Regional Business
Reports
Raleigh
State officials
hope to keep travelers at home
North
Carolina boasts some of the top vacation spots in the Southeast and
the state Department of Commerce is teaming with the Division of
Tourism, Film and Sports Development to make sure the state’s
residents don’t forget it.
The two agencies have unveiled a collaborative campaign titled
“Discover the State You’re In.” The advertising end focuses on
the state’s mountain, heartland and coastal regions, as well as the
golf industry. Partners include the N.C. Association of Broadcasters,
the N.C. Press Association and the N.C. Outdoor Advertising
Association. The state’s TV stations and newspapers will run
advertising to support the campaign, and the outdoor advertising
industry has donated billboard space for the project.
“Tourism is a vitally important component of North Carolina’s
balanced economy, a $12.6-billion economic engine that powers many
different industries, from general retail and food service to lodging
and entertainment,” says Commerce Secretary Jim Fain. “Because of
the unprecedented challenge to our travel industry, both from the
ongoing economic downturn and the events of Sept. 11, we’re
announcing a public/private partnership to promote travel within our
own borders.”
Lynn Minges, executive director of the Division of Tourism, Film and
Sports Development, says the agency invested approximately $200,000 on
this project and expects to receive a return of between $2 million and
$3 million.
The campaign includes 15- and 30-second TV ads promoting specific
regions — plus two devoted solely to golf that say “Discover Golf
in the State You’re In.” Similar radio ads have been produced and
billboards across the state encourage residents — and visitors —
to pay attention to what North Carolina has to offer.
The campaign was in the planning stages even before the Sept. 11
tragedy. A downtrodden economy already had impacted the state’s
tourism industry and the terrorist bombings brought vacation travel to
a near halt.
The new campaign seeks to bolster in-state tourism to offset the
recent tourism losses, Minges says, “although we’re not pulling
any resources from our out-of-state marketing.” In addition, the
division amended its fall marketing and promotional programs to target
advertising efforts in contiguous states, targeting metropolitan areas
such as Atlanta, Richmond, Va., and Columbia, S.C.
Caleb Miles, president and CEO of the Pinehurst, Southern Pines and
Aberdeen Convention and Visitors Bureau, says the state’s CVBs,
competitors in the past, will now work together. “We’re going to
operate as field officers for state tourism,” he says. — Kevin
Brafford
Charlotte
Renovated
Southern history museum reopens
The
Levine Museum of the New South has a new look after reopening its
doors in Charlotte this fall following a 17-month, $4.6 million
renovation.
Located in the heart of uptown, the museum houses the nation’s most
comprehensive interpretation of post-Civil War Southern history.
Interactive exhibits engage visitors of all ages. With vibrant,
inviting spaces, the museum presents history that inspires and
challenges, educates and amuses.
The renovation includes a new exterior limestone skin, all new
interior finishes, new mechanical and electrical systems, and a new
roof. Visitors will enjoy a new core exhibit area, additional exhibits
on two floors and a new grand entrance on Seventh Street.
“We are very excited about the reopening of the museum and look
forward to teling notable and remarkable stories of the New South,”
says Emily Zimmern, the museum’s executive director. “The museum
will offer visitors not only lifelong learning opportunities and
historical context, but an experience that they will take home with
them.”
A focal point of the museum is its 8,000-square-foot centerpiece
exhibit entitled “Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers: Charlotte and the
Carolina Piedmont in the New South.” The multi-sensory, multi-media
interactive experience tells the story of how Southerners created the
New South and reinvented Southern economy and society.
A highlight of the exhibit is Main Street, where visitors walk inside
re-created sections of the Belk Bros. department store, Southern Power
Co., RCA radio and record store, and the reassembled chapel of the
Good Samaritan Hospital, one of the first African-American hospitals
in the South.
The museum is located at 200 E. Seventh Street, at the corner of
Seventh and College streets. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday
through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $6 for
adults and $5 for seniors and children ages six to 18. Other discounts
also are available. For more information, call 704-333-1887 or visit www.museumofthenewsouth.org.
-- Kevin Brafford
Monroe
Wingate plans to
open state's third pharmacy school
To
help address a regional as well as national shortage, Wingate
University will establish the state’s third pharmacy school and
begin enrolling students in the fall of 2003.
Currently, UNC-Chapel Hill and Campbell University are the only two
North Carolina schools with pharmacy programs, and together they
graduate about 200 pharmacists a year. But the state’s rapidly
growing population has resulted in a 60 percent increase in the number
of prescriptions written, with more than 80 million prescriptions
written in the state last year.
Nearby programs have not been able to keep up with demand either.
There are only two pharmacy schools in Georgia, two in South Carolina
and two in Virginia. “This region cries for a school of
pharmacy and our studies have indicated that Wingate University is in
a perfect location to help meet the needs of the population in this
area,” says university President Dr. Jerry E. McGee.
After a year of study, Wingate plans to begin offering a six-year
program, with two years spent in pre-professional courses and four
years of professional program courses, that will result in a PharmD
degree.
Prior to opening the school, the university must reach an initial $7
million fund-raising goal. That money will go toward start-up costs
and building a 26,000-square-foot building on campus to house the new
school, which it hopes to have completed by the fall of 2004.
The annual operating budget for the pharmacy school will be about $5
million. The school eventually will hire about 25 new faculty, a dean
and several associate deans to facilitate the program.
The school aims to have 240 students enrolled in its pharmacy program
with about 60 per class. Carolinas HealthCare System hospital, Gaston
Memorial, Northeast Medical Center, VA Hospital and Presbyterian
Hospital have indicated they would make sites available for
experiential training for pharmacy students.
The school’s proposed timeline has the university enrolling its
first pharmacy class in August 2003 with the first graduates entering
the workforce in May 2007.
In chain drug stores alone there were 7,000 pharmacist vacancies
nationwide in 2000. Last year, 8,000 students graduated from pharmacy
schools across the country. The number of pharmacists is expected to
increase in coming years as the population ages and doctors write more
prescriptions. -- Laura Williams-Tracy
Troy
British firm
announces plans for tire recycling facility
Montgomery
County has landed the first United States presence for Atlantic
Alliance Recycling Inc., a Birmingham, England-based company that
produces “crumb” rubber from discarded tires.
Production is set to begin early next year and Atlantic Alliance is
expected to employ 70 people within two years. The company is
projected to invest $10 million in the local economy.
“We believe that Atlantic Alliance is a perfect fit for the
type of company Montgomery County is trying to attract,” says Judy
Stevens, the director of the Montgomery County Economic Development
Corporation. “The investment and jobs this company brings will
strengthen our county’s economic climate.”
Atlantic Alliance will be located in Troy on five acres in the
Troy Business Center. The town also has offered the company an extra
10 acres at no additional charge. The material produced at the site
will be used in new-tire production as well as in playground surfaces.
“This $10 million announcement is wonderful news for the
people in Montgomery County and four our state,” says Gov. Mike
Easley. “We look forward to this company becoming a part of North
Carolina’s corporate community.” -- Reid Hartzoge
Eden
Brewer ready to
test laser-guided vehicles
When
employees at Miller Brewing in Eden heard the company was spending $10
million to add laser-guided vehicles in the distribution department,
the reaction was predictable.
“They weren’t too happy,” says Pat Henry, the plant manager.
“They said, ‘There ain’t no way those things are going to come
in and replace us.’ Then we brought in a test unit, and I remember
them saying, ‘Oh my God, it can do it.’ ”
The laser-guided vehicles in essence are driverless fork trucks, will
move packaged products in the distribution department from the
palletizer, where cases are stacked on pallets and shrink-wrapped, to
the warehouse.
“The company is always looking for ways to keep up with the latest
technology,” says Henry. “We saw the opportunity to get that
technology in here and replace some people. I don’t like to go to
layoffs unless it’s absolutely necessary. This plant has been here
24 years, and we knew we had some older people that were starting to
retire.”
So as people have left the company — Henry says about 35 workers
have retired this year — they simply haven’t been replaced. The 28
laser-guided vehicles will do the work of between 30 to 38 workers.
The Eden brewery, which has about 730 employees, is Miller’s first
facility to implement the new technology. “We first looked into
automatic-guided vehicles,” says Phil Gray, the company’s
distribution manager. “But when we learned about the laser
technology, we thought it could fit our operation even better.”
Henry added that the laser-guided units, which are expected to be in
operation by the end of March, offer more flexibility. “They can go
anywhere in the warehouse,” she says.
Safety was another concern, but the test unit performed flawlessly.
The laser, which sits on top of the vehicle and scans its location,
warns the computer if there is any type of obstruction in the path of
the vehicle. A central control system operates the vehicle and gives
specific instructions to each unit.
Work on the project is expected to begin this month. The vehicles are
made by Electric-80, an Italian manufacturer. “These types of
technological improvements are critical in order for us to remain
viable in an increasingly competitive industry,” says Henry.
— Jim Buice
Charlotte
Canadian
acquisition boosts Duke Energy's local stature
Duke
Energy Corp., already a global power company ranking 17th on the
Fortune 500 list, will grow again with the $8.5 billion purchase of a
Canadian natural gas pipeline company.
Duke’s expansion isn’t the only positive news that boosts
Charlotte’s standing as a headquarters city for major U.S.
corporations.
Michigan-based SPX Corp., also listed on the Fortune list, will move
its corporate headquarters to Charlotte. SPX, a global provider of
technical products and systems, acquired Charlotte-based United
Dominion Industries Ltd. in May.
Charlotte has seven Fortune 500 companies (including Bank of America,
the new Wachovia and BF Goodrich), seventh most in the country. New
York ranks first with 40 Fortune 500 companies.
After a summer when US Airways’ merger plans with United Airlines
failed and Charlotte moved closer to losing its pro basketball
franchise, city promoters say some good economic news has been
overshadowed.
Instead of its long habit of only heralding its two big banks, the
Charlotte community needs to also start recognizing Duke Energy as one
of the largest companies in the country, says Terry Orell, Charlotte
Chamber senior vice president for business growth.
“Duke’s growth has certainly increased Charlotte’s visibility
worldwide in domestic and international markets,” he says.
The purchase of Westcoast Energy of Vancouver, British Columbia, more
than doubles Duke’s natural gas storage capacity and increases its
gas transmission ability by nearly 60 percent.
The deal is larger than the $7.7 billion merger of Duke Power and then
Houston-based PanEnergy that created Duke Energy in 1997. That deal
moved Duke into the natural gas business. Rick Priory, Duke Chairman
and CEO, will lead the merged company.
Under the terms of the deal, Duke assumes $4 billion in Westcoast
debt. Westcoast shareholders will receive about $28 per share, half in
stock and half in cash. The price represents a 15 percent premium over
Westcoast’s closing price of $24.30 the day the deal was announced.
-- Laura Williams-Tracy
Fayetteville
Business
incubator programs a boost from local colleges
Higher
learning institutions in Fayetteville are teaming up with local
entrepreneurs to offer support resources, with the latest venture a
long-awaited business incubator for fledgling businesses.
This fall, Fayetteville State University officially opened the
Fayetteville Business Center, which can accommodate up to 17 new
businesses, including space for a light manufacturing facility.
Faculty and students from FSU’s School of Business and Economics
will offer consulting services. The center also offers reduced rates
on office or light manufacturing space, says Director Floyd Shorter.
“For those who want to pursue the ramp of entrepreneurship … we
can do a lot of things to assist them,” Shorter says.
Grants totaling about $515,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development and the city of Fayetteville paid for the first
phase of the project. The N.C. Technological Developmental Authority
also offered a $200,000 low-interest loan.
Methodist College is also doing its part as its Center for
Entrepreneurship celebrated several mentoring initiatives targeted at
entrepreneurs during the annual Economic Symposium on Nov. 1.
This year, the center also hosted three programs for the Business
Succession Forum Network, designed to help people with their plans to
pass their businesses to others. “We were very encouraged by the
active and energetic participation of our entrepreneurs and are
planning a series of programs for next year,” says Robert Grover,
chairman of the center.
Earlier this year, it also organized a second annual Boot Camp for
Entrepreneurs, in which enrollment was up 100 percent from the year
before.
“Next year, we are planning programs and activities in other
cities,” Grover says. “In southeastern North Carolina, there is a
tremendous interest in the Center’s initiatives. Therefore, we are
working closely with entrepreneurs, businesses and chambers to jointly
sponsor programs.” — Heidi Rafferty
Asheville
Gather 'round
the Biltmore fireplace this Christmas
While
the 250-room Biltmore House in Asheville feels like a castle to
today’s guests, it once represented a warm and welcome retreat for
friends and family of owner George Vanderbilt — no more so than
during the holidays.
In the late 1890s, Vanderbilt invited guests to enjoy the season with
fireplaces ablaze in the Banquet Hall, gifts hung from the immense
Christmas tree and the seasonal bounty of his dining table. Visitors
can get a sense of that hospitality during Christmas at Biltmore
Estate, held through Jan. 1, 2002. With this year’s decorating focus
on “Hearth and Home,” fireplaces and mantles are a showcase for
the talents of Biltmore’s floral design team. Special touches, from
wooden shoes and jumping jacks to gold filigree topiary trees, are
located throughout the house. The décor is sure to inspire visions of
cozy fires, Santa’s grand entrance and overflowing stockings on
Christmas morning.
“Fireplaces were such a key element in the design of Biltmore
House,” says Floral Displays Supervisor Cathy Barnhardt. “Even
with central heating, every bedroom has its own fireplace.”
The welcoming holiday feeling at Biltmore begins at the front door
where evergreen garlands and wreaths are decorated with pineapples, a
symbol of Southern hospitality. Just inside the front door at the
grand staircase, a 15-foot live Fraser fir stands tall in memory of
the Sept. 11 tragedy. The tree is decorated with stars of various
shapes and sizes as a tribute symbolizing goodness and hope.
Nearby is the banquet hall tree, a symbol of the Christmas celebration
at Biltmore Estate. A 35-foot Fraser fir rises toward the 70-foot-high
ceiling just as it did in Vanderbilt’s day. In the library,
evergreen wreaths — traditional symbols of welcome and everlasting
life — are connected by a swag of rich red velvet on the mantle.
Decorations are just one way guests will feel welcome during the
season. Traditional carols from the banquet hall organ, as well as
live music in other parts of the house, fill the halls with familiar
spirit. And in the evening, guests experience the warmth of hearth and
home complete with flickering candles, firelight and musical
performances during Candlelight Christmas Evenings, which are held
nightly except for Dec. 11 and 24-25.
Ticket prices began at $34 for adults and $25.50 for youth ages 10 to
15. Children ages nine and under are admitted free when accompanied by
a paying adult. For more information, call 800-922-0046 or visit www.biltmore.com.
— Kevin Brafford
High Point
Fewer people,
more business at fall furniture market
As
expected, attendance was down for the fall International Home
Furnishings Market in High Point. Unexpected, however, was that many
who came were ready to do business.
“The word I got from (those working the market) is that they were
pleasantly surprised,” says Judy Mendenhall, president of the High
Point International Home Furnishings Market Authority Corp.
Most estimates indicated attendance was down 20 to 30 percent.
Organizers estimate about 80,000 people usually attend the furniture
industry’s largest trade show. But a slumping economy combined with
the effects of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks created a subdued
atmosphere for this market.
That meant more of the smaller retailers didn’t make the trip to
High Point. Some who had to travel significant distances opted to stay
home instead of dealing with issues involving airline travel and
security. Hotels reported more cancellations and shorter stays,
restaurants had more tables available, and vehicular traffic was
obviously lighter than usual.
“It’s about what was expected,” says Michael Goldman, owner of
Carolina Casting in High Point, of the light turnout. “I think
traffic was probably off 25 to 30 percent, but the sense I got from my
customers is that most who came did so with an agenda to buy product.
Those who came spent less time, but they did come to buy.”
Richard Hurley, senior vice president of manufacturing of Klaussner
Furniture of Asheboro, echoes Goldman’s comments.
“We were pretty pleased with the market,” says Hurley. “The
turnout was a little down, especially internationally, which we
expected. Probably only about a half of them showed up.
“But the ones that came were pretty optimistic in their own stores.
Some areas of the country, like Florida, for example, are doing better
than others. I would say the outlook of the industry wasn’t
pessimistic, but it wasn’t optimistic either. The feeling I got and
what I heard is that things will be status quo for a while.”
Goldman hopes the furniture industry, which has seen its share of
layoffs, plant closings and bankruptcies during 2001, is “close to a
bottom.”
“Consumer confidence is down, and people are nervous,”
Goldman says. “People are so focused on the whole paranoia issue.”
He doesn’t envision any real upswing soon but hopes business
conditions would improve by the time of the spring market in April.
— Jim Buice
Asheville
Warren Wilson
celebrates a decade of leadership
Supporters
of Warren Wilson College gathered at Biltmore Forest Country Club this
fall to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the presidency of Dr. Doug
Orr.
The event was highlighted further when Asheville resident and Warren
Wilson trustee Helen Powers announced that $1 million has been
committed thus far to help establish the Helen Powers Business and
Economics Program at the college.
The program will offer concentrations and minors in entrepreneurship,
nonprofit management and international economic development. It will
allow the college to expand its focus and seek national recognition;
already, discussions are under way for a collaborative effort with the
Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill.
In addition, student internships will be emphasized and the college
will build upon existing partnerships through its Service-Learning,
Work and Environmental Leadership Center officers to develop hands-on
opportunities for students in business and civic entrepreneurship,
according to Orr.
“We are extremely pleased about the opportunity to serve our
students and the community by this restructuring of the college’s
business program,” he says, “and in the process honor one of our
state’s notable business leaders.”
Powers was the first female senior bank vice president in North
Carolina as well as the state’s first female secretary of Revenue.
She was the first business woman to be inducted into the North
Carolina Business Hall of Fame.
Among those attending Orr’s anniversary celebration were State
Treasurer Richard Moore, NCCBI President Phil Kirk and N.C. Progress
Board Executive Director Tom Covington.
Raleigh
Merged bank's
mortgage service center relocating
Winston-Salem’s
and Lynchburg, Va.’s losses will be Raleigh’s gain after the
Wachovia Corp. announced it will combine its mortgage servicing
centers in the former two cities into the latter city’s center,
which currently employs about 90 people.
Wachovia spokesman Jay Reed says that some of the 135 workers in
Winston-Salem and Lynchburg may be offered jobs in Raleigh and some
may be given opportunities elsewhere in the bank. But some will be
laid off as part of the plan to cut costs in the merger of Wachovia
and First Union, which was completed Sept. 1. About 90 people work in
Winston-Salem office, and 45 work in Lynchburg.
“The Winston-Salem facility does not have the size and scale for the
combined offices and Lynchburg does not have the up-to-date
technology,” Reed says in explaining why Raleigh was selected.
Wachovia also has revealed its new leadership team. Most, if not all,
will eventually work out of Charlotte. In addition to Ken Thompson
(CEO) and L.M. “Bud” Baker Jr. (Chairman), they are: Don McMullen
(Capital Management Group); Steve Cummings and Barnes Hauptfuhrer
(Corporate and Investment Banking); Mac Everett (Corporate and
Community Affairs); Bob Kelly (Finance); Ben Jenkins (General Bank);
and Paul George (Human Resources).
Also, Jean Davis (Information Technology, e-Commerce and Operations);
Mark Treanor (Legal); Bob McCoy and David Carroll (Merger
Integration); Don Truslow (Risk Management); David Carroll (Special
Finance and Corporate Support Services); and Stan Kelly (Wealth
Management). — Kevin Brafford
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