CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance is spending $150,000 to entertain a small group of corporate executives, site selection consultants and their guests at the Presidents Cup. The three-day visit is a standard industry practice used to forge stronger relationships and lure more jobs and investment.
CLT Alliance President and CEO Janet LaBar outlined the economic development nonprofit’s strategy during a recent interview with CBJ at the organization’s uptown offices. Danny Chavez, the chief business recruitment officer, joined the discussion in a video appearance while traveling.
LaBar, who worked in economic development in Phoenix and Portland, Oregon, before coming to Charlotte in 2019, said that the Presidents Cup offers recruiting and networking opportunities like other high-profile sporting events, from Super Bowls and college football national playoff games to All-Star Games and Major League Soccer title matches. All are events that LaBar and other CLT Alliance executives have used for recruiting in past jobs in other cities and in Charlotte.
LaBar and Chavez said they analyzed the top prospects for invitations, mixing companies already in discussions with CLT Alliance and/or regional recruiters with new prospects less familiar with the area. Those executives will each have one guest attend with them; LaBar said site selection consultants are invited without the option of bringing a guest.
“Executives from companies who would either consider expanding or relocating and/or they may have a presence here where there’s an opportunity for additional investment for expansion,” LaBar said of the invitation list.
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(WATCH BELOW: Biden accepts invitation to be honorary chairman of 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Club)
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