New Winston-Salem Chamber Of Commerce CEO Embraces A Changing Economy

The Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce has a new chief executive.

Mark Owens, 32, has replaced Gayle Anderson as the head of the business advocate. Anderson had served as the Chamber's CEO since 1996.

Owens previously led the Chamber of Commerce in Greer, S.C.

WFDD's Sean Bueter spoke with him about what he's bringing to the position, the Chamber's role in a changing economy and the city's place in the region.

On Winston-Salem's economic strengths and opportunities:

As far as the economy goes, we really have the opportunity to be a very diverse economy. We have the history of textiles manufacturing, but we're also a really great innovation leader. We have a lot of thought-based economy where we are able to have digital presence with companies like Inmar...or Cook Medical, but still have large homegrown corporations such as Hanes and Reynolds American.

So we have a diverse economy. And I think we have the opportunity to grow in our downtown business area, as well. You see a lot happening, a lot of construction, I think that's great. But the entrepreneurial spirit is something we want to tap into and continue to grow on.

On the increasing importance of cities working together to lure major employers:

We have a great opportunity as a region to work together. I can tell you [the Chambers in] Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem...we talk regularly, we're on the same page.

I think the Amazon pitch also was a big, helpful way to get our communities [together], as a region, and have a project to work on together. And we got a lot of great press.

On the Toyota-Mazda deal, we were a very public [runner-up] as a region. A lot of times people are second and nobody knows about it. And I can tell you that other companies are really interested and it's just a matter of time – whether it's automotive, innovation, tech, whatever it's going to be: that megasite is a draw. When somebody comes to that site – it's not a matter of "if," it's "when" – our whole region is going to benefit. People in Winston-Salem are going to be the workforce that's going to work there. People that are working there want to live, shop and be entertained. So there's a blending there that we've got to continue to highlight.

On the tenure of his predecessor, Gayle Anderson, and what Owens will do differently:

It's amazing, Gayle and I, our age difference is pretty vast. But we think a lot alike. Where we differ a little bit is taking Winston-Salem into that next digital age, truly diving in. The innovation landscape is laid, but how do we become the thought leader, the innovative city, that people want to locate to?

I think it starts with our marketing of our city and our community, and getting the best talent from [Wake Forest University], from Winston-Salem State, all of our universities to stay here after they graduate. That's the first area.

Also, the economy is changing. It's a people-driven economy now. You can recruit companies, you can talk about companies' names, but the companies are only as good as the people that work there who lead them. And so we need to focus on the people, the capital that is people, and the thought leaders.