity. Even his co mpetito rs spea k of him fo ndly. He sits atop a pretty big bank, but he has not lost s1ght of th ose who aspire to reach the upper levels of the co mpa ny.
>
sho uld know, fo r as Th ad Woodward, who chairs the No rth Caro lina Bankers Associati o n, puts it: "John Fo rlin es is th e dea n of No rth Ca ro lina bankers." Afte r 4 7 yea rs of banking, there isn't much
that Fo rlines hasn't seen . Listening to him speak is fo ndly rem ini scent of the late great country lawye r a nd No rth Carolina Senato r Sam Ervi n. O ne q uickly rea lizes th at Fo rl ines is cut fro m the sa me cl o th and seems indeed wo rthy of his titl e. "Peo pl e want a ban k th at focuses o n No rth Caro lina. Many o f the big ba nks are headquarterEd here, but their interests take th em in many di verse directio ns," notes Fo rli nes. "Thi s presents an opportuni ty fo r the small er banks that make No rth Ca ro lina their "Banking is an old economy business one based on personal relationships."
T here's no space h r to tell your hopes, dreams and aspirations. You're a small business owner. how we can best meet your You need a loan to keep growing. That's What SouthTrust Business Bankers /We For. needs. Of course. we have a wide Would you rather work with a range of flexible products and bank that only sees you as a few figures on an application? services and a quick 48 hall' turnaround on loan requests. Or with a bank that knows you. your goals and your company? If you'd like a more personal approach to business banking, call SouthTrust goes beyond loan applications to build relationships. We specialize in small business lendmg and go out of our way to understand how your company worl<s. what your goals are and
\8884SMlBUS 11-388476-528') to speak with one of our Small Bus1ness Specialists Or visit your local SouthTrust office After all. we'd like the chance to get to mow you and your busmess better.
SouthTrustBank
You're Not Jus t t\no tllcr Cus to m e r. w c·rc Not JLL'il AnoJ thc r Bank . vr ... lt our wet)
Slit' .tt '"''' w
southlru-.r C•}Ol
Equal Opportunity lender Member FDIC ctl2IXXI SouthlnGt
john For/ines, Jr., Bank of Granite
greater charlotte biz
may 2000
25
In his top desk draw he keeps the names of talented young people he has met. He watches their progress, and he is a mentor they can count on. There is a recurring theme here: All of these banks have remarkable leaders. Is that the secret to their success?
Talking with a decision-maker North Carolina Bank Association
<www.ncba.com> president Thad Woodward believes leadership has a lot to do with it. While many banks around the nation celebrate the diverse banking opportunities resulting from the new Bank Modernization Act, North Carolina banks felt little initial impact. "Two years ago a $100 million bank would have been an attractive acquisition target. Today, the number is closer to $250 million."
Wes Sturges, Arst Commerce Bank
26
may 2000
come with banking benefit. Are the smaller banks also benefiting from the spillover from the larger market that the big banks have developed? In the words of Scott ish Bank's John Stedman, "People are tired of banks that don't focus on Charlotte." Sounds like what Bank of Granite's Forlines was saying. "The big banks are distracted by interests that take them elsewhere. Diverse opportunities and directions undermine synergy." jim Bolt echoed the same message. "People want to deal with a decisionmaker. We can provide that." It starts to Woodward attributes this to enlightened make sense. How often have you wonstate and local governments. dered how a bank can "Our legislature "Unlike banks in other places, bankers have 30,000 employand the bank regula[here] don't feel the need to build a but you can't get ees, tors have created an fortress around their banks." a person on the environment that has phone - much less not handcuffed the a "decision-maker?" banks. It has given Stedman gave anoththem the flexibility er slant: "when a needed to become the large bank's cusgreat institutions they tomers have had are today," he says. "As their account messed such, unlike banks in up by operations, other places like Iowa or the banker they and the Midwest, were accustomed bankers don't feel the to has moved on need to build a to the next horizon, fortress around their these customers banks. They really get are ripe for a involved in their combank like us." munities and in their business. They are Nearly good civic citizens Thad Woodward, N.C. Bank Association every banker who contribute to the mentioned Wes Sturges, president United Way, serve on the boards that are of First Commerce Bank <www.firstvital to our community, even give funds commercebank.com>. to local universities." Sturges stepped out of banking Woodward is a great advocate for the to sell copier machines and successfully entire banking industry, and he makes a competed against IBM and Xerox, fairly compelling case. "lfyou were to so he was ready when he came back extract Bank America and First Union into banking to compete against the from Charlotte, Wachovia and BB& T banking giants. from Winston-Salem and Centura from When asked, "Aren't you afraid that Rocky Mount, the impact on those comyou will one day appear upon the Big munities- it would stomp their vitality. Bank's radar screen and they will acquire And then there is the spillover effect." you?", Sturges responded, "The radar Banks in the major centers like Charlotte, screen has changed. Two years ago a also create financial opportunities for $100 million bank would have been an neighboring communities such as Monroe. attractive acquisition target," he said. Moreover, all the ancillary industries that
greater charlotte biz
"Today, the number is oser to $250 million. Acquiring a small bank wouldn't be worth it unless the sma ller bank represents a particular nich e or geographical area in which the acquiring bank wants to develop. " !though the Charlotte market is vibrant, that's not why Wachovia's CEO Wi ll Spence has his office here. "It's logistics. I handle both North and South Carolina, and I can drive very easily or catch a flight from the Charlotte hub to anywhere I need to be." U.S. Air's hub presence in Charlotte is a benefit for Charlotte in that it makes doing business more efficient. Here was another example of the spillover effect. The entrepreneurial spirit of these emerging small banks is reflected in unique services. For Scottish Bank, it's the "Highlander" account and other unique services for seniors and youth. For First Commerce and for First Trust, it's the services each provides its small business customers. For example, larger banks must collect daily receipts and currency from bank branches by 5:00p.m. in order to have the transactions submitted to the Federal Reserve Bank before 9:00p.m.
''I've Got
The Power!'' With Tegra, We're IHore Productive. "We needed a phone system that allowed our customers direct dial access to their relationship managers but, at the same time , gave us the ability to transfer customers to others quickly without losing calls. We also wanted to be able to interrupt a call that is going to voice mail so that we can give the customer personal service. Tegra had the right system at a reasonable price. Tegra even pre-programmed all of our phones and labeled the employees' names on their extensions before installing the phones. Nothing could have been easier."
www.tegra.com
See Banking, conti:wed on page 40. "Charlotte is the land of opportunity. We want the business of the Blue Bloods and the New Bloods too."
}. Bradley Thompson, }r., South Trust
greater charlotte biz
may 2000
27
[biz
profile]
by tim parolini
...................
â&#x20AC;˘
nice ~ys
finish first It's been a long, hard and sometimes painful road for Robert Yates. But even with the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Championship to celebrate and savor, all he can think of today is getting back under the hood.
He wanted to play football. As a youngster growing up in Charlotte, Yates had the size and ath letic t/) ~
ability to be a good player. What he lacked was permission. Robert's
~
0 ~
father, a Baptist minister, wouldn't allow his son to participate in
LU
z ~
the sport. So instead of scoring touchdowns or intercepting passes,
0
Robert developed a different pastime- working on cars. As it turns
s 1-
0 I
Q._
out, he was pretty good at that too.
28
may 2000
>
s he works his way through
free. "We would never go to my dad for
enjoyed the mechanical side of it. "
his 33rd Winston Cup season, Robert Yates has
Coke money," he says. "But if I needed a schoolbook, he would get it. " Robert
would work on wealthier kids' cars, then
--~ mixed emotions. He's
and Richard delivered the old Charlotte
the owner of the reign-
News and later took on several Charlotte Observer routes. They cut the grass of
Series Championship racing team and
their father's parishioners' yards and saved money to buy their own bicycles. Yates was a big and strong kid in his early teens. He wanted to play football, but a heart murmur from a childhood bout with rheumatic fever precluded it. His parents wouldn't sign the release form . Because he couldn't play football, Yates pursued what would become a lifelong love affair with that gleaming symbol of post-war America: the automobile.
iill'ihi~~~
at the pinnacle of his profession. He's already won the Daytona 500 this year, and both his #28 and #88 cars are in the top 10 for Winston Cup points this season. And yet, something is missing. Racing has changed, and while NASCAR's success has been good to Yates, the distinguished, soft-spoken master engine builder oversees a far different
Robert was especially adept and use the money to buy the parts to fix his and Richard's. He was a natural mechanic and was "busier than I can tell you, because I cou ld do anything on a car. " They didn't ftx their car just to keep it running. Working on it became a passion . As Robert remembers, "We had more backup engines than we do now for Winston Cup racing! " On occasion, Robert would ride on the front bumper while Richard drove with the hood open, so Robert could listen to the engine and adjust the timing.
operation from the one he first
Robert also had a taste for speed and channeled the competitive impulses he couldn't use in
joined back in 1967. " I don't feel like I'm
football into drag racing instead . "I also spun my wheels around the
contributing as much to the team anymore," he says wistfully. The desk in his office, which he once
church a lot. Probably interrupted a few prayer meetings," he admits. "But when I raced, I loved hurting people's pride when I beat them."
rented out for a time, is bare except for a few family photographs and models of his two racing cars. Yates explains, "About the only
nascar beckons
time I'm in here is to hire somebody or fire somebody. I'd much rather be out in the shop."
event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway when it opened in Concord in 1960. He was 17 . At
Yates saw the first NASCAR
Yates' challenges have changed as his organization and the sport have grown dramatically. One thing is certain, though. He has worked hard his entire life, and he's not about to stop now.
the time neither of the boys could imagine where their lives would lead them . "Oh, we never thought we would end up in Winston Cup racing, because when we were teenagers, our idols were guys like Ned Jarrett, junior Johnson and Ray burning rubber Fox, " exclaims Richard . "We never Robert Yates Racing started the 2000 season strong Born in 1943 as the youngest knew that we would end up knowing with Ricky Rudd (left) winning the Bud Pole in Las Vegas of nine children, including twin and Dale Jarrett (right) capturing the Daytona 500. them and competing against them . brother Richard, Yates grew up in the It's mind-boggling." With the help of a trade-in from shadow of the Allen Street Baptist Church Robert's goal was to get an engineertheir father, Robert and Richard bought his father pastored. ing degree from N.C. State. But, as it their first car, a '57 Chevy, with the Yates credits his upbringing for ld do many times, his life took a difwou money they had earned. The church had giving him the proper perspective on ferent tum . "Along the way I met this girl in the meantime bought a home for the life. 'The family I was so lucky to be a part who convinced me that she loved me the Yates which had an unusual feature for of gave me a good understanding of why we're here, what this life's about, and how to get through it. " Yates watched how his father worked with people and saw firsthand the poverty that surrounded them. He developed a strong work ethic and an understanding that nothing in life is
30
may 2000
the time: a two-car garage. After school the boys would come home and spend hours in the garage working on their car. "We came along at the time when automobiles were popular," says Richard. "People needed to have work done on their cars and Robert and I both liked tinkering with cars and
way I was," he says. "I was a mechanic and she accepted that. We got married, and after that, I had to earn a living!" Robert and Carolyn were married in 1965. He still had plans to work during the day and go to school in the evening, but found he couldn't do both. At the age of 24, he went to work building
greater charlotte biz
engines at the famed Holman-Moody racing operation. "We worked from eight in the morning till ten at night," he recalls. "And they expected you to work on Saturdays and Sundays." The very next year, though, Ford quit racing. His hours cut drastically, Yates looked for other work. By now, he had gained a reputation as a highly accomplished engine builder. He was eventually hired by junior Johnson to lead his engine development program. Yates moved his family to Wilkesboro and helped propel stars such as Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough. After five years of 18-hour days, his family convinced him to move back to Charlotte. For the next ten years, Yates worked for and became a partner in the DiGard team and helped power the fortunes of such drivers as Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison, Ricky Rudd and Greg Sacks. By now he had firmly established himself as one of the be:;t engine builders in racing history. When the DiGard operation failed in 1983, Robert took some time off from racing. He tested synthetic fuels and even worked v.;th the Pentagon on the project for awhile. But racing was in his blood. In 1986, he bought a former mill site just off Rozelle's Ferry Road and began building engines for seven different race teams. Among them was Rick Hendrick's. "I almost went to work for Rick," says Yates. "And I':n sure I would have done well there." T_l.en he got a phone call to meet a man at the airport.
from builder to team owner It was August of 1986 and the man was Harry Ranier. He and his partner, who had enjoyed success on the circuit with drivers like Buddy Baker, wanted Yates to become their team manager. Yates signed on, but once again the fickle nature of the racing business changed Yates' course. In the fall of 1988, Ranier had financial problems and was forced to get out of racing. Yates wanted to buy the team. All he had to do was come up with the money. "I sold every thread I had, " he recalls. Yates and his wife had made an offer on a house just before. Yates says, "If they had taken our offer, I'm sure l wouldn't be sitting here today."
greater charlotte biz
He sold
rus ho u '
, go : a bank loan, and
ROBERT YATES
.~!Ji JW~
applied some Illooey he had already already i:weste::l it th ~ -::usiness a d
P.ACJNG
bought Lie OJ:e1::d on fo: $1.7 million. "It (:robat:ly
~d
of about S700, 0 JJ " had Tex3Co as a contract."
saro Yates. "But we
spon ~o :- with
Thi n ~>
rlid
Winston Cup Record as an Owner
a .liquidation value
(t nugh 1999t
a 3-year
a: go well for
Robert :'a es R.a::i.g at c _e start, though. His first race a ream ::>""ner \"as rained our. In
th ~
370
Starts: Wins: Pales: Top 5 Finishes: Top 10
secand rae£, :he car wrecked
42
26 74
Finish~s:
237 $32,866,39L
W[nnlngs:
c.nd in L1.e third. i· ·::>umd to the ground . >
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performance matters Ya tes is we ll -know n in racing circles fo r his re le ntless co mmitme nt to excelle nce. He's h ad his sha re of ru n-ins w ith NASCAR officials, w ho h ave disallowed ma ny of his e ngine im proveme nts. "I've crea ted a few rul es," he laughs. In th e midst o f NASCAR's rece nt success and th e infl ux o f co rporate spo nso rshi p a nd fl as hy m egab uck owners, Yates is a throwback to ea rlier days. "Robe rt is re mini sce nt of the o ri gina l peop le w ho sta rted this w ho le spo rt," says H.A. "!lu m py" Wheeler, "The wonderful thing aboutwukirg 1n"!ll my scr. .'s L.1ct , g~ I? Jr.o-'. mm ."' sav:s -rtt.=.. Doug Yates (right) is responsitle _for tliE team's ens; ;1e p rr!!) r:; 71. n ~ EeGDTI
a: tvl
p reside nt of Lowe's Moto r Speed way. Mike ll argrave, director of spo nso rshi ps fo r Texaco, w hi ch sti ll spo nso rs
"We go t to th e last race of th e
fata :rc.Eb -.h ::
seaso n in Atl anta thinki1g, ·~· n :1~: m a ke it. We haven 't ea rr.ed a di me: ~
'After boUt ·Jf LI::J>O::.. ] Cidr_'t kr:o,.. aYrl
li e is invo lved every day a nd he wo rks
l w~ gT r:g to go •Jn," Ya te: s- y3 :]J -~ ly_
very h ard so th a t his team is
'·v;e
give n a ll th e reso u rces it need s
They ra n seco nd, and Yates ca Is i:
~
turning po int fo r th e team. The lowes t po in ts io
Y;~te:; ·
be loved dri ver Davey Al lisan
.,.,~
kiJI.d
bad sorr_e rnl sad
:t &::o~ a ,·, hiz
ca ::-ee-
occurred o nl y a few yeai:S later. ln 1933,
h~
Dal
~ aii1'fi ~=
dr.vic.g ~
t imE:'·
tl:-- ±e :::urrem tir.-e-,
se c I-~
~3!:
· :1 giJ
Fcl£d
JUt wj:h
Ia.:tt
~!t.:c.lity Ca::-~
f-o:
in a helico pte r crash a t Tall : 1 d cga.. Hit
CRd i: 'Eru::-.:.s. '.rite;. fJL-v.- h 1S his fug
re pl acem e nt, Erni e lrvanJ su ffered a r.;:'lr-
W rniOn Cup
- ~-i.o~ d~Lrn p_o::lS h _ p _
Yates' #28 ca r, agrees. "Ro bert's uni que.
to be successful. " Unli ke most race tea m s, Yates has neve r had to parti cipa te in w ha t's kn ow n as th e "silly season " tty ing to line u p spo nsors. "I've know n Ro bert in this sport fo r 20 yea rs, a nd always
#88 Driver: Dale Jarrett Crew Chief: Todd Parrott
had a lo t of respect fo r hi m," says Ri cky Rudd, w ho is now th e driver of Ya tes' #28 TexacojHavo lin e Fo rd Ta uru s. "The stro ngest suit of th e Ya tes racing team is th e ir m o to r progra m . There is no o ne o n the circuit th a t m a kes m o re ho rse powe r th a n th e Robe rt Yates race o rga nizatio n ." It's a sen time nt echoed by Hum py Wheele r. "Robert's rea l forte thro ugh the yea rs has been his en gines. He's ri ght th ere with th e grea t engine builders of the past like Sm okey Yunick, Ray Fox and Junior Jo hnso n," says Wh eele r. "Robert lea rn ed a lot un de r Jo hn H o lm a n a nd Ra lph Moody an d he's o n e of th e few guys left w ho wo rked fo r th em . He's always bee n abl e to get th at extra ho rsepower o ut o f a ca r. " Ad ds Hargrave, "The Robert Ya tes na me is syn o nym o us w ith pe rfo rm a nce. The e ngin es he build s a re know n th ro ugho ut th e world fo r the ir power a nd reliabil ity. Havo line Oi l is used in a ll of Robert's engi nes, so w he n yo u thin k abo ut th e #28 car as a NASCAR fa n, a nd w he n yo u think abo ut Ro be rt
32
may 2000
greate r ch a rlotte biz
*
#28 Driver:
Havoline~,
Ricky Rudd Crew Chief: Michael McSwain
before retiring. He has a d aughter, Amy, and his so n Do ug, w ho go t the
just fro m listening to th e engine," he says. But as the costs to run a tea m grow,
engineering d egree fro m N.C. State his fa ther sacrifi ced , is res po nsibl e fo r the
specializatio n increases and Doug takes
Y.n e; Racin g, yo u immed i;: tely think ~·Jo
tea m's engin e program .
his contributio ns to his team are changing. li e's still very mud1 actively invo lved, but
t T~aco. It has rea ~. y b ilt a posi..: ive bank of eq uity fo r Ls." Eveyo ne who has t een associated \•:ith Robert Ya tes has th ~ ut:nost res pect for t im and fo r his corr. m .t 1ent to the EJ>OI1. " couldn 't be me rE fn rtunate ar: to l1 ave the situati on 1 ;Jave now to
b~
at le to jo in Ro bert V3tes' o rga niza-
C.o n "
s :~ys
I-.e's go t winning
~ace
ca rs."
a farr ily affair Fo t Yates, racing is c. fl mily affa ir. 'Th e ke,r to this busineE5 i> ..vho has the most ho nest guy counting the mo ney, " Eays Ro bert. In Ya tes' case, ifs his b ro ther P.i crard. "Growing up h ~ was th e most bo~s t Je rson I kn ew a::-td be still is." Ya~s '
wi fe Caro lyn . v. h.o encouragec Ri·:hard d uring the d ffi cult earl y :::ar,, successfull y head ed UJ th e tea m's mer:ha1 dise o peratio n fo r a few yea rs
he's defini tely not a small operation anymo re. Ya tes does own a boat in Flo rida,
Ro bert, who spent so mu ch time wo rking when Doug was a boy, relishes the
but all things beir.g equal, he'd mud1 rather
time he now has to spend with him .
be at the garage wo rki ng on an engine.
Of course, raci ng isn't the sa me as it was when Ro bert started .
what happe ned afte r a spectacul ar crash
Rudd, "Robert l:r.ows th e
Epon ard th e busin ess E de ·J f it inside oul. he: bo tto m line for m E is, as a cr iv~ r.
Fo r a few yea rs, Ro bert and Do ug wo rked side by sid e building engines.
on mo re respo n ibilities, Ro bert rea lizes
Mike ll argrave ofTexaco reca lls that invo lved o ne of Ya tes' ca rs at the
the final lap The days o f havi ng 10 employees, driving the race truck to the track and changing tires at pit stops fo r Yates are lo ng go ne. They have been replaced by 143 employees, including tire cha nging specialists a nd in-ho use experts who in so me cases co me to Ya tes fro m MIT and NASA. Yates grins wryly as h e loo ks over th e vas t array o f high-tech co mputer
Bud Shoo to ut ea rli er this yea r. "When th ey brought th e car back into the ga rage area, everybo dy was ga thered aro und takin g p ho tos. "Robert was loo king at the crew wo rking o n th e car, and the mecha ni c in him just wou ldn 't let go. li e fin all y grab bed a saw fro m o ne o f th e guys and started sawing off the fro nt fe nder o f the car. li e loves what he does." And he's no t abo ut to stop now.
testing equipment hi s racing tea m now uses. "So me of the thin gs th ese co mputers revea l are what I could tell yo u
Tim Parolini is the editor of Greater
Charlotte
aiz magazine.
Prepare for Success! The McColl School of Business creates a stimulating business climate through talented program participants and well-qualified, skilled faculty. The high caliber of students at the McColl School means that students learn from each other as well as professors. The McColl School of Business seeks to foster a collaborative atmosphere between students, faculty, staff and the local business community.
McCoU Sc_hool Q~~rlotte ofBuszness Couege 1900 Selwyn Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28274 www.mccollschool.edu MBA (704) 337-2224 EMBA (704) 337-2248 g reat ~ r
charlotte t i z
may 2000
33
bV nethea "br'" 1ev rhinehard t
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
success by design Mike Walker used to worry about going bankrupt. Then he positioned is display design and fabrication company for high-end custom cispla')' work. rJou his business is enjoying unprecedented growth.
uvve decided to focus
only on quality custom work
and it was a gamble." So s;:.:; :; _ ldichad VI::ll:er. p-~sid -[ c-- d f.:> under of G. Michael's <www.gmich;~.els.~on>, a premi er display design fi rm in Charl otte.
::=ew peep!:: think ab:::·..-:
:.J!<_r _Jy
duign.
rod ~ocs:ili::- ed _-lis ·::::--npar:.y -c·r .e:..rp -:•utlct, ' be elCp_~ ins .
34
flay 2 000
'"!'--?- ~~
J ut
.:;;i?E
this competitive, f not hidden indLStry is big business. Wa lker studied the market
gro-Nth . "We made a strategic decisio n that \': e were not going to b.o another large retail
g::ing :c be a boutique, which m eant we had to be better than everybody else.'
,._
g re::. te r c harl o tte bi z
Mike Welker, presMenr w'1c. fat-ncer of G. !V'.-::hae/'s, at his office in Cha.-lo~
greater charlott e biz
tn grow. Nal h.:::-'s
a lker's ga -n b e h <D "Jaid off w tr. b 1 ~H. teu ~ r fac ilit ie' an.j no re e mpl o~ees
cltsigns a_""ld
alw ha::l a n ir-"Jact. "WO?. ""l~d ~l o t of ~.r : c~~~ becaJs~ \ "t.
· o 1-a dlt the
had a l otof ~-w idea!.'' ~r
DEs pite 1:-; pro misirg f.rtu re, W3
growing n wrbEr :J=::. ents. D'.sJ= lay d!?! ign co m bine· th~ ~- l:lf a I-,
sri I
h ad ~
LC•u ~-1 time slecpinf a t ni g.l.:.
" I u~ed t:J wo rry ab o ct g::oing b a_""lk-
engin eecin g, technol ogy <e n i:rn <: g nati o n to aecte sets fc r :e
inn oVJ th~
c::>mm i:men t .:.• cu s tome~ '7.al.lo nsh ip
n:.: "Jt ev~ ry CaT' T ha t re<: lty bodlered
~..r i skn, ~-u se
a1 i?.."
u rns. tht.mc pa rks, t.radE. Eoh cv..s as- d
I e was al5c oocern ed t ""l ""t c-e b usi ess
m um OLd1 m o re. C. t--: iclut. l's b::>as t~
wc.s not wt>l -GDi talizecL -:Lr.dcd th rm: gh
au
im p~s5-ve
priv-ate >e·ur.:e; Walker -v•r,dered if t.l'£
cli ent li st bat i""l.-L d es
co 1:pa ny l "d t1e
ceo rpo ra:e .~=owe rh oLses ' nd 113tior. all y kco"Vn brJ. ds. Tod ~ y rr :::st :1 e:rE cc·~
to Juive.
1 in b its a1d
pieces,' h ~ ·errem bered . At thJ t ti.-- e, G. Mic""l_d'.> was n o t
to C- Mich ae l s b} te f~cnaJ. 3ut it W~}-
•...rasn't always t 1a
reso u ~~:<
"We-ve r~ .~row in g an
rA ::.""lael's
W3S a fl edgling .Jet i:;;r ilr:m
fabr:i ::atir3 $50,0CO-J= IJ ~ custora tr:ace shew 2>j--j bits, bLrt a~o !'elling ess
v;· h o nl y three ~mp cy=€S.
ezp:>nsive, nc .:.ul a r "p oj:- .Jp '· un its. ·we
Back in 198 , G.
'"I'<'
hen I sta rted o u·.
~
""~
"\ere
>Et designer5," \Yal la:>r re::illed. · v/c wo uld
d es i ~
o nl :~
a ""ld ::>..J.I d se:s
try ing tc· b e everythirg to every-
b:xly,'' ·v\r< l~ et ~p l a ins ' \'le ...,ere pLLied in a lot of dirt!:ti o ns." H ~ 1lse wa nte::l to
for --v com mere a s.' Tn r:-e e ra
e:: pa nd his ·e""E: nu e m i.::
C• o tt
IY-bre No rth Ca LO im'3 a·; p ea l to
w,L<e r tool< c. h a rd look
<T ,~ firm
t:-.e flm indu my, ::.h;: rlotu: was
cha-tged irs d•~cti o n 1~ frrm d iscol-
b ::o m in g to w
fo ·
1
10 111 "'11e-jals.
Jefre· !'O n Prod Jcti ons • I'JO'A ):>f'kr.sJ n Pil o t) a nd J thcr IT 1-ior pro.:l ucti o n com pa ni ~s stne:w:ed
ft:s:t yea t we we rE in : usi ""l<::S>, xe ad 70-'; 5 sets fo r (()I)' m:'a:ia.; " ~1- e•:cnpany had a ··J r i.::> rJ~ ::>m.ne~s m ix, w ith ~ evisi or c. nd th en ~ pa rk a ttr.acti · a s. 'Then leffeno n P·odL c i : ns exited co mm erc:ial-na<i""lg. da lkcr h =.d tJ th in k hs:; 1t s ltLS r c~s dt. pe""lded on it. H.: irs· in c rvely c:Kse a no th e:r rev::n ue ch a · n el.
e r a re<JS.
(Jll::l
ti r....ed sd in g portable mc.d ula r exh i::> its ir 1994 c.nc. 1- : s n ' tl oo .<~e b ack sinG:. "Vv he n v>~ decided dut \-.e were go r1g to Je the best at ·..v+ut we do trc.rs wh:::n V\? rea lly bega, tG grow. For tr e Ias t coup I of years, r\? rclaxed , n o t wcnyi ng abo.rt success cr :c.il ure. 0 fe eLs is en gr:J"Jlh . "Todcy, v. e d o n' t m aLEt trade sl· ow .-.r.:rr , v.e dc n'1 m a ke co ld : all>. AbeLl )9 pe rc~nt c·f .u r trades l JW ex h ibit .)t:3in es5 ·:::> rn .:.i fro m pee-rol e w ho see ::>r.- WO I k rn a S "'lOW hall Jf C. C::> m e t:J" LS. ThJ- side of tt -:: b u s i ne~s 1-.3> now n i "'1 ·rite of ou~e . ,':'s."
'I was either go 1g to be an arc1i-:: Ect or a p eacher." Abou· tlre=> yea rs ag::>. thf fi rm des ign ed a coup e o r e:x: · i:J its, s o 1 decid Ed th;al m3}be · h e ex.J- ibit ind LS Lry
\>Ja E Ll~
r:ne
to~
into. 'v./e srJ · td d.J 'lg o:xh i:Jits a nc it jLsr lCOO ctl"
B¥ the n, Wal kers ...xe ll.;Cd j::>ined tr c a.::l< ~o un d
~ rm
'i..nni e.
V\lth a no ng
in saiLs, sh:~ dru -nm ec.
rred hto the wo rl d of r:m seum
·IEfJ
O?.x:-.ib its.. AIL x . gh museu m des igns ·enc:. to rEq Lrire more tech no lo3}' th ar r r:~d~
sho·,v we·-<, Wa lku f d> this
segmen· tev.a·di ng. "l t
""' a~
rn•: re
pelTla n ~ n cy
'be no tes C Mic h 1d' > now h a~ Lve
des 1grt r~
ud o nE ir.div :.ua l whosz 3olt: respo s:i-
exh ib t bus iness. BL ooi c :na : e cold
b il ft:" is e.:. bring new te.-lmol.ogy. 'Fat's -vhy wrrve really r.nwn in th e
:::aL>, g2 nerated r.evr JUihcss and
Ia ;t : hree to fi ooe yea rs," s ay> \ V3 1ker.
tOo l; ti~hter reigns o·-s r :he C:•"'11pary's fi n <~ n c ial s. 1h e b Ls iiJ es~ bEga n
bECa use of its ·:o m mit me1 . to : ustorr-e-
up n:"V clients i n tt-: trace s- ow
Co rn ;:: a ni ::~ also floc~ D
g ·~ ate r
C M1chael's
ch3r. ot t e b iz
relctionship~.
""Ne are ir• age bLild.ers," Wa ker clarif.es. ··l:·s importa nt for~ ro knc·w the die:ntf inside and out. We ave to uodersta:-d the client's. products. l-ew the·; sell, anc ~ir competition (() d:> :1 gocd job." This strategy has - ffOldcc tlE conpany a cive--se and lcyal cliente c. Today a:>ont 50 pen·ent of the firn's reve Le comes from trad ~ show exhibtts; 411 :>en:::ent from muse·Jm
·eturned 10 Charlotte. wc:rkng as a
~nior
designer c...
1e struck O!Jt on his owDis!= ay des gn is bo· 1 a .-reative ;:1d exacting cr.:f: T1e .::;. Michael 's des1gn te.1n s '"ell 07e:-sed ingraphi·· desigf\ c.r: li·ecture, t.:.cbnolcgy, mmc:wm design, tt ·ee-diJT ensio1al d .:s.ign
"V/hen !/I.e d-2cidEd that we were going to be the best at what we do - t at's when we ·eally Degan to grJVI." ex ·btts; ace IC r:ercent fro m H:IC", sio-, setf, corporate klbbies, <KlC show roc:m disp a·Js. The challeog:'s Waller nov. fa ::'s are di:ffereot frc:n the ores he c.eah with sel':'ral years ag:>. "Labo1 is always a challenge,' t e comment;. "A lot of kids cone out of co lege wit!· out the 1i;; t toals for thi ~ indusuy. Q-aduate:s know theorr a1· ::J how tc use scft""=. r-, but nn t de:ign :>a:sics. \A/hat's 1rore. hi gn ;chocdf: dctn t teac h ii: duso·ial art~ anymore, S•J our wo-k pool Ifor fabcicationl .s smaller." A grac.LI3te o ~ South Meek! mt<urg lli g:h Scho::>[ tv ike Walk?r took a circui ous rout~ tc• custom d isplay d iign. "Iva; going to be eithet an aroi :cct or a p:eacher.' Bu _ after briefly at~ndirg U C Chadctte s _'\rchite::ture and Eng:reeringScbo::>L he left to joi ti-e a·JY. FoUI y£ars later hE retumed :o Clnrkltte and r-ceived an associat.:: def re£ from Central Pied mont Co11 uni :yCc· ll ~ge in graphic; c.r..s. A bon : onceptuali:;;er witl t a sift for design , I:€ applied tc AppaiK:1. 3.'1 Sta_e Univ~ r;it} ' s progra11 in II· du,,rial Tedu10log,'. "Irdustrial echnology in~al;es dt's gn. J:•lastics, metalE, \W•Od . ele·~tronics- a little bit of evel)'l:r n5. ' He grins. ··.:::-:rery day of y career I u>e sonething l le z~red in col.ege.' With J bu ~ iPess minor Walker :o bt:~inEd :tis bachelor's d ~gr ~e in 1977.
:md inter :>r design. Altho.J.Sh •omputer skills are erucicI. c .lbility to•:onceptualize an de' is ·.vhat dri"€s the process forvard. Afte- a year in its cuoc-.t ::>ca tion. Walke r is al E~ o:xpa ndiq. "We're prc bal::ly :Joking a anotrer 11 ,00012,000 s : uare foot addit•JD n the Ve)' near future," 1e estimnEs.
i\Jichael'~
c.fif<a~ir~--~=c:~:::::::;;:::-~~-:·•
G. i- a farr ly ·.valker's "'life. Bunni e, if :xe•-J:_
~~~;::~~:~i~~:n~;:is~: l~~ Jt:siness acumen .
"She'~ ·eer.
h e biggt:;t asse: to the firn. I :ouldn't have d ~·ne this "-iiti-Jl:t her. ·- Their s:m, Todd J
gr:!c.ter chc.r.otte biz
J /I '{j s c,: oJ, o\"";" S • DIS= LA't 1
c _n o
;raduate :> f the Sa•;annat =allege c>f .'\ rt & Design ; :1 jesigner. Wal.er's yc•Jnger b -x~, c::-, Terry, is -..lee president err :>peratio-s. Mike Walke- =til ;pearhea::ls the creati ve l: ~e.:: s :>f the firm and s assi >td. by ::>avid Cc.rpenter, who i~ . icc Jresiden _ of des gn. At SJ, Walker has n'1 -eally ;lowed down eoougl- tc .:...-c.ly savo ...h e fruit ~ of his abor. But ;,c·s wcrkng on it "I warrt to cor - l'~e to ~ row th e:company, but focm on d·e 1ext gen orc.tio:J. I want to -: n· po~<'E r
"Sc·meday. I expect to ·etire and just go divi:-J.5 with Walke TICVEd to Atlanta, wh•re he hec.ded up ne -e~earc h and deYelcopment depa:unent for a l1rge pcint-o'pu::-chase n c.nufa::turer. isenc ane::l wid1 <\tlanta. tr e Carolina r_ath-e
G/}.1/J~e/aef}
·nv wif-2."
11y emploJyees to run the business Nithout 11e. Soneday I _j::CCt to r.::tire 'lnd just so diving wid1 ry· 1-.ife." ·vethea F-::- rtnev f;hinen.arc; is a Charlotte'Jcsed {rE'?Iance Nriter.
m3y 2 CJ •:
37
by boPri j.ller1cc•1
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
thinking outside he box(ers) jimmy Poag and Nolan M lls are having fur. The two local entrepreneurs a e .slng the Web to sell something mc·.5t men don't likE to buy at he store. Yes. undenvear. Now we're talkin5 about unde-~~r or : he- lrt~ne:. '~..ell, mer won't talk about i: in th€ department public, so why net a specialty We-J
~bre
sit e ~
o· a1ywhere else ir
t.-te · :til iSll't tha: easier
a-Jd tc use th'= W:!b ID keep prices ::ompet ti.e Th=··· h;.we ta<en the at ributes of klp : esigner brands an :l 10fla:l t-.!1 c:ll intc a s.1gle premi un l·ne d men ' s ur :le-~an e11ts . '\or § :h: way
than asking the 19 yea r-old fe-male cler< c;t tile sto re "Jus: hov,
they have rra:ie
do these briefs fit?" Be .mont-ba;ec ycu u 1d ~-w e ar. ccm
the br efs fu ll ~. c.nd t he socks soft :oc t· an 1:01 par3ole prodLcts .
~ orre
improvemerrts. n-e T-:;h r:sa ·e bnger
<www.yourunderwear.com> cater.: to
lr .uly 200C., ·•vil€1 hE site
men who don't lil::e providing design er
is re·;amped , diert.; w ll be able to •: Ls::>n ize tile ft
quality undergar-
E\IEf"
to buy at stores b-;
Vlfll 3r s, a 6-foot
from T-shirts to
13 m:1 n 3nd a 5'5"
socks and of course
n 3n, :=ach wit a
underwear- on the
~:-i n ch
Internet.
3L -i nch IJaist, eed
"Undees,
ci ==rent lengtlls in 112
shorts ...There are
I 12 le?S of the r
only so many ways
tc<Er.:. C•ne si::e 1~ 3 11/ x: o'=s notfit
31 .la-cing this into ::x:rt:id~ration,
'!
smiles as he
•JF=r
of si.~ es mat ar=
the company got ts
ilite-c to
di""'=rent body :otpe; t 1c: n the
have the backgroJnd
:·c: :.i:i:n;al smc:ll,
to make this site
n~ d iL m, large~nd
l ')
mrc: <r§e meflod.
}imm; Prog (le~· c-nc' it/01011 Mills (righ? hope co~umers wil buy -neC' 's underwear o,.,/ifle.
industr~ ;
Native Charlctteans, the tvvo
togetlff th:y kncrw 1
underw ~ ar.
en me: th::ug 1 mJtual
The sitE .,.,•i ll have -a
ti.:Jle with height anc weight tha t cJstone ·s car use tc find _ust the right size r:ro:luc: for their body shape But e<JEn wit1 a 1 their customiz3t •)n, Poc.garc M lls are
acquaintances in early 1998. Nat lc ng c:fu-r, : t-ey pLt their
ab le to keep cost=; doNn by using th e Web tc
heads together to go into bus iness. N liE all c.Jties are L ltimate-
cnsu 11er. E:iy sirrpli"'ying the packc:g in-g ard
ly shared, Nolan It\ ills manages :r e marke:in5 anc Jimmy Po3g
head that brick a1d rortar
is responsible fo r the technical
c:sp =cct~
of th _ r:rocucts. Eoth
are involved witr clientsatisfacjon.
f-
The two entrepreneurs' strc;teg-y is :o 11a ~t a high qua lit/
0
I 0..
men· ~
partner Jimmy Poag
experience in un c erwear engine= ·irg fi "'th ft"ill's 10 years'
0
no~e vari ~ ties
name. He and his
experience in the textile
3:
yoLr-
Jrc e ~.... e lr.COrl will
describes how
15 years of
~
-srirts a1d in
and after all, that"s
successful. Poag' ;
UJ
1
to say underwear-
about." Nolan M"lls
~
chest ;nd
skivvies, under-
what we're talking
c:: c:: 0
ro ·e. As Mi lts
ments- everything
product with a le\'el of customization no c ther ·: orrpany cfferso
38
may 2000
retai l er~
~ ~
I c i·ec:ly to he
n ·uc.ting the :>Ver-
encurrb =r. thEi £ Jrces a·e
cmpetitive with :om::>arable retail brands Their knowlE<lge of the industry a- d
ho"~"
5i?.e:5;; nd
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yo u unp3ck the garments- 'lr s pected by shrnk c.t aL, are important when •:ai : Liat ing- =iz= and fit. All of the yourLr der#T- 1'1 211 fhere re-:~11'1 is a numJer lf?."wea-.c::m t: roducts a re made in tklrth Not that there haven't been SOClE c1al· Caroli11a t:y Beltex Corporation 3 11 anu· lenges :J o.,ercome. Th2y had 3. gre3t fac::urer o= premium undergarmerrt; foc idea, th~ business experien:e, Jut not over 55 yecrs. theteciTlical ex~e -tiseto bring tre dot It s n:>: that most men doa't : are co 11 to life. Trey fcund an arlv~t silg abo ut t ne- r underwear, it's tha: l-E'f con': agency a IAeb boL.tique an d a ho:st ng make :im " to buy it. They let tr e W•Jmen co11pany and utii <ed tneir own grapnics in trei'lif= purchase under· LARGE (36-38) t3ie11t to design th 2 :: ite The we :~ - f'Xt1em. In fa ct, more 'I)J'IE:t!:O~ Web =ite v1ent .ive f'.i:lvember l.ladlirewaclw<ann.bnble . thcr 70 pe ~cent of all men's _ 0.0:,~~~ 15, L/99, couple :J V"''tnlocal un d ~,-..ear is bought by rqvr-..,......,._.can advertis ing on telev siJn and wo11eL. 5o Mills and Poag are !=Ling rad o. The origin al hosting com Jc1':" was· thE-- d ert; , both men and wen en, d s· n't a ble to l: eep Jf= with the dermrn:J , co~· er "·hct they like from their\\leb ;ite. thoJgh, which cau:;ed : he V/eb si:1e to fV en may want to try the t:G:= · br ef= sta n or fail :o load ,altogether. lf'~ the kiss or JJJQErs but they really don't ""ant to cf ceatt fo r a dat com . "It's quitE serioJs. agoni;:e ov2r the decision with a d e·k in 3 You can lose a cu S:omer in 16 se::onds de :B r:tnent store comparing 1Ir d5, on : he Web.," sa~s Poag. As of ]311U3ry pri: es an c fits. "That's why mo$1me n bui 2COO they -.vere J~ng a neV" h::tSI prcvider so11et- in s and wear it until it =c:u; ~art, ' anc the Web sitE pool=ms hare :>E e11 say =>cag. ''We want to offer m ~ 1 3n easy resolved. Thi5 surmer, they a·e ple:nni ng wa; tc =i ?;.re fit and pick a stylE. -ry it. If a rrajo· nationw d . adverti=ing compaisn you don't like it for any reason. send i• to c.nnounce the revamping- of th :: site. ba d:.' Th =v really mean that too Youru nderwea r.co11 is :le;ig1ed to 5 nee \Jovember of 1999 :beE have pDvid~ prEm ium quality underN::ar, at on [y lP-e rr two returns which re5 u.te:J n hal=the designe· ~rice s , with a:cura:e exc · a· 5e; for size, beams Pocf. " I'm no· fit fur a client- w1o really doesr 't sayi ng :hat something couldn1 ~ ip want to shop for them 3t a star= =:. rrywcry. thrJUfh, because anything is p ·J ~ ible, Th Ey'll even offe r ~au tne oppo ·tun it't bu: :>u q Jality control proces= s c uite to ~ub s: ribe to rE§'ular shipment= or de: aiL?:J . lt is checked at ever} .;:a,?e of a schedule that '/CX. determ ine. Either mc:- u=actJ ·ing, including bein?;cle•: ked WC.'!, they'V"e got you ccvered. by .a era :efect team, and ag3 nat p:~ck Bonni J.. H~ndon i"5 a Owrlotte·fnsed ag r g. Th =little sticke rs you see "''h2r freelance "'-Titer.
U
Banking, continued from page 27.
Wes Sturges says wh en his wi fe asked him, "why is your bank insisting o n the 2: 00 p.m . deadline?", Wes explained about the procedure. She sa id: "okay, but why is yo ur bank requiring it?" A light went o n in his head: "We aren't the big banks, we don't have to be restrained by the procedures their sizes dictate they foll ow." Now at First Commerce the deposit deadline is 5:00p.m. and at First Trust, if you call by 12 noon, the First Trust courier will pick up your deposits, and you wi ll get credit the same day no matter when the courier arrives. For N. Bradley Tho mpson, the North Carolina C EO fo r So uthTrust Ba nk <www.southtrust.com>, the entrepreneurial spirit is both personal and unrelenting. In a sea of bankers who wear the customary unifo rm of white shirt and tie, Bradley began the first of the year wea ring bow ti es. While he's still mastering the art of tying his bow ties, he has mastered th e modern ch allenge of being a banker. Unlike the o ld savings and loan days (whi ch is South Trust's heritage) - where banking was primaril y an inside focus waiting fo r the customers to come - today's banker must be o n the road . The new emphasis is on going to the marketpl ace. Bradl ey spends m ore time on th e road than behind his desk. He likes it th at way. "Charl otte is the land of oppo rtuni ty. We wa nt the business of the Blue Bloods and the New Bloods too. In Charl otte, if yo u wo rk hard, do what you say, and do it when yo u say yo u'll do it, th en yo u will be successful. " Such is his credo, and the small business market is his focus. Maybe it's keeping your word, that is the difference that matters. The good news is that as members of the Charl otte community, we have lots of great ch oices. At the bottom line, it's d ear th at if real estate is about "locati on, locatio n, location," then banking- no matter one's size- is about "relationshi ps, relationships, relationships." · Muhammad Abdullah is the director of the MBA program at Pfeiffer University at Charlotte.
40
m3 y 2000
greater charlotte biz
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Greater Charlotte Biz thanks its advertisers. To join these forward Page
Advertiser Allen Tate Realtors 704.365.6900 www.allentate.com
5
thinking organizations, please contact us at 704.676.585J.
Advertiser
Page
Advertiser
DP People 704.588.7500 www.dppeople.com
26
Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson 704.377.2536 www.rbh.com
6
Ballantyne Resort 704.341.4653 www.ballantyneresort.com
13
Gaston College 704.922.6200 www.gaston.cc.nc.us
Bell Atlantic Mobile 1.888.3 54.0213 www.bam.com
21
Hood Hargett & Associates, Inc. 704.37 4.1863 www.hoodhargett.com
18
Knauff Insurance 704.375.8000
31
BTl 1.800.205.7388 www.btitele.com
Inside Back Cover
Page
Smoky's Grill 704.364.1346
43
SouthTrust Bank 1.888.476.5287 www.southtrust.com
25
System 5/0racle 800.633.0752 www.oracle.com
Business Control Systems 704.333.7794 www.bcsmis.com
32
marchFIRST 704.329.4600 www.marchFirst.com
19
TechnoCom 704.847.5200 www.technocomnc.com
Craftsman Printing 704.588.2120 www.wallace.com
11
McColl School of Business at Queens 704.337.2224 www.mccollschool.edu
33
Techline 704.334.6823 www.techlineusa.com
Powerhouse Color 704.523.5019 www.realpages.com/powerhouse
39
Tegra 704.945.7000 www.tegra.com
Crescent Resources, Inc. 704.382.8009 www.crescent·resources.com First Citizens Bank 888.323.4732 www.firstcitizens.com
Back Cover
Inside Front Cover
Prudential Carolinas Realty 704.366.5545 www.prudential-carolinas.com
8
41
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Gaston , continued from pcge 13.
"Highland School ofTechnology will be
talking about the Dari el Stowe B•J:a-Ji cal
What's next
the cornerstone in development of a very
Garden which last fal l opene::l the
•}ne of the biggest change~ in store for
sophisticated, competent and technologi·
100 acres of a specta1:ulc: r 4 5G-a :re mas-
Gaston County is a new industrial mix. "We
cal work force," says Dr. David Baldaia,
ter plan that will be inpiEmff : =d over
will continue to see growth n small and
principal of the new school.
several decades. Loc c:ted alno5t
.ight manufacturing, and in distribution, as .oome of the larger compan i=s consolidate and move out," predicts An:Jy Warlick. He also points out tha: Gaston County 1as the best access to Charlotte of any surrounding community. Others agree.
=·st
1= M!Cise-
ly in the center of t he Pied mo e: regiJ n,
Challenges ahead Warlick especially would like to see the county make a concerted effort to attract more corporate headquarters. He thinks that Gaston County already
this is a truly unique bot<: niG! s-ardenpart nature preserJe and part :itwv~ a se for Southern horticult..tre. "The Stowe Gard:=n wi .l :lo rr o ·e for the image of Gaston Cour ty · h:: n a : he
··one of Gaston County's greatest assets
is experiencing the early stages of a fun-
billboards in the worl:l, " pred i::ts P- il
sour proximity to Charlotte Douglas
damental shift in its power base. "Twenty
Hinely. Just as people think of t he l:: eauty
nternational Airport," Hi nely explains.
years ago, it was easy to identify the busi·
·•companies that locate ir Gaston County
ness leaders in the community. Today, it's
can be close to the airport but not have
not so easy," he says.
o pay Charlotte prices for real estate." Gaston County will need to prepare
John Corbett also stresses the impor· tance of identifying new leaders in the
and elegance of the Ei ltnrore Estat e- w hen they think of Asheville, he scys, peo·ple will associate Dan iel Stov1e Sctan i cal Garden with Gaston Co urrty. "This is the ti-ne f or •:; a ~Ct li a a1 d
workers for an increasingly sophisticated
community. Other challenges, he says,
and computerized manufacturing environ·
will be to increase the per capita income
-nent. Gaston College play5 a key role in
for the county and to generate additional
starts, " Mayor Stu ltz says " \Ve ha•;z the
:raining workers. And in just a few short
funding for the Gaston County Schools.
energy, we have the r= so urces, a1 o we
11onths, Gaston County's first magnet 1igh school, the Highland School of Technology, will welcome its first two
have the opportunity. now. Vle ar= : ·Jiy in
A county reborn Looking further down the road, many
groups of students at the ninth and
predict that the premier identifier for
:enth grade levels.
Gaston County will be a garden. They are
greater charlotte biz
all of Gaston County - nc· mJre fals=
a renaissance; I cc. n fee l i." Christine Davidson Je 1sefl is p-_·b ic relations director or CJrder PJ .Iip5 6 Wilson in Charlotte, a1d f ve5 ~ Go5tonia.
may
c }O {I
43
- - - - - - - - - - -- - - --
- - -- - - - ,
[executive
perl<s]
diversions a nd excursions for the busy exec u t ive
........................................
dana's got game dana rader wants to show you that golf is fun ... really Whe n asked her favorite th ing about golf, Dana Rader doesn't talk about 50-foot eagle putts or getting the perfect draw on a long drive . "My favorite thi ng about golf, I would have to say, is the peop le who play the game," says Rader, director of golf for the Dana Rad er Golf School at Ballantyne Resort <www.ballantyneresort.com> in south Charlotte . "My students are very interesting people." It's the kind of response one might expect from a former LPGA National Teacher of the Year. The Morganton native took up golf at age 17, found she had a knack for the game and became good enough to make a run at the LPGA Tour. Her natura l love, though, is for teaching and in 1980, she became an instructor at Myers Park Country Club. After stints at River Hills in Lake Wylie, S.C., and Charlotte's Raintree Country Club, she
on the ball. That may be okay for a start, but eventually you have to get out of that way of thinking, because it can drastically hurt your game." Rader adds that most students who go through the program, which costs $725 ($625 for schoo l "alumni"), come back for follow-up programs and individual lessons. "I think part of what is unique here is that whatever people think about in golf, we have," says Rader. "In addi tion to topflight instruction, Ballantyne offers a full-service pro shop, clubfi tting and repair services and an on-staff sports psychologist. All at a good golf course that's readily accessible to the public." The school is just one part of the Ballantyne Resort master plan to become a major destination resort. Next summer, when the Ballantyne Resort Hotel is scheduled for completion, the planned amenities will also include a full-service spa
moved her operation to the Ballantyne Resort in the fall of 1997. There, she has
and tennis school. It will be a first for Charlotte and one of only a few in North Carolina.
built one of the premier golf instruction programs in the Southeast. The school welcomes all players, from beginners to advanced, and offers
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nine different programs tailored to ability as well as specific aspects of the game. Individual lessons are also available. What can you expect from the Dana Rader Golf School? "We're studentcentered," says Rader. "Most of our clients really just want to play a respectable round. They don't want to be embarrassed out on the golf course. That's one of the things we hear across the board, from women and men. So we try to organize their brain to get everything in focus rather than a lot of cliches that they hear from their friends ." Rader uses numerous training aids, including a state-of-the-art video system . "We can put you on the screen your first lesson. Then after two or three lessons, we'll put you on split-screen and
Rader is quick to credit her staff for the success of the program . She hired Julie Cole, a former LPGA tour player (1985-1990), and Jay Reid, a Class A PGA professional (1990- present) when she started the program at Ba llantyne . Says Rader, "They have been very instrumental in making the school grow. We also hired Stan Roche as our professional club fitter/technician, and he really has been an asset to the school." Rader points out that being a golf instructor isn't as easy as some believe. "People think when you work in a recreational environment that you get to play every day. Actually, I get to play a couple times a month, if I'm lucky. I do practice at least a couple times a week to keep my skills honed ." Rader's typical
Dana Rader (right) improves a golfers swing.
show before and after," she explains. Students can keep the video . Her favorite program to teach is the Premier Golf School. It's a three-day program that includes 20 hours of instruction on fu ll swing and short game. Students learn swing mechanics, shot making, course management and get the opportunity to practice new skills with a 4:1 student-to-teacher ratio. "The three days is the foundational work, correcting some thought processes and old habits that need upgrading," explains Rader. "Most beginners think about keeping their head down and keeping their eye
44
may 2 000
12-hour day starts at 6:00a.m. with Bible study,
prayer and exercise before she goes to work. And at Ballantyne Resort she wouldn't have it any other way. "What this school is all about is preserving the game of golf for a lifetime," she says . "We're interested in developing current golfers and continuing to bring new golfers into the game. And as we say over and over, 'the game is not hard, it's fun.' That's the message we want to send."
For more information about the Dana Rader Golf School at Ballantyne Resort, call 704.542.7635.
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