Transcend old business methods
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WASHINGTON, D.C. 200 1
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The Alternative Is Not. That's why our new Cardiac Smart Score* could be the smartest test you'll ever take. Cardiac Smart Score is a quick and easy way to find out if you're at risk for heart disease, long before a stress test can detect a problem. Do you have a family history of heart disease? Do you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes? Do you smoke or lack regular exercise? You should call 704-384-41 77 to schedule a test today. The cost is $350 and is not covered by health insurance. But just think what you could be saving. For more information about managing the risk factors of heart disease, call Presbyterian Center for Preventive Cardiology at 704-384-5043.
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Labor of Love -The People Behi n d
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Smoky ard Sara Bissell are the driving fo-e" behind The Bissell Com pan'=;, tle ::err panyihat has developed the 535-acre Ballantyne CorporatE F:ork, and now the Ballantyne Re=<Yt--hich irocludes tre l_jxurious Resort Hotel, the Golf Course, the Cana Rader Golf School, and 1-t-'c• ct- et chc.ir hotels.
33
From Vision to Reality -
Ballantyne Resort Opens. i
G r a r d Sty le
Gener:ol manager Steve Brooks grves a walking tour of the resort, showcasing the dEtals which make this resort a ''ToL433y
14
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Reaching for the Heights Any ti"Tle a fOL..ng firm is able to raise $ I 0 or $20 millic·n n venture capital, it gets people's attention.And when the company is in an indust-y n t-e midst of a tailspin, it really gets their attention. But that is exactly what
publisher's post
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7
community biz ]u1ior Achievement's En·npr:se Ci~y
Charlotte-I:Bse::l Peak I 0 Technologies has done.
10
18 Talking Trash Carole Mclec·d of New South Waste has growr her busin=ss by focusing on good service and quick turnaround time when respond ng to customers' needs.
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36
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Bu ilding Dreams For six year: :he employees of Simonini Builde-s ha,·e been on a quest for the prestigioLs
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Housing Quality
Award. T 1is rear their hard work has finally paid off ,.,it1 the ultimate in recognition of reside1tial con;truction.
44 Westport Marina:
on the cover:
This month's cover features Smoky Bissell and wife Sara outside of the new Ballanty ne Resort Hotel.
It's All in the Family The ability to work with his family was Gary Hart's primary motiv:1tion to buy a marina on Lake Norman. Now his goal is to grow the business with the aid of his recently expanded facilities and a marketing strategy ~o
greater char lotte b iz
"Tleet the comprehensive needs and co1venience of boaters.
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cliaflotte iz October 200 I Volume 2 â&#x20AC;˘ Issue I 0 Publisher John Pau l G alles jgalles@greatercharlottebiz.com
Associate Publisher/Editor Maryl A. Lane maryl.a. lane@greatercharlottebiz.com
Creative Director/Asst. Editor Brandon Jordan bjordan@greatercharlottebiz.com
Vice President/Director of Sales Tal bert G ray tgray@greatercharlottebiz.com
Account Executives Mike App legate mappl egate@greatercharlottebiz.co m Kathryn Mose ley kmoseley@greatercharlottebiz.com
Contributing Writers Karen Doyle Casey Jacobus Bea Quirk John Rehkop Lynda A. Stadler Ron Vinson
[publisher's
st 1
Strengthening our Resolve Watching the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, was a horrific experience. Seeing those planes run into the buildings over and over and over again, the terrorists assassinated innocent citizens and not only shattered those buildings and the lives of the families of those who were lost, but also the nerves of everyone who watched and listened to the unfolding events.
john Paul Galles, Publisher
Depending on your age, you may remember other events that have had a major impact on American lives. Pearl Harbor, the assassinations of President Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Robert Kennedy, and the first steps on the moon are among several images that stay locked up in our brains and affect the way we view our world. The impressions left by these events provoke changes in our lives as we resolve to improve them or reshape them as a result. Many political and spiritual leaders have reflected on the September terrorist attacks and chosen to use the word "resolve" to describe their determination to recover and restore our commitment to freedom and liberty in the shadows of those terrifying events. President George W. Bush said, "These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve." He said it with a certain look of steel in his eyes. He wasn't being vindictive, but he was being a leader standing firm against these enemies. Resolve is not a term that is used frequently or lightly. It is more often used after experiences that challenge us. As a noun, it is defined to be firmness of purpose, the trait of being resolute. As a verb, it is to form a purpose; to make a decision; especially, to determine after reflection. It is an important word. Having lived in Washington, D.C. for 12 years, I had the opportunity to witness two other worldchanging events where the term resolve was used in the national interest. The first was in a meeting with former President George H. Bush in early December 1990. About 25 business leaders were being briefed in the Roosevelt Room on our preparations for Desert Storm by Richard N. Haass from
Contributing Photographer W ayne Morris
Greater Charlotte Biz is published 12 times per year by: Galles Communications Group. Inc. 804 Clanton Road, Su ite B Charlotte, NC 28217- 1355 www.greatercharlottebiz.com 704.676.5850 Phone 704.676.5853 Fax Press re leases and other news-related information, please fax to the attention of "Editor" or e-mail: editor@greatercharlottebiz.com
the National Security Council. President Bush entered the room about half way into the meeting with his shirtsleeves rolled up and spoke candidly about getting Sad dam Hussein out of Kuwait. I remember him saying that he was President of the United States and he was confident that this was the right action in the national interest and was resolved to get Hussein out of Kuwait. I was struck by his forcefulness and his determ ination. There was no doubt that he held a firmness of purpose. And on January 16, 1991, our assault on Kuwait began as he promised. My second encounter was on the morning of April20, 1995, the day after the Oklahoma City bombing. Deputy Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles had agreed to speak to a meeting of trade association executives at the Mayflower Hotel. Erskine seldom left the White House and was uncomfortable being away from his office after being up most of the night and in and out of meetings related to the bombing. You could see the determination in his eyes as he spoke. He stated strongly, "We're going to get these guys, we are going to find them and bring them to justice!" He was resolute with his message.
Editorial or advertising inquiries, please call or fax at the numbers above or e-mail: info@greatercharlottebiz.com Subscription inquiries or change of address, please call or fax at the numbers above or visit our Web site: www.greatercharlottebiz.com All contents Š 200 I. Galles Communications Group, Inc. All rights reserved . Reproduction 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, Inc.
4
october 200 I
Each and every day since September 11th, we watch the agenda develop. More and more evidence is unearthed. More information is gathered. More planning is conducted. It is clear that our new President Bush grows stronger and more resolute as he gathers his own strength and the strength of the United States to the task ahead. He and we will not let this attack stand. It is so good to have leaders who stand firm and resolute. In light of all that has happened, we must reclaim our liberty. We must fire up our ambitions and expectations to persevere despite our sadness, our grief and our anger. We must strengthen our resolve to recover our confidence and restore our freedom. They are doing that in New York City and at the Pentagon. We must continue to do that here in Charlotte!
bi
Correction: In our September issue, we incorrectly identified the writer for our interview with Airport Manager jerry Orr. Freelance writer Bea Quirk conducted the interview and wrote that article.
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SouthTrustBank
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~
You're Not Just Another Customer. We're Not Just Another Bank
As a business owner, your firs t priority is running your business. South Trust Bank's priority is helping you run your business well. So we are p leased to bring you this monthly business column designed to promote Excellence In Business.
Why Champions Win by Steven D. Huff
Hold up your thumb and forefinger about 2 1/ 2 inches apart. That is what one-hundredth of a second translates into in a 100-meter race run by Olympians. In the women's 100, at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games a runner from Jamaica finished 6 one-hundredths of a second (six thumb-and-fingers) behind the winner. For that she came in only fifth place. The gold was won by an American who crossed the line only 2 1/ 2 inches ahead, and all this after 100 meters of electrifying speed. Winning and success aren't easy in any area of competition. Business, like athletics, becomes more demanding every year. It has been said, "The bar of performance seems only to move in one direction." Winning takes more than trying hard, it requires trying hard at the right things. In business, ch ampions win because they do these "right things" well:
Develop your championship business strategy by calling a SouthTrust Business Banker today!
• Champions perform with Consistency Nobody wins with occasional bursts of great performance. Real champions make the top ranks by performing well day in and day out. In fact, you don't always have to be the best- just perform reasonably well most of the time and you'll surpass those who only have momentary bouts of greatness. • Champions practice Self Discipline It's been said, "The key to success is setting aside eight hours a day for work and eight hours for sleep and making sure they're not the same hours. " Champions run ahead of the pack because they have learned to practice the self-discipline required to get the job done. • Champions embody the "Never Give Up" Attitude Ross Perot once observed, "Most people give up just when they are about to achieve success. They give up at the last minute of the game, one foot from winning. " Remember, while crowds are usually on hand to watch a champion cross the finish line and win, few people are around during the tough times when the "would-be" champion keeps slugging it out. Champions always persevere.
Sheldon Hilaire SouthTrust Business Banker Charlotte (704)571 -7468 sheldon .hi laire @southtrust.com Member FDIC ©2001 South Trust www.southtrust.com
~EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS
Newsletter
AWeekly Service To The Business Community Sponsored by: Steven D. Huff is a business coach specializing in smal l business growth and development. He runs the Excellence In Business Training Center in Charlotte, NC and can be reached at (704) 841· 1600 or at www.Go ForExcellence .com. Steve also publishes the "Excellence In Business" Newsletter, a motivational newsletter distributed weekly by South Trust Bank at no cost to more than 4500 businesses. To receive a FREE subscription, please fax or email your Name, Company Name, Address and Fax Number or E-mail to: Fax: (704) 841 -1693 or e-mail : Steve @marketingideas.com
SoulhTilJSt
[bizdigest]
interesting
~s
Southeast Strong, But Not Immune to Slowdown
Tech Biz
Manufacturing-Intensive States Have Experienced Serious job Losses
Shelco Launches Advanced Technologies Group !>helco, one of
t~ e
and useful information
largest construction com-
panies in the Caâ&#x20AC;˘olinas, has launched a new division . In response to the growing needs :>f the technolob}' industry, Shelco has :ormed the Advanced Technologies Group. Located in Charlotte, this division will 'ocus on cutting-edge technology construction
Under the direction of Dr. Gary Shoesmith, professor of economics, the Babcock Graduate School of Managenent at Wake Forest University publishes The Center for Economic Studies' Quarterly P.eview. In the review, Dr. Shoesmith notes that although the Southeast continues to outperform the nation as a whole, the region has not been immune to the economic slowdown.This is especially true in the
:>pportunities, including work for the photonics. 'iber optics, semiconductor, biotech, telecom,unications and pharmaceutical industries. Senior proJect manager Roger Hendrick as been named head of the division, and support will come from Preston Nisbet in Shelco's Raleigh office, allowing for optimum coverage of the dynamic technology industr) as it continues to grow in the Carolinas. The formati:m of the Advanced Technologies Group is part of a larger company initiative that includes the creation of new offices in Greensboro, N.C., and Hilton Head, S.C., to serve customers in those areas.
TeamVest RPS Launches New Site and New Web Initiative Charlotte-basedTeamVest Retirement Plan Services, LLC h1s launched a new corporate Web site. designed to be the first stop for iG
manufacturing-intensive states, including North Carolina, which have experienced serious job losses in manufacturing. While the state-level data suggest that North Carolina eased its way through the national slowdown, with job growth of 0.6% in the first quarter and 0.4% in the second quarter, the impact has been fairly severe in cities and towns heavily dependent on manufacturing. North Carolina has suffered the worst declines in manufacturing employment of all the states in the Southeast. In addition to heavy losses in textiles and apparel, durable manufacturing has been shedding jobs in sectors such as furniture, electric/electronic equipment and transportation equipment. The forecast shows North Carolina job growth of 0.9% this year and 1.4% in 2002, rates that are only slightly above the nation. Statewide unemployment, which has shot up from 3% in early 1999 to 5% in the second quarter, is expected to remain near 5% through the end of next year.That's roughly 0.5% above the projected national rate. Charlotte and the Raleigh/Durham area are weathering the national slowdown fairly well, with new jobs in service-producing industries more than offsetting losses in manufacturing. Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham area are expected to maintain job growth rates in the 2% to 3% range through next year.
Lance Unveils New Consumer Web Site
potential and existing alliance partners, whic1 include TPAs, Cl'As, Registered Investment
Site Allows More Interaction with the Lance Brand
Advisors, Brokers/Dealers, Banks and Trusts. The site, www.teamvestrps.com, feature' comprehensive information about the firm's 40 I (k) retiremeflt services, new product enhancements ' nd trading platforms. Partner! will log on to tle site for updates, sales tools, and the most recent fund universes from three investment platforms: Charles Schwab, Fidelity and NSCC. A
retirem~nt
plan solutions provider
since 1996, Tea,Vest RPS also enhanced its solution earlier this year, launching its TeamVantage lhe-up.TeamVest RPS offers a broad selecti ::>n of funds, a Ia carte and full service capability. as well as a variety of low-cost to no-cost methods of covering retirement plan expenses.
g reater c1arlotte b iz
Lance, Inc. has launched a new Web site, www.lancesnacks.com, allowing consumers to interact more with the Lance brand. At the site, developed by ettain, consumers can win prizes in monthly promotions, view product information and ask Lance Racing's Busch Grand National driver Shane Hall questions. The new Web site design also integrates the contemporary look of Lance's new product packaging. Lance can also easily manage the site through a customized content management system, update product nutritional information through a functional database, and deliver targeted marketing messages to consumers through a communication tracking system. The Lance We':J site will be updated often with new functionality, promotions, product information and features to enhance every user's experiencE on the site. By the end of
the year, Lance will add product nutritional information to the Web site. The Web site is located at http:/fwww.lancesnacks.com. Lance, Inc., headquartered in Charlotte, manufactures and markets snack foods throughout the United States and Canada.
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The Allen Tate Company plans to move its South Park branch, Relocation Center and ad T i'listra: ive offices to a new building being developed by Pappas Properties and Lincoln Huris. The Allen Tate Company announced th at it
Jrowrl c.head, :ru• .ve're =nflder-:
will relocate its SouthPark branch , Relocation
deli...er <-higher l~l d ·m e -
Center and administrative offices to a new
f:.cet;; ::f·I<Ale -tJ-:...1 >.1)' :nte-
ccmnrr in ou· reer groL.p"
condominium homes. The mixed-use builcling is one of : he first projects of its type in the suburbs lclll c:Jm Lri:~
building being developed by Pappas Properties
bines office, retail and re,identi<-1
an d Lincoln Harris, adjacent to Phillips Place.
structure. The building is designed
-:l¥
in one
:h3.rlotte
Allen Tate Realtors has had an office in
architects LS3P AssociatES. who we N; : he
South Park for over 30 years. The new mi xed-
architects of Phillips Place retail pr:lr e : t >.rd
use build ing will contain 40,000 square feet
the Hampton Inn & Suite5. Shelco, r c. of
of office space , which will be occupied by
Charlotte has been selec:ed as : hE ~~ eral
the Allen Tate Company, I 5,000 square feet
contractor for the project and BBO. T
of retail space, and six penthou se residential
providing financing.
Mirant Announces Development of Power Plant in North Carolina Mirant announced plans to develop a 1,200-
• The project will add up to $500 rril i:1 to
megawatt natural gas-fired power plant in
the local
Gastonia, N.C., Mirant's first in the state.
• Up to 35 highly skilled. i.JII-timeo jcn; \•ill be
Construction of the facility is scheduled
taX
base.
created to operate the fa:ility UFOn :onp etion.
to begin early in 2002 with commercial operation
• Up to 300 jobs will be created du i -g th~
scheduled for summer 2004.
construction phase.
Mirant is working closely with the Gaston
• The plant will contain two natu·al
St;-~ red
recCNe -~
County Economic Development Commission in
combustion turbines, tw::> heat
selecting the power plant site and developing the
generators, and a steam urbine.
project. To move forward, the project still requires
• The plant wi ll occupy
regulatory approvals.
122-acre site in northwest Gastcnias: : Ia
Headquartered in Atlanta, with I0,000
le~s
slleam
than 40 3.·; ·es of the
Business Park.
employees worldwide, Mirant has operations in North America, Europe and Asia.
/w3ihble: .at:
Pers.o~tally Yours 83 1 f Pine•ile-f\l.rt-:-~ews Rd.
Sllit.e ~ 'J2 - 2nd f loorO"iri.Jtte. t.JC 2E~?i5-4753 704-541-0-44
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Project Highlights • Mirant's proposed Gastonia Generating Plant will be a 1,200-megawatt, natural gas-fired combinedcycle power facility. • The plant will be located in northwest Gastonia, approximately 25 miles west of Charlotte.
Rendering of Mirant's prqJOsed ::;aa;,ria Generating Station. greate~
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morebizbits Wake Forest University's Babcock Graduate School of Management will hold an irformation session for its Charlotte and fast-track executive MBA programs on Saturday, Nov. 17, 200 I, from I0 a.m. to noon. The session will be held at the school's Charlotte campus at One Morrocroft Centre, 6805 Morrision Blvd. Anyone interested in learning more about the programs is invited to attend .. . The
Charlotte Convention and Visitors Bureau has been awarded a 200 I "Award of Excellence'' by the readers of Corporate and Incentive Travel Magazine. The award recognizes coovention and visitors bureaus that have best served their corporate meetings and/or incentive travel programs throughout the past year. This year marks the fourth consecutive year that the CCVB has been presented with the Award of Excellence .. . Also, the Charlotte Convention & Visitors Bureau along with the Auditorium-Coliseum-Convention Center Authority, the Charlotte Regional Sports Commission, the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County officials and numerous other organizations and individuals in Charlotte, have worked for months on delivering a b d to the Central
Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) tournament to officially place Charlotte in the running for hosting the nation's oldest black athletic conference. The con'erence could result in $10 million a year for Charlotte for each of three years (2003-2005) if selected .. .
Pass Privilege, Inc., a leading provider of advanced customer loyalty management solutions, has secured $1 million in its angel round of financing. Prominent angel investors participated in this round, which was not open to financial institutions. Proceeds will be used to assist with thi! execution phase of the company's technology solutions.
Designers, Manufaclurers & Consulants
Pass Privilege's mission is to
WELCCMIE TO OUR HOC.SE..
leverage it's next generation loyalty technology with extensive consulting services
13935 South Pont B.' ' d Charlotte, NC 2e273
and provide clients with innovative loyalty and retentior solutions. Pass Privilege's AwardTrack technology provides clients the power and flexibility to maximize customer relationships with a private-labeled software
P.firen-Jfaus roO.IIU. I'IC
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Phone: 1-800-257-5£'-£ Local: 704-588-2£87 Fax: 704-588-2E.BS E-Mail: bdm @eorenlla-Js ..r:om
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platform that affords clients complete data ownership and real-time reporting.
greater charlotte biz
::: : to b er 2 0 0 I 9
biz] by ron vinson
Educating and Inspiring the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs Junior Achievement's Enterpr ~e City Junior Achievement of the Central
Ach
~·e11ent
Cap i1:3l .23 mj:aig-n. "It was
Carolinas, Inc. OA) <www.jacarolinas.org>
in ·: ~ cit:ly
is in the midst of a capital campaign to
foJrth g-c: ders ru nn ir~ th e city.
build "Enterprise City", a 10,000-square-
excitin .s to see hundreds of
" J frourse , I 1'\iaS: ~c:nk
-
te.rested in wc::cl -
t hat was somett-ing he might be
i n~ re st
ed in doing whe1 he grew up." "'Maybe', he said. 'But th ere's another job I would like to try.' I to t.: him
foot teaching facility complete with mock
in:g : e
businesses, retail stores and governmen -
youn:g e ementary ; chool !tudent who
what other job V"ould he like to try. 'Ba nk
tal agency offices where fourth graders
cc:l"Jie frc m a disad•1an taged ll€ighbor-
President', he sc: id . I asked him
will assume actual roles in a replica of a
hco: . H ~ was the ban k teller and he was
'Because now I know I can,' he said .
real city. Whether working in the bank,
dcir g a 11arvelous jo"J ." Mack observed
the newspaper, the radio station, the sign
'' L3te· dJring a brei:! I<, I tal ed with hi m.
shop, various other private businesses,
HE
t-ad
ope rate
~. elected
here was this
tD be 3 teller because
public utilities or city government, they
that •I"3S tfle most "'i ~ ble job 1e saw in c:
will have to meet payroll, cash checks,
ban <. I c:sked hirr, nc\'1tt· at he had com-
manage a bank account, buy goods and
~· ~t =d
pay taxes . They'll learn how life works
t-ad a: tLally experierced teir g a tellf ·, f
and the skills needed to live and work in a city- )A's Enterprise City, that is.
s x weeks ol ciassmorr study a nc
he had been a g-eat teller, and as ke j him w h~.
" If we can hcve that kind of effec oo one child or on ten thousand children. just think of the impa=t Junior Achi evem er: can make in the Cha· lotte region .'' Enterprise Cly is a combination of classroom education and learning by experience. Stu dents will have fo ti
>
How area busiaesses can support Enterprise City ...
This major initiative is expected to be launched in Spring 2002, reaching the more than 200,000 public and private school students in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties . Already junior Achievement is teaching nearly 55,000 students from kindergarten through high school seniors with classroom instruction programs and computer training modules . Participation in Junior Achievement programs has been shown by an independent study to improve comprehension scores and critical thinking skills at all levels of schooling by an average of 15 to 16 percent and as much as 34 percent. This is especially impressive in light of the fact that it is funded primarily by businesses, foundations and individuals, rather than taxes.
Enterprising Effort " Recently, I visited a facility in Indianapolis similar to the Enterprise City that we will build here in Charlotte," said Mary Mack, a senior vice president and head of First Union's Greater Charlotte area, who is co-chair of the Junior
10
october 200 I
greater charlott-:: biz
gre:c.t~r
chc..rlotte biz
octo be- 280 I II
to six weeks of classroom work, led by their teacher and junior Achievement volunteers, followed by a visit to Enterprise City where they will perform the different jobs they've selected. After the Enterprise City experience, the students will have
COMMUNICATIONS BUSINESS PARTNER
CREATIVE NETWORK SOLUTIONS FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW
followup classroom sessions.
"Enterprise City is a welldeveloped, comprehensive concept
704 • 376 •9072
www.saturn-communications.com
that involves students in ways you wouldn't be able to otherwise. I am just an absolute believer." Goodrich Corporation Chairman and CEO David Burner The Enterprise City program, like each of junior Achievement's educational cours· es, meets national educationa l standards as well as North Carolina and local curriculum goals for specific grades. As Charlotte-Mecklenburg School board member John Lassiter observed from his firsthand exposure t o Enterprise City: "It's amazing to see the students' level of sophistication. They learn that there are no limits on what they can do if they apply themselves and work hard. The experience also teaches them valuable lessons about math, social studies and economics, while improving communications, self-confidence and self-reliance." The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system (CMS) is supportive of the . Enterprise City program and is working with Junior Achievement on the educa· tiona[ curriculum. " The one condition that CMS made was that Enterprise City be
Staying organized in today's workplace can
centrally located to offer equal access to
be challenging. Envision your employees
all parts of Mecklenburg County,"
using a system that makes organization and
observed )A board member Bill Yaeger,
storage and work and life a little easier. Out d
who is president of McNeary Insurance
chaos comes order. This is flexibility without complexity. This is working without obstruction.
Consulting, Inc. Heading up the location committee, Yaeger noted: " We felt that a center city location made the most sense, especially for the Enterprise City learning
tech line.
experience, having great access to the interstate and other primary roads. This way, we can serve Mecklenburg and the
For more in(onnotjon, coli or visit our showroom, open Monday through Saturday Techline Workspace Specialists 4446 Souct. Bl¥d. Charloa:e, NC 28209 704.334.6823 http1'-.W04 Lspw:especialists com
surrounding counties." "Enterprise City is a well- developed, comprehensive concept that involves students in ways you wouldn't be able to otherwise," noted Goodrich Corporation
12
october 200 I
greater charlotte biz
chairman and CEO David Burner, who cochairs the )A Capital Campaign with Mary Mack. " I am just an absolute believer." In order t o build Enterprise City and
MONTAG
Management Corporation
expand Junio r Achievement to eventually organization has launched its first capi-
Building Wealth Through Customized Portfolio Management and Personal Attention
tal campaign in more than 20 years. Of
Fee-Based Investment Counselors
reach every school student, the )A
the $3.1 million needed, it has already received business and individual backing for more than $2 million of the total. The campaign wraps up late this fall according to )A President Phil Volponi.
]ames L. Montag
Jeffrey G . Vaughan
2915 Providence Road, Suite 250 Charlotte, NC 2821 1 Telephone: 704. 362. 1886 Facs im ile: 704.366.5269 www. mon tagma nagement.com
"Junior Achievement is supported by about 10 percent of businesses in the greater Charlotte area," Volponi said. " We need the business community to become more involved. Junior Achievement has a proven , tested system that increases life skills and educational comprehension , as well as increasing test scores. The demand for )A programs by teachers and educational supervisors is tremendous, really more than we can handle given our current level of support. Businesses should
Environmental Law can be a dense woods.
value and support our efforts and help to build a better future workforce for the commun ity, especially in our high school programs. You have to start early to reach chil-
If you are having trouble seeing the fores t for the trees , Poyner & SfJruill attorneys can give you direction , every ste/J of the way.
dren and give them the skills and t he motivation to achieve."
Stars of the Past and Future In addition to housing Enterprise
For advice :m everything from air pollution control w wetlands concerns , Poyner & Spruill attorneys
are here tc assist businesses and municipalities across North Carolina.
City, the new junior Achievement facility will also become its headquarters and will be home to the North Carolina Business Hall of Fame . Sixty laureates have been inducted into the Hall by )A and the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry because of their outstanding contributions to the community and its economic development.
Contac t Ri ck Kan e at 704-3 42-5303 or trkane@p:Jynerspruil l.com H e'll make the navigating a lot easier.
"We believe that the North Carolina Business Hall of Fame will be an attraction in Charlotte of interest to visitors and local residents ," Volponi said. "It
POYNER
SPRUILL L.L.P. ATTORNEYS - AT - LAW
will present a unique opportunity to learn about the great business leaders of this state , while observing the future business leaders learning necessary skills at our adjoi ning Enterprise City." biz
Ron Vinson is a Charlotte-based free/once writer.
gr e a te r c har lotte b iz
oct o b e r 2 0 0 I 13
Founders "Nkb l~s Kottya1 an.d
David Jooes started Peak 10 :in
March 2'000 Nitil $350,000 ef their own mcney. raising a to:al of $24.1 milien to date in tile midst of ~n inâ&#x20AC;˘IIStry tailspin. ~
~
b1 bea qui-<
the
s: Peak 10 Technologies Is Ready to l\1eet the Late~t Need in an Internet World
Any timeaycurg fi ·11 is 3ble to raise
S, 0 or ;20
million i'l venture capi-=al, it gets p::op/e's attenti:Jn. Ard v.~I--Jen the ::=omr=;any is in
a1
ind.Jstrj il t 12
midst ~·fa t?ilspin, ir realy gets their cnention So \N'"'e
Cr ar otE-oased
Peak l 0 Techno'ogies, Inc announ=ed lc:st Februar_>' that it hc:•j secure•j million in 1ts second round of finan:::ing l ro11 Seapcrt Capital cf
t::.JV
S1B.S
r'or;k a-
Frortler ::::3pital and Caprtci South Fartners, both in Charlotte, peor:le ~tooc :J and took notice. Jot only that it vvas alsc. a! the irre, the 13 ges-:: ;entt..'"e ca:Jrtal dea in C·1arlotte in almost a year How jid Pea~ I 0 pu I rt off? "F Jr <~-p thin;]. we're 'lOt a do--com co11nary," says directctr of n1arket ng Beatr~== :=c\1\ _r~..) . II
greater chHiotte biz
e·
a post-dot-e
•
.. -:.:-:c•:Jer 2CO
IS
A High Tech Self-Storage Firm
available, but not a lot of people had
"We never looked back from day one.
Peak 10 Technologies, lnc. <www.peak-
one" Kottyan continues. "Now if you
Between the two of us our vision is
lO.com> is a hosting, lntemet access and
don't have a fax , people think you're
pretty wide-angled but very focused."
managed services provider- a son of high
crazy lt'll be that way with hosting, too"
tech self-storage finn, but with lots of valueadded services. Anybody who has a Web site, an e-commerce site or any kind of
It's already apparent that Kottyan and jones have the experience and know-how
An Experienced Management Team
ncce sary for their company's long-term
Kottyan says their investors also
viability One local hosting company ha
online data system, has a server or other
believed in Peak lO's management team
recemly shut down, and Relera, a national
computer hardware that runs the system.
and felt that their business plan was a good
hosting finn, laid off 90 percent of its
Companies invest tens, if not hundreds,
one. He and jones each have 25 years in
workforce this summer. But Peak 10 is not
of thous,:mds of dollars in this equipment,
the technology business.
experiencing the p roblems of many stan-
but often don't give much thought to where
Kottyan, 47, has started and sold three
ups because its capital costs for a facility
they store it. ln a closet next to a water
other companies, all involved in the long
heater that everyone has access to is not
di tance telephone industry: TELAMCO,
to generate a positive cash flow at 20 pcr-
a sman way to protect that investment.
Teledial America (now pan of Qwest), and
cem of capacity. "We also have a manage-
Phone Ame1ica (now pan ofWorldCom),
able growth plan that conserves cash,"
Peak 10 stores this type of equipment
are the lowest in the indusny, and it is able
in secured , controlled environments with
all based in Charlotte. Before starting Peak
Edwards says. "Success is not how much
redundant back-up systems. But that's only
l 0, he was senior vice president for CT
money you get from investors, but how you manage the money"
the beginning- it also offers on-demand
Communications, a local phone company
Internet access and services the equip-
based in Concord. An Ohio native , he came
"You have to ask yourself if you could
ment, including performing regular back-
to Charlotte to work for Alltel in 1980 after
stay in business if you lost your server
ups of data and monitoring. Clients have
a stint in the Ai r Force, where he earned
24-7 access to their systems.
a degree in electronic technology from Wayland Baptist University He later
A Growing Need Founders Nicholas Kottyan and David
eamed an MBA from Preiffer University "With its environmental controls,
and all its data. You need to protect your investment in a physical setting that can't be compromised." - Founder Nicholas Kottyan
jones were prescient in realizing that this
fiber opti c connecti vity and back-up sys-
would be an expanding business opportu-
tems, our data center is very much like a
its name by calling itself a "Perfect 10"
nity They started Peak 10 in March 2000
telephone office - at the next generation
However, that was the furthest thing from
with $350,000 of their own money and
level ," Kottyan says.
add itional fu nds from angel investors totalling $5.6 million. Industry experts affirmed the potential for growth . According to a November 2000 eq uity research report issued by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, "Worldwide hosting will grow to $75 billion in revenues
jones, 55, is also an experienced entre-
In its marketing, Peak 10 plays on
Kottyan's mind when he came up wi th the name. "One of my passions in life is snow
preneur, having been involved in the stan
skiing. 1 was skiing in Breckenridge,
up of two telecommunications firms , including outhern et!Telecom*USA which was
on the number 10 peak when l got the inspiration for the company," he explains,
acquired by MCl!Vv'orldCom. A graduate of
almost sheepishl y "When l wrote the
olo.
the University of Virginia with an economics
business plan, l had to put something on the cover and used that. We were all com-
by 2005. Sixty-three percent of this will be
degree, he also was a principal in a telecommunication management consulting finn
in the U.S."
responsible for entrepreneurial ventures
The lnternet!Lechnology consulting firm
prior to joining Kouyan to stan Peak 10.
jupiter Media Matrix predicted in August
In j anuary, he moved to Charlotte, but still
that in-house web hosting will become rare
keeps a home in Athens, Ga. He says he's
fortable with it and the name has stuck'' Spending Money Wisely The name, however, is the only thing about the company that has not been care-
within three years. ln a survey of 5,000 read-
ve1y comfortable in Charlotte, having grown
fully planned and strategized The 26,000-
ers of the Network omputing Web site, 94 percent are looking at some form of hosting
up just outside of Richmond.
square-foot headquarters in Charlotte is
"A few months after Nick left Cf,
located in Ayrsley off South Tryon Street
in the next 12 to 24 months.
he sent me a message asking what I knew
near 1-485. There's also a 15,000-square-
"Business is till only in the embryonic stages of being lntemet-cenuic," observes
about hosting," j ones recalls. "l told him
fooL facility in jacksonville, Fla. Together,
'A lot. ' 1 was negotiating space and serv-
the sites employ 45 people Each location serves about 25 clients, including First
Kouyan. "When it truly reaches that stage,
ices for lSPs (lnternet service providers)
companies are going to have to put their
and CLECs (competitive local exchange
Union, Allstate and the Association of
hardware in places like ours. Often, they won't want to manage it either, so we are
carriers) in telephone company central
Tennis Professionals. Although the company
offices across the Southeast at the time.
has clients from as far away as Texas, most
able to offer that value-added service.
l knew what the demand was."
of its marketing is directed at d iems located
"Managed hosting is like the fax machine was 15 years ago - it was
16
october 200 I
jones summed up the decision he and Kouyan made to launch Peak LO:
within a 90-minute drive of its facilities. It's the only finn in the Charlotte area that
greater charlotte biz
provides a fu ll range of hosting services. When it comes to appearances, there
even if only for short periods, Peak lO can provide it witf¡ out imerruption. "The pipe's
Both partners arc optimisti c about the future, both in the short and long
are no extravagam LOuches at the sites like
open," Kottyan says. "If a customer has an
term . Kottyan admits that companies are
large lobbies or crown molding. But no
lmernet event that drives extremely high
making decisions slower than th ey we re
Cll:pense has been spared when it comes
traffic, we' ll handle the peaks for them."
LO providing services and protecting the
Peak J 0 o n. also monitor clients'
and that they arc often being made higher up in manageme m , by the CEO, for
equipment. For example, 170 tons of air
systems to make sure the applications are
example, rather than by the IT director.
conditioning equipment keep the sLOrage
running properly, and will notify them
However, he says, "there's a significant
area at a consistem 70 degree Fahrenheit.
immediately if there is a problem, long
interest in what we have to o ffer''
The on-site emergency generators can run
before customers notice. They can. also
the entire facility for a minimum of 48
inform clients if someone tries to break in
m odified some, dictated by the eco no-
hours on one tank of fuel. Both proximity
through their ftrcwalls or otherwise hack in.
my, but plan s still ca ll for facilities in
A Partnership for Growth
also expect to take adva ntage of the
10 cities by 2004. Kouyan and j ones
card access with personal identification numbers and biometric scans are required
Growth projections have been
to enter the facility. The scan reads not only
While Kottyan has the title of president
the fingerprint, but also body temperature.
and CEO, jones serves as executive vice
federal Health Informat ion Privacy and Portability Act (I-l iPPA), a far-reaching
"This prevents someone from cutting off
president and COO. But titles mean ve ry lit-
piece o f legislatio n greatly impactin g
your finger and using it LO get in," Kottyan
tle
the way hosp itals, doctors' o ffi ces and
says, not with a completely straight face.
for about 15 years, often as competitors.
In additi n, video surveillance cameras
LO
the two, who have known each other
j ones describes their relationship this
other medical facilities collect and store patient data . O ne requirement, to go
arc hidden throughout the area in devices
way, "We are joined at the hip and often go
into effect soo n, mandates that facilities
hanging from the ceiling that look like the
back and forth with our duties - there are
store data o ff-site. "For th e medical
disco balls of the 1970s. The cameras are
no turf issues between us. That's the kind
profession, it's th e n ext Y2K," Kouyan
monitored by the
of trust between us. We are very differenL
observes. "We're ready" biz
etwork Operations
Cemcr (NOC) located on-site. Strategically
personalities, t ut think ve ry much alike.
placed motion/vibration detection devices
Somehow we end up at the same place -
alen NOC personnel of any forced enuy
and often fin ish each other's sentences"
Bea Quirk is a Charlotte-based freelance writer.
"You have LO ask yourself if you could stay in business if you lost your server and all its data," Kottyan says. "You need to protect your in vestment in a physical setting that can't be compromised. A number of companies wcm out of business in Fl01ida after Hurricane Andrew because they lost
The Best Sales Presentation You Will Ever Give, The Prospect Will Never See.
all their data and couldn't recreate it" When it comes to dedicated Internet access, Peak lO offers the same kind of redundant back-up systems for comingency use. lt provides clients Tier 1 lntemet access directly from a Peak lO Technology Gateway or from a client's location. Access speeds are available from 512 KBps up to fulllOO MBps to suppon any and all e-applications. Peak lO's network backbone consists of a multi-layer, redundant configuration
LO
ensure there is no single point of failure. Its fiber connectivity consists of a minimum
jim Dunn, President of Dunn Enterprises, has a series of rules for sa les success. This one tells us to refute th e belief that if salespeople can p: ovide a logical, seq uential, convincing sales presentation, people will buy. But the truth is people buy for their :>wn reasons, not sa les people's. Dunn, through his affiliation with the Sandler Selling System can help your ;ales force get at those reasons.
And if they do, they may very well close th e dea l before even making a presentation. Dunn employs a unique four-step process that stresses continual professiona l and personal devel opment, and encourages successfu l goal achievement. So if you need to see a dramatic improvement in your bottom line, ca ll him at 704-536-3277. Because when it's all said, it's Dunn.
of two fiber rings with dual emry points. ln addition, the company maintains a minimum of two Tier 1 Internet backbone connectivity points in each market. All this means that clients have network availability 99.999 percent of the time- or downtime of about five minutes a year.
When it's all said, it's Dunn. 6425 Idlewild Road, Suite 2210, Charlotte,
C 28212 â&#x20AC;˘ 704-536-3277
lf a client needs greater bandwidth,
greater charlotte biz
october 200 I 17
Carde Mcleod of New South asle, decided fo take on the enge of starting her own te balling company and IOir~
18
ber 200 I
up against the big boys.
;sre :r:.er c
gre3.ter chc.-lo-::te
t z
::J::tober 200 I 19
5 "nin3 Star 1:1-i.~ p~stjLne, the Clur :m~ ::::1<. 1tt>r ::{ .bt.. 1'- :Hi::mal Associatior o- "-'c mer. B-J~in~s:; C·Nners ( AWBC•). re-·resr::t _irg 42 =·=(t w•Jmcn-owned buo n:s!'r::~ in .he srEai<-"f :1-arlcuc metropolit:J.n ~1rea, :;el,- ~ ::d kLcod 1s its "Rising Sta:- of the vca-" Ih:: a;;,ad 3 given annually _o a worn;..vho h:~ o.vne::l 1er business: fer L:s tr_;l.J1 -ive .::'IE ·t1Cila3 evidencedsi,;nific:rtald sLCLS!Sf •l gro\..lth. Mcleod '"a~ rE·=·~gnb::J or ::n t\.\.in?; her business fron :ne rrx::l: :md :::le driver tc• 15 trucks md 20 emp o.•'fecs i, -Et f, ut years. As a m:tll·~r :JI Ia::~ sl-e rrpl>d 1-er business plan dJti-f. he .:ec-
f'Jew- ~= u tt \'1'1ste's truck and cor«:ainer 3t \-..of"~ c• r tlE - ~~. f- ~ar.;t lOwer in Uptown Ch< -b:te.
:LO
::J::tobe- 200 I
o1i ye:.r of ope ·at ion. "I cally ·.tr "restimated the market," she s>ys. ·'[n5le:ill of $1 million, we did 53 milho• o bJsiness." \Vh~ hJulh~ waste may seem to b~ <.r ·1n Jstul business for a woman, J..rcltod ~ays it bas actually proven to br:: <. Jentfit }l_in.Jrity ownership has o"J:n::c sJm:- dcc·rs for her and for New S:::u h '.'J<sc. Central Carolina Bnk v--a~ mo:t-c Ailling to loan the Dr::dg ing co:np1y stan-up money beLause i v,:s ::•V"ned by a woman. ~·O<.e crg;m:.::a.io1s, such as Charlotte Mccklentur~ 5:hJols, have programs i piece D e·.c::>u ·age doing business \..lith rdn Jri::y- J'iVTled companies. 'Th~c ur:: 'l.O guarantees, however," says tAo_lEod ""t'r u still have to provide gc•c·d sc,- ce.·
Garo3ge is in the Blood Mc ~e Jd
- a:l f rst hand knowledge of 1-o-v to '-111 ;: sruU business long before she started her own company She grew up in Greensboro where her father was a highway patrol officer for twenty years. He saw so many automobile accidents that, when he retired, he bought a small wrecker company And, after several years of dealing \vith wrecked cars that nobody wanted, he also bought a salvage yard . "Garbage is in my blood," laughs McLeod, who says she got her astute business sense from her father. "I inherited his common sense. I learned to sec an opportunity and grab iL" After graduating tt.e co nsttu(tic n sir:e ::> f from Appalachian
State Uni\•ersity in Boone with a business degree, Mcleod went into sales. "I knew what l liked and what I was good at," she says. She sold everything from accouming systems to postage meters. Then, after eight years with a major solid waste removal company, and a brief stint at a chemical company, Mcleod partnered with her former operations manager, Dave Weller, to stan ew South Waste in 1997.
"I learned to see
an opportun;ty and
rab it.'' "You knock on doors," Weller told her. ''I'll drive_" The two worked out of their homes - Weller in Blacksburg, S.C and Mcleod in Weddington. They rented a place to park the truck and comainers on South Graham Street in Charlotte. "We'd meet in the parking lot and sign checks on the back of my Camry," says McLeod. On Panther weekends, they had to move their equipment off the parking lot so game goers could park there. Four months after going into busines , they got a contract for 60 containers from Saussy Burbank and had to buy a second truck. They also moved imo a trailer on Rozze lls Ferry Road where they spent the next two years. Today, they're buying the building they occupy on Craighead Road. " ur two original locations had a role to play in our success," says Mcleod. "We were downt0\\'11 and right on top of all the construction that was going on. We were real quick with our service and competitive with our prices." One builder ordered three containers for his construction site at Myers Park Weller delivered them, but asked why he needed three_ The answer was that it usually took three clays for the waste hauler to show up. New South Waste picked up every day, on time, and eliminated the need for two of the dumpsters. "Dave is really emphatic abom quick service," Mcleod says. Weller, secretary/treasurer of New
greater charlotte biz
South Waste, and Mcleod, president,
Blalr. Bohle &\X'hitsitt PLLc
work well together. He handles operaLions and service and she is responsible
Ce:tiEed PubJc Accotm=ants
for sales and financing. "We don't step on each other's toes," says Mc l eod. "We each Lake ownership
• Emerg -g Cmpc:ry st -<.""E J i e~ • 111u - ~t~ T::.·: ~tn.ctt..r 1 g
of our own area. But all the big decisions
• fo'ler§er :m.: KQLisi iJn Flannilg
are joilll ones. We bring d ifferent per-
• F:eaJ Es.atl ::: ve qiTHrt ~.traEgi e~
spectives LO decisions."
• CamJrehf!lsivt- -a: Review • Audi-t. Ac;JLI: ll!l Services • Tc:< Camp mce S. Plarning • Retiro3men Plcw- COIJJiiance .l. [e3iT
Back to BasiL;-s.· Reki!ionships, Value, Growth
Mcleod's husband Mans works in
B:_!au"!le • 3orl Park • 704._!6S.)4C•)
the First Union Trust Department. They
~wpl k. cOJr_
have two children, Anna, 14 and Will,
ll. juggling family needs and business demands is not always easy, but Mcleod says she has the complete support of her husband and ch ildren. "My husband and I are both very Oexible," she says, "and iL has gouen easier as the children geL o lder. Basically, you do what you have Lo do."
ou JU
do
whatever you have to do to make your company run smoo h " The same principal app lies to running a business. Mcleod tells a story to illustrate her point. "While we were still in the trailer, a yard dog adopted us." says Mcleod. "That was fine until she had a liner of
ll puppies. The employees loved them, but nobody wanteclLO take responsibility for them. By the Lime they were four weeks old, they were providing a lot of distraction. They were also in danger from the trucks coming in and om." To remove the distraction, Mcleod wok the puppies home with her. Project Halo helped her find adoptive homes for most of them, but the Mcleod family
1 cColl
still has one. "l never dreamed I'd have to deal with puppies," says Mcleod. "You just do whatever you have LO do to make your company run smoothly" The economy has taken a dowmurn and construction has slowed some since ew outh Waste began in 1997. There arc also about ten more competiLOrs in the business now than four yea rs ago. Still, sales in 2001 have already grown
greater charlotte biz
>-
n tou.r ; b1 ~.nes-' or~- :om aJ liti3 ae corst Ullly teste:!. Be::ns rre11red 'o=cL1Jen9'L s =·i·Jm JEqu te> a ev~l ::.f kJlO\\le.J§.e tl:ll ~ch.:ol Jf Bu8 r.~ g6 beyc.:-'C tl1E bsia t· ta.:r~- <ill 1IU cight b t1ii< d real wtutic•15. .\1 Ule ~:.{;o ~ cll((l] r .E r~ , =;u- ~BA Clld eecutiV t eckcat Ol <"""' s D l ege ofcl-a:bl< p~am, ofer u:·11-e l -<11 cG: con eciLEi. Ycur professor; will CI"E-1:2 Learn. l ~ roing >i:Jaticns -.. 1-~ll•YCL eo~nc n Jr ~ilit sand Juii.J yc u::crfide ~e so ~ J c::..n lact tie chfenE~ tlut co11e witt- e<<=Jy C.J.f. f'le:Ge g ·~ JS ,_ tall ":'JL ,•a nt Lo ea-o ~..ncl 1\.IX>V nl:lre
Know. Becorne.
20 percent and Mcleod expects New South Waste to continue to grow. "We just have to work harder to get the business and to keep what we have," she says. "Our motto is to work smart, not hard , but so far we're still doing both "
Looking to the Future New South Waste currently operates throughout Mecklenburg and all of its adjoining counties. Over the next five years, Mcleod says the company will expand into new markets. That expansion is most likely to be in Greensboro and Greenville, S. C. These are places where some Charlotte customers have additional locations and would like New South Waste's service. Within two years, Mcleod hopes to hire someone to manage the company's operations. "If there's another dog that has puppies, I'm not dealing with it," says Mcleod. 'Td like to play the owner role versus the day-to-day manager. " Hiring a manager would also smooth
the anticipated geographic expansion. Dispatching could still be done out of he Charlotte office. All that would be necessary elsewhere would be drivers and a place to park the trucks and containers.
s crazy when you own a small business, you have to
expect the unexpected. You get surprised very day." New Sou th Waste's rapid growth has not gone unnoticed. Mcleod says every major waste hauler in Charlotte has talked to her. "We'll listen to anybody," she says, "but we're not for sale." Indeed, Mcleod says she has found what she wants to do for the rest of her life. She is always marketing the company, whatever else she may be doing.
She puts her business card in every construction trailer or builder's van she sees. Sometimes she wishes she had taken more psychology courses in college to help with the challenges of managing a company and selling its service, she says. But, for the most part she enjoys those challenges. "It's crazy when you own a small business," she says. "You have to expect the unexpected. You get surprised every day" Those unexpected surprises give her a story to tell around the dining table every evening. And, while Mcleod has a strong support system that includes her partner, an accountant, banker and attorney, the company is ultimately hers and the sense of ownership she feels carrie with it a deep satisfaction. "1 don't go around telling people I own a dumpster company," she says, "but 1 get a feeling of pride whenever I pass one of our trucks on the road. " biz
Casey jacobus is a Charlotte-based freelance writer.
It's like you've suddenly been handed back
two-thirds of the world.
On the road of life there are passengers and there are drivers. Drivers wanted~
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22
october 200 I
<Cl2001 V<Jk..ogen.l¡800DRrvEVWcxVVVCOM
greater charlotte biz
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Five years of planning pay off in the grand opening of the Ballantyne Resort Hotel On a morning when the Ballantyne Resort Hotel1s bristlmg with the excnement of an openmg-night pby, Smoky and Sara Harns B1ssell relax on a burgundy sob in the hotel's Magnolia Room conference room. At least, they appear to be relaxed. The gleams in their blue eyes, however, suggest that they're just as keyed up as the Hotel staff. The Bissells are the driving force behind The Bissell Companies, the company that has developed the 535-acre Ballantyne Corporate Park, and now the Ballantyne Resort-which includes the lu. unous Resort Hotel, the Golf Course, the Dana Rader Golf School, and two other cham hotels. Its been a labor of love,'' sa) s Sara, about the Resort. That's because she and her husband, as well as top managers, have spent the past five years getting ready for the Resort Hotel's opening da). They have dreamed, and researched, and planned, and shopped for the exact details to make the Resort a "must-stay" for business trm elers. o c t o b e r 2 0 0 I 25
muky Bissell
ddiu.:'~
h
"lf you company is h aving a m eeti ng in
orth CaroLna, and you
wam to include golf, wt can save you along tht hncs nf destination rcsc ns in
a day in
tr;.~vel, "
he exp:aim.
B ~ca use
of the Ballantyne Resort 's prox mity to the Cha · lotte-Douglas international Airport -
only 20 m in .nes a\¥ay -
Pinchur..,t or Ashen lie. The Bal mt\ nc
companies can easily bring together
Resort,
boards of directors for con--ere1ces,
their sales teams, executive grou:::>s and h11\\
e\ cr, prondcs snmc.J nt
without h<IVing to build-in hours of they don t. com·c'"t.encc and tun -· wi 1g~
destinatior drive time .
The Spa at &.1 aTL::"ll~ F.~~ -r so.:hedLlled to open ncx· sprirg, ·;..- l pxvk.e ddi..ional senic.es. [)!" •:on ·erer CE ::pcases. "This is nJt J-~ anotl-er
:-~
"s:rys
Geoff Kirkland, : "i.d e.,{eclll:T--c:: T.::e~ d Horwath Hori:::CT rosp·ta it}
N:.VE0.:-3,
c:m~ltants to
the. :uspL<J }' rx::...Etr:.' While he emp1;.._~Es tut -,e :I£.>oot ·r£t seen the hotcl-1- ~ "'>'a: .H"E.b~ _c =Lte- d the grand Of=CDil.?:-hE: ::c.diG :b : Bisser Contpanies c.s b~r-E "high-qu.:!l. .J 1ctl operators," and 3a:-s tlu , g:.vcr. ,"'tat he's
Scattered throughout the resort, mu :iP' e ·~iving room"-type spaces '"lave been created, al designed to be comfortable, yet elegart.
26
october 200 I
g-~ater
ch::.· :;tte biz
seen of the Resorts advertising and services, "People now have the option of coming to Charlotte for a resort experience. They didn't have that (option) before. "
"We had many a picnic down here. We'd sit on a hillside and say, 'maybe this could go here.' We'd let the dogs run wild and we'd talk big." - Sara Bissell The Bissell's vision has come together beautifully on this late summer morning. Golf carts are running in a line dotting the groomed golf course, in preparation for a charity golf tournament. Elsewhere within the Resort, a silent auction fundraiser has been arranged in the rotunda, and places are set in the Ballantyne Ballroom for the golfers' lunch. A place like this doesn't come together overnight, and the Bissells are happy to share some of the many steps, the many strategies, they undertook over the years.
The !\arne and Place Ballantyne, located on the southern crescent of Interstate 485, once would have seemed in the middle of nowhere. Today, however, it seems like the area soon will be in the middle of everything. Sara Bissell's father, the late james]. Harris, had accumulated 1,750 acres in the area, and left it to his three children after his death in 1985. A few years later, the governors of North and South Carolina negotiated with the family for 80 acres, in order to tie in the four-lane highway U.S. 521 to the emerging l-485. The family saw that the location would be ripe for a new community, "something that hadn't been done before ," Smoky Bissell explains. They envisioned a self-sustaining neighborhood with homes, a golf course, corporate offices, and hotels, and worked alongside land developers and the Urban Land Institute to come up with a workable plan.
greater charlotte biz
They tossed around ideas for a name, finally choosing "Ballantyne" to honor a diStant great-aunt, Barbara Ballantyne, who took Smoky and Sara under her wing when they moved to California in the 1960s. Crescem Resources bought some of the land to develop its residential Ballantyne Country Club Community. In 1992, a large insurance company bought 108 acres, thinking it might someday develop a service center. About 525 acres remained for an office park; Smoky Bissell bought the land from the family in january 1996 , and immediately started planning for office buildings and hotels. "There was nothing out here," Smoky Bissell recalls, "no roadsnothing. We spent the winter learning our way around." Smoky and Sara would cross the frozen creeks and climb the rolling hills to get a feel for the terrain, their beloved Dalmatians running ahead. "We had many a picnic clown here," ara says with a smile. "We'd sit on a hillside and say, 'maybe this could go here.' We'd let the dogs run wild and we'd talk big." Ground was broken eight months later for the first office building.
The Dcs1gn The Bissdls knew from their experience in operating the Four Star and Four Diamond Park Hotel in SouthPark that the growing corporate community would request- and support- a hotel for company guests and vendors. To satisfy the immediate need, they became a Marriott franchisee and built the Courtyard by Marriott at Ballantyne. Yet they wanted to create something more elegant. building upon the operaLions and hospitality talent abundant at the Park Hotel, as well as the management expertise of Wayne Shusko, now the managing director of Bissell Hotels. Corporate cliwts were asking for golf facilities, so Smoky started planning for a golf course. He did not hire a golf course architect, he explains, because he didn't want to build a corporate center around the to?ography needed for a golf >-
october 200 I 27
cours~-
- "'~nted to build a golf course
where l cruldn't build office buildings. " (And still hr beams, the par-71 daily-fcc cours~
Here'-; a quick look at some Ballantyne facts and figures : • Before any work was done on buildings, $48 million was spent on water, sewer, utilities and roads; $12 million came from the state, for construction of the relocated Highway 521. The Bissells invested the remaining $36 million needed. • The 525-acrc Ballantyne Corporate Park has room for 5 million square feet of office space in the park. • Residential housing in Ballantyne, developed by Crescent Resources, includes apartments, wwnhomes, condominiums, starter homes, mid-level housing and multi-roomed mansions. !lousing prices range from $100,000 up to $4 million. The coumry club's golf course was designed by Rees jones; its 40,000-square-foot clubhouse is built in the style of an old-fashioned hunting lodge. As pan of the complex, there arc five pools, six tennis courts, a fitness cemer and a 15,000square-foot family activity cemer that includes a 25-seat movie theater and a full-time d ircclOr. • There's about 130,000 square feet of retail space in Ballantyne Commons East. The nearby Stonecrest at Piper Glen shopping center offers 167,000 square feeL of retail space. • Construction of the Ballantyne Resort cost $4.1 million dollars. • The Golf Club at Ballamyne's clubhouse spans more than 32,000 square feel. • Ballantyne's YMCA branch will include 13,000 square feet of facility space, plus athletic fields and a water park (now open). When complete, this will be the largest YMCA facility in the harlottc area. Programs will include group exercise, aerobics, youth sports, after-school programs, swim classes, and summer camp. • The 17,000-squarc-foot Spa at Ballantyne Resort is schedu led to open in late spring, 2002. • The Lodge at Ballamyne Resort, a 35-room executive retreat next to the first fairway of the Ballantyne Resort golf course, is scheduled to open February, 2002. Its grounds will include outdoor tennis courts, a low-ropes team-building course, and busmcss center. Lodge guests will have access to the amenities at Ballantyne Resort. • The moniker "Ballantyne," named for Barbara Ballantyne, a beloved great-aunt of ara and Smoky Bissell, is trademarked to ensure control over how the Ballantyne name is used.
ConuibuLing writers: Bca Quirk ancl J(arcn Doyle --------------------------~
N"e~
w_s n:lmedthe "Best
ew Golf
Course ir N::rth Carolina for 1998" by North Ut'<.linJ magazine.) At fi-, t, the Bissells planned for a 13-sto·y
-~so·t
hotel , with 348 hotel
rooms. Tl'-::y Jllended tnvcl trade shows around tl ;: country, studied travel guides, and m:dt w:-rldwide "best practice " trips, visi ing the best hotels in several countries tc :letcrmine which features worked l::::st :lt which hotel, and why. The · r~l big hurdle they realized they fc.cci: XJrking. Fo .· 348 rooms, they •,voul=l 1 ccdtwo parking decks"whic h "'-L•LLLI have ruinedthc view of the he.~] from the st:cet," Smoky says. So l .e, scaled back the number of rooms wi hout scaling back the amenitie~ Tbc ballroom, for instance, was bu It '1s f it were
to
serve a 300-
roo m ho ~c l. "\Ve ;aned to make sure there was plenty ofn(c ting space," says Smoky." ! wanted lu be able
to
hold three wedding
recep . ion~
ar 2:00p.m. on a Saturday, and ha\·c thrlc separate emranccs so guests did1't run into each other."
The Dcta ]-; The Eissdls, along with special projects d rector Dave Conlan a nd his wife jane, tl•ok extensive notes from their" e-, pactices" trips. Sa ra remem-
Old Story.
Sty-I.e. It begins with our food.
Steak & Tomatoes
Joey D' Attorc·s
Spaghetti
c· lv:ratballs
01 0-!\:FIGHBORHOOD ITAliA'
28
october 200 I
greater charlotte biz
--
---.... -
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,_
Sara Bissell commissioned Vermont artist Tom Vieth to cr-i!cte oil pamt1ngs of local attractions including the sculpture of Queen Cha ·lotte, Freedom Park and the Mint Museum.
bers a trip out west to five U.S. resorts; while the men were surreptitiously taking photos or a pro shop's layout, or a resc•rt's parking spaces, "my job was to move the suitcases from one hotel to another," she laughs. On one trip, they visited 30 golf courses in five days. At night they would run to a nearby pharmacy, and have the photos developed in duplicate. Dave and Smoky would review the photos, explain why they were taken, and place them in a scrapbook. As a result of this mission, the Golf Club's cart storage was designed to f:t under the clubhouse, in order to save space. Smoky learned that a conferencesty];: amphi theatre wouldn't be practical: the fixed seating placement would not allow any flexibility for room usc. Sara lea1 ned that room schemes, or themes, could be more simply replicated by having fewer schemes per hotel. Whereas the Park Hotel has ten room schemes, for instance, additional storage is needed for ten different backup bedspreads, draperies and the like. The new Ballantyne Resort Hotel, in contrast, >-
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has only two roorn schzme!'i Fewer does ncr mean 1es; .mp:mmt, however; the BisS£1 s intendec to cre2.tc: a boutique hotel n•)ted ~o r i:o. _'i:-~e appointments. Can ~ ts 'NeT:: l;'.ndloo med in Englanc. Antique ·pjeces came from a flea rnrrke: in P3 ris ar:d several shops in th ~ English ccuntr~·s de. A majestic breakfrc r t in the ct>by on::::e resided in the offi::-:: of Prh.cE ::::ha:-les:" philanthropy. "Anytime we "MOul::l :ale a tri:J mywhere, we would ~.I-. op ." Sa.r3 ::xpl:J.ins, gesturing toward t-AO s.lk prints in the Magnolia Room tha _ migfna .ed in Singapore. Dave Conlan i.<ed tr,e Iuggag~ racks at the Orien 1al H xel i.J. Bangbk so much, he had r:1-:: m rnlica:ed for the Resort. Sara f:nored t:1e EuroJC<Ilstyle , two-tier batl- .raniti ~ s hat al..J-:>J for storage space '!'i.tho.It massi•;e
"fflo resistance pools -zve beer1 ir<5tallec. fc r 6ues s II" "JC woul ike to gE:t a wctery W':)ri<o t, >Wimm ing 1aps" A four-foot- lap pool arc:!. four4oot-d~ep V¥1- riJool s i11mer nEarby, separated frc the ethers by store p• ar• \/Vall fot.n ins ir> th' 'mpe cf ials' heKs help tc c rcu ate the V¥at• t
countertops. To perfect th:: t;ue~t roorr.s' la:10Jt, Smoky Bissell buil two 's::r:e•:' hotel rooms in the basen ~ nt of a "1t:arby office building. E·•~ r y detail v.as bui k-
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octobe r 200 I
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in-beds, telephones, electrical outlets-"down to where the towel holders were placed," Bissell says . They made notes on the rooms' comfort, then redesigned and rebuilt the two rooms. "lf we hadn't done that, we would never have had the product that we have here." The piece de resistance of the Resort is, in fact, a collection of pieces: oil paintings by Vermont artist Tom Vieth. A college roommate of Sara's -Vieth's aunt by marriage - had sent her a postcard featuring one of his works. The Bissells invited him to dinner, and asked him to provide one-of-a-kind artworks for the Resort Hotel. General manager Steve Brooks spent two days with Vieth, driving him around Charlotte, showing him some of the Queen City's highlights, including the Mint Museum, the statues at Trade and Tryon, and St. Mary's Chapel, formerly the Thompson Orphanage chapel. Vieth made watercolor sketches, then watercolor paintings so the Bissells could choose the portraits they liked. Vieth then painted the approved scenes in oil. "These are very much a signature of Ballantyne Resort ," says Brooks, noting that two guests already have asked how they could contact the artist for paintings. He's working on printing a self-guided tour booklet so guests can view all the artworks and understand their significance. The idea, Sara Bissell says, is to get visitors interested in all that Charlotte has to offer-to reinforce the notion of Charlotte , and, of course, the Ballantyne Resort Hotel, as a travel destination. "(The resort) is going to draw people to the city," Kirkland adds . "lt definitely is something that's a positive for Charlotte." The Bissells haven't yet learned of Kirkland's comment, but they've heard plenty of rave reviews from guests, visitors and meeting planners. Surely such feedback is music to their ears, sweetening the fruits of their 'labor of love. "' biz
Karen Doyle is a Charlotte-based freelance writer.
greater charlotte biz
Call Affi at 704-329-1777 Jr visit our webste al: acttonlinecm 2359 Perimeter Poi1t Farkway, Su te 125 Charlotte NC 28208
o.:: t o b e r- ~ 0 0 I 3 I
by ka ren doyle
From Vision to Reality Ballantyne Resort Opens in Grand Style "Welcome to the resort," Skip Harrison chirps as a couple approaches the doors to the new Ballantyne Resort Hotel. A dapper gentleman decked out in forest-green slacks and a taupe jacket with green accents, Harrison this morning is serving as greeter, doorman, bellhop ... and unofficial cheerleader. "I've been ecstatic about this place," Harrison continues, adding that he's only heard guests say positive things about
ensuring that a room wtll be ready for
is the pinnacle of hospitality in the Bissell Companies' properties. L 3P Associates
mspcction. llc opens the \vide double doors to one of two Prestdential Sunes A
created the architectural plans, and FN Thompson Construction brought them to life.
marble entranceway leads to chen"} ha 路elwood noors. To the right of the entrance is a service kitchen, comj:lete with mar-
Asked for quick tour, Steve Brooks, general manager of the hotel, grins
ble noors, granite coumenops, a dishwasher and refrigerator. To the left is a
broadly in agreement. "It's like someone saying 'show me pictures of your baby,"'
stately powder room \vith a Europeanstyle \'anity, a detail insisted upon b} :,:ua Bissell (see accompanying story). ln the lh1ng area of the 1,100-
he laughs, leading the way. just inside the front door, granite countertops line the check-in and concierge areas. On top of a massive, round mahogany table are national , local and financial newspapers, placed there for the convenience of business travelers, a handful of whom have retired to the
the hoteL "They're in awe of this place
lt's little wonder. Outside, guests
seating areas at the back of the lobby, next to a two-story palladian \vindow that O\'erlooks the 18th fairway of The Golf Club at Ballantyne Resort. A server
approach the seven-story hotel, soothed by the splashes of a grand fountain. They
at the Lobby Bar prepares a light lunch. The library, adjacent to the lobby, is
pass through the pone cochere entrance and into the spacious lobby adorned with rich mahogany accents, custom woodwork and lighting, and marble noors. They can't help but notice the commissioned artwork of Tom Vieth, depicting some of Charlotte's most renowned sights: the Mint Museum, Marshall Park, Queen Charlotte, and
decorated in rich colors of green, burgundy and gold. Mahogany paneling surrounds a limestone firep lace. At night, Brooks says, the lighting is kept to a minimum, so as to make the area even more inviting. By day, however, oversized \vindows allow for more beautiful views of the golf course, as well as the under-construction Lodge at Ballantyne Resort, a 35-room executive retreat scheduled to
from the moment they first pull up."
more. With 216 deluxe rooms and 20
greater charlotte biz
Brooks talks into his two-way radio,
suites- the maJority of which are nonsmoking- the Ballantyne Resort Hotel
open in February, 2002.
square-foot suite, three cl..1b chmrs and a sofa gather around an electric fireplace ln the dining area, a table for eight is s~t with clishware, glassware :mel silver. A guest room is part of the $l ,200-pernight accommodations, as IS a master suite that features an amique king-size bed and silk fabncs, and a marble batl:-room that includes a garden tub and a walk-in glass shower. "The rooms are designed to look 2s residemial as possible," B:ooks explams. "They certainly do not have a eookie-c_tttcr feel, and that's mostly due to Mrs. Bissell's touch." Wmdows stretch from the noor to the top of the ten-foot ceilings. A door out to the balcony allows guests to rclrx outside, overlooking the golf course. Cn a clear day, the Charlotte skyline ts visible just over the treetops. Guest rooms, in one of two color/dctai l schemes, range from $180 >-
october 200 I 33
ized
to $240 a night, depending on occupancy and the location of the room; rooms on the golf-course side command a higher rate. The most plentiful type of room is the "Standard King," which, like the suites , features a marble entryway, 10foot ceilings, crown moulding and luxury bedding. The king-sized bed is made in England, along with the rest of the furniture. Each room contains an electric safe, wide enough to hold a laptop computer. Work desks are elegant, with Absolute Black granite countertops. There are two telephones and two phone lines per room; one with high-speed Internet access, the other for standard dial-up or dialing out. Double doors lead to the bathroom , complete with heated mirrors, a walk-in marble shower, a hair dryer with retractable cord, and luxurious robes that can be purchased and taken home from the gift shop.
ebsi e
p errt Today! before October 3 Recei~te a FreeS
AccuPointe F'rofess o-al Ac::::ouni i n~
~ystems
"I think our guests know the difference, and they appreciate it." Steve Brooks, general manager The in-house pool and fitness center is similarly appointed with high-quality details. Two resistance pools have been installed for guests who would like to get a watery workout, swimming "laps. " A four-foot-deep pool and a four-foot-deep whirlpool shimmer nearby, separated from the others by stone pillars. Wall fountains in the shape of lions' heads help to circulate the water. Refreshments are available at the juice bar. The state-of-the-an fitness center, floored in composite rubber to absorb shock on the knees , includes cardio machines-step machines, bike machines and treadmills-as well as free weights and universal equipment. Each machine has a headset tuned to a wireless radio receiver, so each guest can listen to a
3-t
greater charlotte biz
:.alla,tyne Re~ort Marccge-e-.: Tu ,~,. LJ>. 5:1-a.., C:nnon,:::>wen Parker, MarE- "IIcE Phil ipp:; L-R: Ger.: f-C"V~rl., L nd:a. U:tk , 5::e~-= B -co~ (General '1anager), El iza=: ~ lmi1ister, 'i um:e.-.lgh;~.fir. 1\.ot Ficttr:d Scoa "-uss= L
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Jle, corr pri :;e s::mc 2C .GCO =·- ::;.: .<:e:t -, ;pace. E:lch h~ tuil· -i:l ~ -J ur-L. ~Ld decror ic:: rystem:>. ~crre '- ;r;re g~:..-:-Lc :X•T.n er··1p5 , for bu - ct foo.:: s:::rvi::c. S"';l<Jler lletting roc m:. a1c ~ ha
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~. ,_ c::ess;
Sir :::>r ni P.ecx::he::
Fo- ~kxe ::.i<c nini fuillers is c. ·eadn in the Cfur .::J~e lUXLl? h1mC:Jt::__cing -::Jarket;
L= ~css mar·.ed by c. gr::-J p o- dedicated £.:. ·icl-:tals m~•ie :lto ~"T
c 1stom
.1
s1cred lision.
hJT~s a1e
::l.X:: 2; :ally ch •SCI loot
.:eated i:J.
c·r , in::luding
~
F'eninsula 'I1E Po nlE., Ballmtyne, · :::::; Park, clSt:· ·er, L1orrocro , Piper •-- en ar_d Fox-:roL and n:!:.e::: ttr epitone
·i - __1 ty craUsm._11sh~ ::;_:,] de.;ign. 'Mnning h t:
H. ~
;_']Oard confirrrs
-cr i ; 35-mc:ulx:- tca..11 du it is, in fa:t,
.:n: J r 5 a cor:- :Jny tl at -ake:: good en I$ -:.:..i5~ i on o :leli\et 3Lpen:n quality ..:lEt:r tome..: :: JtSta:nd-ng CllStOiller ;JT~C and fc-gc -:-elatbrilips vith clients : :t"' l t11 trus .. T-::y rnve :~.rateglCally .:or: ir..ed bu~'•e:s pro'v\.tss wiL"l techn·Jl=-~. "JC()ple ard - rocc.sso that ~·rovidc .:::::n..:rne resuJs. _ lrca::l} l:rge :~mong r n.-r ~~ luxur; CJSto11e.-:- Juilders wit'1 L 3 ·, .Joes bLr .t c. 1d $38 aillicn in ·-·..e-:n~ in 2(1J0, SirrrmiJI con.t.inues l:• -::1Jl to n:::w ::.eigh s..
Lrr3d The·, lhique
~·::me
t.l:e na u-c :md :;.ze of iG
crr.pa1y, Sin: .. r <i dcvcl ::ped c. :our-man L<d:.t::hip tcan- Simoni..l i, p-esident ;c. -:.d :EO, Ki lu- exe:w:v~ vic presi~r <e.~
JO, Bil! .3:u.lt, ,r_ce p:-esicentlope-aand cor T·-~r. a..lc f'TI I- ·1ghes vic~
ti::r~
38
october 200 I
g-ea1er ::harlottE tiz
president, constructi : n - whic - SLJ:lJOrls
beca..1~ they are very clear about what
a team of specialists -~-at WJrk in uni: Jn
our co:npany is willing to do to achieve :ucces~," he says.
to serve clier:ts and g;ow the co::t:pm:J. Although Sioonini Euildef3 has evch. ~c from a family busine:c to inclLck :no-e practical "corporate" bu:iness prot..Jcc...,
the entreprer.eurial s:= iri . rcmair..o ~1t the center of its operatio:::. "What's impress··;e is their _bUi·y to create a cohesive :ompany cLLuc:," says Caldeirc.. "The k3cership te:c.m povides a unified front., ar.d as a Il:'3lU. their messag~s and pbr.s get dep· oycd
right down t:1rough the orgar.ization even to their trade prtners. A -r.anase· ment team really has :o be dcin6 thL.1.gs right in orde:- for tha : to uuly 1-.o:ppen.' The key, they irsist, is re51-ur. consistent, two-way conrrunic:r-on with employees. "Regular >taff c.nd ckparrrnent meetings ensure that enry perscn 1L the company ha: the information rec.e3Slry to assist every customer, if ne::d-::d," says Simonini. "T :-trough 1his C•)mmlJli.:<r:ior_, employees can feel confident wber ·1.ey talk with clients or pJtem·al cliEr.ts,
~hE
People Make The Difference
Tl::rough management's eyes , every :-im:::ni:J.i employee is an "owner" and each one is encouraged to share ideas, \Oicc cJinions and make their own deci9.on5. "The fo-Jr of us (leadership team) con t lnild the homes," reOects Saint. ,,n ·c.ct, we aiT here to support our team il. e:-eoting the game plan. Everyone \.le h.re wants to do a good job and is
e:xci:ed about what they're doing. " =n::leed, right from the beginning, says J:.:illiJ.n, they w::re commiued to finding,
!-iring and compensating the very best teop e ~hey could attain. "In our business \./e\-e got to have self-motivated, highlyeiTij:O'W~red people who have the initiative LJ d:> what needs to be done. " To find the r:gh . people to carry out its mission, job zppli::ams are 5ubjected to an exhaustive taue:y Jf tests and interviews before they <ITe irvi·ed to jJin Simonini. This process
ensures that they hire only those individuals who can succeed in a highly entrepreneurial environment.
vvhut's •mpressivc IS thel' ob111Ty ~o ' reate o cohesive coMpany culfLuc. Tre leodc'.:>t"' ~teaM orov ~es a .... fied front and a., a resL..,t, their messages onr1 pions ge+ dep1oyod ngrt dow throug'"' t...,e orga'"'zot1on even to t"'elr trade por+ners A Management ~eaM really '"'OS to be do ng +h1ngs nght 1n o•der for ~'"'at to truly hopoen' Edwora C :.1lde •a, d •ector of quality services at +he NAHB RP"or.rch Cen+er "Because we know the character and ability of each of our employees before they are hired, we know that, given the right "Simonini" information, they will run with it and do the best they can for us," says Killian. "There is no question that their decisions will be the right ones for the company, and the clients." >
****
Join four stars at the state's prem iere busi ness event - the 2001 North Carolina Business H all of Fame dinner on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the Adam's Mark H otel in Charlotte. For reservations or information, call 704-536-9668 or e-mail info@jacarolinas.org. We will recognize four new inductees (chckwise ftom top /eft)Edward E. Crutchfield, fo rmer chairman & ceo, First Union; C. Felix Harvey, chairman, H arvey Enterprises; W Duke Kimbrell, chairman & ceo, Parkdale M ills; and Dalton McMichael, former chairman, Mayo Yarns. Cosponsored by Juni or Achievemen t and NCCBI, the Business H all of Fam e Annual Di nner benefits Junior Achievement QA) - the only organization reaching public and private school students, fro m kindergarten to high school, with classroom instruction programs that result in better comprehension scores and improved critical th inking skills by simulating eve ryday business experiences.
]A - Achieving results. Building leaders. Challenging students.
BUSINESS HALL OF FAME Spo nsored by -
Junior Achievemenf ach ieving r e su lts. b ui ld ing le aders. www. jacarolinas.org
greater clarlotte biz
october 200 I 39
'Sill::mhi ro lly has one of the :;trccgest ct1qJ·rate cultures l've ever encc·un ered "S1;'S Heather McCune, ed i ·cr-il-c hi~f of
Professional Builder mag1z · oe and .:1 j Jdge for tr.e HQ Aw:ud pDgran .:l..s one of the judges, Mc •::. uo ~ nter>U:"'Ied several Simonini em::· C'l~ es chc se:-1 at random to rate
Ne ::_so _ncbde them in our "Jr::JC~sseo oc
compan es ·ha. ::x•:el in areas c·f service
.hat ·."'e ::m benefit ·rom thei- expertise:·
and quality, anc. have adaj:Led 3p.xif c methods t:J mal-e L"'IOrk for thell.
3ays Pl:C Hughes.. Most contrc;ctJrs c.re .vi.lli=g t:> adapt and change to nake ~hi ::--§.3 ·::-:tter. -::-h·Jse who reo:ist, ><rys Hug":::es don't usually last len?; or. a 3im·::"lirl project
the •. oruhuity <mong assoctates. The resuJts ~1nc;zec :1er. "'.-ve a~kx. tl-em all the same
3trc'"9;;1ic Plaming 'or CtA.!omer Satisfccticn
qu e~.i-•n s.
~o tJ:: concept of super or CJs.to-ner :;eni-.e :.irr.onin developed a b-uep ·i--u
and ,,·e got the same answers frorr e.rety 01( Jf them. They were conplc e y to~J- er on the company's
s
gui:.r rrinci"J e>, its mission and its goal:;. Th ~ :c rr_pany definitely takes a dif(e-cll ::~r preach to hiring- they hire only p-~Jple th.l -eflect the same value aligomcn. th1t txists in the Jrganization. The r ~-ucnss ~nc low turncver is proof of tl.a : Ever wi.h ·heir contractors, im"r ni fos·e·o a partnership culture tha. ero ures 3L perior quality products anc 3c-·.ri:es 1re provided by everyone whJ vx:·rks a n <: Simonini h·Jme. "We exp:c a lm b-en our contra.:tors, but
40
october 200 I
rn3.eac of simply giving lip ser\ice
:or i.)w :he? can ac:-tievc it, · nJ a specif:c 3.Cll::::t :;:.m to m::~ke sute it happens ·with ::act 3.n•i
e\er~
CllS orner.
::-h eir plans, adapted ard refined ..virJ- ~ach new p ·oject, were ce•e orei 3.fter ;uiyi::lg what oth.r ccrrparies. :1av~ :lore. led by the philcsophy that _her:: a:-~ no orig.nd ideas, Simcnini's :ontbU)oUS imprJv::menL effo-ts are Ja~c: -:
13:-gely on benchmarkirg 1gains.t fight compati s in other indust -i~s. Whi~e :ctending builder codere:1ces, Jres:dential semmars and bmchmar< :onf.;rer.:es., S1monini has s·n_siEd out ~or
IIU::IIeiSl
IUto-,u
lllllll
tO
se•v1ce ( Of""T an dS Ilk'=' tr.n Rt z and No•dstrom·s tJeccuc-E. the :s 1s the IE-ov:JI of service wt want tc rrain+dr for ( ... c..henh" soys .Ale Stmnnin oresKJer t a l C 0
1
For ios.tar.c~. inspired by the Ri·z Carlton HJtel :nain , Simonini adapt~d the idea o · eqLipp ng each em plo yee with a pocket-3.zed ' mission cJrd " on which i~ rrntec the comp:my's vision, mission snterrenl. nd list of c:ore values. "Each one d o1...r employees carries this card with them :tt alltimeo. It's. d::signc-d to keep ::>Lr p1irrities top of mind," sa iJ
Alan Simonini -lt also remind3 them 1at they are empo·s~red to do whuever th ~y feel is neceo:saf} to satisfy a client. "There is :1 lot to learr fro11 gre.u service companles lil~e the Ritz and Nordstrom's because theirs is L1e lev::! of service ""e -v; . TIL to mainain fe r our clients," sc.ys Sill041hi.
g·e3.ter c1arlctte Ji:o
Another strategy im·olves closely managing customer expectations through the use of se\·eraltools including PowerPoint presentations for client meetings and a homeowner manual to help customers better understand the building process. "The most important thing we can do for our customers is help set the expectations as to what will be included in their home, implify the construction process for them and anticipate any needs they may have down the road," ays aint. 11 ""' rnp rtant t"""'"g we can do fo· ;:JUr c,us..ome•s f"\ulp ~et the expectatiG""''S :1~ to w at w1ll b~ ~clud d r th 'lr t1or>~ s,.,. pl1fy tt 6 c,onstruct on proc E. ss th a d mt pate any n Js they .,. ay tlovc down t l r ad soy~ 111 Sa "lt. v c pres1 de t/op rat1 ..,c; and con rc
When customer survey results revealed that some customers were disappointed because they weren't always sure of what they were getting in their new homes, Simonini developed a "Homeowners Companion Manual'', a 250-page book that describes each phase of the construction process, as well as color photographs of all the matetials and amenities the homeowner chose for the home. "These photos help set the proper expectation for the client right from the beginning," explains Hughes. "This way if they change their minds, or the photos reveal something different then they had in mind , we can make the change before we install- saving time, money and eliminating any potential disappointment for the client. " Computer technology has also helped Simonini in keeping clients in the loop during critical points in time. Its Web site has been designed so that customers can go online to check the status of their project at any given time. Other computer programs were designed to make sure customers receive the appropriate attention throughout the building process. For example, beyond the pre- >-
greater charlotte biz
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~ octob2r 20( I 41
constructim- me:eti:---9, each::: ient is contacteJ in some bsh :m- b> -xrscnal rr.feting. plune call or leue-- a -ninirr.um of se> er rme!' :It spec£i::: int.:rvals d·Jling t:te ~·roc·~ss ~-L the app-op'iat.c tille, the ce>-npmy~ -n-hous~ database sy~ :em ui~rs :m ~ectronic 'tJ-d_;" list to _h:: per,on re:;pox;ible fa _he contKL. On a t=:ersc·nal nct.e, Al:u: s •oonini ca -=.s each CJSLcme _ at leas: fi'le tLnes th~::mghout the pr::•=ess - t.bte t.hles dt.I:'ing const.ru.:tio::J a1.d t1..-i•::: after .he hcneownE ·s h.Jve moved n
··we +rsot :u errployees 1he WOy
\'1.8 went t er- ::> rE-St•ect •,s as co wcl'ker>.' soy~ AJ:.:m Sirnon m ~and '.\'e deal '-''itt' ~lients m :J rrcnner tra ret E'Cts how we v.. JJid war+ tr:.. b_· t eatcd if 'Ne w3·e ~virc IIA hcu~e oJrselve~ "~omeunes cLs:mn.et' won't · : II ·;o·.l i- the res a proJ : ~r o- :oJ.cer- unless )-OU ask tiem ::Y...tr g1t.." For cl ents wile ar.: mo~ c::unf::: I table sh rin3 the-r t.l- •)uglus in '"ri-ing. h:c says, -.1e •:o:n-
One Stop For All Your Insurance Needs!
We Care About Protecting And Sening You.
Kna rr
I"JSURANCE
1610 Eas: M:::>rehead St. P.O . Box :_:,3789 Chariot~ . NC 28233 phor.:: : 7C•4.375.8JOO fc:.x: 704.334 6~26
42
o:-::oter 2)0 I
pany also mails out survey postcards three times during the construction and after each warranty service. Results prove that Simonini's customer service action plans are making the grade. ln post-closing surveys conducted by an independent. research firm, Simonini has received a 100% "willing to refer" rating- its gauge of overall customer satisfaction - for the past four years.
Embracing the Golden Rule Applying the "Golden Ru le" to customer satisfaction and employee relations is the ultimate tried and true method Simonini Builders credits as the cornerstone to their success. "We treat our employees the way we want. them to respect us as co-workers," says Alan Simonini, "and we deal with clients in a manner that reflects how we would want to be treated if we were buying the house ourselves." "Simonini emp loys a strategy that really makes customer satisfaction pay," notes Ca ldeira. "They are unique in the way they even use their warranty periods to improve levels of customer satisfaction. Simonini is responsive and takes responsibility. In doing so, they move clients from being 'happy' to being 'thrilled. ' Thrilled clients are much more productive referral sources. " Even today, with the industry's highest honor under its belt, Simonini Builders takes no time to rest on its laurels. "Simonini never misses an opportunity to be better," observed McCune. "They have systems in place to measure every area of performance and they act on the feedback and information they receive - then they measure their actions to see if its made a difference. That.s how you stay world-class. They work at it. on a daily basis." Indeed, Alan Simonini believes there is 'no finish line to quality ' "The line just gets pushed further back and you have to run harder to get to it. There are always going to be ways to improve. If there is a better solution, we'll find it." biz
Lynda A Stadler is a Charlotte-based freelance writer: greater charlotte biz
xpress y:Jurse1f wth cur inDT,ensive, custom Th;:y are a
holida~:
memora~e
carjs.
,.,·cy -:::)
e>- :•ress your fcn .j v;ishes tc ""rie1ds
an.::; ::Jusiness associa_es
J
• Ca I I
WE
at 704.523.5
goal in buying Westport Marina. Now, G~g.
Brett, Gary, Terri and their helper
little George, are each using their ditferet1t talents to make West11ort Mc:rina into the successful busiless ioned .
.. 4
C路 c to
be r 2 0 0 I
by john r=hkop
greater ::hc.rlotte b z
october 200 I 45
V\.c;stport wou:d b ~ a great fi1 'or our ~s an::l tLsine~s plan. "
A Family Affa" 'l wcul:lnt tu •.:
IT..1d~
L"l£
d~ci3bn
i · t~ busn~~ 'J.err:n't goi 1g to ii'JOIJ~ m) fanil~. I::U:y were r:aHy the ClEo vhc i:"~.igatec. LL.S \\i ulc t.b-.g,' 3ir:l.its r'.<rt "vve just Je§;<.n :a.k-'::- g ::tt 1 c.c·np e of fan ·ly ,:;aher_ngs a·::)(~ t starting a tu8.1css ..c ~<: I nti c; re:l.sor: t: :nove lBck fron:_ t!J.la l.ta and c[er 31"::: L a:t e;:-po-ice off :.1:1, a carce: ::>pt.ion J::.3. v,as a liu e :xkr. Eve· yt.h.ngjLst fell mL• ph..:c:." Appo:rirru:;l:> L _- ye:~r~. :itcr k h -{I:' eft ·1-_.:; l::usin~s3 \..Or d , Har., b..s ·v•• ~::>-s, ::;~and B-eu
'After ~aL<ing to diffEreT peot=le c.rd re:SUJ.rc::ing the industry,
.o sL!l a ne·,.· con;:c.rr:'
w:. bund -Ne~tpon had a great reputOO.Jn ·:m. ·..-as a well-kept
sec-ct. We beieved that . a ·r ~- making S•Jme im ;= rove-nents and w::··'<ing C•:J. a ma::-ke·ing par, we cou.d take v.'cstpon lv1.arir:a tc the nel<· k ...el. ' Encouras,::d by thei- .w,estigation, :he Ha<- family agreed tc acquire V\.estpon Mar ::1a from jim Ledford cc.rly last year an::i have been. gcing fun t:ll"ottle ever s_nce.
at::l his ±uEbter.
Terr , started :-Ia t \w ure~ , Inc. \Vit:1 H: d: b_ckgmund in nar.zeting, G-c:ga..1 c ::Ern'~ ~ -c:z ~rise i:1. fina:l: _ and ~ccounti:Jg,
Getting Startd
md Brett"s ~~er•::e nth sa'"l-icc. anc or:T.J:i::>LS, t:Le :-tans b ~ licved thl"y ha.::l ;: ~ c i:l ra...dcJS. New .1 "';as j JSt a ::-natter
on t1.e conce;x: of a ooe-stJp shop for b•:Jatir:g or. Lake Norman.
c•f fitding the "ight ::rp : <JCJrfl}
The busirrss pla• tr e "-!arts crea~d foT · e :r.arinc. was based I1e:; decic.ec. ~he ke} ingr-rlicnt in bui c.iirg io<~- terrn re ationslrJS with CL9:orr.ers was tJ c•ffer everr pas8Jle convenimce l.l.e b•x.ting en~hrx;iast may c.esi.re and integ-ate · ho~ servX::es into
a
\ 'Cj custo~r-friend ly
a.rrcsphc.re. Westport is cne of tk ~ marinc.s on
w
bke tl.at offers
a Eu I ran~ o: servics frorr l.ew and Lsecl bc•a. rentals and ~ales tc· ·ull-servi.ce dry storag: ::tt::i safety clcsse3 v.1: st oft~ marinas fcc..tS on one <..spect of tr.e J J3iness, wh le West.t=ort erco:npasses tl-.e .otal pack:lge "From th~ m .nute s::•"Ucone pulls t.beir oa up
LJ
tl.e deck,
thC) receive up-not•: h c:t•J:ner ser·Ji:::c fro-n tr e errployees W;: take care .Jf everyth - g-all the ::u~tom ~ t ~eds to do is tuT the hy:" explains O{lClations Lllil"l'-g~ r B-eL. "Vve truly offer end-to-end
~e:rvice. "
Afte t cuL n.:; ±.:;:. .zeit r a hoTe · ilprr:r;er:~.~c andre:-.. estate ende~vc ro, ±~ Ean f:rri::' b~gar -u.-cbng ·o- a 'Jentue uat was geared lT.oJr-:. tC'7'8:d FT"O"l.J hllere=L5. ' 'vole alv.~ ys said .xt i' we ~ould f ::-.d a :J"k'lr.J:C fc•I salE , ve'd ::~:tl :-t.r ta.ze a ~ook Sn;::t: ·.ve av ~ ben b::acs b 1 nany "JClr~ ·· Han o::Xc ns. Whi e s::::::c.:in;:; m rcpe::"£Ur.alli·el"3..:ure and ::msness fo r s:Jc a.ds Han f:.urd t l.:C ::.' ~-n:::nc. il. illz rou.;J- < rrt.ui::-.3. for sak •:::r:. Late onm.n "At the t 111c -~,e :;~i:mut,.d c.L o( the ·.rnncia T _·::w::J.atio:::, di...ln't even h.n.::r.•, ,\.h -:h nr:na was ·c:- :ak"
di~closes
Han. ':Jt
:Jfter recch~ fba1.::.a apJr n md .m::-i - g J· c hcil:ty, we ~n~.v
46
oct-::Je - 2001
~
-ec.re- chc.rlotte biz
Ha-ts \".c:wed =; c:irt::ai =uc~- the_- 33j ki org3de the ::Lrent faciliu n:l. i-rL::J:cYe i:ernd efhc- cy. Shc•rt y .=·:.- r ir - ng .h:o deal •Jn tre n::uiru, cor st-uc_ion J::::sc.r •)"1 _w·~· rew ::i-1 ;LO--
to
oo·
age: U1itE ::md :t u.:w 6.XlCt-31uacstat£- )f-the-c.n _;;:-.-c~ hc:~n:y des p-2d to be the ::r.asl
crr.t::allyadvan:2:1 ::r:-_
the la..-<e. &eL, the Gl an}
~o~
;-
-c.rrjl}
::nemb::~
mar...na Jilai"Egcm:'nt
ence, be£·ves :he
~},.;:.ha-- t
.vinter.
NLI
e:o~r.
~- ccr:.sTucLor
h.o.s
gre3tly ::nbnc::i ::fic:.::n: ;. "The '""' ser.ric e · :1 st - :12e f:.cilities have aJmJe::i
~pproxi~lf ~t
::<e ability to store
oOO boats in dry storage
any :i T.£ "svs 1rett.
-::-he =-l •G ere convinced their own ong-ti<e:-:::a::: on for boating has put .hem in to _c\ viti-. the needs of Lake 'lor::1ar:'s ':o:d1g public. Brett main_ains, "Fro.: le ~'P out on the lake to ha•·::: -un. A lo ~ d -hem are looking for a mar~ 1a tl:at car
ct: i: all, where they can jt:sc
?ick up th ~ te-a: at the dock and retur::. t to tre cc :1< nd let us do the rest."
The Ke! tr. Sm::ess
b:::B:s hom
w·.,_ le: ""':V~.:.tport Marina's dedicatio:-.
3C TILn·.xo:s c~rrr:)'cnc.~dy nve t l•) m inu .~ sni - i; a .¥1n-.vin fo : ever;:>re in·.r:Jbed Tre cnccc.las time .-2-<e_, u= mc.-e ec cient pTDi:Jes fus .er ;e-.,-j : e ··or om cJsumer~ n:l. -1.clp~ •:::Ur se-"'kc tee lric=s Jc..:. oo J :::o=_issicr bc.s s ma..-<e: CFJ ~e :n::ner E'r..::Jr ~.: havi'S till: nevl; ::c•ns:x•:ted :·c:c.htie:;, the 3er..r:c~ tee <ricc.ns :.,_::::. been "?a-_dmg t.-c h:: u::-;. a cby \'ic.i.ting J ::-r j--e bJ ~ to re<- h t.l::.:: se:-.rice :1:2a. 1 :n: ..-:::;a b_ )f ::lc \.Ill line in --vhc:- they"·ere1': ?,e ~ng pad.' ct =·nb ,- -he HJ - ts imr·~ .re: dfi.:icr.u \\ith t1-e strne~:: proxi-rut~ of thE :1cw 5lc~gc ::~-.C: sc:f\- ce a-ea;, - '~ ha"e ::lise· crea::d an a.:!d:tional re.1~r:ue sman V"itr. th:: cl} otuc:g ur_it; v.hich OJ:E.r<t:e 't G'.p:cil~:· :::U.-irs the w_nt~r moon; ":yfar:-- c·f d-e pe:.:de -vl:.o -JU}'
.o serv.ce <- d3 i.t Jilding satisfied lon~ _erm cu.;t:xLE:I; :.:1:: overall success or
us o <:T laE Lnc x
~-:::rndng
grea-:er ch.:! - lo-::E b
~
-ailure d ::-e 1:-Lsin~ss still rests on the ;ales sa '-h ct ac:oums for approxillately cviC-th·:-:ls of total revenue.
Har: :lOm:c
ncome wave
~=kJ;JoW· Iedges
~c~cl.::-FTI p_-:~c:uses
R:m-e~~
the recent ecc-
has hurt disposable such as boats and
"Revenues in 2000
.vere fla. t-.ov-t.vet, this year we've se:.-r. ~
2C
pc~t
b2rease in new boat sales
..vhile irdutr;-'V.i ce revenues are dov:n lppw>-inctd} 20 ercent. o it is lCtual!y a 10
~c:rcem
spread. "
Afler 5f•e~:ing the majority of his _ime lro· ~r r :':::cused on fostering relo_ionships tit-l. boat manufacturers anc
::>Verseei::-•.~ le •arious phases of con;tructic·r., Han !-.as redirected his efforts
>C•CtO:JE f
20:::
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How many te:hs does ·t take to screw in a light bu b? The same nu11 t er it ;hculd :akE :o handle your busin2ss'~ IT i ;~ u~ ; . Nn neEd tc call one company fu r hcd ware ~rob .E m ;. another fo· you rHYVcrk arrJ a tli rd for software suppc·i. 1:all =1foYisic·r . We have the techrica _2:q.:rtisE, the sta-9' and the resources to h31jle 3ll you r =T ne~ds . Our custome s ap~r=.:i ate hcvinj a s rgle point of resollJI.iJn . A1 : that's y, h~ they stay wi:h us. Call tocay for a freE :orsult3tion.
Microsoft"
~
CERTIFIE :•
i n f o vi s i o n"
Partner
AMITY ROA ) #2'00 CHALOTTE, NC 28211-2835 ]:•. 7C4.3f5.::JCO'; f. 704.365 ::>4;.]
723
~OUTI- SH~ON
•.\W..t. =nfov.co:n
48
cctober 20) I
toward the sales and marketing end of the business. He has hired three additional sales representatives and a new marketing director to help raise awareness and increase exposure. "Since we are located on the southwest end, we need give people a reason to come over to this side of the lake," according to Hart. Marketing director, Heather Cleevely, is hoping to increase visibility and traffic through involvement in local boat shows, direct mail campaigns and a company newsletter. In addition, Cleevely plans to incorporate signage tied into their new tagline , 'We Sell Fun.' "We need to enhance our image , especially from the lake view. We want to communicate a cohesive message and look in our marketing efforts," Cleevely points out . Although revenue suffered in 2000, the time Han spent building relationships is starting to pay dividends. Hart recently added two high-quality manufacturers , Supra and Monterey, to Westport Marina's already impressive list of names including Yamaha, Crest and Mariah. Crest Pontoons is still the top selling model , but the higher price point fiberglass lines have increased 205 percent in sales over last year. "We are always looking to offer customers more options , but we are selective about who we work with. We want to sell quality in everything we offer," explains Han.
A Unique Philosophy While many business owners steer clear of hiring relatives due to the potential con!licts and pitfalls, Hart views nepotism as advantageous in terms of opening the lines of communication and enhancing overall efficiency. Holding true to this credo, Han has hired a number of relatives, including spouses, cousins and even children, of current employees. When asked what lead to this philosophy, Han recounts a chance meeting between an old partner of his and an executive from Saturn. "My old insurance partner was discussing how we didn't hire any family members in our office , when the executive from Saturn said they were doing just the opposite. The first people they
greater charlotte biz
hire are relauves of employees, the second are friends of employees and the third are friends of relatives of employees. The Saturn executive pointed out that if you're working on the line with someon~ you know who is not pulling their weight, they're going to hear about it. He believed that internal pressure was an important motivating .factor. After carefully considering the idea, l began to think that philosophy would work ·.vel! here. And so far, it has." Han alsc discounts any sibling rivalry issueo amongst his own family stating, "Every family member invo lved has an area cf expertise that is unique and crucial w our success. More importantly, everyc•ne understands that and allows each other to do what they do best." Expanding for the Future Han inte1ds to utilize as much of the 20 acres of land he owns around the marina to reach his goal of turning Westport intc the best faci lity on the lake. However, he concedes, whi le he is always evaluating new growth opportunities, daughter Terri, his accountant, keeps him on a strict budget. The Hans aren't looking to grow just for the sake of growth. It's a case of determin ing if it makes strategic sense and whether ' r not growth will help them become a more upscale, efficient or service-dri'len marina. The next phase of development will include a l arg~ showroom and attached storage area facing nearby Highway 16, with future plans to build additional dry storage units and revamp the lake front area. As for Han's plans, he jokingly discloses his des re to lower his golf handicap to a single-digit. But at the same time he appears to be very content building Westport into a firs t-class marina, and why shouldn't he be7 He's running a successful buo.iness in an industry he loves and is surrounded by his family every day. Isn'tthat almost eve1y father's dream7 bi~
John Rehkop is a Charlotte-based freelance writer. greater charlotte biz
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Sedona Staffing Services octot:er 200 I 49
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Take advantage of these produas and services from Charlotte's leading business-to-business suppliers. accounting services
joey D'Attore's Old Neighborhood Italian human resources
Accupointe Professional Accounting Systems www.accupointe.com
pg. 34
Blair, Bohle & Whitsitt, P.L.l.C. www.bbwpllc. com architectural design firms
pg. 21
Perkins & Will www.perki nswill.com autos transportation
pg. 31
I
I
Carolina Volkswagen www.carolina vw.net displays presentations
I
pg. 22 promotions
AdCentive Promotions 704 .541.788 9
pg. 8
G. Michael's www.gmicha e ls.com
pg.28
RHI Consulting www.r hic.com
pg.41
Sedona Staffing Services www.sedo nagroup.com
pg. 49
The Transition Team www.tttsolutions.com insurance
pg. 49
Knauff Insurance www.knauffi ns.com it internet services
pg.42
I
pg. 51
Advanced Computer Technology Training www.actton lin e.com
pg. 31
lnfovision www.in fov.com
pg.48
Internetwork Engineering www.ineteng.com
junior Achievement www.jacarolinas.org
pg. 39
McColl School of Business at Queens College www.m cco llschool.e du financial services banking
pg. 21
I
SouthTrust Bank www.southtrus t. com financial services
I
pg. 5 investments
Staton Financial Advisors, L.L.C. www.billstaton .com pg. 27 health care
Powerhouse Color www.rea lpages .com / powerhouse R. l. Bryan Company www.rlbryan .com real estate Mint lake Villa!l:e www.m intlakev11lage.com Prudential Carolinas Realty www.p rudentia lcharlotte.com recreation entertainment Regent Park Golf Club www. regentparkgc.com
Dun hill Hotel www.dunh illhotel. com
PC On Call www.pconcall.com WebServe www.we bserve. net jewelry
pg.41
AllTEl www.a lltel.com
pg. 34
Diamonds Direct USA, Inc.
pg.30 pg. 1
pg.6
pg. 17
IBC
iReadyWorld www.i readywo rl d.com Saturn Communications www.saturn-commun ications.com
IFC pg. 12
BC
Poyner & Spruill, l.l.P. www.poy nerspruill.com
pg. 13
pg.35
Womble Carlyle www.wcsr.com
pg. 23
pg. 47
pg. 40
I
Dunn Enterprises/ Sandier Sales Institute www.dunn .sandler.com telecommunications
pg. 13
pg. 2
pg.43
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre www.sfx.com sales training contact management
pg.29
office equipment
Presbyterian Cardiovascular Institute www.presbyteria n.org hospitality
pg.9
I
legal services
Montag Management Corporation www.mon tagmanagement.com
design
I
pg. 48
Sharpe Images www.sharpeimages.com education
I
plastic products
Ehren-Haus Industries, Inc. www.e hren haus.com printing pre-press
IKON Office Solutions www.ikon.com office furniture
pg.35
Tech line www.workspacespecial ists .com
Immediate- Wanted for Lease or Sublease Looking immediately for fl ex o r office space for lease o r sublease. Mini mum 1,000 sq . ft. ; maximum 1,500 sq. ft. Unde r $14.00/ sq. ft. Convenie nt location to center city and South Park. Please ca ll j ohn at 704-676-5850 x102.
pg. 12
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Welcome
[MAGES
promotions of Linda Coburn to Sen1or Functional Special ;t and Brad Jones
Elizabeth H. Jones. D.V.M., M.PA,
to Techn1cal Speoalist.
of Lenior, N.C .. has been selected as one of
The McColl School of Business at Queens College has recently hired Ann
the 2002 Top Ten Bus1ness Women, an annual
a:>S~stan1
director of the McColl Exe<
MBA to recrurt: senior managers for
award given by the American Business
Temple as
Women's Associat1on (ABWA). A 60,000
their two-year executive program. Temple. a Charlotte native, has a A.B. from Duke
member strong association, ABWA has
University and a Master's in 1ntematlonal business from the Fletcher School of Law and
11/VE
I,200 chapters and networks nationwide,
Diplomacy Her ten years at the Bank of Boston combined with a strong knowledge of
and prov1des business training and networking
Charlotte's business environment will help her 1dent1fy high potential candidates suited to
opportunities for working women of diverse occupations and backgrounds.
the program's unique design. Temple will draw from her extensive international experiElizabeth Jones
ence, including work with a law finm 1n Ta1pe1, Taiwan, the Charlotte World Affa1rs Council.
The winners in this year's Top Ten Awards were selected for their many career and
and the Office of lntemat1onal Studies at Charlotte Country Day School, while plann1ng
philanthropic achievements, as well as their ability to demonstrate how their involvement
the program's summer international study trips
in the Association has contributed directly to their significant career achievement
to Asia and Europe. The McColl school has been voted Best MBA
As a member of ABWA since 1993, Jones has served most recently as Recording
1n
Charlotte.
Janice M. Smith has been named Bane
Secretary of the ABWA Caldwell Charter in Lenior. In addition, Jones served as vice
of America Securities LLC pnnopal and
president of her chapter from 1999 to 2000. In 1998, she received her Masters of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, and she cunrently
head of Conduit Operationâ&#x20AC;˘ for the company's
works extensively with March of Dimes.
Commercial Mortgage Backed Secunties (CMBS)
Kimberly Kinney, President and CEO ofThe Chronic Fatigue and Immune
Capital Markets group. Smith will report to
Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) Association of America. has been named one of the winners of Redboo~ Magaz,ne's fourth annual Mothers and Shakers awards.This year's awards honor women who have made a difference in hea~h care. Kenney is being
Rochelle Dobbs. head of CMBS Capital Markets. Ann Temp le
and will be based in Charlotte.
Sm1th most recently served as head of CMBS servicing for
JP
Morgan Chase
in New York where she developed and trained that institution's fwst CMBS serviC-
honored for her work on behalf of persons with CFIDS. Kenney has led efforts to secure a dedicated and effective response from the
ing unit, wh1ch now services a $1 0.7 billion portfol1o. Pnor to JOining The Chase
federal government to CFIDS, and played a key role in bringing the m1suse of CFIDS
Manhattan Bank in 1994, she was sen1or v1ce pres1dent 1n charge of Operat1ons
research money by the Centers for D1sease
for David Cronhe1m Mortgage Corp. in Chatham, New Jersey, where she created
Control and Prevent1on to l1ght, which
and managed a commercial loan closing and servicing group for a portfol1o of
resulted 1n a public apology to the patient
nearly $1 b1llion for 16 institutional mvestors.
community and restoration of $12.9 million
She is member of the board of directors of the National Multifamily Hous1ng
1n m1sspent funds. She has also initiated
Counsel and serves on the commercial board of governors of the Mortgage Bankers
research, education, and public relation pro-
Associat1on (MBA), where she is a past two-time chair of the Commercial Asset
grams that have helped raise the profile of
Administration Committee. She has spoken extensively at Commerc1al Serviong
CIDS as a serious medical condition.
and Commercial MBA conferences. and is a member of the Commemal Mortgage Servicing Association's (CMSA) Post-Securitization Committee and Watchlist
A graduate of the University of
Committees. She served as MBA lia1son on the CMSA comm1ttee to standardize
North Carol1na at Chapel Hill and a native of upstate New York. Kenney has served as
Kimbe rly Kinney
the defin1t1on of NOI, which was adopted by the Industry in 1999. and most recently
Pres1dent and CEO of the CFIDS Association for the past I0 years. She lives in
co-chawed the MBA committee to standardize the commercial property inspection
Charlotte w1th her two children.
form which was adopted by the MBA in 2000 and CMSA 1n 200 I. Smith rece1ved
LendingTree,lnc., a leading lending exchange and technology provider, announced
a bachelor or arts degree from Seton Hall University 1n South Orange, New Jersey.
Doug Smith has been elected
that the board of directors has promoted Chief Operating Officer Tom Reddin to Pres1dent and Ch1ef Operat1ng Officer Reddin, 40. JOined the Company 1n December
VICe pt<. olden+ at First Citizens Bank In
of 1999 as Chief Marketing Officer, and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in
Charlotte, where he IS a commemal banker
May, 2000. Before Reddin jo1ned LendingTree. he worked for Coca-Cola USA as Vice
based in the office located at 128 S. Tryon St. Smith received his bachelor's degree from
President, Consumer Marketing, where he was responsible for the overall management of the Coca-Cola brand strategy and initiat1ves. Dunng his career at Coca-Cola USA
Demson Un1verslty ( 1991) and his master's
he also led the bus1ness units for several brands portfolios including Powerade, Fruitopia,
degree from Capital University ( 1998). He IS a
Nestea, and M1nute Made ju1ces. Mr. Reddin was also instrumental 1n the product
board member of the Charlotte Chapter for
development and business strategy that led to Cola-Cola USA's decision to enter
the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and a volunteer wrt:h Big Brothers Big Sisters of
the bottled water market.
The Revere Group, a bus1ness and technology consultancy company, announced
52
octo be r 20 0 I
Doug Smith
Amenca in Charlotte.
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