Raleigh mayor emphasizes need to ‘invest in yourself’ to attract greater investment
July 2024 — Raleigh-Durham has solidified its position as one of the nation’s most dynamic and fast-growing regions due to its business-friendly environment, affordability, and diverse communities. Its story of economic growth is still being written, as regional leaders shared their insights at the Invest: Raleigh-Durham 2023-2024 Launch Conference.
The regional business community gathered on Wednesday morning at City Club Raleigh, with 150 industry executives, elected officials, and key players in the professional world attending for valuable networking opportunities and actionable panel discussions. In her opening remarks at the event, Capital Analytics’ president & CEO Abby Lindenberg provided an overview of the current economic climate of the Raleigh-Durham region — highlighting the continued growth over the past year and the challenges facing the area. “It’s a new world, with new ways of doing business and new ways of working. We’ve all been met with unprecedented challenges in recent years but in most cases, we’ve been up to meeting those challenges, as many of our interviewees point out in this year’s report,” said Lindenberg.
The region’s history and robust industries, from technology and life sciences to higher education and healthcare were focal points of the event. The leadership summit began with a keynote speech from Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin, who spoke about the city’s evolution and future trajectory. “Last month, I was at the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and my big takeaway was: Invest in yourself. We’ve heard from mayors across the country, and that is our theme. You must invest in yourself so others will invest in you.”
“We invested in our first entertainment district a few decades ago. People thought there wouldn’t be any development in the area, but there was. People love it! They love the sport, their team, and winning, and we’ve been able to achieve that,” said Mayor Baldwin.
The opening panel, “Managing Disruption: How are educators and healthcare professionals navigating technological disruptions to improve outcomes in both fields?” served as an overall assessment of the impact of technology in the education and healthcare sectors. Moderated by Lindenberg, panelists featured in the discussion included Steve Lawler, president and CEO of North Carolina Healthcare Association, Dr. Maha Lund, Elon University’s dean of the School of Health Sciences, and Curt Ladig, president and CEO of Delta Dental of North Carolina.
“North Carolina is one of the best states in the nation for delivering quality care,” said Lawler. “The link between education and healthcare has existed for centuries. We need to use disruptive thinking and apply technology to continue evolving.” After serving the NCHA for eight years, Lawler is set to retire at the end of 2024 as a search committee formed by the Board of Trustees leads a national recruitment effort for the next CEO.
Lund referenced how education is evolving in the classroom today, and the need to stay ahead of the curve. “New innovations come out so quickly that by the time we are using them, there is already something better and faster available. We must identify the next big thing and innovate how our teachers adapt to these technologies. Students are savvy and often teach each other, so collaboration is key,” she said.
The conversation about AI switched to combating fraudulent transactions in healthcare, as Ladig pointed out: “We are working with AI to reduce these instances and keep access affordable for our members.”
The second and final panel, “Advancing the Ecosystem: How is the Triangle thinking outside the box to boost its business ecosystem and ensure sustainable growth?” encompassed time-honored and emerging strategies to create new opportunities for businesses to succeed in the region. The panel was presented by Sharon Giddes, group manager of middle market banking at Comerica, and speakers included Keith Burns, managing partner at Maynard Nexsen, Brenda Howerton, chair of GoTriangle, and Nicole Sheedy, city sales manager at Delta Air Lines. Bobbitt CEO Brian Denisar served as moderator.
Burns opened up the conversation on market forces impacting the rate of development in the Triangle today. “Developers need certainty around time and costs because without it, developing is challenging. High costs are a drag on opportunities for those seeking housing,” he said.
But overall the region is better positioned than many others around the country given the emphasis on collaboration across stakeholders. “What struck me about the Triangle is the collaborative nature across industries. We are proactive, which greatly impacts the region by bringing solutions that address transportation needs,” said Sheedy.
Howerton provided an important overview of what makes the Triangle region an attractive force for businesses and residents. “Our region is known as one of the best places to live. People are constantly moving here and there are plenty of opportunities. We have top colleges and universities, and our technical and community colleges greatly contribute to our area’s growth,” she said.
“We have increased our bus services across the region. Existing transit services that serve commuters are changing to reflect the needs of riders. We are working to ensure that you can get to your job no matter where you live.”
To access the latest edition of Invest: Raleigh-Durham and all market reports by Capital Analytics, click here.
About Capital Analytics & Invest: Raleigh-Durham 2023-2024
Capital Analytics is an integrated media platform that produces in-depth business intelligence through its annual print and digital economic reviews, high-impact conferences and events and top-level interviews via its video platform, Invest:Insights.
Invest: Raleigh-Durham 2023-2024 is an in-depth economic review of the key issues facing the economy in the area, featuring the exclusive insights of prominent regional leaders. Invest: Raleigh-Durham 2023-2024 is produced with two goals in mind: 1) to provide comprehensive investment knowledge on the Raleigh-Durham region for local, national and international investors, and 2) to promote the region as a place to invest and do business.
The report conducts a deep dive into the top economic sectors in the region, including real estate, construction, infrastructure, banking and finance, legal, healthcare, education and tourism. The publication is compiled from insights collected from more than 200 economic leaders, sector insiders, political leaders and heads of important institutions. It analyzes the leading challenges facing the market and uncovers emerging opportunities for investors, entrepreneurs and innovators.
For more information, contact:
Jerrica DuBois
Senior Editor
305-523-9708 Ext. 261
