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ITINERARY DAY 1 – TUESDAY, MAY 24 6:00 a.m.
Leave on buses from parking at Piedmont Triad International Airport
9:30 a.m.
Arrive at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg for Tours – Split into two groups
GROUP 1 9:30 a.m. Check-In for BMW Tour 10:00 a.m. BMW Guided Plant Tour 11:30 a.m. Explore BMW Zentrum Museum and The Isetta Café GROUP 2 9:30 a.m. Explore BMW Zentrum Museum and The Isetta Café 10:00 a.m. Check-In for BMW Tour 10:30 a.m. BMW Guided Plant Tour 12:00 p.m. Lunch at Greer City Hall with presentation by Mayor Rick Danner Greer City Hall, 301 E Poinsett Street Greer, SC 29651 Sponsored by Duke Energy GROUPS 1 AND 2 1:30 p.m. BMW Supplier Diversity Conversation with Louise Connell GROUP 3 1:30 p.m. Check-In for BMW Tour 2:00 p.m. BMW Guided Plant Tour 3:30 p.m. All three groups check-in at SpringHill Suites Greenville Downtown 200 East Washington Street, Greenville, SC 28601 5:45 p.m. Load buses to travel to dinner Springhill Suites Greenville Downtown parking lot 6:00 p.m.
Dinner and Reception at The L (211 E. Broad Street, Suite B, Greenville, SC 29601) Sponsored by Truliant Federal Credit Union
Speakers: • Welcome Remarks by Greenville Mayor Knox White • The BMW Story presentation by Max Metcalf, Manager, Government and Community Relations at BMW Manufacturing Co. 8:00 p.m. Top Golf / Free Time (optional)
DAY 2 – WEDNESDAY, MAY 25 7:00 a.m. -8:00 a.m.
Breakfast in Hotel Sponsored by Staunton Capital, Inc.
8:30 a.m.
Luggage loaded onto buses
8:45 a.m. Walk/ride to AC Hotel (315 South Main Street, Greenville, SC 29601). Panel located in ballroom. 9:00 a.m. Regional Collaboration Discussion hosted by John Lummus, President & CEO, Upstate SC Alliance Sponsored by Truist 10:00 a.m. Track Breakout – Please load your corresponding bus as each bus will go to a separate location. TRACK 1 EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Chamber Leader: Deborah Hooper 10:00 a.m. – Travel to SPARK Center at Spartanburg Community College 10:30 a.m. – Session with Mike Forrester, VP for Economic Development at Spartanburg Community College 11:30 a.m. – Travel to Greenville Technical College Center for Manufacturing Innovation
Working Lunch Sponsored by Guilford Technical Community College
Speakers: David Clayton, Assistant Vice President, Corporate Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research Kelvin Byrd, Dean, School of Aviation, Construction, and Transportation Technologies at Greenville Technical College Dr. Larry Miller, Vice President of Learning and Workforce Development at Greenville Technical College 2:00 p.m. K-12 Pipeline Discussion Session Sponsored by the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro Speakers: W. Burke Royster, Ph.D., Superintendent, Greenville County Schools Eric Williams, Executive Director for Career and Technology Education, Greenville County Schools
TRACK 2 INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE Chamber Leader: Brent Christensen 10:00 a.m. – Travel to Inland Port Greer Speakers: Will Angelich, Terminal Manager, Inland Port Greer 11:30 a.m. – Travel to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport Working Lunch Sponsored by Guilford Technical Community College Speakers: David N. Edwards, Jr. , GSP Airport President & CEO 1:00 p.m. Travel to SPARK Center at Spartanburg Community College Infrastructure & Regional Development Panel Speakers: Carter Smith, retired former EVP at Spartanburg Economic Futures Group Jason Martin, Duke Energy TRACK 3 COMMUNITY IMPACT – HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Chamber Leader: Lou Anne Flanders-Stec 10:00 a.m. Stay at AC Hotel. First session located in ballroom. 10:30 a.m. Downtown Capacity and Growth Speakers: City of Greenville Economic Development Clint Link, Director of Public Works, City of Greenville Shannon Lavrin, Assistant City Manager, City of Greenville 11:30 a.m. Travel to Truist Culinary & Hospitality Innovation Center (CHI) 12:00 p.m. Housing Discussion Working Lunch Sponsored by Guilford Technical Community College Speakers: Tina Belge, Advocacy & Community Engagement Manager, Greenville Housing Fund 2:00 p.m. Addressing Poverty in a Growing Community Speakers: Susan McLarty, Coordinator, Greenville Homeless Alliance Lizzie Bebber, Executive Director, United Ministries Stacey Mills, Greenville Racial Equity & Economic Mobility Commission APPROX. 3:00 P.M. ALL TRACKS DEPART GREENVILLE, SC FOR GREENSBORO, NC
Did you know
80
%
of brain growth happens in the first three years of life?
A growing number of Guilford County companies are helping employees navigate parenthood by sharing The Basics. All Pets Considered Arch MI Biscuitville Brady Services City of Greensboro City of High Point Cone Health Culp Inc.
$25
DARRAN Furniture D.H. Griffin Companies Guilford County HAECO Americas Kindermusik Kontoor Brands Lincoln Financial Group N.C. A&T State University
PNP Design Group Spectrum Thomas Built Buses UNC Greensboro United Way of Greater Greensboro VF Corporation vtv Therapeutics Inc.
Contact us to learn more about how your company can join The Basics movement and receive a $25 Starbucks gift card.
info@guilfordbasics.org - guilfordbasics.org/business
Lizzie Bebber- Executive Director, United Ministries Elizabeth “Lizzie” Fortenberry Bebber brings both nonprofit and leadership experience to United Ministries, encompassing fundraising, communications, board engagement, partnership development, and organizational planning.
Tina Belge- Advocacy & Community Engagement Manager, Greenville Housing Fund. Tina advocates for policy change and fostering community engagement around affordable housing to remove barriers and increase commitment to this scarce resource. She also oversees the Greenville Affordable Housing Coalition, GHF’s collective impact group focused on cutting the city and county affordable housing needs in half over the next ten years. As a former planner at both Greenville County and Greenville County Redevelopment Authority, she developed neighborhood plans and assisted as well as ran programs for those experiencing homelessness, as well as those living in substandard housing. She is an alumnus of Georgia Southern University and UNC-Chapel Hill, where she received her MPA in Community and Economic Development. Her husband, Jacob, and she have a young daughter named Sammy and two dogs, Ruff and Lily.
Kevin Byrd- Dean of the School of Aviation, Construction and Transportation Technologies, Greenville Technical College A veteran of the U.S. Army, Byrd began his career at the college in 1994 as an adjunct Welding instructor and later became department head for Welding and Mechatronics. Most recently, he served as associate dean of Industrial Manufacturing and interim director for the Center for Manufacturing Innovation. Prior to GTC, he worked for General Electric as a lead welder and machinist and for 13 years, owned and managed his own welding company. Additionally, he spent 12 years with Greenville County Schools teaching machine tool and welding classes.
David Clayton- Executive Director, Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research | Assistant Vice President, Office of Corporate Partnerships and Strategic Initiative With more than twenty years’ experience in higher education, industry and public service, David Clayton is an expert in southeast economic development strategy, advanced manufacturing and the mobility industry. His work spans public-private partnership development, corporate engagement, business development, market research, financial services, transportation and nuclear engineering. Working closely with industry, Clayton develops corporate partnership models supporting opportunities for students as well as industry partners that are in line with Clemson’s land-grant mission to the state and its residents. Clayton can speak to trends in advanced STEM education, economic and workforce development in the southeast regional, and the mobility industry as a whole.
Rick Danner- Mayor of Greer Since his election as the City of Greer Mayor in 1999, Rick Danner has helped direct the city through one of the most progressive periods in its history. His tenure as mayor has included unprecedented industrial and commercial growth, including the construction and opening of the South Carolina Inland Port. The City of Greer Municipal Complex, which includes City Hall, the Police and Courts Complex and the 12-acre Greer City Park, opened in 2008 and have redefined service and recreation for residents and contributed to the revitalization of Greer Station. The revival of the central business district has been paralleled by continued commercial growth along the Highway 29 corridor with diverse offerings for all members of the community. The City of Greer has recorded growth in gross retail sales for five consecutive fiscal years, growing from $452 million in 2010 to $1.15 billion in 2016.
David N. Edwards, Jr.- Greenville-Spartanburg Airport President & CEO David has over twenty-five years experience in airport management with strong credentials in the areas of business development, properties, governmental affairs, operations, and international marketing. He has served as the President/CEO of the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District since July 2009. He is responsible for the overall administration and development of the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP). Under his leadership passenger traffic has almost doubled, and the airport secured nonstop all-cargo service to Germany. He is also responsible for establishing and implementing a Terminal Renovation/Modernization Program for GSP, which resulted in the investment of $127 million in the terminal between 2012 and 2017. Immediately prior to relocating to Greenville-Spartanburg, Mr. Edwards served as the Airport Director of the Asheville Regional Airport Authority for almost six years. Mr. Edwards also served as the Executive Director of the TitusvilleCocoa Airport Authority. He spent twelve years with the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority and started his aviation career with the Dade County Aviation Department.
Dr. Larry Miller- Vice President of Learning and Workforce Development at Greenville Technical College Dr. Miller leads the college’s seven academic schools as well as GTC’s continuing education arm, the Economic Development and Corporate Training Division. Miller joined the GTC staff in 2019 as director of institutional research and has served as the interim vice president for learning and workforce development for the past seven months. After earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in business administration from the State University of New York at Buffalo, Miller began his career as a management consultant for Fortune 500 companies with Arthur Anderson. He later entered the field of higher education as a research associate at the University of Washington’s Center on Reinventing Public Education. Next, he earned a Ph.D. in public administration with specializations in public finance and budgeting, and social policy from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. He then began work as an assistant professor in the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University and later became dean of the School of Education at Florida SouthWestern State College, a role that included serving as superintendent of collegiate charter schools and leadership of the dual enrollment program. Miller, a first-generation college student, is committed to correcting inequities for those who are underresourced by the education system. At Greenville Technical College, that focus has led him to champion improving persistence, retention, and student success using innovative new tools. He has published more than two dozen peer-reviewed manuscripts along with opinion pieces and research reports.
W. Burke Royster, Ph.D.- Superintendent - Greenville County Schools A 40-year veteran of public education, his tenure as Superintendent has been marked by significant advances in student achievement, with a particular focus on improving the District’s graduation rate and ensuring that students are college and career ready. In a nod to the progress achieved under his direction, Dr. Royster was named an Education Week Leader to Learn From in February of 2017, has been listed four times as one of Greenville Business Journal’s “50 Most Influential,” was named 2018 Superintendent of the Year by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators, and the 2017 Superintendent of the Year by the South Carolina Association of Athletic Administrators.
Knox White- Mayor of Greenville Mayor White has served on City Council since 1983 and as mayor since December 1995. A native of Greenville, he is a graduate of Christ Church Episcopal School and Greenville High School and attended Wake Forest University and the University of South Carolina Law School. He is a partner in the law firm of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, where he heads the firm’s immigration and customs practices. His tenure as mayor has been defined by neighborhood revitalization, economic development and transformational projects for downtown. Over the past two decades, Greenville has earned national acclaim for its livability and pro-business environment and has become an award-winning destination. If you ask Mayor White what makes Greenville so unique, he’ll tell you that it’s due in large part to good planning and even greater partnerships. Key projects and initiatives that have occurred under his leadership include the removal of the Camperdown Bridge, the creation of Falls Park and the Liberty Bridge, development along the Reedy River, construction of a baseball stadium downtown, development of the Swamp Rabbit Trail, installation of public art and record annexations.
Eric Williams- Executive Director for Career and Technology Education- Greenville County Schools Mr. Eric Williams began his career as a Career and Technology educator as a Health Science teacher at Enoree Career Center. He developed strong programs in Sports Medicine, Emergency Response, and Pharmacy Tech. He has served in a variety of educational leadership roles in Greenville County Schools including principal of both Riverside Middle School and Wade Hampton High School. Eric’s leadership experience at the secondary level as well as his knowledge of CTE programs will be beneficial in providing meaningful career readiness opportunities to the students of Greenville County.
Delegates .......................... Deno Adkins Cone Health .......................... April Albritton City of Greensboro .......................... Cantey Alexander Truist Financial Corporation .......................... George Bachmann First National Bank .......................... Jeff Baker Syngenta .......................... Phil Barnhill East Greensboro NOW .......................... Ryan Blackledge Cone Health .......................... Charles Blackmon C2 Contractors, LLC .......................... David Bolton The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro .......................... Danny Brown United Maintenance Group, LLP .......................... Linda Brown Asheboro Chamber of Commerce .......................... Melissa Burroughs The Cemala Foundation .......................... Taylor Butler CT Wilson Construction Co. .......................... Amanda Byrd Randolph Community College .......................... Andrew Cagle UNC Greensboro .......................... Ivan Canada National Conference for Community & Justice of the Piedmont Triad .......................... Steve Castelloe Guilford Technical Community College .......................... Dawn Chaney Chaney Properties .......................... Eboni Chillis Guilford County Schools .......................... Brent Christensen Greensboro Chamber of Commerce .......................... Tony Clarke Guilford Technical Community College .......................... Ashley Cone The Cemala Foundation .......................... James Cox Greensboro Housing Authority .......................... Amy Criscuolo Sanctuary House .......................... Gerald Dale Randolph County Planning .......................... Meredith Daye Greensboro Housing Authority .......................... Manuel Dudley Guilford Technical Community College .......................... Erris Dunston Guilford County Government .......................... Melida Eudy Randolph Community College .......................... Lou Anne Flanders-Stec Launch Greensboro .......................... Ann Flynt Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro .......................... Kevin Franklin Randolph County EDC .......................... Kelli Frazier Blue Ring AI .......................... Reagan Gural Alamance Regional Chamber of Commerce .......................... Preston Hammock Cone Health .......................... Guy Harrington Junior Achievement .......................... Hope Haywood Randolph County Government .......................... Ainsley Heffinger Greensboro Chamber of Commerce .......................... Hank Henning Duke Energy .......................... Fred Henry GuilfordWorks .......................... Loren Hill Piedmont Triad Partnership .......................... Calissa Holder Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
.......................... Deborah Hooper Greensboro Chamber of Commerce .......................... Chris Huntley Say Yes Guilford .......................... Taylor Hutchins Greensboro Chamber of Commerce .......................... Sterling Kelly Burkely Communities .......................... David Kolosieke Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro ...................... Karen Knippenberg Piedmont Triad International Airport .......................... CC Lamberth C2 Contractors, LLC .......................... Elbert Lassiter Randolph Community College .......................... Jodi Lorenzo Sanctuary House .......................... Jon Lowder TREBIC .......................... Brian Maas ECS Southeast, LLP .......................... Megan Mabry Greensboro Chamber of Commerce .......................... Jeff MacIntosh City of Winston-Salem .......................... Emily McCollum Weaver Foundation .......................... Sarah Mcguire Action Greensboro .......................... Kelly McKee Ready for School, Ready for Life .......................... Michael McKinney Piedmont Triad Apartment Association .......................... Stacey Miller Apprenticeship Randolph- Randolph Community College .......................... Eric Muth North Carolina A&T State University .......................... Tracy Myers Greensboro Chamber of Commerce .......................... Trevor Nuttall City of Asheboro .......................... Courtney Payne Bank of America Merrill Lynch .......................... Robbie Perkins NAI Piedmont Triad .......................... Beth Pitonzo Guilford Technical Community College .......................... Mildred Poole CTE Business Advisory Council .......................... Dede Potter MI-BOX Mobile Storage .......................... Laura Pratt First Citizens Bank .......................... Marvin Price Greensboro Chamber of Commerce .......................... Jessica Raby Piedmont Triad Regional Workforce Development Board .......................... David Ramsey Landmark Builders Inc. .......................... Michelle Rash RLF Communications ........... ............. Kevin Robinson RTriad Enterprises, LLC. .......................... James Rosa Rosa Foundation .......................... Joe Rotondi The Forge .......................... Libby Schinnow UNC Greensboro .......................... Scott Schomburg Self-Help Credit Union .......................... Jessica Schultz Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolilna .......................... Ben Schwab STITCH design shop .......................... Sue Schwartz City of Greensboro .......................... Kathryn Shields Guilford College .......................... Susan Shumaker Cone Health Foundation .......................... Atticus Simpson Truliant Federal Credit Union .......................... Evan Stone The Carroll Companies
Steve Swetoha .......................Greensboro Swarm Amanda Szabo-Huff .......................Guilford College Leon Thomas .......................Safe Transport LLC Cecelia Thompson ......................Action Greensboro Tami Thurm .......................City of Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan .......................City of Greensboro Danielle Veal .......................UnitedHealthcare Wendy Walker-Fox .......................Piedmont Triad Regional Council Laura Way .......................ArtsGreensboro Marshall Yandle ...................City of Greensboro
Chamber Contacts Brent Christensen (336) 708-6286 Ainsley Heffinger (276) 732-2872 Calissa Holder (724) 813-9919 Deborah Hooper (336) 482-7238 Taylor Hutchins (336) 414-5620 Megan Mabry (828) 808-7224 Sarah McGuire (336) 460-0357 Tracy Myers (336) 830-4598 Marvin Price (336) 580-4927 Cecelia Thompson (336) 460-0357
Track 1 Ryan Blackledge David Bolton Melissa Burroughs Amanda Byrd Andrew Cagle Steve Castelloe Eboni Chillis Tony Clarke Ashley Cone Joe Rotondi Manuel Dudley Erris Dunston Melida Eudy Ann Flynt Kelli Frazier Guy Harrington Hope Haywood Fred Henry Deborah Hooper Chris Huntley Elbert Lassiter Jeff MacIntosh Kelly McKee Stacey Miller Eric Muth Courtney Payne Beth Pitonzo Mildred Poole Jessica Raby Kevin Robinson Libby Schinnow Jessica Schultz Kathryn Shields Amanda Szabo-Huff Cecelia Thompson Wendy Walker-Fox
Track 2 Cantey Alexander Jeff Baker George Bachmann Phil Barnhill Charles Blackmon Danny Brown Taylor Butler Brent Christensen Bob Crumley Jay Dale Karen Kippenberg Kevin Franklin Preston Hammock Hank Henning Loren Hill Taylor Hutchins Sterling Kelly CC Lamberth Jon Lowder Brian Maas Megan Mabry Trevor Nuttall Robbie Perkins Laura Pratt David Ramsey Sue Schwartz Evan Stone Nancy Vaughan Marshall Yandle
Track 3 Deno Adkins Amy Criscuolo Linda Brown Ivan Canada Dawn Chaney James Cox Meredith Daye Lou Anne Flanders-Stec Reagan Gural Ainsley Heffinger Calissa Holder David Kolosieke Jodi Lorenzo Emily McCollum Sarah McGuire Michael McKinney Tracy Myers Dede Potter Michelle Rash James Rosa Scott Schomburg Ben Schwab Susan Shumaker Atticus Simpson Steve Swetoha Leon Thomas Tami Thurm Danielle Veal Laura Way April Albritton
Follow-Up Links Upstate Alliance Presentation Greenville 2040 Plan Greenville County’s Racial Equity Index 2022 BMW Supplier Diversity Conference