Economies are regional, and the long-term prosperity of any region is directly connected to its leadership. Regional leaders must create a regional vision, and they must then enlist other leaders and grass roots stakeholders to support the vision. The active engagement of leaders throughout the Piedmont Triad toward a long-term vision for regional prosperity and competitiveness is an ongoing goal of the Piedmont Triad Partnership. Regional collaboration is a critical element in all of the Piedmont Triad Partnership’s programs of work, and the PTP’s Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) initiative contains a number of explicit strategies to engage Piedmont Triad leaders in a dialogue about regional economic transformation. Through these efforts regional leaders are identifying challenges and leveraging opportunities to rebuild the Piedmont Triad economy.
The Piedmont Triad Leadership Group. A group of prominent business, civic and academic leaders representing Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point began meeting in January 2007 to discuss joint action toward improving the economic competitiveness of the Piedmont Triad Region. Chaired by BB&T CEO Kelly King, this group has grown to include members from all 12 Piedmont Triad counties. The primary goals of the Piedmont Triad Leadership Group are:
- Advancing the Piedmont Triad economy through leadership engagement; and
- Strengthening the ties among leaders representing all parts of the region.
The Leadership Group quickly determined to undertake regional initiatives to leverage world-class competencies of the Piedmont Triad, and the Leadership Group created two task forces whose efforts have shown significant promise and results. They are:
1. The Global Logistics Task Force. (Chaired by Jim Morgan, Morgan Herring Morgan Green & Rosenblutt LLC) Building on a report authored by Dr. John Kasarda, economist and Director of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at UNC Chapel Hill, entitled “Leveraging Piedmont Triad International Airport and Other Regional Assets for Piedmont Triad Competitive Advantage,” the Global Logistics Task Force is developing an implementation strategy to create The Piedmont Triad Aerotropolis, a regional strategy that will make the Piedmont Triad a major East Coast logistics and distribution center. This initiative capitalizes on the region’s mid-Atlantic location, 5 Interstate highways, numerous air and ground freight capabilities, higher education institutions, and skilled workforce.
2. The Furnishings Task Force (Chaired by Jim Melvin, Joseph M. Bryan Foundation) Having long been recognized as "The Furniture Capital of the World," the City of High Point and the greater Piedmont Triad Region have enjoyed global prominence in this industry sector for generations. The Furnishings Task Force has identified the need for a comprehensive regional strategy to maintain the Piedmont Triad’s status as the recognized global center for the furnishings industry. The Piedmont Triad Partnership is developing a plan to leverage the Piedmont Triad’s best-in-class furnishings cluster assets, including its competencies in furnishings design, education, logistics, manufacturing, marketing, and the High Point Furniture Market to solidify the Piedmont Triad’s position as the World Furnishings Capital. In addition, the Task Force will continue to cultivate existing assets, create new resources and build innovative partnerships -- both domestically and internationally – to advance the goals of the furnishings industry sector.
Other Piedmont Triad Leadership Initiatives. Recognizing the need to “deepen the leadership bench,” the Piedmont Triad Leadership Group commissioned the Piedmont Triad Leadership Institute, targeting leaders who are ‘emerging’ in their civic roles. The concept is to establish strong regional connections and commitments to regional civic leadership as these leaders become the next generation of regional decision makers. This group of 32 participated in a rigorous regional and personal Leadership Development Program® at the globally renowned Center for Creative Leadership – partner in the Piedmont Triad Partnership’s leadership programs. In addition, the Leadership Group created the Piedmont Triad University Transformation Team (UTT), consisting of the Presidents and Chancellor of the region’s eleven 4-year colleges and universities. The UTT, chaired by Wake Forest University President Nathan Hatch and UNC School of the Arts Chancellor John Mauceri, has identified several opportunities for the Piedmont Triad’s colleges and universities to collaborate on projects that can help transform the region’s economy. Finally, the Piedmont Triad Partnership is also working with the Center for Creative Leadership on a number of strategies to help develop leaders in the Piedmont Triad’s rural counties as part of a strategy to make sure that all of the region’s counties are engaged and participating in the regional transformation efforts.