Greater Charlotte Biz 2003.06 by CLT.biz & Charlotte Biz & Greater Charlotte Biz

A A WElC M TO THE NEIGHBOR.H

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VI S I 0 N

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M P R 0 M l S E D In a world of com promi se, a world merely adequate, thue are still a

few individuals who steadfastl y refuse to compromise. Who ,s st upon excellence and accept nothin g less. Those individuals will be at home at Lc ngview. Longview is a private, gated r ~ s idential community h the -ooth Charlotte area featurin g a private n.embers club showcasi ng an elegant and spacious Tudor-style clubhouse, a su perb Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Co e and a private Activities Center with te,nis, fitness and pocls . We invite yo ur inquiry.

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member co-n::>r e,, :artn=rong .,Ito bus1nesses t::

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cliaflotte

[publisher's post l WI

June 2003 Volume 4 â&#x20AC;˘ Iss ue 6

Appreciating Our Rich Sports Culture Springtime brings to the fore the rich diversity of professional level sports we have access to here in Charlotte. For a city with just over a two and one-half million in our metropolitan

Publisher

population, Charlot:e is robust with professional and minor

John Paul Galles

league sports teams and more than respectable in its offer-

jgalles@greatercharlottebiz.com

Associ a te Publisher/Editor Mary I A. Lane maryl.a.lane@greatercharlottebiz.com

Creative Direct or/Asst. Editor Brandon J. Pham bpham@greatercharlottebiz.com

Account Executive Kristen A. Cayes kcayes@greatercharlotteb iz.com Emily G. Lundell elundell@greatercharlottebiz.com Brian K. Williams bwilliams@greatercharlottebiz.com

ings of professional sporting events. For many years now, Charlotte has been privileged to host The Winston and th-= Coca-Cola 600. NASCAR races and teams have made the Cha rlotte region their unofficial headquarters. The success of NASCAR rac ing has propelled the growth of many ancillary businesses in the Charlotte area. Bruton Smith and Humpy Wheeler have built a racing venue that is fan friendly and will continue to grow over time. Charlotte has very competitive teams in traditional sports. Most notably, the NFL Panthers help makE Charlotte a top tier city for pro sports. Its private group of ownersfrom Charlotte's community leaders- fought hard for the franchise and privately financed the building of Ericcson Stadium. Credit also is to be given to the backers of the Charlotte Checkers, our ECHL hockey team, and the Charlotte Knights, our minor league baseball team. And this year we added the Charlotte Cobras, our newest sports team, in arena football.

Business Development Bill Lee blee@greatercharlottebiz.com

Cont ributing Writers Susanne Deitzel Heather Head Casey Jacobus Mary Marshall

Cont r ibuting Photographer Wayne Morris

And then there is our Bob Johnson NBA team-to-be- the replacement for the Charlotte Hornets. There has been a groundswell of enthusiasm for the new team. Bob Johnson's outreach to Charlotte demonstrates his commitment to the success of the new team. It is no wonder that the city would reverse its tracks and build a new arena based on the goodwill displayed by the new owner. Charlotte is once again the annual host of a PGA Tour golfing event, since losing the Kemper in 1979. The Wachovia Championship was an outstanding inaugural event. In the heart of the Carolinas, where golf can be played at least ten months out of a year, it was a brilliant conquest for Johnny Harris and the Wachovia leadership to bring the PGA tour back to Charlotte. The accolades by players, fans, media and tournament officials

Greater Charlotte Biz is published 12 times per year by: Galles Communications Group, Inc. 560 I 77 Center Drive, Suite 250 Charlotte, NC 282 17-0735 www.greatercharlottebiz.com 704.676.5850 Phone 704.676.5853 Fax

were incredib ly strong and positive. It was a fitting inauguration for a new tournament and the new identity for the merged bank at the same time. Charlotte fans c.re quick to vo ice their disapproval of teams. Where else has a city determinedly lost a basketball franchise by overwhelmingly refusing to build an arena, only to successfully bid for a new franchise the following year and volunteer to build a new arena? At the same time, fans need to be supportive, especially when our events are

Press releases and other news-related information , please fax to the attention of "Editor" or e-mail: editor@greatercharlottebiz.com

being challenged to move elsewhere. While it is likely that a new sponsor will be a major determining factor in the future ofThe Winston, fan support over the years should also be a critical factor in keeping it here in Charlotte.

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 ÂŠ 2003 , 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 co mpanies. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of Greater

Our top-drawer sporting events improve the recognition of our city and expand the identity of Charlotte not just in the nation, but to the world. Sports participation and sporting events dra11atically affect our local economy. It is important not to take for granted our sports teams and the industries that support them and to realize that these sporting events are not guaranteed to remain in Charlotte. The very diversity of our sport teams and events attract different people. Different people view Charlotte from many d ifferent perspectives. It is that diversity that breeds new opportunities fJr entrepreneurship, competition and creativity within our marketplace.

Charlotte Biz or Galles Communications Group. Inc.

june

2003

greater charlotte b i z

TREL L IS TEACR

ESTATE

P LA _

•

Your

su ·:·: e~s

: ::.ok il. l fetime t::> build. _ ow com"s

the C.ifficu.: part. :Aak- r:5 it )c_s t another lifetim., . Or

lo:-~ger. It '~ :::=>s~ ibJ.,

... ith Wachovia Wealth

Manag=enl . Fe- r...early 2CO years, successfu l

h .~ <-c:-

indi .. idLEIE an ::. tboi r fu:uLes have turned to us to

n : n ~ t.orin~ c. nd fceq ..>ent c_ :lj Jttr:ter: tc· best re::::lect

is :xer e--oh i n g. I : regu::res constant

help them pr~e :-.~. nn.s f!: r ;:~nd distribute the: r wealtl-_

0Lr f ir.z n•: i a l Planning Advisors and

•

Wealtl- Stra : e.ps:' -::· .J~s.,s> a ke e n understanding o(

Ta 1:: t::.•

how be;;: tc· r:: a ciLC.=e yo · r legacy. We work close .y

re=t-l -. h . Charl otte. c'll ~ J od VIa · : ers, Regi:: na l

with y;,u to

en.su~

0.1~-

-=-c·gether.

t>.at -, our h eirs benefit from

WACHOVJA WEALTHMAN" c--o~T Ur.co;nmo

t :i.-:oan

"WE

•:c

a o: h _eo.-e UD •:orr. ::non

from the bottom of our hooves! This yea r's Queens Cup Stee plechase was a great success! ·Thank you" to our wonderful sponsors, Lawn Box members, PSL holders, charity, volunteers and the 15,000 race fans that e njoyed a cla y at the races few will ever forget. Race day proceeds benefi t Catawba Lands Conservancy.

Next year, the ninth running o f the Quee n's Cup Stee plechase will be held on Saturday, April 24, 2004. Join us at Brookl andwood in Mineral Springs, N.C., as a PSL subscriber o r possible race sponsor. For more information on sponsorshi ps, PSLs or volunteering for the 2004 Queen 's Cup Steeplechase, please ca ll 704-843-7070 o r visit us online at \vww. queensc up.org.

R.-R-/o->lkB-/ilo/

~ (A!iWBl LANDI (OH\lRVAH(Y

W HE R E C HAMP I ONS A R E C ROWNED AND CA U SES CHAMPIO RACE Presented by:

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ED . '"

Legislative (rJ.d Regula:ory Higl-ligh:s =or Aca Employers Emplo-,.ee:s Un.e m piayment Eli g bility

::er-tefits. \ Vrener or 1ot:he err p loy~e

of pu::>l c t-a1spc rrc.tic1.

During Manda: orf Te.nporary Shutdow, Wee.ks and Vacation

·11i I quaif1 br ::)€:11efi:; is: deter-niled 01

owww.be.lc it~news. :Jm,

Shutdow'1:>

1e:rued ...ac::tti :m

Mny :::ntp:an rela.tec incustrie;

e:!:

in textiles a -

rave

llade it a r:gular

practice to shut. d=wn treir open :ions

an enplo;-ee has

ca.51e-by-ca:se ba.; i;.

ta:ction p<l)

benefit~

::a.· duri1; the va: ati•: n st u:d::r" - pe r iod,

:1;: e:mFioyee s rO(

lert bEnefits. E11r;lo..erso that 5ilJtdowrs

nate up

two

,ve ~ ks

per calend1 year

~credLie

~hoLid cle1rl~ comrr~Jticate

: o the

h tile "\\.'orkpll..Ce

1ot eligible tD ole::: unemployrre'lt,

::or S t..RS. is a Tas:t sr::-ea::ling, Iif:: threaten· i1: i lnes; rna:

~~ecify

the 5tlut-

South Cuonu e1: oyers shc _l d Je aware d-a.t vac<JtiDfl :reated diferent f b

utdowns may be

he South Cuolina

ng ::md is JS

10:

.011

emp oyee is ro t work-

re:eiyjng pay, the errployee

e igib le tx:• Jpp' t

~c r

111employment

Mo st F req• entty Cite d OSH A S tardard- , FiKal Year 2001

Viohtions

HuMd C::>llrTWJri:::ati•::n Fell Prone : tiol\ (Gonstruction)

to 3 ~SiEt :: rr~

r~ cerr:

was in 1998.

Llrion ::>r g"lJ<Z rg r storically has been :::tifficLit n :he Sauer . p;jf"ticularly the Jrioriz.ed ;ta.tes.Jut 3 l percent of N .C. ::>f S.C. vtcier;, :tcc::>rd ng to the Bureau ::>f Laber S:a:is:ics. (TI1e Charlotte Observer)

~cal s • ~:o1s,

3 ccordirg to

th: CDC, incld: a =:va-, sllortress

NeW5p:tpers, Intel" nEt Are Most Used

of treat!-, cough anc x-ny evirlence

Recru rtingVeh des The 5:::de:y o = uman Resource '11na_;Ema1t's 2('02 Recruiting Budget/Cost St.rve' ·ol.J[ld tlla HR ~· -ofessionals are

of either pneLm·Jni <: di•tress,

11d

nani"eo:

·e:;pirmxy

tl-~mselve;

w thr

I C •:lays of ·: lese oor :ac: v.it1 a-otl.. er

..Jsing a numbe- of meOJods to reach job

p:1t ie1t.

:andi::laes;. t:ut the

:JS-A w;.ms employers to train

S.743

c.rd repc:rt sL!SpectE<I c.c-.

~es e~plc:::t=·s

nc•ressert ~pocs.

CDC fur:her

t o: remict employees·

a.II>Lsire~ ; tr.~.vel

~- ARS

three vehicles

' 93 pe rce -c), cnl roe re.;ources (82 percen r.)

hc.v to sclate c:~..Ses .

:o ~

3ccordirg ro resporde - ts are newspaper;

enployees wrc Ta)' be :Jr have been e>posed co SAR3 o

Personal Prote:::t.w;: E: uipment 4:)93

Jrior. -,e mo;t

Norlers are unicnized. as are 4.9 percent

o:-en in dealirg

w h :he di;e;.s:e.

"!,957

~. 1102

1istory : tut w:>rl<e'"S tBve rejected a

=•roina:s. The) a:e :he country's two leas: -

fo1 D;se.ose Centro!

(CDC) mv-: tern p·: ste:J cau:icnary

No. CJf ..6.11eged

Scaffolds tCon;n.:joll

:~.rd Certer ~

§lid=lines

~-.l.F~ 3

Standare

f.roeriGinS "hOrrie.J.

F.ESJXJnding to l:hese ·Ear! the O :cupatior aJ

Emp lo:-lle")( Seruri: y Commission. h South Carolina,

na~

5:alety anc -jEa d- A.:lmhistra:ion

(C•S.HA)

:Jowns as ·Hcati::>r wee ks.

Ja:ienal _;ot or Relations Board .

s the f:J\rtr t me i'l t r e plant's 33 -year

-:ven if the vacat en pet" od is with :•ut gi .-e employe€>

America to form

=ompar-y :::>fficia s say the v::>te

Sev: -e Ac1-: Respi - atDr) Srndrcme,

perio::xls . TIL.!: :he employee> are

nL.~:

eo~

unior b;- a 2-1 vote il mi:J-April. Only

148 cf tiE 44/ lw'Or<e-s who voted (33

-:mplo:-:e~ H

· eason.oble ootia:! ;wd

Jnita:l Sto:elwor<ers :~.

::>ercat:; t..vor~d ur iorizing, according

SAR.S and Prevefl ing the I I !less

Jay. Employers

Power •=orp::>ration plant

Clla rbc.e rejec:ed -=fforts by the

~ '/..v..-.;ces::.crg;

as vaca: io 1 vtee •.s The Employme n:

"a.. a la J e f·::>r work" during

e Si "'mens

tl;:i- poli:y co EmJic::-ee ; ir wri:ing.

Securic:' Conm=os:k·r d::>es not ccnsider :he~e

'/Vestr~cu~e

ig it e for uemploy-

25th. The

Securit:' A:t permi:s -:rrployers w desig-

W::> · k~r; at~

a ful ,.,eek's

:he weeks of Ju~ 4t.h and December ortr C r::>l ina Employ-nent

Sieme1s Defe..t:s Ur on Drive

and receiveos

e •i Ui< a l~t t::l

10t

new· Cllil1. Hong Kong 5 ngapor:

3rd c-ace

xbic~t

ens 53 percent).

Fe ·:y-fi,·e peoro:ent ::>f the 281 esper:ierts saie newspapers and online resoL rces genera~ t1e best return on

Locbut"Tagota

3.319

Wirh g t·hthollis

3,125

Mach ine Guar~r~

2,759

pre..ent :;ARS. -h= rajc-it( o" emp oyen

p.onts: said trey were v=ry satisfied with

2,439

~L.r

the perlorm3ncE of or jne advertising.

Powe·ed

rdu~r al

Tr_:ks

.o-:J "/ie:ran. E p oprs in these areas .ore mplemen::iT; a .ari::ty of policies t::> teyed ., .,er; f •JCU ng eHo r ts towar:J

Electrica

2,235

m nim izi•g er.pl::>:te=s' e:x~osureo to

Mech1ni::al Po'ller

2,)32

tile :Jisec:se,

1,375

in:reasecl

1,347

115 maslG. Hc11·eversoJTe are uking

EJO:ca-..:ati•::>ns (C.::>11itruc: on) Bloo:bc-,e

(Em(:lbye·s

P;o :roger~

~es.:u ·c: .Am!Ciation)

as · es:rictinJ travel,

cle c.nin ~

c fa :ili:ies

:~.nd

provid-

m::>-e e>erEcm : nea! Jre>, such as mandl-

tert

greater o: la - l=tte b i z

s L c~

qua.-<. mi -, e~

an : di; cc·ur.o&ilg use

infes: mer : ~o'lle

41 pe-celt d survey partici-

Seveory-one p:r:em o1 newspaper users reopo-t~:J bem~

"With tre

SOT ev. 1at or very satisfied

effectiv~ress

:>f their news ads.

HR p - :>fe~si:nJis -vere th e least satis:fie:J "''ith r:~.cio a.:Js ( 15 percent satisa : ti<Xl

rat~

1nd rade publication

jJle 2003 9

adve r:isements ( 12 pe-cen:) . R=!spcndents were alsc- asked whi c1 rec r uiting sources br ought in the mos

than those with "serious" addresses, -H

cants who send : he ir resurres : rom their

managers in the United Kingdom saic in a.

wc-r<. e-mail will be

poll conducted by Yahoo! Mail.

jucgment. At

cand dates. Newspape · s pr·: Jduced the men ) 6 percent of a.)plic01nts), folloWEd ;~dvertising

by o n ine

(24 percent of

appliClnts ; an :J refer rals (I 3 percent of <.pj:licarts). However,

Yahoo! said most HR managers wi I

espe-

U? on the ir intemal e-rrail rule;;."

"Larryloonylamb.''

The poll found tl-a; me re tl- <.n a quar-

Alick Mighall, head of productiol at str~igh :

from · eferrals (28 per: ent) and Intern~

when choosing their e-mail address .

adver: ising (25 percert:) .

"Applicants with wacky e-mail

ter of the particip 1 o t~ •:25 percert) said they would start n c ritt•ring th e e mployee~ '

addres ; e~

e-mai addre;;es more

cl ose ~

for sending out joJ apJ=I ica o ns.

ably to their detriment in the workplace .

(www.hrnext.com)

Survey October 200 I, >-1R prdessionals in

It's best to keep you · e-mail boring 3nd businesslike when jo:J hunting."

agencie~

That does not mean it's a good

if they

be li eved the wor <. e-mil I w3.; bei1g used

may stand out from :he crowd, but x:•b -

our area recruit most reavilr throug1 me: rofX> Ii:a n r ewspapers, 8mpcrary

be ear01bu~ e rs ,

the likes of, say, "elvisthechicken2003' cr

Yahoo! Mail, urges users to play it

Benefi~

"t1e( wi

mc: rked as potem:ic:l :-rr ail

cially since many :ompan ie s are t ightening

sai d t ile highest quality cancidates came

Asso: ation 's Po/ides, P.-cctice~ and

to ha\e poor

simply disregard an e-mail application f om

re~pondents

A=cor:l ing to the Employers

wo-~ t

~e.:;n

Corporate Layoff Ar nou ncements at <l~

and emplo:tee referrals Tor n::::>n-exempt

to distribute resumes with your cur-e nt

Lowest In Six Man:hs Challenger, C:r~ !?. Chri! on a~ Inc.

posit"ons. For salaried employees, HR pro-

work address. Thirty-six percent of : he

fessiollals utilized weekend newspapers, pri-

HR managers polled by Yahoo! said

vate eTpk:yment age ndes a11d employee

so is inappropriate a1d harmful to tbe

do-Nn to its lowe;: evel n si>< rronths.

applicant's chances of being hired .

Ac: ording to Chalenger. plan ned job cuts

refer

;~Is .

Hu'Tlal

(Washington E"'1ploy~rs Assodatio.1"s

Re~ curces

Mana:eme•t Update)

NotWanted:Applicc.nts 'Nith Waclq E-Ma I Addresses Jcb ap:Jiicants wh:) use ·wacky" e-mil I addre ~ ses

are far less li<ely : o get the jc·b

do~

reports that the nJmber of WrJ=orate layoff annou ncement; i1 l"'brch 20(1] was

Moreover, sending resumes from wcrk

declined by 38 pucert to 8£,3% in March,

commonly results in "digital blunder;,"

do·Nn from 138, 177 in =e,br ..err, end the

like delivering it into the hands of S)oS-

1"'1arch total was thE

tems administrators, or drawing rep

ie~

l: vel ; ince

September 2002. Over the first. quarte r o: th is year,

that go elsewhere in the company. According to Mighall, "At best, job a:lpli-

lo\~est

Crnllenger said that a tt•"tal d 3:.5,795 job cuts were announced cowr -:J y I! percent from the fourth cuarte · of a:st )'Ear and 26 percent lower than tl- e t'i rst qua rter of 2002. However, Chal lenger ;adds m at de~pite

recent dec:li - es . .1.ver:ci e

onthly

job cuts remain a.:)O\"e tl·e ICO,OXl mark. Over t he January t c Man:h period of this year, job cuts averaged I 1 8 ,~ ~8 per month.

(Capital Associated ,nc'Lso:ri::s 1\Jar agement

Blair, Bohle & Whitsitt PLLc Certified Public Accountants

Ne"'sletter)

biz

The Employers Assoca.iu1 is a nO<nro5: Charlotte

rescurces and trainin: se·>ic; Fcxndec 'n 1958,

• • • •

Audit & ACCflunting Services Retirement Flan Compliance&. Cesigr Real Estate [•evelopment Strategies Merger anj .;cqu~ition Planni'g

• • • •

Tax Compliance & Planning Comprehensive Tax Review Multi-State Tax Structuring Company Formatic•n Strategies

th ~

<\ssociation moint::J n; cr broad-i::nsec' member-

shif; of over 700 corrJ: cr.ies f"um d l indastries in the greater Charlotte re: o0'1. I! als :· r; an.icipates in a natiJwl information

Back to Basics: Relationships, Value, Growth

~;:c'; a'lfe un d~r

the Notional Associat.oo o( !Y1:lflu/(ourers. The above excerp ! l"e .,

NO\\' located in Prmiden :~ Par:< a 1-485 and Providence Road 107 ~ikes Place, Suite 100 • 7%841.8980 • Fax 704.841.3958 WWW".bbwpllc.com

m= auspices of

M 1IIO!;Ement

Repor~

to~ ~

frcn Th e

meI sscciotiD'l s m0nthly

new;letter. Fer more ;r,(GJTMCJ!r::.n, p r= as ~ call Laura Hanpton at 704-52 ::-8: r I or viw rhe Web site at wwv.employersassoc.:Jr-..

jJne 2003

greate· ch 3. rlotte biz

Visit Charlotte Announces Program to Increase Local Tourism Visit Charlotte has announced a new

the local tourism industry to increase the

advertising campaign designed to increas:!

number of local residents who visit our

local tourism. The campaign consists of

attractions, eat at our restaurants and

four 'un, colorful billboards with "faux'"

even spend a relaxing weekend in a

Web sites that are designed to pique tre

Charlotte hotel," points out Melvin

interest of passers-by. The Web address-es

Tennant, CAE, president and CEO of Visit

lead ·tisitors to Visit Charlotte's Web site,

Charlotte. "With Charlotte residents

www.visitcharlotte.org, to browse the

doing these th ings, it is a great boost to

events calendar and special deals being

the area economy."

offered by Charlotte-area hotels, restaJrants and attractions. ' One of the things we hear most fron local residents is, 'What is there for me to

Anderson Communications, Visit

Char! ott=

Charlotte's advertising agency, came up

(which a: : he time was known

with the four memorable slogans. Since

as the C1a rlo -:te Convent on & Visitors

Charlotte has a diverse audience, each

Bur:au). I t · el' moved on to a senior

do on the weekends or when my family

Web site was designed to reach particular

sales ma•c.g.;r position at The Park

comes to town?" says Kim Rickwood,Visit

sectors.

Char otte's vice president of marketing. "V~~

"I'm excited to see the results of this

Hotel. I _o ino:c the Hosiery Association in 1990, and began p anni ng several

want these people to realize how much

campaign, and to see Charlotteans being

smaller

there is to do here, and think of CharlottE;

tourists in the r own town," says Tennant.

through the · :anks, and took over Sid

as a \acation destination not only for the-n· selve~ ,

but also for their family and friends

who live elsewhere."

.,e~i r gs .

I worked my way up

Why I Choose Charlotte for My Association's Annual Trade Show: Sally Kay, President, Hosiery Association If you're a member of an organization that's held a meeting in Charlotte, you know that this is a great place for a meeting or convention. Many times, we

The four board designs are:

think of these meetings as coming in from

WWV'f.myweekendsarethepits.com;

out of town. However, tre Hosiery

www.myinlawsarecoming.com ;

Association is based in Charlotte and

wwvw.ineedfunnow.com; and www.imver:;--

holds a national tradeshow here on an

bored.com . "This is a fun, attention-get-

annual basis.

ting xomotion that's different than an)'-

Visit Charlotte had a chance to speak

thing: we've done before," notes

with Sally Kay, president of the Hosiery

Rick·Nood.

Association, to ask her about planning a

'/isit Charlotte began by asking its

.A.LTMAN lr1t1a t 1ve

g ' oup,lnc

meeting in her own town .

partners to submit a special summer o-'fur for me campaign. Charlotte-area

hote l ~.

restc.urants and attractions responded with special discounts, 2-for-1 deals and even free items, in some cases. The offers are effective through August 25, 2003 . "Wr at I see here is a commitment fron-

greater charlotte b iz

VC: What is your background and how did you get to where you are today? Kay: I attended Clemson University, where I majored in meetings management and minored in marketing. After graduating, I became an intern for Visit

cenise Altman, MBA JUf

704-708-6700 ftl..altmaninitialive.com jJne2003 11

Smith 's position as xesident in October

attractions are also important issues .

200 I. The Hosiery Association has

Uptown Charlotte has so many great

been around since 1905, and I'm the

things going on within walking distance

first female preside nt. Now, I work on

of the Convention Center. And

planning meetings , serve as a spokesper-

Charlotte's location between the beach

son and work to m1rket our association

and mountains provides good opportuni-

several audience.;. I like association

management

becau ~ e

it's always chang-

ties for pre- and post-convention trips.

VC: What ma kes Charlotte special as a

ing. It involves a lot of creativity and

meeting destination?

self-motivation .

Kay: Charlotte has a lot of the amenities

VC: What are the nost important con-

of larger cities , but has the hospitality and

siderations for your organization when

Southern charm of a smaller city. It's also

planning events?

more cost effective and attendees receive

Kay: The venue is obviously one of the

more personal attention than they would

most important con5iderations . Our

in a larger, first-tier city.

annual tradeshow is held at the Charlotte

We have a great relationship with the

Convention Center. The first show was in

hospitality industry and the city of

1980, at the old corwention center. We

Charlotte . Last year, city council members

outgrew it and moved to the Charlotte

came

Merchandise Mart.

them with an oversized check

Geographic locaion is an issue, too.

the show, and we presented to

show

the economic impact that we have on the

Many of our attendEes are from the

city. It's that ki 'ld of personal attention

Southeast, and Char otte is very accessi-

that really makes a difference .

ble. We also have se路teral international attendees; CharlottE/Douglas is a gateway to many internationotl cities . Of course, hote s, restaurants and

JUnE 2(lJ~

To begin working on your meeting

in Charlotte, contact Visit Charlotte at (704) 342-3972.

greater charlotte biz

Visit Charlotte • Moves Into New Office Visit Charlotte has relocated its center city office to 500 S. College Street on The Green. The move increases Visit Charlotte's visibility, saves money and allows Charlotte to more effectively compete with other cities' convention and meeting prospects. "The new location is much more visible, since it is directly across the street from the Charlotte Convention Center;' points out Melvin Tennant, CAE, president and CEO of Visit Charlotte. "Our clients will be able to see some of Charlotte's best assets just by looking out the window." /

Visit Charlotte is /

, , ,

on the third and fourth

::-

.. ~ ·-

floors of the new glassencased Annex build-

ing. First floor tenants include Fuel Pizza, Freshens Ice Cream, Mr. Hero, Curry in a Hurry and Arabica Coffee. Several locations were considered, but the Annex building was chosen because of its proximity to the many visitor attractions and venues in the center city as well as the Convention Center and because of the attractive price which will allow Visit

IM?LEMEI'-JTA.TION • TRAINING CEI\ TER • S.U:JPOP.T • SERVI •: ES

Charlotte to pay less for its lease over the next I0 years at the Annex than it

•

mte

was paying for its Stonewall Street office. "The board approved this move after

Professic·r al ~~c:unti -·~ Systems

Visit Charlotte had looked at locations for more than a year," notes Linda Libby, chair of Visit Charlotte. "We feel that the Annex building is the best location at the best price." Visit Charlotte's new address is 500 South College Street, Suite 300, Charlotte,

0 Sl'STEIHS

NC 28202.The main phone number and staff extensions remain the same.

Complete Service Management Software

Look What Meting Planners are Saying About Charlotte! "Earlier this month we held our 16th Annual Contention & Fast Lube Expo at the Charlotte Contention Center. I've been in this business since 19 70 and this is the very BEST facility I have ever encountered! Not only is the facility well/aid out and in excellent condition but the staff- from janitorial to security to executive management - were outstanding.Whatever my request or concern, it was immediately handled.Jodi Dellinger, event coordinator, was my shadow and always had a smile on her face and a 'can-do' attitude."

greater charlotte biz

june 2003 1:;

b" rr ary marshal

Hu for

___ason

The Emp ayers Association Partners vv·ith Businesses to Make a Difference .::mily Owne~ reports o work energetic :Jnd full of opturism. But, during the •.ourse of the r1.:)rning, she is fru:tratecl ·,) how to hand!~ ar: nnsatisfacto ")' ':mplvyec anj ci3rr.ay~d over the archa:: payroll sys-tci:1 h~r $mall cc•mp:m) .cgret..fully usc.>. The cffordable sc•lution o En·i ly's pnblem i;; The Employer: '\ssociation, one of Charlottes foremost pro\'iders of h J-nan r~sourccs and train mg sclution~. "People say '\'e re the bes knt ~ecret in Charlcue." sJys Kenny Colbert, prestdcnt _) r The Employer~ Association. "~!an) -efer to u;; as a priceless insurance pc•licy. Tl-cy na) go weeks wit hour ..:.~II r.g us, but '"'hen a major human r~sonrcs prob em arises, they know where tJ urn.··

greater c la -]ott= biz

The

As~oci:lior.

a non- _, ,-,fir

5o ... :c)(6) c ·pn .:ation, supp:.lrLS nrgant:ltiDn5 J · ""] st:::e: <mclmclu. rie:> n nir.E :--.!crtl C:1rc•li 1:1 counllc~ ~ncl six Soxh Carcli-a L•)Ucties. A l l-mc:mber ho ... rcl cf dilccto)f3 (CEO's, Jllc-icLiltS and gcotral man:\~e-s of Slllil I tc midsizz mc11ber •:o-:nnies) is -_spcmible !

•

.The Employers Associ3tion . ~02C 'Nest A-roy..·ood Road . C'lariotte, "\IC 28273 -;o4-~-22-8•Jr

P.reside")t: Keli7"!' .... Colbe1: s=HR . Numbe1 of errployees: ~~ :-. ww.enplo~-e-:;assoc.ccn

/>.sso..:iation, as ·w: ll as E:stablishtrg go\'erning procedures. '!he Emplcyers Assxiation offers exceptional \·alr.e to its members by cfferng up-n-dat~, readily a\'adal-le. n1bi1sed infornarion," oay~ Bill H.all, rresident of Ra·mey Products and chatrnan of the boa cl of The Enploycs Asso:iation for h-2 past five years. "The t1lentecl pro(cs~to-tal staT diligently offers assts ance in is~_t cs concerring roday's l:usiness emirc'lmcnt. These professionals ha,·e a weal h _)f knowledge thlt help; onp oyers n·akc mtelligent clecistons. tl1ereb) strengt1e1ing then· as leaJcrs in the bus mess cn1munit)-" The Ass xntwn off~rs customized training comsc s as we ll as regular worl:shops and s~mina ·s. Last year, > june 2003 IS

more than 5,50C 'inci.ridua~ participa-ed in nearfy 300 •: as5es offe-ed by the Ass·xiation. More tl-an 4•) n:_ember :::ompanies engagd he Assxiation's :>taf to deLver on-:;ile tra :n ng at their ::Jwn faciliLes. Trn1i:15 ceovered a vari::ty ;)f topics and -:JrT ats including manageme:Jt!lead:' :s l.L p , err.ploymenl law,bumar: resou~ : es, compensation md benefi·s, con.nunica:icn/imerper5onal skillo , pers::;r_a jevdupment, :ean builcling ard saf::ty. "1 wan- the h.sso::·atic·n to be the :irst thing _hat co-::J.e3 to mi--rl when a member has an ill. issue," :.c.ys Colben. -we want businesse~ to kn<:w that we will have an answ.cr 10 th~il ::[Uestion or ::an refer them to Lhe ::tpprot=riate ;;ou-ce of hformL0::1 In tum, we're ::on;;tantly expancfug services to meet ;)ur members' n~s -" Member corrp.:~ries pay 3n annual mer:tbership fee, r:.ng.ng fro-n $400 tc 32,600 ba~ed on -.J.eh num-Y-r of :mployees. This ~titles then to unlimted access to the HF_ <\dvice Hotline; :-he Management Fr:port- th:: monthly 1ewsletter; wageis=lary, ben:fits, and -:Joli::ies/practices ~-nvzys; a:1 employers' Jesl: manu.Jl ; a re~arch Lbray, a Web site with ac.cess r:; H~ Fa~t ~3.cts docu:nents, and a resu:-J.e. 1eferral service. 'Small compa-ies - th03": who have hmLed HR staffs y=-t are l::trgc enough o face the same prol: e:rs a:. fc•rtune 500 •. ompanies- typic:::ll,• use o:.rr services on ;; day-tc·-day b.>:;is, ·· says Colbert. 'Larger conpanies- tl.ose with 1,000 -:Jlu~ employees- nrz y turn to the Association on a C..:.ily basis. but contact us to outsource servi:::es s·1cl.- as specialized trainir:g sessi:n:., em?loyee opinjon survey::, affirmHive actiol. plans , or r_ational su -veys :h1t uack e1.ecutive ~nd upper level cCtnnensaio:t." \Jlany compa:rio;s telying upon the Asscciation's servi~s <.re hea :!quartered Lll. Otarlotte with :.i;ltellite operations ..:.l.ro...tghout the C 5., t 1us ex"Janding :::.1e Association's :rcriz::ms thoughout t~l.C countr}- In order t:J meet additional member needs, th:: Associat~on nel"'orks with its siol.f:l· 3.ssociati:ms across :..1. e U.S., who are ~S ·J me:nb?rs of the Nati:Jnal Employes Associacion Group. 16

june 20C:

SeriiC(S Meet Members' Needs Affo-dal::le rates entitle menber corrpanies to access a wide vJr.ety o: addnio1al sen·ices including tV"O ne~ issues, i:nckg:ound checks and exit interviews. Other services inclt:de pncess:ing payroll, managing fle.;ible spending accotmts and training classes Pertinn· top cs, such as The F:l.ir Credit '\epotting Act or drug testing, are ·) ften the focus of the mont-1ly bre;;kfast meftngs. "The As~ciation presento i1formation we neec t0 know," says Patlla Birmingham director of hurrBr resourc~s for fossil-hydro generation at Dul<e Energ) ·we turn to them for mary iosues. They p rovide kro.vledg:::able, in::.<peu:;ive up-w-date tr<:ining and are in llme wit h current isrues. Recently, 1 ati:e'lded a session O"'l how t•J add~ess militay leave issues. V'vithin ':l shm L period of time, I gathered valuable inbrma .. <:n." Five :raicr g rooms, seating up to 3C people, and C'le large meeting rcom wit:: capacity of 10;) provide ample space for staff members t:J teach supervi:;oc, leadership, and ma-:agement developrr_ent courses. Theoe :nanagement develop men . cour.ses a:ldres:: topics like coa:hing, counscl:rg, c::mmunications, octivatior~ conducting p:--r:-ormance appraisals and managing dis.:ipline. In additi:::n, on any given d1y two to three differe:-~t computer cl.is;es are mee:ing .n o:-~e of the five labs, zach equippec witl1 14 computer s:a ions. Attndee;> pe::fect their skills in Mictoscft We-e, Excel, Acceso and Po~r F'cint, .lmong other pwg-ams. Anct:1er uea of expertise is specialized compemation and benefit surveys . A m =mber Ir8Y request a salary survey to analyz:: sa-aries in a panic dar professi.Jn, such as nursing, hom~ health care aids_ etc "By having a th· rc part;' prepare t1is tepon , no one ca:1 be accused of unfe:ir trade practices or trying to fix wag::s," adds Colben.. "Average" are posted but source.; remain anorymous The Asso::i<~tion's employee .Jpinior_ surveys help ,;:nployers in varioJs areas of operat:ons h. company hea::lquar-

te::d in Chub-te Kith ;atellite.~ offic_s thwughout th:: U.S. rr.a>' be in-eP-;:;tc.•:. in finding OUt r.O\\. ·heir emplcyees pc-Cel'V~ the cotn-:J~my The Associa'i•ln's stc.ff memb::rs o::dni"li"ter writt~l. s...trve:'"~ on-site :c 11 c:mr:loyees wi:l- qLo::sticJ.s focus ·ng c•n ~cl- topics a:; pc.y, communic.:: 0115 , \JOrkhg cond t ons, m;.magement 9.;le nd t 1e quah::>- of : c wi£1::in the conJarry In .Jdditio::, 1ie>· conduct one-cr-ore intnviews vv-ith l '5 peroent of the empoyees. These tesulls are then corpred Lo 1 ::>enchlruik database TI(I<T Jf C\er 10 ,500 0:::1 nes ::co members c<tn ' ompare their re::uls t·· otter comp1 es. \1embe ""= <lso l-ave t·1c oppcn J 1ir:: to -:Jarticipate h the annLa! wage a 1::l sabry survCJ., with JCSults distritu~d free of ~harge to th )Se 2:50 ·o 300 p;;rtt:ipnG. Thro _g!- he~e stuiies, conpm e:; are alerted to ~fJ!JtO?fiatc pay ra e:> [or their indust:):, .vhic1 helps them fhd ti- c right candiC:ttes as -:vel! ns retain _!-em Members w- n ::1.::> n:J participate car:. purchase th:: s•tvey which is viEwed .: s ore ::~fthe l::e.;t S()UC~s available ED- lo: a co~'Jensali011 ol.:tta. :=:very other yea a b::ncfits 3:\.r':e:' is prepared to benchn3.rk ,·acatio<S :tclida, s, healtr rrs 1raJ:e nd pen; cr_ p : gruns, among man1 additional tO? ~ Cs. The subseq·_ ert yeo.t, a policies sLn·~· giv ==- memter5 bask idormaticn n such issues as :nck:gro...tnd check~ d11: ;r teSling and tcr Tina::.on 'Jolicie~. -:--hi5 sur-.r~y also ;.:ldress::s performa~c: aprraisals ani smoo<ing 'Jolicie~. Recent!:' \... hen the city of Chalo_tc: weE :onfror ec wit '1 questions .l.bTJt he;rlth insm an.:e fo- sa -nc sex panne1s, thE.f turned to t 1e _-\:;sociation whlch W<E able to o:.!pply : hem with snr•ey inf:>rmalion or -his "hot queslio<. ' "O.n surveys relp compmies d":Sign bece.fits, crc:tte: :Jollcieo c.nd writ~ lnr :.bor:ks," affirTI~ ·: ob::n.

Continuous

Servi~

Sin:e 1958

Twenty~ix chan~r

1rembers foun.d ed T.1e Emp-n;crs t\SSC•C:ation i 953 as ~ source -: f humc.n r~::ources (1' R.) inf._·rmation .:;e-\.ice; fo - 3mall c0n J=a· nies with lin trd H~ d~panmens ln l9F-2, Dick Dn_cl '\13S named r:re;idc:n_ great~r

charlott'::! b!

and J111 Rarow executive vice preoident. Cocc r thei- leadersnip the Associui .m became on( of the lea:ling "JrovU !-=of hLman resJur•:es and tramng ser-ii.o:es for employ·~rs n the -rea. They s cered tl-e organization througl- a "JerioJ o' tremeondous giO\\ th, increasng n.CTUershi.;J from 285 compa 1ies to -nore L'la!l 700 organizatio<s of all sizes md in:ILStries. The staff g1cw from four who "-'<:rked ont of a 1 100-square-foJt

ware company, we ofer lnternet-ba3ed

into individual consulting firms. \ 'e

payro!V HR Informal on Systems (EREi)

also compete with law firms Rho .JHCtic~ employment law to some :legP-_, although we refer business to :?ach other at the same nme."

services. This high! ,r sophisticated ~s tem provides smaller companies wi·h a professional ~ystem L1.ey would be unable to purchase." Colbert's days [lTC: divided intc quarters, spending :? qual time focu~ins on HR activities wi h member companies, financial aspecG of the orgar.i::ation, managing the s cJf (including

"Our edge is our impeccable reputation. We've been heE 45 ye<-s and offer a wide range and l::rcad.th of s::rvices that appeal to com:>ar i~s of any size. ln add:tion, our staff i> top notch. We've been able to secue bnght, talented professionc.ls ·ha .

Jffice ir the Cl•tswold area to 21 :?mpb 'ees tod<ly. The Associations se::-vices m.t.hpli.ed substan.ially Four) ears Jgo. -1-c} moved into a sta·e-of-tl-e-art

teaching, coacl·ing -a1d counseling'-, and marketing/sa 1e!>/meTber relations. "The economic dowr:rurn has definite:.y affected us," Jdds Cclbert. "When ·:Jeks

help us succeed as the cho ce ove: our competition ..,

27,00(•-S<.[Uare-foot facility at the Whit~ 1.1 l busi.:less dev-elopment •m

are tightened, compmies are le s li <e y to spend money on o·Jining, devek·p-

Cobert takes great pride in bri..1.gin.s new value to member companies,

Arrow 1.2:ld Roo.d. Ccllxrt joined The Errployer.o Associ 1.ion in 1994 as director of cmplo;~.: and ndustric:l relations

ment and surveys. :::Alr business is directly tied ·o our oembers and t:~eir well-being. We have to be better than our competition, be ause members have many choices c.boUl what and where _o outsource when it cc mes to human resources and trainir g needs . "Our coopetiti.ol is out there-

continually investigating additi.Jnd scrYices for his membership from l- eahho:;.re benefits to computer certification :::25s"2S He appreciates the trust anc strppTt of the Association's more than 70t) rr1~ b.:r companies and welcomes the challtnge to build them a better business dim-~. biz

there are many HR -r:eople who, due to company downsizi1~, have branc-1ed

M:J.-y Marsha/Its a Charlotte-bcsed freelance writer.

Fo~

the ne-<1 eight ;ears, he honed his skills in e\~=-- facet t•f the organization. He was nc a--.ed prEsident in the fall of 20J2 wher :=-miel r tired. "Cotten's years of expe-i.!'l.::e anc talents made him the unanimcus choice of the toard o- diP-ctors: ;a_ s Hal' "Unde- his leadership, the hrure will be \Try exc ting." Cc•lten ea·ned a B . m Business Adrniris. ratior from tbe CniversLy o No rt l Crolinc. - Chapd l- ill. He did post-gnJuate .vork in HR at the Unive-~L)'

of Maryland an:i has his Senim .?tofessional in Hunan Resources Cenificaion (" PHR.) His past experim_lude 15 years in -lR in the textile mx: ood pocessing irdustri(S. ence~

As a native of North Carolina,

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Coll:erts Continuing Chc.llenge ' h order to enhan.:e L ur sen ices, we hv:? recen ly formed alliances and pannus1ips \•ith other businesses in area. '-.I e re w; do not haYe the expertise or J;!oources," says ::::obert. "h these instan:.:::::., we Jccome the marketing agent, a-d the. contact prcvides tl.e servic; For e:xample, we nO\\ offer reloca... L n opt ons. [f emp oyecs are upgrali-.g or transferred md use a designa-<~ ~irm, the empbye~ receiws c.iscour t> '-'hen buying o- se ling a 1.0use. We c.l~o have a moving company relationshr- that c·ffers substa.1tial savings. "Tb-ough 3n alliance "<Vith a soft-

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june 2003 19

its 21 yt:aJs ·Jf e:::ist~ :-_c:: , C:':S;: -

ha' gz incC.

r ~ SfCCL

-r.:;n- C}- .JTiollc:-5 lo>gJ

ts l:rJ~\'it:' s: r·. cc c• ll icn s and I Lig;<.L c 1 -' _:::cess.. ~They're an ex·:e'leu l.::n firm.,- 1·-tes lOl'l

runit~; -OJ

t~e: s. m

(ass e\ ::ns a p1nr ::r lli.Lh

Cass evens, -l<cru, ::;Lntcr & Ri•ptl

· Tre:' re ,·a~' g-: ccl a- ,;:hat th.:y d :::.'·

, tat-ting Up C.1lp gr(w up in ·~1SLCtoio an.... t::cei.,ed 1 busines,. clegee in JS7'i and a bw cegree in J078 f-.:•11 tre Ln·-·::r,it·, cf [..J,,-th Carol..nc_ .n O .apel Hil n l.J 0 1-e ::amed f•om

:1 M~Let

ew York lr

of law: ·n v:'"-~ ity.

Tt:. ~ti.::>n

He is 1

Cenned rubli· P.ccc r.tart and ;1. BL•<--J Ccni -icd _peci- ist ir =.state Pbr.1.i •;s and Prcw:c Law in Otth CarolinJ. C.1lp anJ C.1 ~tis Eliot were ::1-.i"cl.ooc. rien::l~ in asLOILa. E inu :1 so

H ~ I<:cognizec that :::'\..neG of·= ose~~

tic·ns in t:- ~ oo' t tax-ad,ant:ageoL= and c:::s -e·Tecjve nJn:-ter possible. ·"we ""Or-< l: -.j to mJ.~ s_re cur

held businesses anc .F.:alr) inJy:::-ms

cie<_ts pa:- tre t...., nimum in tc=::cs '

neec.ed more sophit.ti•.i:. cd rep::senat:on

as:e:rts Culp . .. -~e like to

rhan they wer:: gett:r g fro 1 ful -se:-Ji:e la·N r rms, for whom ~;~._, ·,_-,)-k v:ls : .1st

pl ~nning, bu

merged into

Deloit~

Tc·-t:h~

w-.2n

Clip decided to star 1is o."tl h» :· m.

rc:

Jne of many 'pecia-LCS. t1 ·L::~J.f Ellicll joined _he er1 ; rpr~. lr g;;p, ~arp~ nter, a Forest .Ci , n.:t:.. ve, Eis::· jo.nc::l the firn. :=arpentet is an !J, n~ ?;r<-d Jat:: of

on _o §el his la·,v :.legrce ::u a 1 ~lS t::r's r Lax1tioL He n:·::eivd t s B S. j AcccJnLin.s n 1977 md h_;: j.D 1. Ju-,Q f·om the Cmvcrsil? o - 3outh Cmolina ln ,98L, he receivcc - is \.!.aster oilzw~ i:1 Ta;...aiJn (·vi _h - i,;hes. hor :·-s~ fnn Geof'; ~ 'v'/~ shimton L1 tver=it~

h l<;f2. C J lp ar.::. Ellicn·NF:. -e l·ct1 work ng -cr To_tel·~ Roo;s, a nt:._i, ""lel a•:CcJlDLing firm _l<.L

tal<

te:::. cU~nt~ w1ct t 'leY car_ and :.:anJ..::L do.'' The fim han :lies botr_dvi.. au.{ c::-ninal t:lX it f.<L on, indudi-g n:prese< atio::t Je!Jrz ~- e Unit~cl St:l.es -1x Cc·u~L, if - ~ccs;c. r} Although the L.ajont)' of nx :iis-·utcs ere settlec. vlit.h )UL -eacrin .~

Vvake Forest Univers.t.r Sdlool :::f L .V" :J.D., cum laude, l<l8~·l fu is c_lsc :~ •:J'A

in·Jucling :a r,c 1 major vi:IOfY L1...1t rerulted i- a rmlt:imillior =elm ta:;;: sav-

J.rd"' North Carolirc 3pecialisL in Esrate '") - ~ D.l; and P ~·-• L. ate Lew. He chairs the i-n's :::: )tmru: i:ll and

in.~-·

Real =:state TransacLo s Gr:::up.

:Jver the "Jast 21 ! er;; the ·i.nr_hJ.s se::n its revenues stu cily .¥ell as the sophistic.zt:X11

tr.c T~,: Co.111.., the finn h<e a trc :::k recc ·d )f fU.Ccess before the

Jven :JUrt,

tc th_ cl eL. "The} diti 1 tc-rific job" s:rys

Cd fcrrtia ::::rA Graham Fc·pe:, ~ho \vctke:l 0:1 tr c c.a>~ along with the Ja....,,rers [[l)m CE~rC. "Thei- .::~:'Jert

~-e

and

5k..l cor.vitccd •hE Court that 1he t<:x-

G rowing Strong 11>:re2SC 2S

-i iL5

:!ia:-t~

1rd the size of the it nrio<-clioo. E'L ~ •nn} of its clients, ::E&C 'laS beu>::rc a 'one stop" leg1l an C.: -h<.r ,- c_l ~nv ...::r..s 1dvisJr. ' They are very, .I?J'f c.ollpe er · .' :~ffirms Dale Clark, ;>,.00 ~ fi-~r rd::n~d

pa:r::r 3roold p:~\ail." ? :-pe ;;ay; r e :ase CCr.!iJU ~S I C• be cit::d ty e:;paG as an exarple of row to o"\'2 -ccmea ,-u tcr of cLc.Oe:nges vith an efficient and ;l-i lful argu:nmt "][ l C"' er W.Jt a majcr -~u~ befJre CO.JI"t. pat icLlai} on the E3st Coa~t. th;t's vhc I'm

.~·Jirg

to," 3a,7s -:>ope

_o CE&C by a frienJ The ·irrr l-elp:-d

Building the f ..'mn

::::lar< with hi5 estat-: p 3rll og, ie---c::rn?; i:. series of trust~ -cr h:is ,-hil:lrer, and g-an::lchildren. Wh21 it c.:~ 'lle L~ -x Clark to sell his b_siiF53, tLc Ei :n .

'0/hen Bi l ~ ulp set oot to •:reJ c an o·.;anizati ,n Jf lr:gJ.l and tax c:::ns .uants thlt wJul:l incrr:a _e estate 3td bt..S.nes~ plan::li •g, :te st1 cut to collect the best arrl.fe bighc.s: young au-rcys "-'iLh 1

handled the ~.~~·-t· c.ri.Jns arC. structured L-; sac: as pJrl : [a trust.

"fr_ fT(ces:; roc·I:: H mont ""G L•:::: mr-:l~ .e md they . re ~ ry 1'"1:51'-men cl r l:oki..1g 3 -~er ou- t~L it..lere;rs, · says ClJ-1.. ....- 1.:::e tten. wc.' ro co-.. nu-:d ·c wo1l: ~l.:R.Jy v t -. J-em on :;C'\:erc. Jlh~- o·_s,ne~' ren._1es Tho...rean 1 kcl: t:.fte• a· - :E our -.-..lllc:.<.l and t;_;... need~. '

CE::;r·~ natr gxl i' to save cl crL liOn<:), 51-- .ding them thro.£:1 OC.~ines:; t-a-.sac-

co c- .ath.e

play by the - Jle; We

Jotr Wake Fcrest l11 .·u3 -: (3S A..cccunting, cJm lax:~. ;t.Q) nc.. .:1e

<.~ent

'"'P-

stong ace. Juat r g backgDLr"d. Feu~ of thr firms _2 '!Lo::Teys are Jtlh Ctrolina Bead ::::~1 ific:cl :;pecialists in Ltate p· mni1.g .::'ld Fnb:Jte La'~- ::::•V:'J hclf of thrm zrc .::~sc CPP.s or h;r,re c_ mas·t r of lavs d~grr:e il _c_; . ··we ;:; I s 1zc :: comno< visiot, work ethi::: and ""JeG r al values,'· Sl} ~ partner Cbi- Haum11 Jg_ 36, \9 lu jo.ne.c the fi ~"T after -ec~i~ his lV...35_ r of L<-'VS des-ee in Tax::ttion with l::cnor:; from the Uri,rersiL} ofF c r da in 199:.. Hau::wm als:> ;:;rrne-_ a l:::v degree -~;rh l-oners fr:Y.t ::-lor .:Ia n 9;)2 and a ba.::.he l•r's dq-ee fret !'l.l eg""Ieny Col~ .?;C in 1989. CE& - h:o.s o:..~nsive exre-en : ~ in nq:resenting ·e1 estate devdo--::ers 1nd i:-.•tswrs. •n e r opecialt:, .::f t<-:< lc:v is 5-:!::~ter

charlotte biz

uiG:arc.llelz:d 3nd we rd1 oo them o::J.tenshr::iy ior _,_x advice wc::n V"e ar~ buying, sel.ing •Jr ;'XchJ:1girg ~Eal estate pr.Jper-

the Carillon Btril:im§ Jn 'Nes Tr<Kie

the l Our, c:J: ~C

Street.

ho ·ly bEi1~ and beginning to charge

"We hcvc <: Je::h•.::JLecl, lo~z I <md

moving away from

chrnts l::y _he project instead. The firm is abo "go u~ paperless ," a project that

S:;'S H.1ttcnh~ue-.

tieo " S")'S .:>ti:ve HJtris, ?rt9dent d H~is !.Lrr (:;]: A.ssccic:t:.::s, Inc., .1 ~xal

hardworking st<:.l"'

red es~:1t~ kn. Loc.a toeal ~3tatE en repreneur, vel Gn..1am, tus similar p·aise ·or the ·i-m..

ness, thanks in . 1rg~ -::tart w Cuip. "Bill

or~izm..io1 .and faster retrieval of

deserves the :::r.xl it ·c: nO{ on.l)· r. nnin;!;

in[ m ' alicr.

"I -eve bxn wc•rking Aith Culp, Ell oL

as an efficient bLsirE55," asse-t3 Elliott.

& .Caq:e:lt:.::r fo- msny ::ears.

Simp~)'

The firll i5 dsc

llt-

Ira~

on J.umercll5

deJ lt wi .h Jem

compl.ic.J.I~d

wefl-m:maf.ed ~ ~

3S ~p pofe~siorals.

the law firn

gy and

oth~ r

~<:.d

computer- on

it was com n :m n otl ~ r !irms. N•JW the)"

wLattl· e·: jc."

create theil cwn krc--le lge th~i- e::::p :: ll..s~

~ucc~;:;_

however, beats hard work

md the lawyers at Culp

upenter agree they work pret-

ty lurd. lt:; rot unusual for several panne ~ to b e 'Working along with other firm

mt1 ber:s -,,weekends. Hannum says he

their desks in~ e,1- ? '8Js, ·eng oefce

leverage

Not1i~ -

[or

Elliott&:.

t ~c rrDo

re 1ire::l <.llttirg dge tgal ·ki' l5 anc. I ha.~ aLVl}S ·oJnd ther:1 to be the ' est aL In .1c.di.tun to t:le c~1aTienge o t 1e va""""X:ty o · clitrL3 an:l tr.;.nsa.::tiors, . he

H:wenhmc:r a1s should result in better

rtsJLLQ:S to be :ompe· iti,-E.

Lav,ryers at CE&::::

dea s tbL

but

From lhe beg ~ring tl-e um1 ha.o been willing to · :r,-c . mooey it

ed tht? a.r~ lh~ bes. tD: and estate la\.:;ers i- to.v-.

:1.

is e:iher ·,,,_r<ing, exercising or spending

time: with h5 family The other partners

also talk <e:>Jt the difficulties of balanc-

aod to pr-Jvi..:lt

ing " den : 1di~job with the needs of gr()"w,ing, )"l•L ng families. However, they

~tems

firll. atm.c s .a.vyers ~ho li~<e +e d::a of

effective traiuin~ fo · . Jur.ger l;:p,"'''ers. Culp, "<Vho '2aC 5 :nar <:.geT errt oooh

wc·Ikins witr p::ople c:L doing the sam.::

and studies

tYf ~ of \i\•

more efficiem the fhr can bE , th~ lagn

bu3i.l e ~ ~·rirripl ~s .

say,. t.re

all :iiY the,' enjoy the challenge and share

a eo:::nrn.:·r v sicn. "We

\i\ :rt

tc• be the best at what we

k "It WG.~ a gr-at oppnnunity to :lo so-:XlisucJt:.::d tlX wort- m a bo Jl icpE fir-u," reca Is P:rul Haunhauer, who

we can get aceo::::Ilp i:t ed with le.-s clfo-r,

cre.Ie scrretl ing bigger than ourselves. " biz

joi-ed ::::::Gl:C .13 soon as he receiv::d his Ma!iter o · la""Vs deg-ee ::1 Estatz Ph:rnhg

which ben fits •::Ur:::! ents and OL rse h es, ' he notes. "t's I -<e c::::::r po.md inLrest. ·•

c~~y Ja :o-:;,x IS

frCI:l tl-e l_nivc-sity oE Miaoi L~ -.: hool in 99.:... c_L.,bsr Jaw firus have en ]·; :Wo)

While mo5tla~·s char.~c c.ient5 :Jf

or d1ree -:.topic w:10 s-:J::ciahze i:1 wc·-k. He-c : 1e Tro::re ere

exp::ru= ~

tw~b~

do,· says Cub. ' The people here work

the financial pa, ol. "The mOI"e ::f[icit:rt \\E a1e, t.J~ 11J-e

tcg::ther

a~ 1

earn. We are working hard to

a Charlotte-based

fre :- ::mcE v-nt=r.

.;1;::

is ph~non ~ nal.

of1e1 ::>eople

h~a-cd

AUDIO DETECTION

tho: same :j,n:c.:.on. • Ha. tc - J:u:.ucr, now 36, earned .:JG E.S. d~ee (su11ma cum ln:.de) frcm ~-jo 1...1's UnPers· ry in Mir.nesota h _S:SE

ACCESS CONTROL

an:: hi5 j. =•. ,Jegree (nm 1.3 de) fnJn the Un-versir;- of l'-1.in"Jesoca La"<V Sc lCJl in 1g~

VI 0 EO SURVEILLANCE

l. He :ays Ch:nlore's chmJ.te .::.rrl

bt..Sne5s Cr)mmunity dso

hdp~d lu~

hi- fr:: m thE: I.t.id\'1-esr. "Corpared th~

Midvr::st.

bt::Sne~.s

the: rust :JeL -:it..e; of

teo

C:-~arl•)ll ~

Fl R E

ha.:; a gro\i\1 rg

c:-w ronment c: nd is more entre-

peleu :-ia1" says Hattc.nhauer.

m•··e ne\\ m.:m::y in Chari tte and dq=en::.e-cc :JD the

oloJ ~ r

estatlisb..::c.

Ronning tbe Bus:neE.s In 3d:3ti:::m tc rhe Fanners, th~ :::ulp ~atp:~rner ;awyc~s.

tell1 ir:ch;d.es ~ ght a3 V"'ell a5 ta.-< ccnsuL-

aa;, panl2g1l3 and secetx:ieo. Alogethe.rt·- e firm em"Jloy::es 35 people whJ wxl: tcge·her or _he l5ta fl,« cf gr~at~r

cha.rl::>tt= biz

to take chances on security.

l~ss

ccx1pani~ "

El Dll ·~ as:;ocia .e

Sonitrol. Beca se you can't afford

" Tb~te's

~,:fer.; -he most conprel~'l iYe elec-::mic po:-oect on available today. With l·xal ;ervi·::l?" and rnc-nik>ring _ 5::nit-cl C•J l cu;tomze a system to meet your s~OJri -, n'=:ds and T1ai1t~n i .,....j- a =JL o:k pric - ~~service. Contact us at (704) 423·1 11 for a FREE secLrif> s '~)' cf you - facil ties.

Soni ol

Sonitro l Security Se!"'Ac£:s, Jr c.. 815 \V:)od !rdge Cer ter D-ive (}qr\atk-, NC 28~ 17

Visit

LS :::>r.

-i-.e

,o.-e~!

w-vw.5or..itrc·l.com

'four Sing e

~1rce

f or Complete Security

june 2003 21

Stephen R. Puckett, chair11an af L\' Really, LLC, ard Melvin F. Gra•am, president of Graiilm Enterprises at the Carolinas, LLC,

de·teloo~rs

of The Club at Longview, LLC.

by susanne deitzel

profile]

AVISIO UNCOMPROMIS{D For twehre years, Ylel Grar am, owner ol Gratam Entnpri~s of the Carolinas, LLC, a develo?mnt firn resporsible for sev:=·al award-winnhg gc·lf courses in the Sou·}_, purchased p;ncel5 of surroJnding famu.nd as they becallle a\·ai!able, end in bits and pi~ces laid tr e ha:f of the : 00-acre arec: needed to dc:velop Longvkw Golf Cou -~e. In D~cember 199:1, after so:outing varic us investors to partrer on the: development, he approach~d St~ve Puclctt, a friend -'\-1th w:1o--n he hrl had land de::tlings in pri•r years. Steve PLckec, founder and chainran of tl:e board of MedCath, a group of ::~ r diovascular ;pecialist hos "Jitals, brou~ht c:n exter.sive: and successfJ11nvestme'l: history to the project. He also had a 'i--nilar love for devebpment md constru:tion. as well as a busines:o philosoph}-

that Graham found perfect for a sound partnership. Graham explains, "At tha~ point we had had several discLssions about land investrrents, and 1 hink Steve really started to see: that I knevo what 1 was talking about. ' Graham says it also didn't hm that the proposal in question was a g;olf ccurse. "Steve always used :o say, '1 am so busy, 1 can't even get a couple holes of 5olf in these days. l wish I could just walk out my back door when I !--.ad a little time , hit c. few balls, and not bve to won:- about tee times and all that extra plannin;;."' Graham had found his angle. After doing the due diligence , speaking with jack Nicklaus abJut the land's attributes and contracting for Nicklaus' custom course design, he a?proached Fuckcc. 'It was fun," Graham says. "I said, ·Now ~

St~vc ,

o TTl{:rr ber hO'>' ~on.3cid yoJ re<Jlly nice golf cc u:~.e ..rl:h ::1.0 l-i:e ti~~? '-"'el . = found :Jn: :-.:r you. _ 41 yo:u hc;ve teo :.c :s help rru: h:.r .l ar.d ::-:~ilc. tt. 'll ..OJ_ Fuckett _U5L m day~. t m..:ll :J\.eT th£ j:lans and UJSe en th ~ ::<::jt:isition Jf LJ.e r<:mainin~ 27( a::res nrede:::: to bt.ild the ·:ourse. ··.\'he:- ~s:Zed :t:·o-_t w;.m~:: J

hi:; clzc.=.iY.:neS3, Pu :k~: r : x;>lair::; '' l

:lor 't _ - ,yp ho·..v to - · ~ i· o:l:er tt.:m th ~ :!eve O"Jn~t was a n:;-bciner -=I-~ re vn~ DC• .vay i : C·Juld fail. I h:w.:. . ittim-...:

june 2003

great~r

C:"'arlc :- e biz

knowledge of Mels past investments, had played his fabulous World Tour Course in Myrtle Beach, and had respect for the way he does business. " Both Graham and Puckett share a history of construction and development. Both started their careers in construction and renovation. Graham began as a handyman who moved to light construction, home building and later more aggressive developments including several golf courses. Puckett supported himself at the University of Alabama by renovating homes and apartments, and began investing in land as soon as he could afford it. Via these savvy investments he was eventually able to finance of the startup of MedCath, as well as sundty other projects. The two partners also share a common respect for the highest quality and ethical standards, design concepts and land preservation. Graham says that his involvemem with golf courses is based largely on a desire to preserve beauty, to create a permanent park, to keep the serenity of open spaces. "The Longview Course is also way for me to be a good steward; to put the land to good use, and also pursue my great passion - fam1ing and preserving the legacy of the land, and my family " He adds, "Creating and maintaining a golf course is very similar to high-tech farming. " Puckett explains, "Here we had 500 acres of land that we could easily have built 1,100 homes on. But neither Mel nor I wanted to just build boxes on top of one another. We opted to build 340 homes on large home sites, with the highest standards in design and construction." The extravagance of the homes is absolutely breathtaking. o artificial materials are permitted. Only real stone, real stucco and real wood adorn these houses. "We have carefully selected eight builders with financial stability and strong track records. We wanted seasoned, talented builders, but also builders that had been through tough economic battles and came through them. The specifications we use in Longview are stringent, and that creates a tough financial requirement. Every factor in the process had to be bulletproof, and that included the financial strength of the builders," Graham continues.

greater charlotte biz

Builders with the privilege to build in Longview include Arcadia Homes, Carolina Phoenix, Colonnade Custom Homes, Grimmer-Kemp[ and Associates, LLC, Hughes & Associates, jas-Am, Inc., Regal Custom Home Builders , LLC , and Unique Homes of Charlone, Inc. Homes range from the $600,000s to $4 million. The architecture has a deliberate emphasis on Manor-style homes native to England and Scotland, favorite travel spots for Graham. "In addition to adding the bucolic splendor and history of these places, by using English manor-style homes , we are able to preserve a bit of the history of the farm. We use materials that will make all structures appear authentically aged." A vine-covered grain silo stands serenely on the second green, and course maintenance houses like golf cart storage and pump houses are camouflaged to resemble old manor smokehouses. The curbing on Longview's streets is edged in old pieces of marbled stone and street!amps resembling gas lanterns line the community The clubhouse also significantly strays from other exclusive course standards. The partners chose to forgo commonplace federal-style architecture and replaced it with a 25,000-square-foot English manor mansion. Graham does not apologize for these excesses. "To me , the big home sites, gated entry, architectural standards and strict gu idelines show a love and respect for the land. Plus, they ensure consistency which protects the value of the community, and ensures its longevity." These indulgences are even more impressive when considering the capital it takes to build a course and the way Puckett and Graham chose to finance Longview. To date, the investment stands between $45 to $50 million, which includes a $2 mi.llion fee for jack Nicklaus' Signature brand course, but does not include the original cost of the land. Add to that the fact that Graham and Puckett chose to build out the community without presales and the result is preny astonishing. Elaborates Graham, "Steve and I had the capital, the reputation and solid financial portfolios to build Longview >

SOUTHERN TREE

& LANDSCAPE CO., INC. A TI.UCiltUH Land<~tn路 C..wr. ot

704-375-7555 www.southerntree.com

june 2003 25

704.815.4545 700 Ma; 1e.s-t'i nt 1- II Rca • ia :l1e-v5. NO:

'Whether You Think feu Can or You ean•t, You're Right:• -Henry Ford

Cus:om designed leadership progr3ms for executi ·o~es, professionals and entre~reneurs

7:)4.::31.9091 Vvh itehe3dA5.s:xiates. ::om \XIH-EHE ..\0 L\ 'SO._I..;T= II'~. d"'" "l -,p.ng le-1ders, c -do)pr>g ru/ rur•s 26

J Jne 2003

in what we thought was the right manner. We presented it to several lenders , and Bank of America gave us a great opportunity to get the capital up-front, without having to sell the customary 30 percent of the home sites in advance. This way, when people visit the course , they see what they will be getting, rather than a big patch of dirt and a drawing of what it is 'supposed' to look like. " The community also quite obviously attracts a certain market. "I knew going into this venture that I wanted to create it on the high-end, for a more stable customer. There is a certain group of people that have been accustomed to quality, and have what I call 'personal or lifestyle funds. ' They are folks who don't have to rely on their investment portfolio or their 40l(k), because if they did they most likely wouldn't be able to live here. Our clients prefer an air of exclusivity, quality, and also an assurance that the investment they make in their residence will be respected in terms of future development, community covenants and restrictions. " Graham says that his focus on perfection is demonstrated in the designs of Longview's course creator, jack Nicklaus himself. "I looked at several designers, and only jack had the vision, commitment, talent and marketability that matched our goals. jack is involved from start to finish , and he plays the field in his head as he creates it. You don't get a representative for Nicklaus designing your course when you go with a Signature course. jack is right there with his sketchpad , making changes, and aggressive decisions that ultimately provide for the most beautiful, challenging and enjoyable experience you can have on a course. " Graham says the golfing experience at Longview provides residents the chance to go out and play golf at their leisure, without having to make a tee time. 'jack created a course that will be challenging, but also fun with all the holes designed for various types and levels of play The character and play on the holes also changes with conditions, so that the course will never get boring for our members. " Puckett and Graham are equally enthusiastic about the technical and aesthetic knowledge trademarked by his designs.

greater charlotte biz

Says Puckett, "Throughout his golf career jack has obviously played every reputable course there is and has appreciated them from a player's perspective. What I found surprising though was his incredible talent as an anisl. He has been classically trained in course design and has been involved with over 200 courses. He brought the lessons from each of those experiences to the table. He literally sketched changes on his notepad on the top of the truck as we drove through the course. " A passionate golfer, Puckett can vouch for the results, "Hes given us six beginning holes that are long and require lots of power. The next four require a great deal of precision. There are three more that give you a bit of a respite to enjoy the scenery, and then he caps it off with four pro finishing holes that will give any decem golfer a run for his money. " Interestingly, Graham is not a golfer, and no longer picks up a club. "l tried it years back, and found that the sport wasn't my passion, rather it was the farming and the land that is my calling. Maintaining the precarious balance of the environmental imegrity, the history of the land and the resulting community is what drives me. Plus, l have found that being to engaged in the sport can compete with business objectives, so l feel fairly confident that I should stay on the outside of the game a bit" Union County is certainly glad lO have teve Puckett and Mel Graham in the neighborhood. The Longview community will increase the county's tax base by $500 million, and has added prestige and the possibility of new retail opportunities for the surrounding area. But aside from an inaugural round by Nicklaus on October 20th of this year, don't expect to see any famous faces or PGA Tours coming to Union County. Explains Graham, 'The tours are exciting and fun, but very disruptive to a community. '' The golf is for members only, and any subsequem retail, school and business additions will be ourside Longview$ gloriou , and gated entrance. biz

CORPDATA P

since1984 OVER 500,000 PROMOTIONAL ITEI\1S!

PO Box7148 Clla lotte, NC 28241-7148 2920 IJIJbitehall Park Drive, 28273-3333

704-588-8882 Fax 704-588-8886

Susanne Deitzel is a Charlotte-based freelance wnter. greater charlotte biz

jLre ~003 27

by 5usann:> deitzel

v ~rat')

1an~me? Wrll, f l•at r1m ~ ha :pens to~? Jad Hic tlm, quite a 1i. Tw. f:r !X.m~le .

Nio:~ldu~·

inpmive

JOifn~

reccra. ~e Ids accruea over 100 tatalgolf vhloriES, 36 ·~· J O '

C1Jilric4ls•i( TitiPs six M1~ter ·, jc:c~e r.s, anJ eigltm hol~ - in-ont ~nna tlil , h i.s Jl)c o1e c th r•a1ng 1:mes in olfrc•se hiJn, !lfimHily au to hii infressive anrl cxlitin] qcrl' .lOO s ~'lqtJrnt lr<Irtu;ility, not to llfn·ic his dd(a

aesi~n

tra ning ana 1J wmri19 idi.tEnC? Up•n 1d•ctitr.

Hi:. :~wllatiJn also llfa s ~2m lien, rnfront, for naming riqlts to a 'J~d

T1 s' g.re rs a ~randng fer on I•

e:ciJ~..ive

of aes Jn services

~owmr

~it KI::~Js ~i] n attr?

C:u131:''

bprte thE N'iglty in•?s -

rmt. it ism at wh c1 - ~~, C l u~ at lcn~viev. golhourse aedopers M~ Crchlm •nJ Seve PJdm rduw t) ~JI• . Says iel jrc1am nnh?'o of ~mrEla Billy t:r:hal'l," gre'l' tp with tb£ lcnJiie 1•-d a1J ria al iS on for 0/r a [I woda ~ Om aay becore. from t1 : mome1t _ccX .iteP1J?d : 11 tDnourse, rt SlHEd )--

ifla.

preci ,Jt~a

tJe i11rerrnt ~mty 0: the lt~na, ana d a plan to llii.XimLe rd pre~nE it.''

A -'-licklaus 'Si,snatL:e' cornse allo~s for no

Ct:tl n, C•hlo.)' G-al-a:::- ac:l~.

su' stitutL>ns, .nclu:fing the designa.

~as~ l ~bor

vtuHield

Course in South Caro i1.1. P xke .t, also a seasoned developer, ad:ri:s

is 1.1acle f ·om scratc:i- and Nicklaus

t•f b\7c f, r : a.::k. an._ h~ ~lac. ar: arp-:o:cat:J::n foJr t:he sec-iment 1 held for n:y •J'"-T ·zmLy's L.md when 1.e b::cc..rre ptt d ·hi> <::llt1lrr " "Lo::- g>i~,.1 <:coli C:::Jt_:->e and i:s

alv;ays h::.s one fin.§_cr in the batter.

acceorrpar.yirg -cside."la::s br:::a:: a natt.:-

make a golf course [un·~tiona . is literally,

ral rcUi:l.g t::n:::>;;ra"Jr 1 ::Jf -Jld ·rres, nan. -

buried."

There arc no 'factor::' represe,tatives or C0•1kie-cuter appro~ches. From beginnir g to end, a 'jack Nick.au:=: Si?;naure Course'

Jack got hvol'>o::d wit.l Longview aft..::r Mel Graham rxruitcd him

take a

ral :=:t:e; ms nd the ~-x- \ti.l ~ Cr::ek. ~ t p~~rvc~

being star

struck watching th:: :.:~E;a:l.ior cf a icklaus course. He

r ~counts,

'The

process is so invoked. Ev::ryo:1.e sees the surface result, but

N:J.:r

s nec~ ss:ny

Puckett explains, ·'To crea _e the course, it must be -outed for the natural

look at the Lcngvie."N rro"Jerty. Gnham

a·s.J h::xsts n31.JT3 aoo

speaks loving y of Lon.svi.::w Farm whet:::

<:n.hJC., -=>ud:eil an C.: F ·::k~ 3LS ·.·,orl<erl ~~d t:: n:a ::n.:~in for .h::ir persona~ sa.isf::.aicn 35 'Fi.. as t::J ~bid: by stringent

Then, the original "Jlal n.1s· be cleared

e::-:.rir::nrr~nu.l

There are three pa:=:ses tc clear the land,

he spent counless nm;rs walking the landscape as a yourg boy H:: sayo, "Graham Brothers' Dai')' •:0\IS we·e put

:eg·JL•i_,-s.

G:Jhao CO:J.trac.::::d '-'ith :'-l - klaus

out to pasture on ths beautiful propen;.

~J-en

When Ja·~k fitSt sn· the lane., he 5aicl it reminded him an a-vfullot d Mu·rfield

ili:sigr a -: ou ·se.

(the site Jf the fan:ous PGA Memorial

Go.hll:- J-.a:. ::e.-cral cc; rses

Tournament, Jnd Jack's b.nJ-placc, in

b'::~t

june 200~

thai

tog~-

C•: nscriped ::Juclett

the rm·:c:;s JrcleJ.'>'.;af. 'JV:-.ile u:-~det

topography, both lwds: aping an:i water. to within 100 feet •Jf the course's borders. all the w·lile mainlli1 n§. 3 st:rct discipline for preservati.:m." He adds, "You know, its easy to pllll

hcluhng tl-e e3:eere:l. 'i'_rld Tou

so easy

t·ee JU, Jut not

put an old grcwn tr-e back

in. " To fhish a comse, v.1riot.:.~ passes

greater :harlotte biz

T.lbt be made at 2ar J1 1ro· ing md shapr:g, w:Ji.:h he sa;s 1 ke ''.vatd ing an .mGt wi·h J bulko::cr Thc;c. guys were .voidng R thin oiUi:reter~. to get the Jerfe~ · l ne, the l:eeoc;t JU1<er. the 1ight JaLmcc · e'lwecn .vat~r a1c 1md." Graha-. saici th~ · 1e wo has been DpTfssed .vi th L1.c :: :l ~er r u nb~r~ rv.Jk:~c in creaL ng a :::o.JISe, "There are :hous::nds Jf tolb d din tbt must be TO"'C:. t.:.1 .~rade c.nd Jllance the site, plus he1e are C'er 3C n~.ile; cf -rigaLion line5, 2;30+ 11;lc:: of wi.rir:; md ov~r 15 miles ~) · dr.: nagc lines hJ.t mLSL be !rid at the ;itc .;rid L::l that ~n ~rag.: of lOC milli·JD gallxs of il"'igo:.ion w~t~r am ually, .md t.l-e1e ; a lot gcil.s en b2ne.1tb your fee t Jack is very :spxCic abcut -.vi-at it tzk:s for voper Jl<.y conclition~ and prc~x- course hCllt:-., 3n::l "'nat gees on b~neHh th~ surf;:.:::e..:; a hc:5c ccn1?0nen:

·=

o · l:~;:t."

Puc <ea, a gc If .::nlhLsia5t, aprreciates '\ic«: .;cus' s..rict uuFe specihcatio1s.

··rvt

r; courses '" ll,. pe t 1.c tees a few so that t.-c; -.:an gu proper runo [ ciuring rainy ¥lis. lzck insists on d~gret:s

using a Ll~er C\eler for ar optimal teeoff, auc a spc:::ial drainage rystem to handle tt£ r.Liof'. " Graham a::lds, "His green comp ex 6 zL;o very specifi ::; he has his own in-1-oust asronomist who lab tests grascs. :mdo. and gravel ·or compatibility to ass11-e lon.sevity and a healthy com·s~. "

E3ct 5reen also has its own separate mister system to cool it dJriq~ 10t weather con::litions. There are o·•er 1500 sprinkler h~zds that are indi' i:lu) ly controlled and a sub-air system t1at c;rabam says ··fulctions a a remcte-crntroll.~d

giantshl 1=-vc;c, to pull moisture out "'f the gteo ' tli~ t ::a1r a so cut no corners when it camE to - 1e ult nL of the individual to overs~e J-.e ::·Jurse. Graharr smiles, "If there .e·;.:r was a human V"ro could personif;- ar_ encyclopedia of golf knowledge it vvc1ld I::e Fa> Avery We c<new that we wantt:d i m to Je our Director of Golf Opeutias." Graham say~ that A\·ery's expeller~ in Rolling Hils :md 16 years as tht: sqoerinttndcnt of Quail Hollow has prr-=red him a well-ceserved,

national reputation among his peers, designers and developers. "We came to Ray and asked him for his laundry list. We asked him to describe the ideal system to perfectly maintain the Longview course." Avery reportedly ended up with $1.5 million of technological wonders and a 26-person crew. In an economy where owners are looking to superintendents to cut costs and 'do more with less,' Graham's approach was very generous. The process of the course design, maintenance issues and residential pees of Longview are identical in that they all share this type of information gathering, polling of professionals and a blueprint for the premium-product scenario. Each party involved in the community development was given the opportunity to create a wish list, and Graham, Puckett and Nicklaus worked hard to accommodate as many compatible needs as they could manage. Graham discloses that many of the design items on the list were his own. >-

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"Steve and l have a running joke. He calls me the crazy visionary and 1 call him the cheapskate." lt is really a joke, however. The affinity that the two have for each other is undeniable. Says Graham, "We have the perfect blend to make this concept a reality l have the golf course developmem and design ideas, and Steve has keen business insights, a strong investment , financial and entrepreneurial background and is one of the best business people I have met. Between the two of us, we have reached a fantastic balance and mutual appreciation for each other's talents, and contributions." Both also have a powerful respect for the artist they found in Nicklaus. The trio toured for endless hours in offroad vehicles, revisiting and revising the original course blueprint. Says Puckett, "Nicklaus is a golfing legend, a remarkab le artist and an all-around nice guy to work with. Most of the time Mel and l would sit by the truck smiling as the design would unfold. Too, he is obviously an incredible stickler for detail. We had to trim back one of the beginning holes because it was just too long, and had to reroute the creek from the front to the back of a green, and several bunkers had to be reshaped. But he knows what he is doing, and in the end there were no arguments to be had. " The architecture and old-world themed amenities Graham favors emulate traditional English and Scottish manors, and Nicklaus appreciated this. Muirfield, Nicklaus' most famous course, echoes old stone walls and Irish themed landscaping that was subsequently echoed by the entire Dublin, Ohio, community- right down to Shamrock logos on the local police cars. Graham says that one defining characteristic of Longview that departs from Muirfield's examp le is that , "As Nicklaus has mellowed in his game over the years, he strives to create a course not simply based on the challenge of the course, but the aesthetics, variety in play, and perpetuating a strong interest factor that will hold fast for the future. He isn't quite as tough in the design as he might have been in his

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championship days, which works very well for the community of members we will have at Longview. " Which isn't to say that the course isn't challenging. One report has Nicklaus chuckling at a "bazooka long shot, " and bluffs that give advantages to the player that can work with them. Puckeu says, "There is everything in this course , and your skills have to be finely honed to do well on it. From long shots, precise putts , and hazards, you have your work cut out for you. " The last four holes of the course are pro holes, and if a member plans on tackling them, he'd best polish his clubs. Nicklaus himself said, "lf a member is going to be playing from the tips , they better be up to it." Of course , the partners have encountered formidable challenges since they began the groundbreaking in 1999. The economy has faltered, and many golf experts complain that there just isn't any more room in the golfing market to sustain more courses. But Graham has taken these potential problems in stride. "We knew as we went into this project that the natural business cycle of peaks and valleys was going to play out during the development. A leveling period was inevitable, and we were prepared to encounter that. Plus, land in south Charlotte has and will continue to appreciate, so while we have had areas of reasonable concern , we have no worries about the future of the course or the community. " Interestingly, Graham's approach to the development of his first icklaus Signature course can be summed up in a simple golfing strategy: "If you take the risk and you are up to it you are handsomely rewarded. But when you take the risk and don't have the qualifications to be there , you are penalized. Severely. " With the Nicklaus name, the development experience of Graham, the rich lands of Longview, and the astute business capabilities of Puckeu, The Club at Longview promises the partners and the community a certain, and handsome, reward. biz Susanne Deitzel is a Charlotte-based freelance writer.

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s w, ys Greene on Their Si e o t e ence 'Nh~r >iStOlit ice SL>TIOS 3tru:::k Charlot -~ <51 wim::r, ::it<r ·Jilit;' crev..s m1cl private arc scape :nai:n .e~:.mcc C01.1pn.es <vorJ,ed 1o.mclth:: cloc< ~o clt:ar r··:xls an... prop~rLe!' d fallen liob> and _eb-is But, according L•) Mark Ni;:o~ck general-.anaf_:'T k>r SJuthcn Tree :me Ln:.sca:x :::_, 11pany no one "'"rked ha-det, E.Eer, : r m_·~ effe:tively on t ~job tl- an S:m.ber.: Tte£ SoL-he-n Tree and :.-.mdsop£ has s;:rv(d the Chc -k:rte regior f:x nor.: than 25 yc<:G, and h t:>e pa"l LeCldC

(9r·:e .G aquiooiti.Jr by .....,_J:J-~c- LJr L.Ca:re ir tbc <.L:: _•;~(s) r;JS foc...lSCd a rr•JS[ :::-Ue-

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anj l~.V:: 5 OllET~

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pLr.n..r.g irst:all:::-Llt zt::ltmht ~n <> xe; pes_ ma:-3§<::n-er ~IT:- gc::...:>n managm·..:n ; aois:-tcw ;u:xi lce-E13t.d ~ ----<>l:es.

.:: r~e.!:I :;ears. :he CJO{X:.r::r has "-'liT n-..IIIJe:·:•..rs cm=iwrrr ~nta.. -a•..ra:r~ -J: their '>"o-k ::-_bus ~ss -:c-1t.er!:. ::t.)a trr.::::l.. ccrrp e:<es m-d J-.-, Tecwner:;· :osoj<:J <·ns _-::-t-d-

SZ1

o ad _ tion :;;..·,><:. Ji;::olel.~ Ll.reE l-ings -:;;:rhr;:r_Trr:c Jpott [r.:-m nher m _imc:-

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can -nove into regional positions, techni-

Great landscape maintenance involves far more than mowing lav.ms

cal J:OSitions and high-level corpmate po~i ions, or they can transfer to TruGreen's sister company, ChemLJwn, or even to other erviceMaster companies

and fertilizing flowerbeds. Proactive responsiveness to customer needs, the flexibility to work with customer schedules, and the resources to fulfill customer expectations require great management , coordination and attention to detail. And to get that, a company has to have excellent people. "We recruit and retain the best peo-

Jere!its. "We p-u'"de an excellent bene1ts pc1Ckage with xry compe-ilive wages, :on1=rr::hensive 1ea.l.Lh, life , and dental, 40l•k), procit s-w-bg, stock purchase "Jla-,, 1=aicl \aca OL. the best training pro-

like Ierminix, where an additional wealth

"ra-n in the induSI.l}, and cor orate sup-

of opportunity lies. "There's a lot of room

"Jon.: says Niwle-< ,A_nd the inc:r Lve doesn't stop there.

to gt<lw," says Nizolek. 3esicles a compelling wealth of

:O:mplo,'ee

opportunity, Southern Tree offers em?_oyees a smorgasbord of corporate

•mt-:Lsiasm for th ~ rr work and for the "Jecpie they work with. According to

S:·u_b.crn Tree brim with

ple," boasts Nizolek. For a stan, they offer something smaller landscape companies simply can't-a wide-open field of opportunities for career advancement. As a policy, Southern Tree seeks out individuals with a keen interest in a career in landscape maintenance. A new recruit might come out of a university honiculLUre program. from another company, or any number of other avenues. The career paths for recruits are numerous and varied, but a new employee straight out of college would stan their career with field experience, either through an internship or on-the-job training. Recruits "get their fingernails dirty," as izolek puts it, in every aspect of the business-irrigation , flower installations, enhancements, pesticide applications, and so on. At the same time, they gain experience dealing with customers on a daily basis. Once an employee has well-rounded experience in the field and has demonstrated an ability to deal with customers professionally and proactively, they may move upward to area management. An area manager interacts directly with customers on a daily basis, scheduling maintenance , providing customer service and selling services. "That's the pivotal position in the company," says Nizolek, but there's still more in store for an ambitious employee. From area manager, they might go into operations management as the Charloue area's operations manager Dave jacobus has done , working with all the area managers in the company. Other options include enhancement management, floriculture managemenL, and branch management. Beyond that, they

june 2003

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jacobus, "Everyone at Southern Tree is there for a reason, and no one comes in LO work not wanting LO be there." Pan of this enthusiasm arises from the obvious fact that these people love what they are doing. But Nizolek offers another side as wcll-"We work hard when we're here, but we play hard and enjoy ourseh·es outside of work, and we do make sure that we have time for our families, time to have a life outside of work." ln addition, the company regularly treats its staff to extra curricular activities like cookouts, dinners, ball games and concerts. The wealth of opportunities and incentives means that Southern Tree attracts some of the best talent in the industry.

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Maintaining Best Practices TruGreen, as the nation's largest provtder of landscape maintenance sen·ices, backs Southern Tree's efforts with the latest in landscape research and development. Through TruGreen's technical center, they are able LO "employ the most ophi ticated techniques and materials," says izolek. These techniques and materials mean that turf management, tree and shrub care, water management, and other aspects of landscape maintenance are handled with the most up-to-date methods and materials, using the latest equipmelll and technology. Coupling technology with quality people who are carefully trained down LO the last person in the best practices for the particular effort they are invoked in, outhern Tree's customers get the best of care for their landscape. For example, a client planning Oowerbeds for a site can consult with Gail Byrd, OOiiculture manager, for installation and maintenance. ''She finds out what their likes and di likes are, and then she plans out cusLOm beds and coordinates the installations with a dedicated Ooriculture crew," says izolek. Her teams arc specifically trained in the best practices for ensuring a perfect installation and beauuful maintenance of Ooriculture. Southern Tree's OOiiculture installments have won more than awards for the company-they have won that sincerest form of flattety, copycats. "It's great," says Nizolek. "It's very Oatteting to us." >-

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A decade ago, Southern Tree was known as much for its installations as for its landscape maintenance, but with its acquisition by TruGreen came a new, stronger focus on the service aspect of the industry Although Southern Tree still provides installation for existing cusLOmers, their main thrust is maintenance. With the new focus, they arc able to provide bcucr, faster, more proactive service and a firm partnership with the cusLOmer. "\Ve know what our cusLOmer's budget is," says Nizolek, "and we work with them to give the best landscape service possible within the budget. We know the value of quick and proactive service. Our area managers are available 24-7 and we are proactive in our cusLOmer service." During the ice sLOrms of 2002, according to jacobus, Southern Tree received beucr reviews for their lean-up work than the city did. Like city crews and OLher similar companies, they worked around the clock clearing trees and debris for their customers. But unlike many others, they had the benefits of significant advance planning and corporate backing that allowed them LO respond extremely efficiently During every season, Southern Tree works not only on that season's tasks, but also on planning for the coming season. In May, while working on flowerbeds and mowing lawns, the company is also examining its winter supplies and equipment. They ensure that the equipment is in good repair and clean, and that supplies such as icc melt product are replenished from the previous winter. Becau c they keep three truckloads of ice melt product on hand and have more than half as much snow clearing equipment as the entire city of Charloue, they can respond quickly and effectively to large winter sLOrms such as this past winter's. And when supplies run low, or an unexpected emergency strikes, more supplies and equipment are "only a phone call away," says Nizolck. The enormous corporate backing of TruGreen Land Care and ServiceMaster Companies means that Southern Tree has access to massive buying power, meaning lower prices for their

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customers and greater availability of necessary equipment and supplies. Southern Tree's response to December's ice storms was so impressive that they were deluged with calls from non-customers begging them to come help. But Southern Tree's successful growth pattern has not been based on crises, nor did the management feel that garnering new clientele by such means would be healthy. "We were committed to servicing our current customers, not to make a quick buck off a non-customer. "

Growing Into the Future Nizolek and Jacobus agree that Southern Tree is poised for continuous growth in the future , and they agree that it should and will be gradual. The company has just added two new satellite offices, in Huntersville and Ballantyne, and moved their headquarters into a new, 11,000-square-foot facility on Shopton Road (from their previous location on Old Pineville) The northern pan of town shows promise for substantial growth, and they expect gradually to add crews and equipment, but they definitely are not looking for large numbers of new projects all at once. But even gradual growth goes in fits and starts, and izolek says the company is always prepared for the next step. Because the company is constantly recruiting and training people, there is always a supply of fully trained individuals ready for promotion as soon as new opportunities arise as the company grows. And new equipment and supplies are readily accessible thanks to the company's corporate backing. Whatever the future may hold , however, Nizolek is sure of one thing: "In this industry, the only thing that is constant is change." But one thing that doesn't seem likely to change is Southern Tree's commitment to providing superior service for their clientele. Whether it's seeking (and winning) awards for customer properties, or simply being there in a crisis, the grass definitely looks pretty green at Southern Tree. biz

Heather Head is a Charlotte-based freelance writer

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[bizdigest] [bizbits] PIT Instruction and Training Acquires 5 Off 5 On Race Team Performance

The Mayor's International Cabinet has annou nced the corporate wi nners for this

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Jeff Hammond, former NASCAR Winston

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WFAE 90.7fm received three awards in

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june 2003

greater charlotte biz

High Costs of Resolving Employment Discrimination Claims Affirm Importance of Preventing Discrimination in the Workplace According to a recent study conducted by Jury Verdict Research examining settlements and jury verdicts in discrimination cases nationwide from 1994 through 2000, the median settlement amount for all discrimination claims was $60,000. Sex discrimination claims were the most expensive to settle, with a median settlement amount of $70,000.

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Age discrimination claims were a close second, settling for a median amount of $65,500. The median settlement amount for disability and race discrimination cases were $50,000 and $47,750, respectively.While settlement ranged anywhere from a low of $641 to a high of $508 million, approximately 40 per cent of all discrimination settlements were for more than $1 00,000. The study also revealed that settlements, while certainly not cheap, were less

When it comes to the middle market, we wrote the book.

costly than jury verdicts. In discrimination cases that failed to settle, the median jury verdict in 2000 was $218,000.

NAWBO- Charlotte Announces Finalists The National Association of Women Business Owners - Charlotte has announced the finalists for their two prestigious awards: the Rising Star and the Woman Business Owner of the Year: The Rising Star recognizes a woman who has owned her business for

The p rofessiona ls of Grant Thornton specia lize in he lp ing mid -size, g rowing companies. \X!e understa nd the trends that impact the m idd le ma rket. We even produced a book track ing those trends,

77Je Grant Thornton Su rvey o.f Middle-Market Business Owners.

fewer than five years and the finalists are Sheryl Connors-Johnson ofThe Marketing Extension, Inc., Patricia Pollack of My Team of Experts, Inc., and Frances Queen of Queen

Gra nt Tho rn ton is the leading global accounting firm ded icated to serving th e needs of midd le-market compan ies.

Associates Inc. The Woman Business Owner of the Year honors a woman who has owned her business for five years or more and the finalists are Suzanne Bumgarner of Resources Employment Services, Inc., Cathy Critz of Solutions FYS, Inc., and Marguerite Rupar of Doncaster Charlotte. The awards will be presented at the 18th Annual Appreciation and

Let us show you the level of service we can provide to you r organ ization. Ca ll Mike McG uire , Caroli nas Managing Partner. at 704.632.3500, or visit our Website at \vww.gra ntthornron.com.

Remember, when it con1es to the middle market, we wrote the book.

Awards Gala on June 3, 2003, at the Westin Hotel. The Community Service Award will also be presented to Vernetta Mitchell with the City of Charlotte's Office of Small Business Development who will be recognized for outstanding achievements in support of women in business and women busi-

Grant Thornton fi A passion for the middle market

ness owners.

greater charlotte biz

june 2003 41

Autobell Car Wash Now America's Third Largest The

EMPlOYERS ASSOC I AT i ON

chain in America in the latest ranking by Power Inc.'s Car Wash Institute . Autobell was founded in 1969

Providing human resources and training services to build a better business climate.

by the late Charles Howard and is now run by his son Chuck Howard,Autobell has 33 full-service car washes in 18 N.C. cities and will open its first unit outside the state in July in Newport News,Va. Other openings

• •

Wages , benefits and policies benchmark surveys

•

Payroll and benefits administration

Autobell Car Wash, Inc., the family-owned

environmental consciousness. Its charity car

•

Human resource advice hotline

car wash company headquartered here, has

wash and employee scholarship programs

Computer training

risen to the third largest conveyor car wash

are paramount in the industry.

•

Employee opinion surveys

•

Professional human resource consulting and outsourcing

Management and human resources training

in both states are anticipated in late 2003. Autobell has never closed a car wash and repeatedly wins awards for its

Hosiery Expo Attendees Top 5,000 The International Hosiery Exposition and Conference (IHE) attracted over 5,000

Serving Employers Since 1958

industry executives from around the world -

The Emplovers Association 3020 West ArroiMJod Road Charlotte, NC 28273 704-522-8011 www.emploversassoc.com

a full I 0 percent over anticipated atten-

dance levels -

during its four-day run at the

Charlotte Convention Center here last month. "We were absolutely delighted to have achieved this high lev:l of attendance -

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Take advantage of these products and services from Charlotte's leading business-to-business suppliers. Accupointe Professional Accountin g Systems Altman Initiative Ameritrust Mortgage Company, LLC Blair, Bohle & Whitsitt PLLC Carolina Volkswagen Charlotte Queen's Cup Steeplechase Compass Career Management Solutions Corp Data Products Culp Elliott & Carpenter, PLLC Dunhill Hotel Employers Association First Citizens Grant Thornton Grubb Properties Henricks Corporate Training Knauff Insurance Koger Realty Services, Inc. Liquid Design Logisource Meeting House Office Environments Regent Park Golf Course R. L. Bryan Company

Road Runner Business Class Sedona Staffing Services Sonitrol Security Southern Tree & landscape South Trust Bank Stripling & Beck The Club at Longview Vance flouhouse & Garges, PLLC

Wachovia Westport Marina Whitehead Associates

june 2003

pg. 13 pg.ll pg. 33 pg. 10 BC pg. 8 pg. 17 pg. 27 pg. 32 pg. 12 pg. 42 pg. 1 pg. 41 IFC pg. 44 pg. 37 pg. 32 pg. 38 pg. 26 pg. 37 pg. 31 pg. 39 pg. 40 pg. 5 pg. 33 pg. 21 pg. 25 IBC pg. 41 pg.2 pg. 38 pg. 7 pg.13 pg. 26

sponsors of the global hosiery event. In fact, a full one-third of the attendees came from 52 countries other than the United States -

giving the show a true inter-

national flavor. Major hosiery manufacturing machine producers, supplier and service provider exhibits were crowded with visitors throughout the three days of the show. The Hosiery Association, founded in

especially given the challenging economic cli-

1905, is the only national trade association

mate which currently exists within our

representing the manufacturers of more

industry," said Sally F. Kay, president ofThe

than 85 percent of the hosiery produced

Hosiery Association, :he Charlotte-based

in America.

Local Individuals Highlighted for Acheivements The Charlotte C hamber has named H .C.

"Smoky" Bissell of : he Bissell Family of

Corporation and Richard Brasser of Targeted Golf Solutions. For companies with

Companies as its 2003 C hairman's Award

I I to 35 employees, finalists are Greg Aker

Recipient for his ongo ng contributions to the

of InfoVision Inc., Frances Queen of Queen

Charlotte community. The award is given in

Associates Inc. and Bill Crawford of Wilmar

special recognition of Bissell's business leader-

Leasing Inc. For businesses with 36 to ISO

ship skills, including his entrepreneurial

workers, finalists are Matthew Michalewicz

achievement and stror g commitment to the

of Nu Tech Solutions Inc., David jones of Peak

community. The Charlotte Chamber has announced finalists for its 2003 Entre preneu r Awards . Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the program

I0 Inc. and Billy Graves ofVV.B. Moore Company. Three area companies won 2003 Charlotte Ethics in Business Awards, sponsored

recognizes local entrepreneurs who have

by the Charlotte Chapter of the Society of

turned their dreams into successful business-

Financial Service Professionals and I0 other

es. One award recipient from each of the

local partners. Simonini Builders Inc., oper-

three categories will be named during a din-

ated by Alan Simonini, won in the small compa-

ner and awards presentation on September

ny category; Rodgers Builders Inc. won in

30, 2003, at the Westin Hotel. Award nomi-

the mid-size category; and Goodrich Corp.

nees for companies w th I0 or fewer employ-

won in the large category.Two companies

ees are Dana Rader of Dana Rader Golf

received honorable mentions: Archadeck of

School, Bob Henricks of Hen ricks

Charlotte and The Keith Corp. greater char lotte biz

Joan Lorden, dean of the graduate school and associate provost for research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has been named provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Lorden will hold the university's second top administrative position, reporting directly to Chancellor Jim Woodward. She also will serve as the chief academic officer of the University and at the helm of the division of academic affairs, which is comprised of seven colleges. Jeff Michael has been named the new executive director ofThe University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Urban Kusawn D. Carr

Institute. Michael comes to UNC Charlotte from the executive director's post at Wildacres Leadership Derrick &oone Initiative, a statewide leadership program in human relations. The Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University has Michael Lcrd announced that Kusawn D. Carr hc.s joined the university as c.s;ociate c ire::tor of the Charlotte Evenin~ and Saturday MBA Progran~ at the Uni;ersity's Morrocroft

CHARLES &COLVARDN - - - - - C ·eal""'d

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campus in Charlotte. The Babcock School has also promoted four faculty members: Derrick Boone, Michael Lord and Michele Roehm have been promoted to associate professors with tenure and H. Jeff Smith has been promoted to full professor.The faculty members Michelle Roehm teach at Wake MBA's WinstonSalem and Charlotte campuses. Nat Irvin II, assistant dean for MBA student development and H. Jeff Smith

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june 2003 43

Nat Irvin II

executive professor of future studies at the Babcock School, has been honored with the Razor Walker Award from the University of North Carolina

at Wilmingtor fo r making a significant impact on yoLn,5 people in North Carolina. Irvin founded Future Focus 2020 to examine socia_, Jolitical, economic, technological and -=rviroomental issues expected to ra'wâ&#x201A;Ź the greatest effects on urban comm u1i: ies by the year 2C2J.

C. Ronald Scheeler has been elected to the board of directors of Raleigh-based First Citizens C. Ronald Scheeler BancShares lnc. 1nd First-Citizens Bcnk & Trust Company.

Angela Broome and Paul Solitario

Angela Broome

have been elected senior vice presidents at First Citizens Bank in Charlotte. Broome

Paul Solitario

is market executive for six branches located in East Charlotte. Solitario is the private client group relationship manager for Charlotte.

CIT Small Business Lending, the nation's #I Small Business Administration lender for the last three years and a subsidi1ry of CIT Group Inc ., has named John Little as regional account manager for North Carolina. According to Chris Kwiatkowski , regional sales vice xesident of CIT, in fiscal 2002, CIT approved more than $23 .2 million in the Charlotte SBA District. Nancy Dorrier, president of management consulting firm Dorrier Underwood , has received the 2003 Algernon Sydney Sullivan award for her compassion, grace and dedication to helping others. Since 1991 , Dorrier has traveled to Kenya and Tanzania as a volunteer with Global Partners for Development to work with local people to achieve a better future thrDLgh increased access to clean water, improved health , expanded educational opportunities and through fostering women 's economic development initiatives. NAI Southern Real Estate has

announced that Randall H. Boone has joined NAI Southern 's Office where he will specialize in the sale of income properties and land acquisition. Wayne C. Shusko, managing director of Bissell Hotels, has been appointed to the Aud itorium , Coliseum, Convention Center Authority, the board that will oversee the basketball coliseum for Charlotte's new NBA franchise . Womble Caryle Sand r idge and Rice, PLLC has announced the addition of

Hampton Dellinger current chief legal counsel to North Carolina Governor Mike Dalya Kutchei Easley - to its Business Litigation Group. Anderson & Associates , a retained executive search firm, has announced appointment of Dalya Kutchei as executive search consultant, providing full service executive sea rch consulting with emphasis in the healthcare and nonprofit sectors. Spectrum Prope rties Residential , Inc., has announced the appointment of larry Hucks as engineering supervisor for Fifth & Poplar, a mid-rise luxury apartment community now under construction in downtown Charlotte.

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ju n e 2.003

greater charlotte biz

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Photos left to right from bad: ro·N: Mark Ricketson; Tri~p Gai:Iri"l; Taylor Vickrey; Bill Con:ml y; Dick Robberts; Mark "Eck; Juan Booker; Bob Dlwln; Janina Moore; Russell Jones and David ,.. iller

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"Volkswagen Touareg Voted The Best Luxury SUV of 2003." Car and Driver " VW waited a long time to get into the profitable SUV market and has built a solid, comfortable , capable truck to compete with BMW and Range Rover." - Roger Hart, AutoWeek, October 2002

"VW has offered magnificent quality since the 1998 Passat, and the Touareg brings to SUV-Iand the highest level of goodies at the lowest possible price." - Men's Journal, October 2002

Coming soon to North America -something completely new, yet refreshingly familiarthe Touareg. (Pronounced "tour-eg.") A sport utility vehicle designed to provide as much joy on-road as off. While the very notion might raise some eyebrows, it wouldn't be the first time this company's strayed from the beaten track.

Drivers wanted~

Carolina Volkswagen (N othing could be finer) 7800 E. Independence Blvd. at Krefeld Dr. â&#x20AC;˘ Charlotte, NC 28227 704-537-23 36 â&#x20AC;˘ l-800-489-2336 INWW.carolinavw.com

<!:J 2003 Vo1ks..,gen. 1-800 DRM VW "'VW.COM