052 Game Changers - James "Chief" Buie & Dr. David Williams

In this episode, Brandon is joined by the Unzoned Podcast with David Williams as an exciting discussion with James W. Buie (AKA “Chief”) takes place largely about his book From the Ground Up. Chief Buie was one of the first to require 4 year degrees for his officers, a standard that many have since adopted. James is a man wearing many hats. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he spent his teenage years and graduated from Bay Shore High School in Long Island, New York. He attended Belmont Abbey College, located in Belmont, North Carolina, and graduated with a degree in Political Science. “Chief” also received his Master’s Degree in Justice Administration from Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC. James and his wife Cassandra have five children and four grandchildren. Chief started his law enforcement career with the Gaston County Police Department in Gastonia, NC, while serving in almost every capacity from Patrolman to Chief of Police. He has been recognized as the first African-American Chief of Police in Gaston County’s history and retired in July 2015. The State of North Carolina credits him with 30.1 years of service. Dr. David L. Williams David is credited with 30 years of local government experience. Currently, he works in the Gaston County Manager’s Office in Community Affairs as the Minority and Women Business (MWBE) Outreach Coordinator. For 15 years approximately from 2006-2020, David was the Director of Planning for Gaston County, NC, where he directed and lead all activities and efforts related to the County Land Use Planning. David is Principal and Owner of Ability Development Group, Inc, an Urban Planning and Organizational and Strategic Planning Consulting Firm. He launched "The UnZoned with Dr. David Williams" Podcast in 2023 to discuss community and leadership matters. He is an American Institute of Certified Planner (AICP) and a certified Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP). He holds a Doctorate Degree from Gardner-Webb University. In addition, he received both a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of Public Administration Degree from Appalachian State University. He is also a Military Veteran of the US Army and Operation Desert Storm. David also serves as an Adjunct Professor for UNC Charlotte and Gardner-Webb University.