Chapters Blog

Please click here to download a PDF of the December 8th SouthPark Holiday Luncheon.

Ballantyne Chapter Luncheon
December 3, 2009
Topic: The Pulse of Ballantyne


Each attendee was asked to discuss the following topics at their tables, discussing challenges and recommendations:

I-485
Challenges
Question the priority of available funding for project (finishing northern loop, roads to nowhere in other parts of the state)
Congestion is having an impact on business
Is infrastructure in place to support growth
Merging on and off is becoming more of a problem

Recommendations
Toll roads
Construction work being done at night
HOV lanes
Add another lane to I-485 as far as Rea Road

FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS
Challenges
No fast food restaurants in Ballantyne
Certain areas in Ballantyne zoned for no fast food chains
Would be a benefit for families (soccer moms) and busy business men & women

Recommendations
Signage to conform to local architecture of the area
Bring in more well-named restaurants (Chick-Fil-A, In & Out Burger, Taco Bell, Arby’s, Cook Out, etc,)

CHARLOTTE AREA TRANSIT SYSTEM
Challenges
Bus schedule is not conducive to labor system
More comprehensive transit system needed

Recommendations
Develop commuter rail that is expanded to mass transit
EZ Pass System to help with funding
More open dialogue with North Carolina and South Carolina to help with I-485 traffic and commuter rail

ARTS & CULTURE
Questions
What is the community paying for in terms of arts and culture in Charlotte-Mecklenburg and how is it allocated?
What is going on in the area now and how do we communicate?
Do we have a venue in Ballantyne to support

Recommendation
Survey the community to see what is desired

HEALTH CARE
Questions
What happens with insurance providers as a result of reform?
If public option passes, will we understand criteria?

OPEN DISCUSSION
Recommendation
Need central/online resource for new businesses specific to Ballantyne
Need information on starting a business

Metro Chapter Luncheon
November 17, 2009
Topic: Implications & Opportunities of Arts & Cultural Center
Panelists:
Bob Bertges, Wachovia Corporation
Scott Provancher, Arts & Science Council
Pat Riley, Allen Tate Company
Moderator: Bob Morgan, Charlotte Chamber

Bob Morgan opened discussion with the point that arts and culture are a driving force in the recruitment of companies to Charlotte.

Question: With the Harvey B. Gantt Center opening and the Bechtler Museum of Art, NASCAR Hall of Fame & Mint Museum due to open, what does this mean for Charlotte’s Economic Development?

Provancher: Very impressed by the investment of the arts and cultural community Uptown. As construction is completed, we will be on par with many major cities which will impress prospects as well as those living and working in Charlotte.

Riley: We want to attract locals, regional forces and convention & meeting attendees. These venues coming on line are the icing on the cake. There is something for everyone. Charlotte Center City Partners is working hard on the 2020 plan to ensure this opportunity for our city.

Question: What types of businesses will benefit from these cultural facilities? How do you create vibrancy?

Complied answer by all: You create vibrancy by creating venues never seen before to stimulate Uptown. With the infrastructure in place, you can enjoy a show and go to a restaurant which allows more interaction. Restaurants, hotels and cafés will benefit, and other retailers will see opportunities.

Question: With the recession, should we be concerned about the economic development of the cultural campus?

Bertges: We’ve learned valuable lessons. With that comes opportunities. For example, we’ve built an auditorium that can be shared and have built parking around what already exists. The more we can get people engaged, the better off we will be.

Provancher: The financing of this project was brilliant and perfectly timed. It was paid for by the rental car tax. There is an uptick in ticket buying. People are looking for inspiring things to do with their families and price points are lower.

Question: What impact will this campus have on other facilities?

Riley: It will have a multiplier effect. If you come in for a weekend, you can enjoy arts, sports, dining, etc. We have it all! Bertges: People pick up on synergies. More and more people want to combine business with pleasure due to the economy.

Provancher: These facilities are adding great opportunities for collaboration. The more traffic we have will drive people to be part of the experience. Bertges: These facilities create incredible opportunities for education. Students are enlightened when they visit and will encourage their parents to come.

SouthPark Chapter Breakfast Meeting
November 10, 2009
Topic: Motivating Your Workforce

Presented by: Dr. R. John Young of McLaughlin Young Group. He is the founder and Chairman of the company. Attended University of London and Purdue University. Dr. Young created the company 22 years ago. He specializes in Human Capital planning, development and support.

The are 3 issues that the we deal with: Trust, Stress and the absence of the third circle.

Motivation: Intrinsic (Mastering a topic) vs Extrinsic (Money "reward")

Job Satisfaction- he correlates this with life satisfaction- this has an impact on our psychological state.

"Do you have a system for a healthy company?"

As an organization you need to understand the soul of your business?

Talks about three circles: First (Desire to be something but can't), Second (talent management) and the third (ideal state for an organization).

He asked the question: Does your organization have a third circle?

First Circle
Stress
Failures
Cannot go over the wall

Second Circle
blending
giving up
checking out

Third Circle
Soul of the company
employees are all involved
creativity
believable plan

He also spoke about the Paradigm for Profitability- this is in his book and it is similar to Maslow's Hierarchy of needs.

Other things he asked the group to give them something to think about:

How well do you know yourself and your staff?

How do you demonstrate respect?

How well do you listen to your staff? truly listen?

How well do you communicate with your group?

What is the quality of the relationship among your staff?

What might be the saboteurs to keep you from reaching your third circle? non-negotiable? If you cannot tell them then you are spinning your wheels.

Charlotte Chamber SouthWest Chapter Luncheon
November 3, 2009
Topic: Connecting the Carolina's to the World
Presentation by: Jerry Orr, Charlotte/Douglas International Airport


Goal is to keep the quality up, while keeping cost down.

The airport hosts a volunteer program, in which volunteer help passengers with directions and general information.

The airport uses LifeSpan to employ their Restroom Attendant Program. LifeSpan is an employment service for the mentally handicapped looking for employment. The program uses a job coach to train the employee until they have a full understanding of their duties. This program has really worked well for the airport.

The airport hosted it 3rd Annual Runway 5K Run on October 31st, 2009. This year there were 1800 people registered for the run and the money raised was contributed to LifeSpan.

The airport houses a USO in the terminal. This USO is the 4th largest in the world.

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal.

Coming soon, the airport will have Medical Facilities in the terminal. This will offer medical assistance for any traveler who may need it.

The airport received the Charlotte Business Journal Green Award for their efforts. From 7/1/08-06/30/09 the airport recycled 42.2 tons of glass; 396 tons of cardboard and paper; and 9.7 tons of coffee grounds. Not only do they recycle coffee grounds they use it to kill fire ants.

The airport has 2 busses that run on turbine and have a very light (5%) carbon footprint. These busses are manufactured here in Charlotte. The goal is to replace all the shuttle busses with the new turbine busses.

Charlotte Douglas is ranked 9th busiest airport in the world and ranked 11th largest airport.

US Airways continues to grow its hub. We are their largest hub.

Last year Charlotte Douglas grew in its passenger count when most airports were reporting a decline in passengers.

JetBlue is adding a new flight to Boston.

Cargo Operations are declining.

FBO/Corporate Aviation In 2005 the City took over the FBO facility and contracted with Bob Wilson to manage the business aspect. Wilson Air Center manages the FBO on behalf of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport in which the airport pays all expenses and sets the pricing.

Charlotte is home to several Fortune 500 Companies, with 7 out of 8 housing aircraft at the airport.

Wachovia had a hangar on the airfield but experienced layoffs with the economy downfall and sold 8 of their aircraft based in Charlotte.

The airport is a publicly owned and cost the taxpayers nothing. It provides 100,000 jobs.

The airport covers all of their own expenses, they house 51 Food and Beverage vendors and 37 retail outlets. Although the airport does not charge rent, they do however receive a concession with a percentage of gross profits from businesses.

Completing 3200 space business valet parking deck located on Wilkinson Blvd and Harlee Avenue. Passenger will leave keys with valet, and let them know when they will return. The passenger will then board a bus which will drop them off at the airport in 3.5 minutes. The cost will be $10/day.

The new triple runway is complete and awaits certification from the FAA begin operations. The runway is 9000 ft. in length and will allow for 3 aircraft to land at the same time in any type of weather. CLT is one of six airports in the country to have a triple runway. It is scheduled to open for daylight operations on January 6, 2010 and full time operations in February 11, 2010.

The runway came in under budget and ahead of schedule and is paid for.

At this time the airport is working on getting Garrison Road interchange paved for better access to the airport, hoping to be approved in January by the state.

The contract has been awarded to grate Steele Creek Road.

State works from specific models taking a look at what traffic may be in 20 years. If it calls for a 4 lane road the state will wait until money is raised for the 4 lane road instead of going ahead and building a 2 lane road. The airport is pushing to use its money to get the road built.

The airport is working with Norfolk Southern on the intermodel yard at the airport. Where Norfolk Southern is located now there is not enough capacity to meet demands of distribution. The intermodel yard will have 21/2 times the capacity of where Norfolk Southern is located at this time. The yard will be a distribution point for both domestic and international products. The companies will ship to Charlotte, where they will redistribute and go on the mainline for its destination.

Charlotte Douglas is expanding concourse E.

In the future they will expand the checkpoints and double the space for security lines. The tickets counters will be redesigned as well.

The airport has received $40-50 million dollars from TSA to fully automate the screening system.

Added at the east end of the terminal will be a 5th checkpoint area. This area will be where business valet will drop off passengers. The passenger will be able to check in, check bags, and go right to the checkpoint.

In the design stage is a 7000 space parking deck to replace the 2 decks in front of the airport. Once the decks are completed they will rebuild and expand lanes in front of the building.

Question: When will the airport get a taller tower?
The airport continues in its quest for a taller tower. Our current tower is 150 ft. (Atlanta tower is 300ft). Our tower is undersized and 50 years old. The FAA tells us we will be able to get a new tower in 25-30 years. The other way to get a tower is to have a representative take it to the legislature. We will continue to work on a new tower. The cost would be approximately $35 million.

Question: Can we use the cargo facilities (DHL) for a training center for pilots?
The training center we have now houses simulators. The DHL building is warehouse and would require major restructuring for a training facility.

Click here for a PDF of the presentation.