A little-known fact about the important role played by UNC Charlotte in helping the city to attract large industries and corporations is its status as an R1 University (according to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education), meaning is a doctoral-granting institution with the highest level of research activity. It cannot be u…

As we welcome Alyson Craig back to the podcast booth, we get a chance to not only celebrate her advancement to the position of Assistant City Manager for the City of Charlotte but reconnect on so many issues that important to our members. By way of background, Craig joined the City of Charlotte in 2018 as the Charlotte Planning, Design & Developmen…

Our podcast has welcomed many who have served in our government but our short interview with Congressman Tim Moore proved not only important, but so very timely. Especially for those who are anxious to hear from this respected man about what he’s finding in Washington as he settles into Congress. Listen to his succinct delivery of facts, his philos…

As James Pressly took his seat, his tall frame easing effortlessly into the seat opposite Rob, we watched as he opened his iPad to access his notes and listened to him express gratitude for the platform we were providing. Honestly, we couldn’t wait to hit the record button. Poised, prepared, and passionate, James covered topics from politics to his…

This episode features Pat Mumford, President and CEO of the Gaston Business Association. Returning after his first visit in June of 2023 to get us up to speed on all things Gaston County. So much has changed in 18 months, and Pat generously shared, among other topics, his unique perspective on the recent Belmont transportation bond, and the success…

Karla Hammer Knotts is an industry rock star. Pleasant. Insightful. Funny. And she calls a spade a spade. She was also our member spotlight in December of 2023, and we just can’t get enough of the world according to Karla. Currently Co-Owner and Vice President of Knotts Development, she is a passionate advocate of the industry and spends a great de…

Jim Morasso, Restauranteur and Developer, is our guest for this episode of Getting Real With Rob. A Gastonia changemaker who believes success is the result of creating opportunities for people to thrive. With over 30 years of education and experience in the hospitality industry –Steak & Ale, Houston’s, TGI Fridays, Harpers and Mickey & Mooch – his …

We’ve long wanted to introduce you to those REBIC internal team members whose exceptional skills help us move our mission forward. And we’re proud to feature David Coble, one of our valuable Area Advocacy Managers to the podcast booth for this episode. You’ll have to pay attention to keep up with the cascading flow of information coming from David …

Since initiating our REBIC podcast, we have had many esteemed interviewees give us a true glimpse into their personal beliefs and self-governing principles. We now include our guest Terry M. Brown Jr., North Carolina House Representative for the 92nd District, into that club of transparency. Why? Terry likes to call himself an honest broker meaning…

Rob Nanfelt, Executive Director of REBIC in Charlotte, NC, is our usual host for Getting Real With Rob. But today, he finds himself in the guest chair and interviewed by AnneMarie DeCatsye, CEO of Canopy REALTOR Association. In this episode he discusses all things UDO, (and becomes the victim of the Lightning Round questions himself!). His response…

It wasn’t long into our interview before the conversation got really interesting: “I’ve lived in places that weren’t growing. You don’t want that. It’s sad, actually…” stated our guest Bart Landess, The Executive Director of the Catawba Lands Conservancy and The Carolina Thread Trail. You wouldn’t think our greatest supporter would be a conservatio…

Let’s hit this topic head on: The crux of the no-growth argument contends that by stopping growth, current residents can keep things stable and unchanged. Although avoiding change is impossible and unhealthy, they ignore this decision’s devastating results proven out repeatedly across the country such as skyrocketing taxes, shrinking access to hous…

Just 3 days after the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) announced an agreement that would end litigation of claims brought on behalf of home sellers related to broker commissions, Anne Marie DeCatsye, Esq., and CEO of Canopy Realtor® Association joined us in the podcast booth. She shared her insight regarding the impact the settlement has on …

We welcome Charlotte Mayor Pro-Tem Danté Anderson and City Councilperson Marjorie Molina to today’s episode of Getting Real With Rob. This is an episode where listening between the lines is how to truly enjoy the discussion. If we’d begun the interview by asking each of them for a pedigree of education, experience, degrees, and accomplishments, we’…

Thinking outside the box doesn’t aptly describe the way Douglas Welton, Chairman of the Planning Commission for Charlotte/Mecklenburg, approaches the idea of change. For him, he doesn’t even see a box. He sees an open landscape of ideas, opinions, and solutions just waiting to be deconstructed and rebuilt into something new. Professionally he boast…

Hey, listeners, get ready for the rush. This fast-paced, funny, and very educational interview with Representative Jason Saine is our first podcast episode for 2024; and what a way to begin! As the Representative for the 97th North Carolina House District (Lincoln County, NC), Rep. Saine is serving his seventh full term in the North Carolina House.…

With more than 10 years of land planning and urban design experience in both the private and public sectors, you’ll find our November 2023 interview with Bridget Grant, guest on the podcast Getting Real with Rob, to be entertaining and educational. Bridget is the co-head of zoning, entitlement, and land use for Moore Van Allen. But we also discover…

Our latest episode of Getting Real with Rob is with Mr. James Scruggs, CEO and President of Kingdom Development Partners. KDP is a thriving development group whose heart centered business model is getting attention in the Charlotte region. He shared with us his goal to ensure that creating affordable housing options is looked after with the same ca…

During this episode of Getting Real with Rob, we are introduced to Dena R. Diorio, our Mecklenburg County Manager. Rob and she pack a lot of information into a 20-minute podcast, but her journey to become the very first woman to serve as County Manager for Mecklenburg County is a story worth hearing. After moving from the Northeast to Charlotte in …

REBIC is extremely excited to launch this episode of Getting Real with Rob, featuring Tim Minton, Executive Vice President for the North Carolina Home Builder Association. The conversation is both efficient and entertaining as it showcases Tim’s intuitive grasp of the global issues surrounding home building and real estate advocacy. In an easy to l…

This fact-filled episode is more than just a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the River District, a multi-faceted master planned community planned for west of the CLT Airport. During the conversation Rob guides his guest from the micro to the macro to the micro again. Because in the end it is the people and their talent that bring these large develop…

We’re thrilled to welcome Patrick Mumford, the President, and CEO of the Gaston Business Association to our sound booth. By way of introduction, we wouldn’t begin by listing his successes, although there are many. We would first talk about and celebrate his approach to his job and his friendships. Clearly outlining for us the difference between int…

We often speculate about what’s behind the scenes with Charlotte’s UDO, set to launch June 1, 2023. So, we decided to go to the source! Our latest podcast episode features the ebullient Alyson Craig, current Planning Director for the City of Charlotte. The interview is fast paced, yet entertaining, as you get to know the private and public persona …

Did you know that at one point during the pandemic our own Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) was the busiest terminal in the world? It’s a testament to the airline that has helped put Charlotte on the world map in terms of attracting, maintaining, and growing business opportunities around the greater Piedmont region. That and other hist…

One of REBIC’s main purposes is to create a space for legislative leaders to connect with our membership. In this episode, Rob does just that with guest Shawn Heath, Director of Housing and Neighborhood Services for the City of Charlotte. He joins us as a relatively new resident of Charlotte, and answers our questions about his passion for his job,…

Politics are often associated with people not getting things done. But when you’re interviewing two individual with decades of experience bringing facts and people together, a lot of "done" starts happening. Our first episode of 2023 features powerhouse duo Ron Pappas and Ed Driggs. Pappas, Mayor of Waxhaw, NC, 30-year veteran of home building, and…

A long-time housing professional and veteran of a wide range of housing markets, Mark Boyce is someone who cares deeply about the communities he both works and lives in. Whether it's growing up in The Hague, Netherlands, helping to establish an educational foundation in Parke County, Indiana, or founding True Homes when he moved to Charlotte in 200…

As we launch our first episode of Getting Real With Rob, we are thrilled to feature Lee Allen, president of the Canopy Realtor Association. In his usual clever and insightful way, Lee -- arguably one of the most influential figures in real estate in Charlotte -- entertains as well as informs. Key issues are discussed about REBIC’s relevance in the …