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 during this interview. His boots-on-the-ground perspective, honest delivery, and fact-based perspective is just one of many reasons he has helped REBIC influence, advocate, and change things for the better!

Since 2017 David has maintained a successful Land Development consulting firm, guiding his clients in the development community through zoning and other land related requirements across North and South Carolina. He has helped facilitate governmental approval of hundreds of millions of dollars in commercial and residential projects as well consulted on land acquisition for multiple developers.

As far as his pedigree, it begins with being an expert at creating relationships. This exists at all levels, especially with state and local elected officials. He has consulted on winning campaigns as well as building working relationships with General Assembly leadership. With a financial pedigree that includes 15 years at Bank of America as a Program and Project Manager, he began his professional career in 1999 with First Union after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a BA in Communication Studies and a minor in Marketing. In 2013 David was elected as Commissioner at Large for the Town of Mooresville, NC and served until 2017. During that time David served on various committees including the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Nominating Committee and as the Board of Commissioner’s liaison to the Mooresville Graded and Iredell-Statesville School Systems. In 2014 David Co-Chaired the bond committee Our Schools First that successfully worked for voter approval of school bonds for new school construction and building upgrades for Mooresville Graded and Iredell-Statesville Schools.

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 that whenever he enters into a discussion over policy, he approaches the encounter by moving the intent forward without a need to first protect the partisanship of the issue. He states that he is always honest about what he knows, what he believes his bill can and will do, and encourages others to also meet him with facts. That’s why we think you’ll find this episode worth a listen.

Brown, a lifelong North Carolinian, also serves as a House Democratic Whip. A nod to his ability to bring voices to a table that is often rife with polarization. Born and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, to two public school educators, Representative Brown is a graduate of the University of North Carolina Charlotte (2009) and Campbell University School of Law (2015). While at Campbell Law, Brown was runner up in the National Tournament of Champions and earned a Mock Trial National Championship. Additionally, Brown also served as the President of the Black Law Students Association and received the David R. Teddy Award for Leadership. In 2023, Brown was inducted into the Campbell Law Competitive Advocacy Hall of Fame.

Representative Brown generously shared his agenda with us, emphasizing the importance of education, creating and sustaining growth, and keeping the new jobs that come to our state filled with NC residents. He also lights up when he talks about quality of life for those who seek to come to our state sharing that we are stewards of not only the new job and the new home opportunity for residents filling our state, but to be mindful of their humanity and diligently support the creation of amenities that will elevate their lifestyle options. He is also committed to policy that helps those who are emerging from abusive relationships to enjoy a fresh start to life by mitigating financial consequences that may push them into an inescapable grip of poverty. Our discussions showed him to be a man of many passions.

Prior to being elected to the legislature, Terry was a community advocate for affordable housing and justice reforms. Terry has been recognized in Mecklenburg County as one of the top 30 Under 30 and 40 Under 40 in both the business and civic community. Terry currently works as a litigation attorney focusing on financial litigation and complex commercial business litigation with the international law firm of Winston & Strawn. In the General Assembly, Terry has been elected the House Minority Whip, and serves on the Judiciary 3, Appropriations, Appropriations-Health and Human Services, Energy and Public Utilities, Insurance Regulatory Reform, and Unemployment Insurance committee. Terry has introduced forward thinking legislation on topics ranging from public education to mental health.

Terry is married to his supportive wife Arielle, a local pediatric mental health counselor.

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 responses are comprehensive and detailed, giving us a valuable glimpse into the City of Charlotte’s master planning document.

Charlotte’s Unified Development Ordinance, referred to as the UDO, has been a point of celebration and angst since being implemented in June of 2023. As we revisit it one year later, questions and complaints about its content persist. However, our members should understand that REBIC has been working behind the scenes since long before the document was ever drafted. Key leaders in the development field worked during the review process to help insert reality into the paragraphs and sections of this complex document. One of the most fact-filled episodes we’ve ever recorded, Rob goes from A to Z explaining the phases of improvement we’re working to help refine. Many listeners may not know that REBIC has formally submitted over 30 change requests, using a form provided on the REBIC website. The party requesting a change can give give a complete and detailed picture of the issue, with context, and offer suggestions about what a change (or text amendment) should contain. Improvements to the document are made solely by the Planning Board, but our hope is that these amendments not only rectify faulty language, but help the UDO become more robust and real-time in the future.

By way of background, Rob Nanfelt, a long time Charlotte resident, joined REBIC as their Executive Director in the fall of 2109, bringing over 25 years of public policy experience to the position. The foundation for this knowledge was honed by his time as a political Chief of Staff on Capitol Hill and a decade long leadership position promoting advocacy for the Colorado Association of Home Builders.

If you work with Rob, you know he possesses a unique ability to quickly understand complex challenges and identify appropriate solutions and is known for easily guiding diverse parties with opposing goals toward common objectives. The statements, “Be overprepared. Stop complaining. Let’s discuss solutions, not problems.” are three of his favorite phrases. He deftly operates at the intersection between soundbite platitudes and real-life-on-the-ground execution believing that only when we examine true cause and effect can we expect to create a plan for meaningful change and achieve positive outcomes.