Into the Spotlight features NCEDA's annual sponsors.
These organizations and companies make it possible to provide our members
with high caliber educational and professional development opportunities.
Each month, we'll learn more about these generous supporters
and how they impact economic development in North Carolina!
These organizations and companies make it possible to provide our members
with high caliber educational and professional development opportunities.
Each month, we'll learn more about these generous supporters
and how they impact economic development in North Carolina!
Into the Spotlight...
Patron Sponsor Appreciation
Mary Lilley and Robin Spinks met in the 1980s as local economic developers. Mary was Economic Development Director in her native Martin County while Robin led economic development efforts in neighboring Edgecombe County. "That was in 1984," recalls Robin. "We've been fast friends ever since."
Today, the two operate Greenfield, a full-service economic and community development consulting firm. Mary continues to operate from Williamston. Robin now calls Wrightsville Beach home. They joined forces in 1999, a year after Mary founded Greenfield. "What we do is really basic economic development consulting on both sides of the fence," Robin explains. "On the site selection side, most of our clients have been small, privately-owned companies and start-ups." The firm also helps communities develop strategies for industrial development and business recruitment. "Product development is our favorite thing to do," she adds. While Greenfield has clients outside the state, much of its work involves North Carolina destinations. It has a longtime business relationship with ElectriCities and maintains a retainer arrangement with Alcoa to re-develop an industrial property at Badin Lake. The firm enjoys repeat business from boatbuilders, energy companies, marine trades enterprises, aviation businesses and other industries. Robin says Greenfield is currently excited about emerging industries like Offshore Wind, which offers supply-chain opportunities for North Carolina's coastal communities and beyond.
Greenfield's data-centered approach sets it apart from competitors, though Mary and Robin -- having once been local economic developers -- never lose sight of the human factors that lie at the heart of site-selection decisions. The company is also eager to take on unusual projects that call for outside-the-box thinking. "We're not cookie-cutter people," Robin says. "Clients come to us when they've got something unusual. We like to do projects that have difficult problems and require creative solutions." Such was the case in 2018 when North Carolina's Southeast engaged Greenfield as part of an extensive effort to map biomass assets in its 18-county region. The resulting GIS tools enable instantaneous analyses of project raw materials, potential customers, or supply chain assets. The innovative system has obvious marketing and recruitment benefits, but also adds value for county business retention programs. "Much of the cluster intelligence found in the application can be used to support the growth and success of existing industry," Robin explains.
Through it all is a commitment to communities and an ease of doing business that earns lasting respect. "They've been a great partner for us," says Candice Lowder, Director of the Stanly County Economic Development Commission. Even though Greenfield's client in the community is Alcoa, local leaders know that success at Badin Lake will bring direct benefits to Stanly County. "They are very knowledgeable and have been great to work with," Lowder says.
Greenfield has a long and mutually valuable relationship with NCEDA. Both Mary and Robin are former board members, for example. "Y'all are our target market," Robin says of the association. As the COVID-19 pandemic altered the economic development process and restricted in-person gatherings, Robin has found benefits in NCEDA's webinars. "NCEDA has been a knowledge resource for us, too," Robin says. "And the webinars have also been so much fun."
Today, the two operate Greenfield, a full-service economic and community development consulting firm. Mary continues to operate from Williamston. Robin now calls Wrightsville Beach home. They joined forces in 1999, a year after Mary founded Greenfield. "What we do is really basic economic development consulting on both sides of the fence," Robin explains. "On the site selection side, most of our clients have been small, privately-owned companies and start-ups." The firm also helps communities develop strategies for industrial development and business recruitment. "Product development is our favorite thing to do," she adds. While Greenfield has clients outside the state, much of its work involves North Carolina destinations. It has a longtime business relationship with ElectriCities and maintains a retainer arrangement with Alcoa to re-develop an industrial property at Badin Lake. The firm enjoys repeat business from boatbuilders, energy companies, marine trades enterprises, aviation businesses and other industries. Robin says Greenfield is currently excited about emerging industries like Offshore Wind, which offers supply-chain opportunities for North Carolina's coastal communities and beyond.
Greenfield's data-centered approach sets it apart from competitors, though Mary and Robin -- having once been local economic developers -- never lose sight of the human factors that lie at the heart of site-selection decisions. The company is also eager to take on unusual projects that call for outside-the-box thinking. "We're not cookie-cutter people," Robin says. "Clients come to us when they've got something unusual. We like to do projects that have difficult problems and require creative solutions." Such was the case in 2018 when North Carolina's Southeast engaged Greenfield as part of an extensive effort to map biomass assets in its 18-county region. The resulting GIS tools enable instantaneous analyses of project raw materials, potential customers, or supply chain assets. The innovative system has obvious marketing and recruitment benefits, but also adds value for county business retention programs. "Much of the cluster intelligence found in the application can be used to support the growth and success of existing industry," Robin explains.
Through it all is a commitment to communities and an ease of doing business that earns lasting respect. "They've been a great partner for us," says Candice Lowder, Director of the Stanly County Economic Development Commission. Even though Greenfield's client in the community is Alcoa, local leaders know that success at Badin Lake will bring direct benefits to Stanly County. "They are very knowledgeable and have been great to work with," Lowder says.
Greenfield has a long and mutually valuable relationship with NCEDA. Both Mary and Robin are former board members, for example. "Y'all are our target market," Robin says of the association. As the COVID-19 pandemic altered the economic development process and restricted in-person gatherings, Robin has found benefits in NCEDA's webinars. "NCEDA has been a knowledge resource for us, too," Robin says. "And the webinars have also been so much fun."