President's Blog

Carolina

May Edition

"Carolinas Rise Up!"

By Ben Bailey – Chapter President, CoreNet Global Carolinas

The first time I heard Petey Pablo’s Carolina anthem “Raise Up” happened to be in a Denver, Colorado night club in 2001. It was summertime and I was on break from university working an internship there. I remember pausing for a moment and listening more intently before thinking – “he didn’t just say North Carolina did he?”

Being a native Charlottean it was shockingly unexpected to hear my home state represented in the chorus of a new popular song, two-thirds the distance across the country no less! Even better than that, everyone was dancing along. It felt like a transitional “coming of age” moment where the humble place I knew as a child was on the cusp of transforming into something much more.

Twenty-five years later, the transformation accelerates and everyone is still dancing along. Our region boasts the Top State for Business in CNBC rankings 3 of the last 4 years, economic growth that consistently outpaces the national average, a well-diversified balance of industries and steady in-migration due to our abundant professional opportunities and renowned quality of life. By any account, it is a great time to be a Carolinian.

However, despite our success these last several decades we are not insulated from the challenges and uncertainties facing the broader economy or the corporate real estate (CRE) industry. For example, we face a volatile trade environment, persistent inflation, demographic shifts and the implications of artificial intelligence on the workforce to name only a few. In the midst of all of this near-term uncertainty, CRE leaders remain accountable for strategic, long-term investment decisions for the workplace and experience that will be felt for generations to come.

Fortunately, you do not have to navigate this complex and transformational moment alone. CoreNet Global is launching bold new initiatives to equip CRE leaders with the resources and connectivity to manage through the sea of uncertainty. These new initiatives include establishing a global research council to improve thought leadership, creating new platforms for stronger member connectivity, finding new ways of attracting university students to our industry and publishing a CRE industry index to establish our voice as an industry-leading authority.

Building on these global initiatives, our Carolinas Chapter will accelerate our regional progress and drive value for our members through three areas of focus for 2026 and beyond:

  • Connection: We will create opportunities that are regionally rooted and globally interwoven, giving you access to peers across markets within our region and around the world.
  • Content: We will deliver impactful insights for navigating this dynamic moment by leveraging local universities and regional CRE leaders to develop thoughtful content on emerging topics.
  • Engagement: We will activate a community focused on inclusion, opportunity, and shared success by fostering meaningful networking events that result in professional growth and personal friendships.

Carolinas - We have arrived at another transitional moment, and so we must once again “Rise Up” together to meet it! There has never been a better time to join, engage, volunteer or sponsor our CoreNet Carolinas Chapter. We have grand plans for 2026 and we want you to be there – learning, contributing and collaborating in community as we navigate this moment. Together we can face down every challenge and advance the legacy of corporate real estate in the Carolinas and beyond.

With Shared Purpose,

Ben Bailey

President CoreNet Global Carolinas 

February Edition

Carolina On My Mind: Honoring Black Leadership in Corporate Real Estate

February invites reflection on where we’ve been, who helped shape the path, and how we carry that legacy forward. As we recognize Black History Month, it’s an especially meaningful time to spotlight the Black leaders and firms whose influence has helped shape corporate real estate, not just nationally, but right here in the Carolinas.

Our region continues to experience extraordinary growth. From Charlotte to the Triangle, from Greenville to Charleston, corporate real estate plays a defining role in how companies expand, how communities evolve, and how people experience work. Black professionals have long contributed to this progress---often behind the scenes, sometimes against the odds, and always with lasting impact.

Here in the Carolinas, Black-owned and Black-led firms have helped shape some of our most visible and transformative projects. McKissack & McKissack, one of the nation’s oldest Black-owned design and construction firms, has had a presence in the Southeast for years, contributing to large-scale commercial, institutional, and infrastructure projects that demand both technical excellence and cultural awareness. Their work underscores how thoughtful planning and execution can elevate not only buildings, but the communities around them.

We also see Black leadership influencing corporate real estate through development, brokerage, project management, and advisory roles across our region’s major markets. Professionals based in Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham have helped guide headquarters relocations, major portfolio strategies, and workplace transformations for global companies choosing to call the Carolinas home. Their fingerprints are on the offices we work in, the campuses we design, and the neighborhoods being reimagined around them.

Leaders like Don Peebles, founder and CEO of The Peebles Corporation, demonstrated early on that large-scale, complex real estate development could be both financially successful and community centered. His work across major U.S. cities helped expand the vision of what inclusive development could look like and who gets to lead it.

Equally important is the role Black leaders have played in advancing conversations that matter deeply to CoreNet Global: inclusive growth, supplier diversity, equitable development, and talent pipelines. Some have started to serve as mentors, board members, and advocates, ensuring the next generation of corporate real estate professionals sees opportunity in an industry that did not always feel accessible.

Black History Month is not just about celebrating firsts or highlighting individual success stories.  It’s about recognizing sustained leadership and influence. It’s about understanding that the strength of our corporate real estate community comes from diverse perspectives working together to solve complex challenges.

As a chapter rooted in one of the most dynamic regions in the country, CoreNet Global Carolinas has an opportunity to lead by example. We can continue to elevate diverse voices on our panels, build intentional relationships with minority-owned firms, and support professionals at every stage of their careers. These efforts strengthen not only our chapter, but the entire industry we serve.

“Carolina On My Mind” is ultimately about stewardship…of place, of people, and of progress. This February, I’m proud to lift up the Black leaders and firms who have helped shape our region’s corporate real estate landscape and to reaffirm our commitment to a future defined by opportunity, inclusion, and excellence.

Thank you for the leadership you bring to our community and for helping make the Carolinas a place where everyone can thrive.

Harold R. Hicks, CFM, MCR
President, CoreNet Global Carolinas

 

March Edition

Carolina On My Mind – March Edition

A Little Madness, A Lot of Momentum in Corporate Real Estate

By Harold Hicks, CFM, MCR – Chapter President, CoreNet Global Carolinas

March is one of my favorite times of the year. The energy shifts. The days get longer. And of course, brackets get busted.

With the NCAA tournament tipping off in cities like Charlotte and across North Carolina and South Carolina, it’s hard not to get caught up in the excitement of March Madness. But as I’ve been watching the brackets fill out, I can’t help but see the parallels between basketball and Corporate Real Estate (CRE).

Because in our world, March is less about madness — and more about momentum.

The CRE Bracket: What’s Advancing in 2026?

If we built a Corporate Real Estate bracket this year, here’s what I believe would be advancing to the Final Four — both globally and here in the Carolinas.

1. Flight to Quality 2.0

This trend isn’t new — but it’s evolving.

Organizations are doubling down on high-performance workplaces that deliver measurable outcomes: talent attraction, culture reinforcement, and ESG alignment. Commodity space is struggling. Experience-driven, amenity-rich, transit-connected assets are winning.

In markets like Raleigh and Charleston, we’re seeing continued investment in Class A products even as overall vacancy rates remain elevated. The message is clear: quality still commands a premium — but only when it’s purposeful.

2. Portfolio Optimization: Less, But Better

Across the globe, corporate occupiers are recalibrating their footprints. The days of measuring success purely by square footage are behind us.

Now it’s about:

  • Utilization analytics
  • Flexible lease structures
  • Hub-and-spoke strategies
  • Rightsizing without compromising culture

Here in the Carolinas, we’re seeing organizations consolidate suburban holdings while strengthening urban cores in Charlotte and Greenville. It’s not contraction for the sake of contraction — it’s intentionality.

3. AI & Data: The Unexpected Cinderella Story

Every tournament has one.

This year in CRE, it’s AI-powered decision-making.

From predictive occupancy modeling to lease abstraction and capital planning, artificial intelligence is moving from pilot programs to enterprise strategy. Global CRE leaders are integrating AI into scenario planning, site selection, and workforce forecasting.

The organizations that learn to trust — and verify — their data will outperform. Just like in basketball, analytics don’t replace instinct. They sharpen it.

4. Sustainability as Strategy — Not Slogan

Sustainability is no longer a “nice-to-have.” It’s embedded in capital allocation, brand identity, and regulatory compliance.

In manufacturing-heavy corridors across the Carolinas, energy resilience, water stewardship, and carbon reporting are shaping site decisions. Globally, occupiers are aligning real estate strategy directly with corporate climate commitments.

The madness? Thinking sustainability is optional.
The momentum? Recognizing it as competitive advantage.

What This Means for the Carolinas

Our region continues to punch above its weight.

The Carolinas sit at the intersection of:

  • Population growth
  • Business-friendly policy
  • Port and logistics strength
  • Higher education talent pipelines

From advanced manufacturing investments to life sciences expansion and financial services growth, the fundamentals remain strong.

But — and this is important — we cannot be passive participants!

March Madness rewards the teams that adjust at halftime.

For CRE professionals, that means:

  • Challenging legacy workplace assumptions
  • Building cross-functional partnerships with HR, IT, and Finance
  • Investing in member education and peer connection
  • Staying globally informed while acting regionally

That’s exactly why our work within CoreNet Global — and specifically within the Carolinas Chapter — matters more than ever.

Championship Culture

As Chapter President, I see firsthand the power of this network. The conversations happening at our programs are sharper. The questions are tougher. The collaboration is stronger.

That’s not madness. That’s maturity.

This chapter continues to grow because you — our members — are leaning in. Sharing lessons learned. Mentoring emerging leaders. Bringing candor to the challenges we all face.

And if there’s one thing both basketball and Corporate Real Estate teach us, it’s this:

Championship teams aren’t built in March.
They’re revealed in March.

Final Thought

As you fill out your brackets and connect with colleagues this month, I encourage you to ask yourself:

  • What’s advancing in your portfolio?
  • What’s on the bubble?
  • And where do you need to make a bold move before the buzzer?

The Carolinas are positioned for a strong run. Let’s make sure our CRE strategies are tournament-ready.

See you at our next chapter event.

Carolina on my mind…and the future of CRE in our sights.

 

Harold Hicks, CFM, MCR
Chapter President
CoreNet Global Carolinas

 

April Edition

Carolina on My Mind- Farewell

By Harold Hicks, CFM, MCR – Chapter President, CoreNet Global Carolinas

As I sit down to write this final President’s message for Carolina on My Mind, I do so with immense gratitude and pride. Serving as President of the Carolinas Chapter of CoreNet Global has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my professional journey.

This past year was not simply about maintaining momentum…it was about rising to meet the moments that mattered most. And we did just that!

I have had the privilege of working alongside a truly phenomenal board---dedicated, zealous, and deeply committed to advancing our mission. Each colleague brought energy, insight, and a willingness to lean in when it counted. Together, we navigated challenges, embraced opportunities, and elevated our chapter in ways that will have a lasting impact.

What stands out most is not just what we accomplished, but how we did it---collaboratively, thoughtfully, and always with our members at the center of every decision. This team exemplified leadership in action, and I am profoundly grateful for their partnership and friendship.

As I pass the baton, I do so with great confidence in what lies ahead. The Carolinas Chapter is poised for even greater heights, where innovation will not only inspire but actively delight and support our members. The future will bring new ideas, new approaches, and continued focus on delivering meaningful value across the diverse environments in which our members operate.

To our members and our generous sponsors, thank you for your engagement, your trust, and your belief in what this chapter can be. You are the reason we strive, evolve, and succeed.

Though my role as President concludes, my commitment to this community does not…I’ I look forward to watching AND contributing to the continued growth and success of this incredible chapter.

With sincere appreciation and optimism for the future,

Harold 

Harold R. Hicks, CFM, MCR