"On the foundational items, I couldn't have found a better group." shares David Howard, Chair of the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority, as he discussed the process of aligning the purpose and power of the 27-member group. He's spent a lot of time making sure the job at hand begins with an important pause so that everything in front of the group can be accurately, intentionally, and effectively approached. "You need to go slow so you can go fast." He insists. REBIC agrees. But then he said if he could make a new rule for the world, he'd insist we put 'ketchup on everything.' That one might be a personal preference. But it emphasizes how Rob works to make human the people and the issues shaping our region. Charlotte is doing something not many cities get the chance to do. Control their OWN mobility future. There is much to do to consolidate and refocus, but the future will be fueled by many voices that care. The Authority will oversee the investing of billions of dollars in Mecklenburg County sales tax revenue, and David has a solid grasp on the process, and the vision. Howard is a former Charlotte city councilor who has been chief deputy secretary of the NCDOT and was associate administrator of the Federal Highway Administration. Giving him a broad perspective. "The work ahead will be serious, demanding, and consequential," Howard said in a LinkedIn post. "The impact of this organization — and this transit investment — will be generational. How we start matters. How we lead matters. And who we serve must always remain at the center of every decision." As we moved comfortably from subject to subject during the interview, David stated that he's proud of all the members of the authority. And that little by little they're finding common ground and acceptance as they move past individual positioning, to becoming one cooperative voice. With a strategic mindset and a robust professional network at local, state, and national levels, David excels at driving continuous improvement and crafting innovative solutions to complex challenges. As the Principal of DL Howard Consulting Group, LLC, based in Charlotte, NC, David provides strategic guidance in smart cities, transportation equity, innovation, development, and public policy. Known for his analytical prowess, he is a trusted visionary and thought leader in both the public and private sectors. He shares with us that, "If we can get it right with this body, we can probably get it right for Charlotte, too." He closed with some powerful beliefs that would prove we did this right. "We're not ready to just commit to a new transportation system, we're going to commit to having a new industry…a successful reinvention of a transportation eco system."
"Big, hairy, audacious goals." That's what Stuart Hair calls the things he sets in motion that deserve to be executed with greatness. This is also a man who loves interreacting with people, and revels in the part of his job where he can connect and respond to the community. So, it's surprising that his idea of a day of pampering is sitting on the front porch of a cabin, deep in the woods and reading a book, while soaking in the quiet of nature. He also loves Dungeons and Dragons. Maybe it's that juxtaposition of passions, obsessions, and talents that makes him so agile and so good at his job. We know it made him awfully fun to interview. Stuart Hair, Director of Commercial and Community Engagement for the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, says he's found his happy place in this position. Calling himself a Visionary Economic Developer, he spends his days making the most of his Masters in economic geography – with an emphasis on urban and regional land use and planning. As he works to balance the fiscal interests of the airport's economic footprint, especially with a growing city like Charlotte, he reminds us that remembering how to prioritize what is achievable with what is aspirational, keeps the strong financial model of CLT stable and growing. The airport owns thousands of acres of land besides the runway, terminal, and the parking lots that passengers use. And Stuart has been tasked with developing and implementing a development strategy for how to use that land. In an article from the Observer, Stuart says that beyond the land the airport owns, Charlotte Douglas' zone of influence covers more than 20 square miles, stretching roughly from the Catawba River to Billy Graham Parkway, and from Interstate 85 to Shopton Road. We all see and feel the excitement of their expansion plans, whether entering the airport as a passenger or driving by it. New runways. Exciting new developments. So much on the horizon. And although Stuart answers to the Charlotte City Manager, he tells us that the airport functions like a private entity, which is very different than a city run department. This allows CLT to take advantage of new opportunities to embrace new infrastructure requests, reflecting the high demand for warehouse industries that bring in many, many new jobs and careers to the region. His question to himself is, "How do we take this idea of putting transportation, logistics, distribution facilities together, and make it happen?" Somehow, we know Stuart, who is always evolving, will help our airport evolve as well. Listen to this episode and learn everything you need to know and other great facts that you should know about our own Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Additional Info: He has worked in economic development since 2006 throughout the Charlotte region with local and state organizations, following a career in private sector administrative operations. Hair is a graduate of Oklahoma University Economic Development Institute (OUEDI) and a Certified Member (CM) of American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) He holds a BA from Queens University of Charlotte and a MA from UNC Charlotte. Along with his wife and child, Hair lives in Uptown Charlotte. Affiliations: North Carolina Airports Association (NCAA) – Board Member American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Charlotte Rotary Club – Past Board Member
Brenda Hayden, REALTOR®, industry leader, and housing advocate with more than two decades of experience serving consumers and communities throughout North Carolina and South Carolina, is the 2026 President of North Carolina REALTORS®, representing thousands of real estate professionals across the state. As our current podcast guest, Brenda gets to work sharing the heart of her commitment to the real estate industry emphasizing that truly listening to the broker community is the only way to form a strategy around leadership and purpose. She also urges us to remember that REALTORS® need to build their communities by not just advocating for each other, but by engaging IN the community. She encourages her charge to attend municipal planning meetings, to learn how to advocate for the things that bring prosperity, to volunteer for municipal leadership positions, and to understand that growth should be embraced with collaborative and cooperative agendas. Brenda is a Broker/Owner of BDH Realty Advisors and is known for her expertise in residential real estate, leadership development, advocacy, fair housing, and community engagement. Throughout her career, she has held numerous leadership positions, including President of Canopy REALTOR® Association and Canopy MLS in 2019, Chair of DreamKey Partners, and Executive Committee Chair of the Real Estate & Building Industry Coalition (REBIC). A passionate advocate for housing opportunity, Brenda has served on local, state, and national committees focused on housing affordability, community development, and public policy. Her leadership extends beyond real estate through service with organizations including the Canopy Housing Foundation, Builders of Hope, and numerous community initiatives. Brenda holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern University and an MBA from Queens University of Charlotte. She is a recipient of the 2022 Canopy REALTOR® of the Year Award and is widely recognized for her collaborative leadership style, commitment to professional excellence, and dedication to expanding access to homeownership and housing opportunities. When she is not serving clients or leading industry initiatives, Brenda enjoys fitness, bodybuilding, mentoring emerging leaders, and spending time with her family.
Dave Boliek, our guest on Getting Real with Rob, became the 21st State Auditor of North Carolina in January of 2025. Now, almost 18 months into his term, he's focused and alert about what it means to ensure your tax money is being spent with accountability. When you first meet him, the wireframe glasses and classic attire might keep you from seeing that little bit of Elliot Ness in his eyes. Animated, articulate, and very well educated on the political landscape of the State Auditors position, he's almost like a kid in the outfield who can't wait for you to throw him the ball. And when it hits his glove, you get more than a solid catch. You have someone who tells you exactly what they plan to do next, and then he does it. It's that kind of energy that brings a refreshing take to a subject that some would believe incredibly dry. Auditing. But he sees it as the best job ever. Part statistician, part strategist, part psychologist and part detective, it's all good for Dave Boliek. Born in Lincolnton, North Carolina, Dave has lived in Fayetteville, Durham, Eden, Greensboro, Chapel Hill, Thomasville, Hickory, Boone, and Raleigh. He is a former prosecutor, small business owner, and most recently worked as an attorney and served as Chairman of the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees. Dave's legal career includes being an Assistant District Attorney in Cumberland County, where he prosecuted crimes in District and Superior Courts, and as a litigator practicing in State and Federal Courts. As Chairman of UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees, Dave led the effort to eliminate the university's operating deficit and created the Board of Trustees' first Audit and Risk Committee. He and his wife Haden live in the Durham/Chapel Hill area and have four children. He is a proud Eagle Scout, and a Christian who serves as an elder in his church. Dave earned an undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and has a law degree and master's degree in business administration from Campbell University. About the Office of the State Auditor: The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor (OSA) is your fiscal watchdog. We audit more than $100 billion in state assets and liabilities each year, bringing transparency to local, state, and federal government. Our reports and findings include recommendations that result in good government reforms. OSA thoroughly investigates alleged cases of fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer dollars, working with law enforcement on prosecution when warranted. We encourage all members of the public with information on improper government conduct to inform OSA through the safe and secure Tipline.)
"UNC is all about Charlotte" shares Blaine Brownell, during our recent recording. As the Director of the Raven's School of Architecture, UNC Charlotte, he emphasizes that Charlotte is poised for amazing success and is highly optimistic about the future, our talent, and our ability to adapt, but cautions us about the danger of assumptions. REBIC has been working on adding peripheral opinions to our podcast, working to share information about the entire landscape of disciplines needed to maintain our cities and our success. In advocacy we talk a lot about the size of home and the size of the lot, and the size of the price tag. But Professor Brownell puts it all in perspective when he tells us we must get out of our own way to continue to thrive. And shares that learning how to become a great architect is as much about collaboration as it is design. Pointing to his years in studying and living in Japan, he shared freely his fascination with their culture. And admires their efficient, clean, and innovative approach to design and to renewal. It's a theme he refers to throughout the episode, and frankly, it's the best reason to listen to our latest episode of Getting Real with Rob. Blaine Brownell is an architect, author, and leading thinker on how emerging materials are reshaping the built environment. His work focuses on the intersection of material innovation, environmental performance, and design—exploring how buildings can move beyond static systems to become dynamic participants in ecological processes. He is the author of ten books, including the forthcoming Radical Green, which advances new material strategies for regenerative and net-positive architecture. Since 2009, he has written the "Mind & Matter" column for Architect magazine, contributing over 800 articles on the frontiers of material innovation. In addition to his academic work as Professor and Director of the School of Architecture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Brownell advises leading organizations—including 3M, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Mayo Clinic, and the Danish Architecture Center—on material futures, sustainability, and design innovation. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Nature, and other international publications. He speaks globally on the future of materials, climate-responsive design, and the evolving role of architecture in a rapidly changing world. Brownell earned a B.A. in architecture with a Certificate in East Asian Studies at Princeton University in 1992, and a Master of Architecture from Rice University in 1998. He practiced for seven years at NBBJ in Seattle, Washington. In 2006 he became a Fulbright Scholar to Japan with a focus on emergent materials and applications in architecture and design. After a visiting professorship at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Brownell taught at the University of Minnesota School of Architecture, Minneapolis starting in 2008, eventually serving as director of graduate studies and interim department head. In 2020 he became the Director of the School of Architecture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.