Expertise Built On Real-World Experience
Ernie Pearson
managing Partner
(919) 653-7803 (Office)
(919) 215-1596 (Mobile)
epearson@nexsenpruet.com
Since 1989, when serving as Assistant Secretary for Economic Development in the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Ernie’s professional focus has been on economic development. He started the first economic development law practice in North Carolina in 1993. He is the founding partner of Sanford Holshouser Economic Development Consulting. Ernie has served on the Boards and as an officer of a number of economic development organizations. This includes three tenures on the Board of Directors of North Carolina Economic Development Association and as its President. His work in economic development, whether in representing companies in site selection and incentive negotiation projects, or assisting economic development organizations in product development, organizational restructuring or incentive negotiations projects is enhanced by his legal experience in a range of subject matter. He is recognized as a leading expert in developing creative approaches to achieve optimal results.
Rocky Lane
managing Partner
Rocky has worked in economic development for over 30 years and has been with SHEDC since its inception in 2002. Since that time, he has led or been a team member on numerous projects that span the breadth of the consulting group’s services. Rocky has developed, implemented, and managed a BRE program for a 16-county region, qualified over 4,500 acres under the NC Department of Commerce Certified Site program, developed over 15 Strategic Economic Development Plans for communities ranging in size from 400 to over 250,000. Lane has also been engaged in multiple Site Selection and Economic and Fiscal Impact Analysis projects.
David Denny
managing partner
David’s career spans 38 years with 20 of those working in economic development. He joined SHEDC over 7 years ago and became a Managing Partner 3 years ago. Prior to forming his own economic and business development consultancy 15 years ago David served for 23 years in executive roles in marketing and business development with engineering, environmental and architectural firms in multiple states. He also has gained experience and connections in international trade and investment; having been the Director of the Radford University (VA) International Trade Center, co-founder of the i3N international small business exchange network and through direct and indirect sales and business development in 18 different international markets.
David’s economic development expertise and project experiences include strategic economic development plans, organization review and improvement, market analysis, funding program development and implementation, product development, site location, international trade development and bridge management of economic development organizations. Educated in the liberal arts, David possesses the ability to adapt and be flexible in effectively working on various types of projects with a variety of clients.
“The strength of the pack is in the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is in the pack. ”
Thomas Johnson, HLM
partner
828-289-0479
tjohnson@SHEDC.com
Tom spent the initial 15 years of his professional career in city planning in three different states. Upon leaving city planning he entered the economic development field. With over 30 years of economic development experience at the local and regional level, he has coordinated over two billion dollars in announced investment and over 3,000 announced jobs. In mid-2019 Tom joined Sanford Holshouser. He has been a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) for over 20 years, an Honorary Life Member of the Southern Economic Development Council, a former Board member of the NC Economic Developers Association, a former Board member of the Southern Economic Development Council, a graduate of the Economic Development Institute and selected the Economic Developer of the Year in North Carolina in 2011-2012.
John J. Smolak, HLM
partner
540-598-1984
jjsmolak@SHEDC.com
John recently joined Sanford Holshouser Economic Development Consulting and brings a wealth of experience having spent the last 45 years in economic and community development, in various capacities, both in the private and public sector. Most recently, John was with AEP – Appalachian Power for 25 years. There he served in a number of positions, including the Director of Economic and Business Development, the Manager of Economic Development for AEP’s Kentucky and West Virginia areas, and a number of positions at AEP’s Corporate Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. From 2005-2012, John was also the President and CEO of the Franklin Southampton Economic Development, Inc., located in the Hampton Roads Region of Virginia. John also held several economic development positions with the West Virginia Development Office for 13 years prior to joining AEP. Throughout his career, he has been actively involved in numerous local, state, and regional community and economic development boards and commissions. He was past Chairman of the Southern Economic Development Council, (SEDC), a 17- state economic development association.
Mac Williams
partner
336-516-3365
mwilliams@SHEDC.com
Mac Williams offers a 45-year career in economic development cultivated in a variety of organizations, settings and roles. Most notably, Mac served 17 years as President and CEO of the Alamance County (NC) Chamber of Commerce, a role which also included serving as the county’s economic developer. During that time, Mac worked on new and expanding industry projects representing over $1 billion in capital investment and 4000 jobs including major facilities for Walmart, Lidl, Chick-Fil-A, UPS, Sheetz, Honda Aero, Lotus Bakeries, AirGas, and others. A long-time member of NCEDA, Mac has served on the organization’s Board of Directors, and, in 2004, as its President. That same year, Mac was recognized as NCEDA Developer of the Year.
Sheila Knight, CCIM
partner
Sheila Knight, CCIM, is an experienced economic development professional and commercial REALTOR®. She is a native of Maryland and graduate of Salisbury State University. Prior to becoming an economic development consultant, Sheila served as Executive Director of Jacksonville Onslow Economic Development (JOED) for ten years after enjoying a successful thirty-year career as a real estate broker, owning both a residential and commercial brokerage firm. In 2013, the Governor appointed Sheila to serve on the North Carolina Department of Commerce Economic Development Board. Subsequently, the Senate President Pro Tempore appointed her to the Board of the newly created Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC). She was recently re-appointed to her third term and is currently serving as Chair of the Advocacy Committee.
Dale B. Carroll, MHRM
partner
919-665-7932
dcarroll@SHEDC.com
Dale Carroll is a C-Level executive with over 40-years of professional experience, including work as a power engineer for energy services to major industries in eastern North Carolina and in economic development at the regional and state level in N.C. and neighboring states. His leadership experience includes the private sector, nonprofit corporations, and government. Carroll earned a B.S. from NC State University in Raleigh and an M.A. from Webster University in St. Louis.
From 2009 through 2013, Carroll served as Deputy Commerce Secretary / Chief Operating Officer in two Gubernatorial Administrations in North Carolina. His responsibilities included economic development programs ranging from business and industry recruitment to finance, energy efficiency, infrastructure development, and workforce solutions. In 2012, Southern Business and Development magazine named NC Commerce and its economic development allies “State of the Year” based on 2011 job creation and capital investment results tracked in the southeastern USA.
Dale and his wife Cindy are native North Carolinians. They live in Asheville and have two sons and three granddaughters.