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Business briefs: 5/10/07

Posted on May 10, 2007May 10, 2007 by Staff

Town names economic development officer

Dwight Bassett, a former development manager for the City of Rock Hill, S.C., has been named Chapel Hill’s first economic development officer.

His professional background includes positions as Old Town redevelopment manager for Rock Hill and downtown manager for the Downtown Statesville Development Corp. in Statesville. He also has held business development positions for the cities of Concord, McCormick, S.C. and Hinesville, Ga. Bassett now lives in Parkers Lake, Ky. He is expected to start in Chapel Hill on June 4 with an annual salary of $78,000.

Bassett will work to assist in the development of the town’s economic development strategy and to look for ways to improve the town’s development process.

“Chapel Hill is fortunate to have Dwight,” Town Manager Roger Stancil said. “He has extensive experience in the details of redeveloping existing properties. I have been impressed with the comments of private property owners with whom Dwight has worked to transform their underutilized properties into profit centers. They highlight his ability to find creative ways to make good things happen.”

As project manager for the Textile Corridor Master Plan for Rock Hill, Bassett led a $200 million project to develop a “College Town” near Winthrop University.

In Statesville, Bassett was project manager for the Statesville Depot Restoration, which involved moving a railroad depot and restoring it to become a visitor’s center.

“Chapel Hill is unique,” Bassett said. “There is a finite amount of land to grow on, which requires wise development of vacant parcels and redevelopment of existing sites like old shopping areas. I am excited to learn more about approaches that are best for Chapel Hill to improve the tax base, create job opportunities and enliven the community.”

Mall welcomes familiar names
University Mall has added two well-known names in local retail, Modern Times clothing boutique and Wentworth and Sloan jewelers. The mall is the second location for both retailers, who also have stores on Franklin Street.

Modern Times collections include Betsey Johnson, Lilla P, Eva Franco and Nicole Miller. The new store will expand Modern Times’ offerings with shoes, bridal collections and additional designers. Visit www.ModernTimesClothing.net for more information.

Wentworth and Sloan, which has operated on Franklin Street for more than 60 years, will offer jewelry, watches, crystal and sterling silver, diamonds and precious stones and gifts. For more information, visit www.WentworthandSloan.com.

Reale named Carolina Inn chef
James Reale, a former sous-chef at The Carolina Inn, has been named the Inn’s new executive chef.

He succeeds award-winning chef Brian Stapleton, who was promoted in February to the new position of director of culinary standards for the company that manages the Inn.

Reale has been executive chef and food and beverage manager at the Paul J. Rizzo Conference Center at UNC for the past seven years. Prior to that, he worked under Stapleton at The Carolina Inn and managed the Inn’s restaurant, Carolina Crossroads.

OWASA honors Morris
The OWASA board of directors recently recognized Bertrum A. “Buddy” Morris for his 35 years of dedicated service to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community. Morris, who retired on May 1, was senior crew leader at OWASA.

Morris began serving in the Water Distribution Department on April 4, 1972, when UNC owned the public water. His responsibilities over the years included construction, repair, oversight and evaluation of the community’s water distribution system along with supervision and direct involvement in developing and training a number of employees of the water distribution and wastewater collections departments.

During his career with OWASA, he received the State of North Carolina’s highest professional certification in water distribution and earned the state’s professional certification in wastewater collection.

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