Members of the business community in Alamance and Guilford counties
took part in a panel discussion Wednesday, April 18 about growth in the
region and its impact on Burlington, Greensboro and surrounding
communities. The event was co-hosted by the Executive Education program
in the Love School of Business and the Triad Business Journal.
The forum and panel discussion featured civic, business and government
leaders from the region, including former Greensboro City Manager Ed
Kitchen, Mac Williams, president of the Alamance County Area Chamber of
Commerce, and Doug Galyon, chair of the N.C. Board of Transportation.
Justin Catanoso, editor of the Triad Business Journal, served as
moderator.
Spence Broadhurst of Sun Trust Bank, and former mayor of Wilmington,
N.C., gave opening remarks. He encouraged municipalities and businesses
to work together to present a united front to prospective businesses.
During his tenure in Wilmington, Broadhurst said “one foundation of our
plan was regional cooperation. When we did that, we developed a lot of
trust, a lot of cooperation.”
Galyon said the Triad has plenty of advantages in recruiting new
industry to the area, including transportation. “We’re ahead of the
curve here on regional transportation,” Galyon said. “We’re unique, but
we’ve got to take advantage of it.”