Keith Crisco
North Carolina Secretary of Commerce
By: George MacBain
    
                          
Today we had the pleasure of hearing from Asheboro Rotarian Keith Crisco, our NC Secretary of Commerce appointed by Governor Bev Perdue. Keith is a Stanley County native, a Pfeiffer University graduate with an MBA from Harvard Business School. A career textile man, Keith began his career with Burlington Industries and for the last 25 years, he has run his family owned Asheboro based textile business, Asheboro Elastics.
 
He spoke about how roles in life change and we need to be ready to embrace change. Keith emphasized the importance of compromise in getting things done in Raleigh and got one of his first lessons from wife Jane. Having grown up as Presbyterian and Republican in the south, Jane, a northern Methodist and Democrat convinced Keith that compromise was a good thing…..he has been a Methodist Democrat for 30 years now!
 
The pace of his job is relentless having visited 86 counties in the first year of his term and delivered over 240 speeches. Charlotte Mecklenburg has seen him 31 times this first year. It was refreshing to hear Keith comment how important our city is to the overall health of North Carolina and he assured the crowd that the Governor feels the same way. She has lived up to her campaign promises with opening a Charlotte office and numerous trips to announce business relocations and expansions to our region. Jobs continue to be this administrations #1 priority and over the last 14 months, 20,000 jobs have been announced and $2b in investment. The Charlotte region has 4,900 of those jobs.
 
Reasons for our Region's economic success includes outstanding economic development allies in the Chamber, Charlotte Regional Partnership and area Utilities; strong educational resources including Pfeiffer, CPCC, Pfeiffer, UNCC, Pfeiffer, Davidson, Queens and Pfeiffer; and a well educated workforce that attracted new comers Zenta Mortgage, Electrolux and Husqvarna.
 
Keith shared his expansion/recruitment strategies include energy companies, international business US headquarters, technology businesses, healthcare, film producers, life science businesses and advanced manufacturers. We use performance based incentives aggressively and do not provide like some states any upfront money. Nearly 2/3rds of performance incentives go to expansion of existing companies.
 
Unfortunately as this economy recovers, the jobs will not come as fast as in the past. This is due to businesses being more efficient, not requiring the workforce numbers and providing higher pay per employee. "We all need to become global citizens" according to Keith, as we are truly a global economy. Moving our living standards forward will depend on engaging with and learning from other countries for successful solutions.
 
In summary, Keith commented the economy is doing better, the pipeline is full of new companies looking to our state and more announcements are forth coming. These are challenging times for our State and community that will not correct overnight but our Governor "is on it" and he feels her leadership is a real asset for North Carolina.
   
 
Head Table: Edwin Peacock, Natalie English, John Snyder, Carroll Gray, Mark Erwin, Ron Kimble;
Invocation: David Erdman;
Visitors & Guests: Sandy Chambers; Health & Happiness: Mac McCarley; Song: Blaine DeBoo; Photos: Bert Voswinkel

• Condolences are extended to the family of Louis Rose, Jr., who passed away March 15. Louis was a prominent real estate veteran and had been a member of Charlotte for 42 years until his resignation in 2008. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on March 18 at Myers Park Presbyterian Church.
    
• Remember with cards during their recovery: John Johnson, 4041 Black Sycamore Dr (28226) and Richard Bailey, 8000 Sunnyvale Ln (28210).
   
• David Erdman spoke to the Charlotte East Rotary Club last week and presented a program on historic pictures entitled "Picturing the Streets of Old Charlotte." Blaine DeBoo (Terri) belted out "Danny Boy" in honor of St. Patrick's Day and received a standing ovation.

CALENDAR OPPORTUNITIES
 
• March 26: David Singer, Lance, Inc., Business Person of the Year presented by Charlotte Business Journal, 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. at Morton's The Steakhouse. Register at http://events.bizjournals.com/18841.

• March 27: 5th Annual Salute to Heroes Hockey Game at Time Warner Cable Arena, 7 p.m.. Following the match between the Charlotte Checkers and the Reading Royals, the CMPD/Sheriff team will take on the CFD/Medic team for a fund raiser. Tickets are $20; half of the proceeds will benefit the Charlotte Rotary Golf Fund; see Alan Adler for tickets.
 
• March 29: WTVI (Elsie Garner) is sponsoring a "listening project" for Charlotte. Attend a forum in person on March 29 at 5 p.m. at the station or visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/road2recovery by the end of March to take the on-line survey that allows you a chance to give your ideas to develop strategies for economic recovery.
 
• October 5: Mecklenburg County Joint Rotary Club Annual Meeting at the Blake Hotel. David H. Murdock, Billionaire, Chairman of Dole Foods, and Founder and Visionary of the North Carolina Research Campus, will be the keynote speaker.
   
• The 2010 Habitat for Humanity project kicked off Thursday, March 11th. This year's build is a joint effort with Selwyn Avenue Presbyterian Church and the Charlotte Area Rotary clubs. Charlotte Rotary is responsible for providing volunteers on April 16 (drywall day), however, volunteers are welcome any day. The schedule and sign up options are available here.
      
• The next Flight of Honor is scheduled for April 10th. For those not familiar, FOH is a District-wide project to fly WW II Veterans to Washington on a day-trip to visit their memorial. Charlotte Rotary was a generous supporter of two previous flights. Anyone wishing to make a personal donation to this project can make their check payable to Rotary Flight of Honor and send to the Rotary office.
  
• ROTARY DISTRICT CONFERENCE 2010 will be held in Wilmington April 23-25. All Rotarians and their families are invited to attend. Reservations can be booked at the Hilton Riverside, 910-763-5900. Prior to March 22, the rate will be $169 per night. Conference registration rates for Rotarians: $175 (by 2/23), $195 (by 3/22) or $225 (by 4/16). Guest registration: $155 (by 2/23), $175 (by 3/22), $195 (by 4/16). The registration covers 4 meals: Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast & dinner, and Sunday breakfast. Registration can be handled on the District database (www.dacdb.com)