together we thrive - Greensboro Partnership

TOGETHER
WE THRIVE
2014 ANNUAL REPORT
MISSION
STATEMENT
THE MISSION OF THE GREENSBORO PARTNERSHIP is to serve as
Greensboro, North Carolina’s principal economic and community
development organization. Our goal is to strategically develop a vibrant
community that creates, expands, and attracts business while advancing
the quality of life for all. We accomplish this work through the Greensboro
Partnership’s four business units: Action Greensboro, Economic
Development, Chamber of Commerce, and the Entrepreneur Connection.
ACTION GREENSBORO works to enhance Greensboro’s livability, civic engagement, educational
advancement, and initiatives to attract, engage, and retain young professionals by:
• Enhancing downtown vibrancy
• Building on higher education assets
• Promoting a strong K-12 educational system
• Connecting young leaders
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT recruits business expansion that facilitates the creation
of high-quality jobs, improves per capita income, and attracts new capital investment.
We focus on five industry clusters: Aviation, Life Sciences, Supply Chain & Logistics,
Innovative Manufacturing, and Specialized Business Services.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE nurtures business growth and prosperity through networking
events and forums, business and leadership education, and advocacy initiatives focused
on K–12 education and workforce development.
ENTREPRENEUR CONNECTION creates pathways to entrepreneurial success. Our work
supports Greensboro’s emerging and thriving entrepreneurs to create jobs, innovations,
and wealth that help transform our local economy.
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CONTENTS
Economic Development. . . . . . 4-9
Advocacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-24
Excellence in Education.. . . . . . 10-13
Board of Directors. . . . . . . . . . . 25
Community Vitality.. . . . . . . . . . 14-17
Staff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Entrepreneur Connection. . . . . 18-21
Investors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
DEAR INVESTORS:
We are also seeing more people living in and
enjoying downtown Greensboro. New residential
developments continue to be built, along with
exciting amenities such as the Downtown
Greenway’s continued expansion, Center
City Park, the $50 million Bellemeade Village
development adjacent to NewBridge Bank Park,
and exciting plans for the new LeBauer Park.
These are exciting times in Greensboro,
North Carolina. With so many positive
projects and initiatives combining to propel
our city’s prosperity, it’s a great time to call
Greensboro home.
Our city’s arts and cultural standing is poised
to be elevated to new heights with two new
additions this year. First, Greensboro has been
chosen to host the National Folk Festival in
2015, 2016, and 2017. Secondly, 2015 marks the
groundbreaking plans for the Steven Tanger
Center for the Performing Arts, which will add
another premier regional showcase of talent and
the community.
Through the Partnership’s four business
units—Action Greensboro, the Chamber of
Commerce, Economic Development, and
the Entrepreneur Connection, we are on a
mission to help Greensboro grow and prosper
by collaboratively promoting economic and
community development in the region. This work
creates an environment that helps grow jobs
in our community and attracts others to locate
here. Our mission is realized by engaging various
constituencies as allies and partners. Results
happen by connecting people and resources.
Our community’s collaborative economic
development initiatives continue to bear fruit
with a number of corporate relocations and
expansions, including Honda Aircraft Company,
Procter and Gamble, FFF Enterprises, and
Ecolab. Great progress has been made to
develop the Greensboro-Liberty automotive
megasite and create a new 600+ acre
development site at Piedmont Triad
International Airport. We also have a major
expansion of our roadway infrastructure
that will continue to position our region to
attract and grow businesses.
With so many projects, expansions, and
developments underway, it is clear that
Greensboro is indeed a vibrant, thriving
community. This synergy occurs when our
entire community works together with a
common goal of ensuring a prosperous future.
At the Greensboro Partnership, we believe that
collaborative engagement is the key to economic
prosperity. We know that Together We Thrive.
The area’s colleges and universities continue
to partner with, and increase their economic
support for, our community, including the
planned Union Square Campus development,
a collaboration between the University of
North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina
A&T State University, Guilford Technical
Community College, and Cone Health. In
2014, Greensboro saw unprecedented growth
and vitality in entrepreneurship, with notable
successes including Capital Connects and Slam!
programming, as well as the opening of co//ab,
our downtown Greensboro co-working space.
J. Patrick Danahy
President & CEO
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Chuck Burns
Board Chair
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
A coordinated plan for economic
development is key to evolving
Greensboro’s prosperity. As we attract
and train quality workers, we attract
quality employers. As companies form
and expand, local commerce increases
and household income climbs, as does
the city’s fiscal stability. Downtown
and recreational assets are enhanced,
which in turn attracts more talent,
more employers, and greater growth.
In 2014, the Greensboro Partnership
fueled this scenario through
targeted corporate prospecting, site
development, and strategic marketing.
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The business of building
Greensboro’s business community.
“Choosing Greensboro for
expansion was an easy decision.
We’re within 650 miles of half the
nation’s population and supported
by a strong infrastructure and easy
access to logistics and freight.
With determining factors like
those, it’s no wonder we fell in love
with this spot. As we invest in our
company and personally in our
homes, it’s good to see that others
are investing here as well.”
Photograph by Yvonne Boyd
Patrick Schmidt
Chief Executive Officer
FFF Enterprises, Inc.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SURVEY
Local employers make it clear: We need highly
skilled workers
2012 survey. Key shortfalls in soft skills continue
to exist regarding critical and analytical
thinking, problem solving, and communication.
Key hard skills continue to be difficult to
The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce,
find in various manufacturing, engineering/
Human Resource Management Association
project management, and broader-based
of Greensboro, Greensboro-High Point-
business/accounting/finance. Based on
Guilford County Workforce Development
survey responses, essential skills for tomorrow
Board, Greensboro Partnership Economic
include cognitive load management, novel
Development, High Point Chamber of
and adaptive thinking, and social intelligence.
Commerce, and High Point Economic
Collectively, these three requirements place
Development Corporation collaborated with
a premium on highly creative, flexible
Dr. Keith Debbage of the University of North
employees who are capable of effectively
Carolina at Greensboro on a 2014 workforce
functioning in complex, hyper-flexible and
survey. This Workforce Development Survey
fast-changing environments.
initiative has garnered national attention and is
being recognized as a best practice effort.
These valuable findings confirm that our
transformation to a globally competitive,
The key takeaway is that many Greater
knowledge-based economy requires a
Greensboro and High Point area employers
highly skilled talent pool. We will continue to
experience difficulty in finding the workers
collaborate with education and community
they need. The 2014 survey identified
partners to educate, train, and recruit the
1,561 difficult-to-fill jobs in 2013, a slight
talent necessary to meet our existing and
improvement over the 1,775 reported in the
future needs.
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DOWNTOWN GREENWAY
The path to a vibrant and connected
community
2014 CHINA TRIP—BEIJING, SHANGHAI,
SUZHOU, AND HANGZHOU
Renewing passion for Greensboro and
discovering new opportunities for our future
Planned in partnership with the City of
Greensboro, the Downtown Greenway is a
In October, the Greensboro Chamber hosted
four-mile walking and biking path that will
a nine-day cultural education and business
surround and define downtown Greensboro.
mission trip to China. Fifty-three Greensboro
The Downtown Greenway continues
leaders and residents were invited to visit four
to progress and help drive economic
different cities in two of China’s regions.
development in downtown Greensboro.
This project has attracted almost $200 million
“The trip provided a unique chance to
in private funds to develop under-utilized sites
experience China’s history and forecast
in and around its perimeter.
its future,” said Susan Shore Schwartz,
Executive Director of The Cemala Foundation.
2014 saw two major milestones that will
“Opportunities for partnerships and
significantly move the project forward:
collaboration will come from China’s children
who will study, visit, and learn in the United
• $3.6 million in federal transportation funding
States. Chinese parents want their children
that will allow construction of the Murrow
to live in the US, to learn English, and to
Boulevard section of the project along the
excel. The experiences these children have in
east side of the four-mile loop.
the US should lead to long-term, productive
relationships between our two countries.”
• The sale of Chandler Concrete, and a
AVIATION TRIAD
Collaborating to develop a pipeline of highly
skilled aviation workers
new restrictive covenant on the property
disallowing future rail access. This sets in
motion an abandonment process by Norfolk
Southern Railroad that will allow for the design
and construction of the western side of the
The Greensboro Chamber continues its
Downtown Greenway, along with the southern
collaboration with the City of Greensboro,
leg of the City’s Atlantic & Yadkin Greenway.
Cemala Foundation, and a coalition of
In addition, Meeting Place, the second of
Piedmont Triad partners—led by WFMY
four major public art works marking the
News 2—to offer a focused, multi-dimensional
cornerstones of the Downtown Greenway,
aviation marketing campaign. Aviation Triad
was dedicated and opened in 2014. Over
showcases the opportunities that technical
2,400 people were engaged in community
aviation careers provide and connects students
meetings and events, and an average of
and job seekers with education and workforce
2,000 people per month enjoyed the open
development initiatives. The goal of Aviation
sections of the Downtown Greenway for
Triad is to create a sustaining support system
recreation and transportation. The full,
for aviation and innovative manufacturing
four-mile loop is slated for completion by
workforce development in the Piedmont Triad.
the end of 2018.
“This campaign has been a huge help in
our recruiting,” said Dr. Cynthia Waters,
Director of Andrews Aviation Academy.
“Students and parents are telling me they
saw us on TV and didn’t even know about
us until then! This is exactly the awareness
we’ve needed. We can keep our talented
people here, in jobs that pay well and inspire
pride in the Triad. This marketing initiative is
making all the difference.”
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ADDITIONS AND EXPANSIONS
2014 Corporate Growth Highlights
Honda Aircraft announced that the company
is expanding its world headquarters in
Greensboro. Construction has begun on a
49,968-square-foot expansion of the main
headquarters building and a 24,405-squarefoot hangar to support aircraft production and
delivery. Both are scheduled to be complete
in the second half of 2015 and represent a $19
million capital investment.
Honda Aircraft’s airport campus now
totals approximately $160 million in capital
MWI Veterinary Supply selected Greensboro
investment to create more than 680,000
for the site of its East Coast distribution center,
square feet of state-of-the-art R&D,
with plans to create 47 jobs. The Idaho-based
production, administration, and customer
company is one of the nation’s largest
service facilities. Honda Aircraft now employs
distributors of veterinary pharmaceuticals.
over 1,200 persons in Greensboro.
The company invested an estimated $3.15
million in improvements to a 225,000-square-
Columbiana Hi Tech (CHT) is expanding
foot facility at 6105 Corporate Park Drive
operations in Guilford County with the
near Bryan Park. Greensboro City Council
construction of a new 100,000 square foot
supported this project with economic
facility in Kernersville at Triad Business Park.
development incentives of $42,049. The
Founded in 1985, CHT is a leader in the
company partnered with the Guilford
fabrication of equipment for the nuclear
Workforce Development Board to hold
industry. In 2012, AREVA, a multinational
a job fair, attracting between 250 and
group specializing in nuclear and renewable
300 individuals to apply for warehousing,
energy with its US headquarters in Charlotte,
transportation, and distribution jobs. The
purchased CHT and continues to grow
decision by MWI to bring a distribution
operations here. The new facility will begin
operation to Greensboro confirms the quality
operations in the spring of 2015 and will
of the area’s infrastructure and workforce.
represent approximately $13 million in
capital investment.
FFF Enterprises, a leading distributor of
influenza vaccines and other critical-care
Conduit Global announced the creation of
biopharmaceuticals and plasma products,
300 new jobs at its customer care center in
selected Guilford County in fall 2013 for
McLeansville. The company provides contract
its East Coast distribution center and
customer service to one of the country’s
specialty pharmacy. The company continues
biggest telecommunications firms. Conduit
to grow here and anticipates their initial
Global’s innovative operations allow them to
employment of 31 to reach 164 over the next
interact with customers utilizing all media
few years. The Temecula, California-based
channels, including chats, texts, email, snail
company has begun operations in their new
mail, mobile calls, VoIP calls, and land line
80,000-square-foot building at Triad Business
calls. The expansion will triple the company’s
Park in Kernersville.
employment and double its space.
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Site Readiness Program. In its eighth year,
Duke Energy’s Site Readiness Program seeks
ANNUAL TOTALS TO DATE
to identify, assess, improve, and increase
Jobs: 793
awareness of industrial sites in the Duke
Investment: $47.55 Million
Energy region. A presentation was given at
Square Footage: 576,750
Gateway University Research Park by Mark
Sweeney, of McCallum Sweeney Consulting,
entitled “Prepared Communities Win.” The
presentation was followed by a final report
and assessment of the Reedy Fork site, as well
SITE DEVELOPMENT
Promoting Greensboro as a prime destination
for expansion and relocation
as the RFI submitted by GPED. Greensboro
Partnership Economic Development will now
pursue a matching grant from Duke Energy
Piedmont Triad International Airport Site
to incorporate the recommended changes to
Development. After many years of lobbying
make the Reedy Fork site a strong contender
and planning, construction of Interstate 73
for future development.
and the taxiway bridge at Piedmont Triad
International Airport (PTIA) began this
More New Development. The addition of two
past summer. The project will eventually
new spec buildings will be a substantial tool
open 1,000 acres at PTIA for industrial
to assist in the recruitment and retention of
development. Greensboro Partnership
industry in Guilford County. Simpson Schulman
Economic Development (GPED)—which has
& Beard is developing a 200,000-square-foot
been engaged in these development efforts
building at Rock Creek Center. Landmark
for years—initiated a marketing campaign in
is constructing the spec building which is
2014 to promote the site. The marketing piece
expandable to 300,000 square feet. Grading
was created through a collaboration between
has started on the 33-acre site to make way for
PTIA and GPED and distributed to the top 50
the $8–$10 million facility. The industrial park
aviation companies in the world. The piece
along I-40/I-85 houses a robust list of tenants
continues to be a valuable resource for aviation
including Lenovo, Precor, Qualicaps, and the
projects and clients.
American Express Data Center.
Greensboro Liberty Megasite. GPED continues
Another spec building is in development at
to work with the Randolph County Economic
McConnell Center. A 300,000 square foot
Development Corporation and the City of
shell building will be constructed across from
Greensboro on a collaborative megasite
O’Reilly Distribution Center with excellent I-40
development opportunity. This year, a working
visibility. The building, expandable to 428,000
group involving GPED staff and several other
square feet, is a joint venture between Pete
allies was created to navigate the development
Goria and Richardson Properties. Windsor
of the property and secure funding.
Commercial will serve as co-developer and
Approximately 1,350 acres are under option as
general contractor and Triad Commercial will
land acquisition and development continues.
be the leasing agent. Vistar Carolina and DSC
Logistics moved into the existing spec building
Duke Site Readiness: Reedy Fork. In March
this past year, filling up the last available
of 2014, GPED received notice that Reedy
building in the park. McConnell Center was a
Fork site, a master-planned, 320-acre park in
recipient of the City of Greensboro’s shovel-
northeastern Guilford County, was selected
ready site grading loan. Construction is set to
as a participant in the 2014 Duke Energy
start in March of 2015.
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MARKETING INITIATIVES
Getting the word out: Generating national
awareness for local opportunities
Aviation Cluster
AIN (Aviation International News) is a leading
magazine and news source for corporate
and business aviation. GPED advertised in
Target industry clusters:
their Convention News editions for EBACE
Aviation • Specialized Business Services •
and NBAA air shows, and worked with AIN
Life Sciences • Innovative Manufacturing •
on a custom content insert on Aviation in
Supply Chain & Logistics
Greensboro that ran for two months in the
There are many studies about what
AIN monthly magazine. We hosted the chief
percentage of new job creation comes from
operating officer from AIN for three intensive
existing industry. Although the answers vary,
days of interviews with local aviation company
it is widely believed that 75% of new jobs
executives, including tours of Greensboro,
created in a community will come from
as he prepared to write the copy for this
existing industries. Through our program of
marketing insert. This type of in-depth visit
Existing Industry Services, GPED works to
with regional aviation resources in the area is
support and improve the competitiveness of
key to building a solid relationship with the
companies that are the cornerstones of the
AIN editorial team and gaining recognition for
Guilford County economy. While we focus
Greensboro and this growing industry cluster.
our activities on five identified clusters, all
corporate citizens of Guilford County are
Opportunity Greensboro
eligible to receive our assistance. Existing
This initiative pursues a collaborative marketing
Industry Services involve a broad range of
platform that highlights a key competitive
activities, i.e. government liaison, supply-
advantage: our city’s seven colleges and
chain development, market intelligence, best
universities. Greensboro’s appeal as a place to
practices training, and marketing of the region.
learn, earn, and live is enriched by the culture
of knowledge, innovation, and creativity
Workforce Development is an integral
generated by our higher education institutions.
component of Cluster Development; access
“Opportunity Thrives Here, So Can You” is the
to talent consistently ranks as one of the top
marketing theme that area companies and
three considerations in corporate locations
universities are using to promote their success
and expansion. GPED is dedicated to linking
in this region.
industry and education to promote a pipeline
of well-qualified candidates for jobs in Guilford
REGIONAL COLLABORATION
County’s future. We strive to enhance the
community’s understanding of the career
Cambro, a California-based plastics
opportunities available to Guilford County
manufacturer specializing in products for
students as they enter the workforce.
the health care and food services industries,
is building a new facility in the region. The
Southern California
company contacted Greensboro Partnership
GPED is piloting a campaign for outreach
Economic Development (GPED) in early
and marketing in Southern California. This
2014 with an interest in siting a 200,000
digital marketing initiative includes NPR
to 300,000-square foot manufacturing/
podcasts, managed ad placements in Google
distribution facility. At the company’s request,
Search, LinkedIn and Facebook. Earlier this
GPED managed the project for the region.
year, we met with consultants and companies
The company has selected a rail-served site in
in Southern California and plan to make
Alamance County for the facility.
another trip to the area in the near future.
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EXCELLENCE
IN EDUCATION
Today, knowledge is the driver of
productivity and economic growth.
And through a robust collaboration
between our schools and local
businesses, we’ll ensure that people
of all ages can develop the skills
necessary to attract and create
the type of jobs needed in today’s
global economy. By focusing on
early childhood, K-12, and higher
education performance, Greensboro
is building a strong workplace for
the economy of tomorrow.
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Transformation to a knowledge-based
economy under way.
“I want to be a prosthetic
engineer and help amputees be
more comfortable. I want to help
war veterans and revolutionize
the prosthetic business.
STEM Early College is giving me
the tools to make that happen.
“When I started the program,
math and science were my
weaknesses. Now they’re my
strengths. It’s really about
being around motivated
students who share your goals
and want to get ahead in life.”
Photograph by Yvonne Boyd
Hannah Woodburn
Student, STEM Early
College at NC A&T
GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS CAREER FAIR
Preparing our future workforce by impacting
the lives of our students
Matt Vaughn,
Teacher, STEM Early
College at NC A&T
again for the Chamber’s terrific support of the
Guilford County Schools Career Exploration
Fair! You truly did ‘make it happen’ this year.
As I walked through yesterday, I saw lots of
The Greensboro Chamber is a key partner in
engaged, intrigued students—and their families!
facilitating career exploration for middle and
What a wonderful opportunity for them, and
high school students through business tours,
our business community to connect.”
internships, job shadowing, Guilford Parent
Academy, and mentors/coaches. In fall 2014,
OPPORTUNITY GREENSBORO
Turning education assets into
competitive advantages
the Greensboro Chamber sponsored the
Guilford County Schools Career Exploration
Fair and actively recruited businesses to
participate again this year. The event exposed
In 2009, leaders of Greensboro’s academic and
students to career opportunities while
business communities launched Opportunity
highlighting the critical connection between
Greensboro to advance collaboration and
education and the workplace.
shared goals among businesses and our
colleges and universities. This initiative focuses
Lane Harvey Brown, Partnerships & Grants,
on four areas that leverage our academic
Guilford County Schools said, “Thank you
strengths into commercial success: marketing,
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common programs, entrepreneurship, and K–12
Health care professions will comprise the
education. The group’s first project established
first phase of the project, with the initial
the community-wide marketing theme,
stakeholders being NC A&T State University,
“Opportunity Thrives Here, So Can You.”
UNCG, GTCC, and Cone Health. The first
building will feature a state-of-the-art
Union Square Campus
healthcare simulation lab, classrooms, an
From the Opportunity Greensboro collaborative,
auditorium, seminar and meeting rooms,
a shared downtown university campus concept
student support center, and offices. This
has emerged as the “Union Square Campus”
downtown university campus will permit the
development. When completed, it will provide
city’s colleges and universities to share space,
phase one of the Union Square Campus, a
equipment, and programs that would not
85,000-square-foot building and parking lot at
be affordable on an individual basis. The site
a projected cost of $35 million. Construction
was selected for its economic development
of this facility is expected to start in May 2015
potential, accessibility, expandability, cost,
and be completed by summer 2016. To date,
and time to complete. Union Square Campus
$6.75 million in private funds have been raised,
will provide an “anchor” for the south end
the State of North Carolina has approved an
of downtown and extends Greensboro’s
additional $2 million, and another $2 to $4
prominence as a progressive college town.
million is currently being sought.
Photograph by Yvonne Boyd
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STEM Early College—Year Two
the country. The STEM Schools of Distinction
In August 2012, the doors of the STEM Early
program was developed jointly by the NC
College at NC A&T, a collaborative venture with
Science, Mathematics, and Technology (SMT)
Guilford County Schools, opened to 50 highly
Education Center, the NC Department of
motivated, high-performing ninth-graders
Public Instruction, the William and Ida Friday
with a strong interest in science, technology,
Institute for Education Innovation, and the
engineering, and math. Since its inception, the
Golden LEAF Foundation. It is one of the
program’s goal has been to maintain a learning
country’s most rigorous evaluation programs
environment that challenges students through
for identifying and recognizing exemplary
creative, problem-based, and real-world learning
STEM schools and programs.
experiences. Students not only graduate with a
• The North Carolina Board of Education
high school diploma and two years of college
credit, but also with skills to help them succeed
recognized the STEM Early College at NC
in work and life in the 21st century.
A&T for excellence in science, technology,
engineering, and math education. The STEM
August 2014 marked a major milestone for the
Early College was one of just 13 schools
STEM Early College as its first cohort became
recognized by the state this year.
full-time NC A&T State University students.
• A group of STEM Early College students
Their courses focus on one of the three STEM
pathways: renewable energy, biomedical
presented research at the National P3 Expo in
sciences, or engineering.
Washington, DC. They had the distinction of
being the only high school students presenting
at the nationally recognized STEM conference.
The school, now in its third year with 150
students enrolled, also received the following
• The school was identified as “exceeding
honors and acknowledgments:
expected growth in state accountability
assessments,” earning 100% proficiency in
• The STEM Early College was recognized as
a STEM School of Distinction, one of the
Biology and 98% proficiency in English II End
highest designations for STEM education in
of Course tests.
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COMMUNITY
VITALITY
A vibrant and healthy
community is a key factor
for economic development.
The more we match corporate
needs with community
advantages, the more
Greensboro thrives. Through
programs that encourage
collaboration among a crosssection of local leaders, we can
help build and promote our
area’s ideal balance of lifestyle
and business opportunity.
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Leveraging Greensboro’s
outstanding quality of life.
“People in Greensboro are very
friendly. They’re interested in
meeting other people and making
their community better. That’s
something we found appealing
not only for our own professional
development, but also as a place
to raise our children. Being so
close to downtown, yet being able
to take our kids to the parks and
see a whole different environment,
is a pretty unique thing.”
Photograph by Yvonne Boyd
Justin Outling
Downtown Greensboro Resident
NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL
#SOGSO
ArtsGreensboro, Action Greensboro, the City
A marketing initiative developed in partnership
of Greensboro, and the Greensboro Area
with the City, Pace Communications, the
Convention and Visitors Bureau partnered this
Greensboro Partnership, Greensboro
year to recruit the National Folk Festival to
Area Convention and Visitors Bureau,
Greensboro. Greensboro was selected from
ArtsGreensboro, and Downtown Greensboro,
among 32 cities to host the prestigious event
Action Greensboro launched a community-
from 2015 to 2017. The Festival—a national
driven, grassroots social media effort to
destination event with a huge impact—is a
showcase Greensboro and its people. Using
game changer for Greensboro. This free,
the Instagram application, users can simply
three-day weekend Festival typically draws
tag their photos with a signature hashtag
an audience in excess of 100,000 each
when uploading to have them appear on the
year—featuring as many as six outdoor
soGSO website. The site was recently launched
stages of continuous music, a dance
through a news article and quickly gained
pavilion, traditional crafts and regional
momentum from the community. Visit the site
foods, storytelling, parades, and folklife
at soGSO.tumblr.com
demonstrations. It will be a statewide
CEO ROUNDTABLES
Engaging corporate leaders on topics
of interest
celebration, all concentrated in downtown
Greensboro. Host communities have seen an
economic impact each year ranging from $15
to $30 million. Save the date for September 11,
In March, the Greensboro Chamber hosted the
12, and 13, 2015 in Downtown Greensboro!
Mayor’s Report on the State of Greensboro.
Local executives learned about key issues
facing Greensboro and about Mayor Nancy
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Vaughan’s vision to move the city forward.
BISCUITVILLE BOWL
In November, the Chamber hosted Tia Capps,
The Greensboro Collegiate Biscuitville Bowl—a
Communications Director of CO.LAB, who
collaboration of Opportunity Greensboro,
shared how Chattanooga, TN, became
synerG Young Professionals, and Biscuitville—
America’s first “Gig” city and is using its
returned in 2014 for another week long series
gigabit internet to drive entrepreneurial
of events for the city’s college community.
growth while building a strong culture of
collaboration “The Chattanooga Way.”
In April, students from all seven Greensboro
higher education institutions took over
CENTER CITY PARK
downtown Greensboro for the Campus
Center City Park hosted over 100 free
Scramble, a three-mile urban obstacle race.
events in 2014 for local residents and visitors.
The Brand Your Biscuit Competition held at
Over 20,000 people attended Park events,
the Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship
including Free Fitness by the Fountain,
challenged students to create a new product
Center City Cinema, Tunes @ Noon lunchtime
for Biscuitville restaurants and present their
concerts, Food Truck lunch gatherings, and
ideas to Biscuitville president Burney Jennings.
First Friday Happenings.
Students from Guilford Technical Community
College’s Culinary School swept the
Free Fitness by the Fountain brought nearly
competition with first, second, and third place.
2,000 residents into downtown Greensboro
for activities ranging from yoga to Zumba,
line dancing, and African dance. Food
trucks became a regular lunchtime treat for
downtown employees, families, and residents.
Friends of Center City Park brought over 1,000
people to downtown for their first annual Fall
Festival. The event included 12 foods trucks,
local music, a pumpkin patch photo booth, and
children’s activities. The fundraiser increased
the organization’s ability to support ongoing
free public programming in the Park.
16
synerG
Connecting and engaging young leaders with
the Greensboro community
The “Show of Hands” Voter Registration
Concert joined forces with Face to Face
and the Mosaic Festival to increase voter
awareness and registration among college
The focus of synerG Young Professionals in
students and voting groups that are typically
2014 was to build on the local community,
under-represented.
grow collaborations, and strengthen
networks through various public projects
Local business community engagement events
and leadership initiatives.
and presentations led by companies like VF
Corporation, United Guaranty, Volvo Trucks, and
The ”Lead Your City Summit” gave young
First Citizens Bank gave their young employees
professionals the opportunity to increase
an opportunity to connect with synerG.
their leadership skills, develop their ideas,
serve their community, and connect their
Leadership Lunch & Learns featured topics
network. Jason Roberts with The Better
that included Food Deserts, Creative
Block, an artist/activist who has inspired an
Entrepreneurship, Re-zoning, and Greensboro’s
international movement of community-driven
Immigration Story.
change, presented the keynote address in
partnership with ArtsGreensboro.
Making Connections Around the Table hosted
Greensboro’s Mayor Nancy Vaughan, Piedmont
A train trip to Durham, NC, allowed a group of
Triad Film Commission Executive Director
over 60 young professionals and community
Rebecca Clark, Wyndham Championship
members to view various development efforts
Director Mark Brazil, and others.
and downtown amenities in that city. The group
took a Downtown walking tour and met with
The Hamburger Square Better Block Project
Durham leaders in order to bring ideas home
met to look at better utilization of the public
that might help shape Greensboro.
space, transforming the traffic pattern to make
it safer for pedestrians and bicyclists, and
engaging the community for their input.
17
ENTREPRENEUR
CONNECTION
We seek corporate innovation
and growth in any shape and
size. By creating opportunities
and opening doors for local
start-ups and early stage
entrepreneurs, we help create
jobs that transform our
community. Our programs
assist entrepreneurs to build a
successful business model, find
funding, address business and
legal issues, and take a new
product or service to market—
right here in Greensboro.
18
Helping transform ideas into reality.
“I see Greensboro as a
microcosm of growth, innovation,
and inspiration. It’s exciting to be
in a city that will take a chance
on entrepreneurs and provide
programs to help us grow, like
Triad Startup Lab. Spaces like
co//ab make it possible for more
entrepreneurs to connect with
other entrepreneurs, and to form
strategic partnerships.”
Photograph by Yvonne Boyd
Dana Dillehunt
Founder
Maslo Media
A YEAR OF EXPANSION
forward and become part of a vital
Thanks to the support of many collaborators
community of peers, resources, mentors,
and partners, this year Greensboro witnessed
and champions. Programs featured under
the expansion and strengthening of its
the 1000 Ideas umbrella include; Slam!,
entrepreneurial ecosystem. As a result,
Triad Startup Lab, Strategy Scrub, Pitch Prep,
entrepreneurs at all stages of development
and Capital Connects.
are better able to access the resources,
mentoring, and capital they need to launch
Slam!
and grow world-class companies. In 2014,
Slam! is a monthly, informal, “open-mic”
Greensboro Partnership Entrepreneur
opportunity to share a new business or
Connection created and expanded its
product idea—and get feedback and referrals
programs and services designed for emerging
from an audience of peers and experts. In
and early stage entrepreneurs.
2014, over 80 creative and entrepreneurial
participants have “pitched their great idea”
1000 IDEAS
Energizing our Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
to our special community of more than 300
startup supporters. Almost half of these
innovators have taken the next step to further
Through the Greensboro Partnership
their ideas, and have found support, resources
Entrepreneur Connection’s program umbrella,
and funding opportunities through our
entitled 1000 Ideas, entrepreneurs are
network and programming.
connected with the power to move their ideas
19
Triad Startup Lab
Pitch Prep
The 2014 Triad Startup Lab (TSL) Accelerator
Successful business pitches require two
was hosted by the Elon School of Law’s
key ingredients: extensive practice and an
Professional Development Center, a facility
understanding of the investor mindset. The
that included co-working space and meeting
Pitch Prep program has been helping our
rooms for startups, mentors, interns, and staff.
entrepreneurs prepare to make strategic
Twenty competitively-selected Triad startups
funding presentations at events like the
participated in the 12-week sessions. The
successful Capital Connects.
structured-but-fluid program combined intense
mentoring, startup-focused Minimum Viable
Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW)
Product (MVP) development and testing, one-
Each year the Greensboro Partnership
on-ones with subject experts, and mentoring
sponsors and promotes events with our
by the TSL Team. Planning is underway for the
community partners during GEW. This year
next accelerator program. Find out more at
we had over 1,000 unique visits to the GEW
www.triadstartup.com.
Calendar on the Partnership website, and
promoted over 30 entrepreneurial events to
Strategy Scrub
the community via online media.
Entrepreneurs just launching their ventures—or
those who have grown to face a new level of
We determined that our social media plan for
business challenges—benefit from a Strategy
2015 will be effective and on target with the
Scrub that matches them with an experienced
right message content delivered to the right
team of experts and entrepreneurs. Each
audience. In fact, the GEW campaign resulted
“Scrub” is a 60-minute, no-holds-barred session
in an astounding six-times more compelling
to refine their business strategy and connect
click-through rate when compared to national
them to additional resources and mentors.
averages. That indicates there is a very
interested audience looking for our message.
20
Capital Connects
co//ab
On November 18, ten promising entrepreneurial
In November, Action Greensboro and
ventures had 6-8 minutes to pitch their
Greensboro Partnership Entrepreneur
companies to local investors and support
Connection opened co//ab, a co-working,
organizations. This year’s finalists spanned
entrepreneurial, and higher education
the breadth and depth of our region’s
experiential learning center located at 229
entrepreneurial talent—from first round
N. Greene Street in downtown Greensboro.
college/university startups to existing
Set in a 4,800-square-foot space generously
companies seeking expansion capital.
provided by Elon University, co//ab’s new
home features Greensboro’s first gigabit
Building on the successful Capital Connects
Internet connection—with thanks to North
investor pitch night we host each fall,
State Communications—as well as a Small
Greensboro Partnership Entrepreneur
Business and Entrepreneurship Clinic provided
Connection expanded the program to offer
by Elon University School of Law.
education sessions that enable entrepreneurs
co//ab Purpose and Goals
to learn about accessing capital.
This information will be helpful when they
•E
arly Stage Entrepreneur Co-Working:
pitch to investors at the fall and newly
added spring Capital Connects events.
co//ab will help build a vibrant, early-stage
www.greensborocapitalconnects.com
entrepreneur community by leasing desk
space to local start-ups.
•H
igher Education Experiential Learning:
A satellite learning space for students will
provide additional study, meet-up, and work
space in an urban environment. Plugging
students into the Greensboro community
encourages students to volunteer, seek
internships, and ultimately enter the local
workforce. co//ab will be a hub for students
and industry professionals to demo projects,
swap ideas, and share best practices.
•G
reensboro Partnership Entrepreneur
Connection offices and staff have relocated
to co//ab to manage operations and offer
programs. The space houses Entrepreneur
Connection programs that include Triad
Startup Lab accelerator program, Slam!,
Pitch Preps, and Strategy Scrub.
21
ADVOCACY
Economic growth depends on
collaboration between public
and private sector interests.
That’s why the Greensboro
Partnership provides ongoing
opportunities for its members,
investors, and community
representatives to engage
with local, state, and federal
elected officials.
22
Strengthening relationships
that keep Greensboro thriving.
“As a resource, the Greensboro
Partnership helps identify the
strategic questions and answers
that small businesses need to solve
problems. They connect you with
experts who know what they’re
doing, which is a huge help.
“We wanted to grow our business
internationally. My son mentioned
that the Chamber had people who
knew about international commerce
and would be available for advice.
We made an appointment, talked to
them, and—with their help—began
to form a plan.”
Photograph by Yvonne Boyd
Blairton Hampton
Century Products
GREENSBORO PARTNERSHIP’S STATE
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Securing legislation and funding that
favors the Triad
Union Square Campus Funding
Union Square Campus—an unprecedented
partnership between multiple public and
private entities—holds great potential
for enhancing the vitality of the Greater
Greensboro community. Along with business,
civic, and educational leaders, plus elected
officials from the City of Greensboro and
Guilford County, the Greensboro Partnership
worked closely with the North Carolina
General Assembly to obtain an initial
appropriation for the Union Square Campus
concept. A state-funded contribution of $2
million was awarded in 2014.
23
Funding to Maintain and
NC Center of Aerospace Excellence
Complete the Urban Loop
The Greensboro Partnership continues
The completion of the Urban Loop around
to support the NC Center of Aerospace
Greensboro remains the Partnership’s top
Excellence. The Center will serve as a
transportation priority. In 2014, the Greensboro
catalyst to grow the aerospace industry in
Partnership continued to work with the
North Carolina. The NC Center of Aerospace
General Assembly to ensure that the funding
Excellence is a partnership among public
and projected 2020 completion of this
schools, community colleges, universities,
important project remain priorities during
and the aerospace and advanced
budget considerations.
manufacturing industries of North Carolina.
The goal of the center is to build a skilled
In 2014, the Urban Loop from Bryan Boulevard
workforce, support and grow the aerospace
to Battleground began construction. The US 29
industry, and to brand our state as a global
to US 70 portion of the Loop were let in June,
aviation and aerospace center.
and work has started.
Teacher Pay Increases
The Battleground to Lawndale section of the
While the General Assembly was considering
Loop will be let in late 2015, and the Lawndale
strategic solutions to increase teacher pay
to US 29 section is slated to start construction
during the 2014 Legislative Session, the
in 2019.
Greensboro Partnership offered its support
for increasing teacher compensation in North
High Point Furniture Market
Carolina. As a result of the Legislative Session,
The High Point Furniture Market (HPM) is
pay for public school teachers increased by an
North Carolina’s largest economic event,
average of 7 percent.
representing 1.3% of the gross state product
(GSP) and contributing an annual impact of
This increase improves the competitive
over $5.39 billion. The Greensboro Partnership
standing of our teachers, and will strengthen
continued to advocate for this event and was
our ability to attract and retain quality teachers
successful in supporting the HPM’s request for
in Guilford County and throughout the state.
$1,855,472 in funding. These efforts resulted
We must keep our best and brightest teachers
in continued state funding of $1.2 million
in order to meet the educational needs of all of
for transportation and $655,000 to fund
our children.
marketing outreach designed to maintain and
grow international attendance.
24
GREENSBORO PARTNERSHIP
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Terry Akin
Cone Health
Javier Gomez
Dynamic Quest
Cantey Alexander
BB&T Triad
Region
Joe Gorga
International Textile
Group (Retired)
Susan Alt
Volvo Group North
America, Inc.
Maurice “Mo” Green
Guilford County Schools
Jon Bell
Bell Partners
Steve Bowden
R. Steve Bowden &
Associates
Linda Brady
University of North
Carolina at Greensboro
Bob Braswell
Carolina Bank
Spence Broadhurst
NewBridge Bank
Carole Bruce
Smith Moore
Leatherwood LLP
Tim Burnett
Bessemer Improvement
Company
Chuck Burns
First Citizens Bank
Kevin Carter
HAECO Americas
Greg Chabon
Womble Carlyle
Sandridge & Rice, PLLC
George Clopton
Ralph Lauren
Corporation
Chuck Cornelio
Lincoln Financial Group
Donna DeMaio
United Guaranty
Corporation
Rosalind Fuse-Hall
Bennett College
John Geib
Duke Energy Carolinas
Charlie Melvin
Smith Moore
Leatherwood LLP
Jim Melvin
Joseph M. Bryan
Foundation of Greater
Greensboro
Chip Hagan
Hagan Davis Mangum
Barrett & Langley PLLC
Michael Hanbury
Solstas Lab Partners,
A Quest Diagnostics
Company
Joe Hauck
New Breed Corporation
Vern Hawkins
Syngenta Crop
Protection, LLC
Burney Jennings
Biscuitville, Inc.
Skip Moore
Weaver Foundation
(Retired)
EX OFFICIO
Ryan Newkirk
U.S. Trust, Bank of
America
Private Wealth
Management
The Honorable
Bill Bencini
Guilford County Board
of Commissioners,
Chairman
Randy Parker
GTCC
Marty Lawing
Guilford County, County
Manager
Arthur Samet
Samet Corporation
Ed Kitchen
Joseph M. Bryan
Foundation of Greater
Greensboro
Walker Sanders
Community Foundation
of Greater Greensboro
CC Lamberth
C2Contractors LLC
Susan Schwartz
Cemala Foundation
Lee Lloyd
J. Lee Lloyd, LLC
Garland Scott
United Healthcare of NC
Mike Mahoney
Northwestern Mutual
Steve Showfety
Koury Corporation
Harold Martin
NC A&T State University
Adrian Smith
Ice Age Management,
Inc.
Ken Mayer
Moser Mayer Phoenix
Associates, PA
Dennis Stearns
Stearns Financial Group
Clarence McDonald
Wells Fargo Company
Tim Templeton
Senn Dunn Insurance
Laura Meagher
VF Corporation
Neil Wilcox
Lorillard, Inc.
Eric Wiseman
VF Corporation
Mark Prince
Guilford Merchants
Association/FirstPoint
Randall Kaplan
Capsule Group, LLC
Bill Wilcox
Nexsen Pruet, PLLC
Jeff Montgomery
SunTrust Bank
Jim Phillips
Brooks Pierce McLendon
Humphrey & Leonard
Bill Jasper
Unifi, Inc.
Craig Waller
Pace Communications
The Honorable Nancy
Vaughan
City of Greensboro,
Mayor
David Powell
Piedmont Triad
Partnership
Jim Westmoreland
City of Greensboro, City
Manager
LIAISON
Pat Danahy
Greensboro Partnership
Pearl Burris-Floyd
Greensboro Partnership
Deborah Hooper
Greensboro Chamber
of Commerce
Entrepreneur Connection
Dan Lynch
Greensboro Partnership
Economic Development
David Marshall
Greensboro Partnership
Cecelia Thompson
Action Greensboro
25
GREENSBORO PARTNERSHIP
STAFF
EXECUTIVE
ADMINISTRATION
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Pat Danahy President & CEO
Cyndi Dancy Vice President,
Business Development Services
Dan Lynch President
Robin Witherspoon Executive Assistant
Robin Rhyne Vice President,
Existing Industry Services
Sandy Post Controller
Pearl Burris-Floyd Vice President,
Governmental Affairs
Meridith Berger Manager, Existing Industry
Services & Marketing
Amanda Wise Coordinator, Governmental Affairs
Barbara West Manager,
Business Development Services
David Marshall V
ice President,
Marketing & Communications
Beverly Brewer Manager,
Web & Information Services
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Claire Cooke Coordinator, Member Services
& Investor Relations
Deborah Hooper President
Debbie White Receptionist & Information Specialist
Nancy Vanstory Executive Assistant
Teri Williams Manager, Information Services
Joyce Gorham-Worsley Vice President,
Leadership Development
Lee Jeffers Coordinator, Leadership Development
Janice Ponson Coordinator, Small Business
ACTION GREENSBORO
Kathi Lester Vice President, Member Development
Larice White Account Executive
Cecelia Thompson Director
Jennifer Comer Manager, Event Planning
Candace Tucker Operations Manager
India Murrain Coordinator, Member Development
Hillary Meredith Manager, synerG Young
Professionals & Marketing
ENTREPRENEUR
CONNECTION
Dabney Sanders Manager, Downtown Greenway
Laura Lorenz Assistant, Downtown Greenway
Deborah Hooper Director
Joel Bennett Interim Program Manager
26
GREENSBORO PARTNERSHIP
GP2 CAMPAIGN PARTNERS
ActionCOACH Business Coaching
AdColor
Advanced Home Care
Advanced Technology, Inc.
Greensboro Regional
REALTOR Association
R. Steve Bowden & Associates
Greensboro Veterinary
Hospital Inc.
Rentenbach Constructors
Incorporated
Allen Tate Realtors
Guilford Technical
Community College
American National Bank
& Trust Co.
Guilford College
Apple Rock Displays
AT&T
Bank of Oak Ridge
BB&T
Guilford County Government
Guilford Merchants Association
Guilford Mills Foundation
HAECO Americas
Ralph Lauren Corporation
Richardson Properties
RLF Communications
Samet Corporation
Schell Bray PLLC
Senn Dunn Insurance
Sharrard McGee & Co., P.A.
Shelco, Inc.
Bell Foundation
Hagan Davis Mangum Barrett &
Langley PLLC
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
- Yost & Little Realty
Hagan Properties Incorporated
Smith Leonard PLLC
Bernard Robinson & Company,
LLP
Hanes-Lineberry Funeral Services
Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP
Highwoods Properties
Snider Fleet Solutions
Hoffman & Hoffman, Inc.
Solstas Lab Partners, A Quest
Diagnostics Company
Bessemer Improvement Company
Biscuitville, Inc.
Bouvier Kelly Inc.
Brooks, Pierce, McLendon,
Humphrey & Leonard, LLP
Brown Investment Properties, Inc.
Capsule Group LLC
Carolina Bank
Carruthers & Roth, P.A.
CBRE Triad
City of Greensboro
Community Foundation
of Greater Greensboro
CommunityOne Bank, N.A.
Cone Health
Cone Health Foundation
CRB
Cross Company
Cunningham & Company
Dan & Jenni Lynch
Diversified Trust Company
DMJ & Co., PLLC
Duke Energy
ECS Carolinas, LLP
Elon University School of Law
Ernst & Young LLP
First Citizens Bank
Flow Companies
Frank L. Blum Construction Co.
Genuity Concepts
Gilbarco Veeder-Root
Granville Capital, Inc.
Graphic Visual Solutions
Greensboro College
Greensboro Industrial Platers
Greensboro Radiology, PA
Honda Aircraft Company
International Textile Group
Isaacson, Isaacson, Sheridan &
Fountain, LLP
J. Lee Lloyd, LLC
Jorgenson Consulting Inc.
Joseph M. Bryan Foundation of
Greater Greensboro
Kindred Hospital - Greensboro
Koury Corporation
Landmark Builders
of the Triad, Inc.
Signature Property Group, Inc.
Space Logix
Stanley & Dorothy Frank
Family Foundation
Stearns Financial Group
Stimmel Associates, P.A.
SunTrust
Syngenta
Tannenbaum-Sternberger
Foundation
The Cemala Foundation
The Fresh Market
Leeper, Kean & Rumley, LLP
The Leadership & Legacy Group
Lincoln Financial Foundation
Timmons Group
Lorillard Tobacco Company
Total Computer Solutions
McGladrey LLP
Triad Business Journal
Moser Mayer Phoenix Associates
Triad Commercial Properties, LLC
NAI Piedmont Triad
Triad Design Group
New Breed Corporation
Trone Brand Energy, Inc.
NewBridge Bank
Tuggle Duggins
News & Record
Unifi Inc.
Nexsen Pruett, LLC
United Guaranty Corporation
NextGen CFO
United Healthcare of NC
North Carolina A & T State University
University of North Carolina
at Greensboro
North State
Our State Magazine
Pace Communications, Inc.
Partnership Property Management
Phillips Foundation
Piedmont Natural Gas Co.
Plastic Revolutions, Inc.
Premier Commercial Bank
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Purolator Advanced Filtration
Quaintance-Weaver
Restaurants & Hotels
27
US Trust/Bank of America Private
Wealth Management
VF Corporation
Volvo Financial Services
Weaver Cooke Construction, LLC
Weaver Foundation
Weaver Investment Company
Wells Fargo
WFMY News 2
Womble Carlyle Sandridge
& Rice LLP
Action Greensboro
Chamber of Commerce
Economic Development
Entrepreneur Connection
342 N. Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27401 | 336-387-8300 | greensboropartnership.com