Published: July 03, 2008 04:27 pm            

EDC leadership changes

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Economic Development Corporation changed leadership, gave out an award and heard from the state’s transportation chief last week.

The 23rd annual meeting of the EDC was held at AVS Banquet Centre with a breakfast meeting, as Gene King passed his chairman’s gavel to Greg Spainhour. Other new officers are Dale Lambert, vice chairman; Lynwood White, secretary-treasurer; and King, past chairman. Directors are Ann Bailie, Bob Bauman, Brad Craven, Larry McKenzie, Michael Murray and Laura Wilson.

Lyndo Tippett, secretary of the N.C. Department of Transportation, was the main speaker, telling the group that during the next 20 years the state’s infrastructure needs will exceed $60 billion, and about $15 billion for the next 10 years. He said the aging highways are becoming an increasing maintenance burden.

“We’re facing a time of expanding population with our infrastructure wearing out,” Tippett said. Toll roads, which have been suggested as a means of funding road construction, “only solve about 5 percent of the problem,” he said.

One means of saving money is through design/build contracts, in which the firm that designs a highway also oversees land acquisition and construction. But only 25 such projects are allowed each year, Tippett said.

DOT’s 14,000 employees are “cost conscious,” he said, adding that “we’ve made significant improvements” in the past few years.

Tippett listed some of the accomplishments in the region, including the opening of a 17-mile section of I-74 south of Asheboro earlier this year and a 12.9-mile loop being completed around High Point. Visitor centers on either side of US 220 just south of Seagrove, being constructed at a cost of $19 million by DOT, is now underway.

As public transportation is becoming increasingly important with rising fuel prices, rail ridership between Raleigh and Charlotte has increased by 28 percent, Tippett said. Rail spur projects have been advantageous for both Malt-O-Meal and Starpet, both located on the north side of Asheboro.

The Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) is adding bus service to Asheboro and Archdale as another piece of a public transportation service that links the Triad with Boone to the west and the Triangle to the east.

EDC President Bonnie Renfro honored Tippett and the DOT with the Partners in Progress Award. She said Randolph County has benefitted from the investment of 100s of millions of dollars by the DOT in road construction and improvements over the years. Good roads, she said, enables the county to compete for industry and tourists.

“The transportation infrastructure is becoming a major advantage to our region,” said Renfro. “You’ve been a valuable partner with us for many years.”

Spainhour is regional president of Community One Bank with responsibilities for the Piedmont Triad region. He has been with Community One, formerly First National Bank, for six years.

Prior to that, he was with Wachovia Bank for 16 years. He has previously served as director of the EDC from 2000-2003 and currently serves on the Randolph Friends of the Zoo Board and Central Boys and Girls Club.

Lambert has served as executive vice president and general manager for Randolph Electric Membership Corporation for the last eight years of his 23 years with the corporation. REMC is an electrical cooperative serving a five county area in central North Carolina.

Lambert is a previous director of the EDC from 2002-2005 and currently serves on several statewide electric cooperative boards, the Asheboro-Randolph Chamber of Commerce and Asheboro Rotary boards.

White has served as vice president of finance and CFO of Randolph Hospital for 13 years. White is a CPA, Fellow in Health Care Financial Management Association and winner of the Founders Medal.

Continuing directors are Donald Andrews, superintendent of Randolph County Schools, Stan Byrd Sr. of Stan Byrd Realtors; J B Griffith III, president of Liberty Advisors; Duffy Johnson, senior vice president of Carolina Bank; Jorge Lagueruela, president of Trinity Furniture; Steve Ridgill, plant manager of Dart Container Corporation; Larry Small, president of Acme McCrary; Rhonda Winters, director of Randolph Community College’s Archdale Campus; and Richard Wells, Randolph County manager.

Retiring directors and officers recognized for service included Past Chairman Mike Karaman and Secretary Treasurer Wayne Thomas. Retiring directors include Carmen Dabiero, Fred Smith and Darius Stutts.

        

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