Getting Real With Rob

Real Estate & Building Industry Coalition (REBIC)
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Getting Real With Rob is the official podcast of the Real Estate & Building Industry Coalition in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hosted by Executive Director Rob Nanfelt, Getting Real With Rob features real conversations with industry leaders about real estate, housing and community.

  1. JAN 13

    David Longo | Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer – CBI Workplace Solutions

    "It's really easy to identify a problem; it's actually not that hard to come up with solutions. The real work comes with implementing them." shares David Longo, our first guest of 2026, as he gave his closing remarks. Our episode drilled down into the details of the Transportation Referendum and the accompanying 1 cent sales tax increase that passed last November as David's leadership was instrumental in forging bipartisan collaborations between Raleigh and Charlotte. Helping to move this historic initiative forward, its successful passing reinforced his belief that real progress happens when people put community above politics. The referendum passed on the first attempt with 52 percent of the vote—an unprecedented outcome for an initiative of its scale and complexity. David's role in advancing the Mecklenburg County Transportation Referendum, a once-in-a-generation effort to transform the region's infrastructure is a masterstroke of opportunity and vision. The soon-to-be-imposed sales tax will generate $19.4 billion in local funding over the next 30 years and will be matched by $6 billion in federal funding. The total results, say many, is estimated at $250 billion in long-term economic development.  A long time Charlotte influential, David has spent more than three decades transforming how organizations view their workplaces—not as static environments, but as powerful tools that shape culture, enhance collaboration, and elevate the human experience. That fingerprint will be conspicuously prominent as he takes his place as an appointee of the Metropolitan Transit Authority Board. As the Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of CBI Workplace Solutions, he was also the 2025 Chair of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance – an organization that referendum proponents sought support from — acting as a strategic genius by building bridges of purpose that transcended divisive agendas. Through these civic efforts, David has earned a reputation as someone who works across lines of difference, uniting Democratic and Republican leaders, business executives, educators, and community advocates around shared goals.   As we dig into his background, the foundations of his philosophies become obvious. Raised in a loving and faithful home, he learned the value of responsibility, gratitude, and respect for others. His early influences—family, faith, and scouting—profoundly shaped his worldview and gave him a lifelong desire to serve others. In 1993, David founded CBI Workplace Solutions in Charlotte, North Carolina, guided by a simple yet transformative conviction: the workplace matters. What began as a small entrepreneurial venture quickly grew into one of the Southeast's premier workplace solutions firms, serving clients across North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida. Under David's leadership, CBI became a trusted distribution partner to MillerKnoll and Falkbuilt, delivering workplace solutions that integrate design, technology, and human insight. His approach transcends furniture and floor plans, and he believes that when leveraged correctly, the 'built' environment can profoundly improve people's lives, their processes, and their performance.  As Chair of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, he has been a unifying voice in the region, bringing together the public and private sectors to pursue long-term investments that enhance quality of life and regional competitiveness. In 2023, David co-chaired the $2.5 billion Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bond campaign, the largest school bond in North Carolina's history. His leadership helped secure widespread, bipartisan support for modernizing and expanding educational facilities across the county.   At the center of David's life is his family. He has been married to his wife, Chris, for more than forty years, and together they have raised three children and now cherish time with their two grandchildren. Family remains his greatest source of joy and grounding, reinforcing the values that have shaped both his personal life and leadership journey. In addition to his business and charitable work, David lends his leadership to a variety of civic and institutional boards, including UNC Charlotte, the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council, Novant Health, Charlotte Center City Partners, and now the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority. David Longo continues to live out a calling larger than himself—building not just workplaces, but communities, not just businesses, but legacies of purpose. "Success is not about status or power—it's about how we use our gifts to lift others."

    28 min

  2. 12/09/2025

    Aaron Houck, Land Use Attorney with Robinson Bradshaw

    In this episode, we turn our attention to policy makers and citizen groups' persistent distaste for growth, and confusion around managing it intelligently. And all over the US, albeit the world, there is a tug of war between those who live in a place and those who want to live in a place with each believing they hold virtue over the other. With NC assumed to become the seventh most populated state in the country by 2030, leaning in is a prerequisite to resolving our issues. That's why we're thrilled to welcome our guest Aaron Houck, a land use attorney at Robinson Bradshaw, who specializes in assisting his clients with zoning and entitlement endeavors and has some fascinating opinions about both sides of the argument. But he's also someone who is questioning the human tenues that block our ability to flourish. So, what dogmas are fueling the grumblers who stand between us the right answers? Aaron reminds us that just because you're in the room doesn't mean you get to make all the decisions. And he brings up the point that although a city's outcome should be influenced by local citizens having what he calls, "a voice, a veto and a vote", we don't think about the people wo aren't in the room and are being denied all three. These are the folks who will need a home next year, or after school in 5 years, or when they're transferred here in 10 years. What will they find? Will they forever be the reason existing residents groan in distaste? It is these ideas and more that light up the airwaves on our current Getting Real with Rob podcast. It's a conversation about how to see things on a larger stage and increase our peripheral view. It is about helping our elected leaders and neighborhood groups understand the economic and behavioral nuances that must be addressed. Otherwise, we're stuck in anger. That's neither democracy nor leadership.  By way of background, Aaron Houck brings to his profession an intricate set of skills and insights. His family moved to Charlotte when he was eight years old, he is a proud graduate of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, having attended Newell Elementary School, J.T. Williams Middle School, and Independence High School. And he went to Davidson College, where he double-majored in economics and political science, served as co-editor-in-chief of The Davidsonian, and played on the scouting squad for the women's basketball team. He then braved the cold, darkness of Cambridge, Massachusetts, for three years at Harvard Law School before returning to Charlotte to work as a real estate attorney at Robinson Bradshaw. He left the practice of law to pursue a Ph.D. in political science at Duke University, and he taught for seven years at Queens University of Charlotte, where he was a tenured professor in the Political Science Department. He subsequently boomeranged back to Robinson Bradshaw.  Where it gets fascinating is when Aaron's career as a lawyer and a political scientist was fueled by an interest in how cities work (and why they don't). At Queens University of Charlotte, he taught a course on the "Politics of Urban Design" that included taking a group of students to Barcelona. As a land use attorney, he helps his clients navigate rezoning and entitlement processes. Aaron and his wife, Pearl, have two kids. They live in the Elizabeth neighborhood. They enjoy college sports and spending time in the North Carolina mountains.  Listen now to this episode!

    35 min

  3. 11/18/2025

    Dan Puvak, Operations Partner—Architectural & Estimating Services at True Homes

    A veteran of nearly every discipline in home building, our podcast guest Dan Puvak, Operations Partner—Architectural & Estimating Services at True Homes in Monroe, NC reminds us that unpacking the intricacies of building a home is something relatively few understand. He would love to see more narratives dig deeper into the facts and details so the public can become educated about its elegance and importance to our economy and our communities. Sharing his views on how the UDO, even in its imperfect form, can help create predictability and therefore efficiency in planning and execution of developments, he also explained that the UDO parameters are often discarded in favor of neighborhood groups who push against agreed upon ordinances in favor of popularity-driven opinions. And the problem intensifies when decisions are made without considering the missing voices of those who will be the future members of a community. "There are too many who make decisions based on sentiment, and not facts. We're not considering how the vetted data is already showing us who is moving here, where the jobs are, the needed traffic planning, and what kind of product these future neighbors need and want." He points out that these same loud voices sway elected officials to constantly question and change existing policy, dramatically changing the metrics of cost and design. Along with cooperative dialog during the entitlement and approval process, he insists that data about schools, traffic, engineering, and forward planning should be respected as the first way to inform development planning strategies. As we dug deeper into how the mechanics of home building can become more efficient the conversation naturally moved towards AI. Dan overwhelmingly agreed that any design models loaded into AI must first be a reflection of exceptional planning, innovation, and a clear vision. Then AI can cull through and tighten processes or planning, resulting in a better end product for the company and the customer. Dan, by way of responsibilities with True Homes, influences nearly every decision within the company. He unifies architecture, estimating, and BIM into one operating system that speeds product launches, improves cost accuracy, and protects margin. He leads new product development, cost modeling, pricing and margin management, and the technical standards that keep offerings scalable. He's pushing building technologies that turn models into business data—specifically a BIM backbone that generates purchase orders directly, links options to the supply chain, and delivers first-time-right takeoffs at scale. He is quick to point out that he started his career at the first rung, working for a builder by sweeping out and punching-out homes, which is why he insists every model of execution reflect field reality. After becoming a corporate leader, he has committed to giving back and has served for years as a judge for NAHB's four-year student competition. Mentoring the next generation of homebuilding professionals is a priority and a privilege, and he finds the work genuinely rewarding.

    29 min

  4. 10/20/2025

    Torrey Feimster | CEO for Ascension Community Development Corporation

    Torrey Feimster is championing efforts that pave pathways to accelerated generational wealth through homeownership, thereby helping to close the widening wealth gap. Torrey chatted with Rob Nanfelt about the nuances of this benevolent mission, but it's clear this is a personal passion for Torrey in addition to a mission for good. Previously, Torrey served as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at GEM Investments (GEM), a $ 12 billion+ OCIO, where he advanced diversity initiatives and participated in the development of GEM's proprietary impact investing framework, which includes a racial and social equity scoring model. Ascension, incubated within GEM, continues to benefit from this strategic partnership while operating independently. But the roadmap being put into place by Ascension's leaders and public/private partners has a list of incredible milestones they intend to hit within the next 6 years. Like delivering over 600 mixed-income houses with a significant portion in the attainable housing price range. He is quick to emphasize that Ascension's holistic approach to community economic development prioritizes both housing attainability and financial education, ensuring that all residents can have the opportunity to thrive. Discovering the algorithm that will bring this mission to life is why you need to listen to the entire podcast! "By investing in diverse-price point housing developments, offering educational empowerment programs in financial literacy, and fostering community economic development initiatives, we aim to create vibrant, mixed-income communities where everyone has access to quality housing and opportunities for economic advancement." According to the Ascension website. It goes on to state that they're reshaping the narrative on affordable housing in Charlotte by prioritizing sustainable homeownership over traditional rental solutions. While many focus solely on providing affordable rental units, they believe that true empowerment comes from owning a home. By offering affordable homes for purchase, we're not only addressing the immediate need for housing but also fostering long-term stability and generational wealth within our communities. As is the case with our podcast, we enter the interview with our lighting round questions that inevitably strike gold in revealing the character-shaping events and choices that have shaped our guest. Torrey gives us a glimpse into what drives him, and therefore what is catalyzing the forward movement with Ascension. And it should be noted that the partners in this endeavor include Kingdom Development Partners guided by James Scruggs, a guest who graced our podcast booth in 2024. In the past, Torrey has served as Assistant to the President and Director of Corporate Relations at Johnson C. Smith University and was Publisher at PRIDE Magazine, Charlotte's premier African American lifestyle publication. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust, an organization that provides endowment management and investment expertise to build and grow permanent funds for arts, science, and history organizations in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community. He received a B.A. in Speech, Communication, and Rhetoric from Wake Forest University, a Certificate in Capital Markets from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC-Chapel Hill, and a Certified Diversity Professional Designation from the ILR School at Cornell University.  https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/104214/homeownership-is-affordable-housing.pdf

    26 min

  5. 09/16/2025

    Sagar Rathie | Managing Director - Office at Crescent Communities | 2025 President NAIOP Charlotte

    "You can have an impact!" states Sagar Rathie as he deftly handled our questions from host Rob Nanfelt. As our latest podcast guest, he approached the interview with enthusiasm and a plan. Immediately endearing and always prepared, Sagar has made a meteoric rise in the commercial development industry here in Charlotte. He also calls himself a bit of a Renaissance man but also stated that one of the mobile apps he couldn't live without is his GPS (…so he knows where he's going!). Then he explained how, given a choice between being the smartest person in the room or the funniest, he would choose to be funny. Cementing our impression of him as a man who balances discipline and structure, with sheer persuasion. Schooled as an engineer, his focus for NAIOP in 2025 and beyond is establishing a robust advocacy connection between Charlotte's commercial industry and our representatives at the state level. Moved deeply by the magic that happens when a concept and dream of a development becomes tangible and real, he is also committed to helping those even younger than him get a start in the commercial industry with a good mix of wonder and dedication to engagement.  Here's more information about our podcast guest: Sagar Rathie joined Crescent Communities in 2016 and currently serves as Managing Director, Office for the Commercial division. He leads all aspects of the Company's office acquisitions and developments throughout the Southeast and Southwest, with an active investment and pipeline development portfolio totaling 2.5 million SF and representing $1.3 billion in capital deployed. Sagar is responsible for sourcing, entitling, designing, financing, and executing on new and value-add office and mixed-use developments across the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, Central Florida, Texas, and Arizona.  Sagar has extensive capital markets experience, having collectively raised nearly $4.0 billion in third party equity and debt throughout his career. Previously, he was Crescent Communities' Director of Corporate Finance and Investor Relations, where he played an integral role in the company's financial forecasting and planning efforts, assisted with the investment committee process, and led numerous strategic initiatives for the company. Prior to Crescent Communities, Sagar was in Investment Banking with Piper Sandler, and a Manager at GlaxoSmithKline. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Discovery Place, President for the NAIOP Charlotte Chapter, active with ULI as a member of the Capital Markets Committee, a recent graduate of Leadership Charlotte, and heavily involved with the community. Sagar received his master's in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, master's in engineering from Duke University, and Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering also from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

    25 min

  6. 08/26/2025

    Bobbi Jo Lazarus, Shareholder with Elliott Davis

    We thought long and hard about the first few lines of our editorial for this podcast, in the hopes we'd successfully ignite some curiosity with our audience. It was decided that leading with "Tax Talk" might not be the hook needed. But after our interview with Bobbi Jo Lazarus, Shareholder with Elliott Davis, we changed our minds. Because spending 25 minutes on this podcast is going to be more entertaining and interesting than you would think. And extremely (yes, extremely) educational. In a short amount of time, we unpacked the top elements of the new implications of the Big Beautiful Bill with the addition of perspectives about its place in the landscape of previous bills. Bobbi Jo mentions she feels this work is like 'solving a puzzle' and you need to 'always think ahead.' In our opinion, no one should make a move in the tax world without a professional like Bobbi Jo.  In addition to her deep knowledge of her craft, Bobbi Jo is the incoming Charlotte NAIOP President. She is a driving force in their initiative around amplifying the boots on the ground voices at the state level. The goal is to establish a coalition that can generate real-time discussions with lawmakers and get more traction around 'what happens next' planning. And with the passing of The Big Beautiful Bill, there is so much to parse through, especially as the guidance needed to implement these new laws trickles in. A translator is surely needed.  Our GRWR lighting round, clearly one of our guests' favorite parts of the interview, gave us a glimpse into what makes Bobbi Jo tick. She's transparent and funny. Articulate and engaging. Confident and competent. You're listening and laughing and nodding for so much of the interview that you don't even realize that we're talking about …yes…Tax Talk. Just click "listen" and learn for yourself. Bobbi Jo's Professional Bio: With over 20 years of experience, Bobbi Jo Lazarus has established herself as a respected leader within the real estate industry. Utilizing a forward-thinking approach, her expertise extends beyond advisory and tax services, as she consistently delivers value-added solutions supported by the full capabilities of Elliott Davis's real estate and consulting teams. Her impact is marked by a strong commitment to staying ahead of regulatory changes and market dynamics, ensuring customers remain competitive in an ever-evolving landscape. As the previous Real Estate Industry Specialty Group leader, she spearheaded initiatives to align customer needs with team strengths, resulting in higher satisfaction and measurable business impact. Bobbi Jo's influence also extends into the non-profit sector, where she has demonstrated exceptional leadership and service, including executive roles supporting organizations focused on real estate development, emergency management, and advocacy. Her ability to navigate complex challenges and foster collaboration has driven success across both corporate and non-profit initiatives, ensuring sustainable growth and positive impact.   Education, Credentials and Special Training Certified Public Accountant B.S., Accounting with an Economics minor, Plymouth State University   Civic & Community Activities  Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Foundation Board, Treasurer Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Type III All Hazards Incident Management Team, Member Hopeway, Advisory Board Member   Leadership Charlotte, Class 44   Professional Affiliations NAIOP Charlotte, President-Elect   NAIOP, Tax Policy Committee Member NAIOP Nashville Women Executives of Charlotte  Charlotte Regional Business Alliance Urban Land Institute  CREW Charlotte - Past National Delegate, Past President  American Institute of Certified Public Accountants  North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants   Awards Charlotte Business Journal Women in Business Award Recipient 2025 Career Mastered Emerging Leader Award Recipient 2018 Charlotte Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award Recipient 2016 Mecklenburg Times 50 Most Influential Women Award Recipient 2015 NCACPA Women to Watch, Emerging Leader 2014 CREW Charlotte, Sponsor of the Year 2012 Business Leader Women Extraordinaire, Award Recipient 2011  CREW Charlotte, New Member of the Year 2010

    32 min

  7. 07/22/2025

    Rodney Faulkner & William Haygood III | Boundary Street Advisors

    This month on Getting Real with Rob, we welcome West Charlotte schoolmates Rodney Faulkner and William Haygood III, founders and partners with Boundary Street Advisors here in Charlotte. Established in 2018, this full-service commercial real estate firm is dedicated to some pretty big, bold ideas when it comes to commercial development. And because of that, Rodney, an alumnus of Appalachian State University and William, an alumnus of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill helped us record an episode that inspires just as much as it informs. Boundary Street Advisors is nothing if not committed to economic and cultural expansion. They love and celebrate everything about Charlotte. A powerhouse of financial acumen tempered by friendship and faith, their company is named after the street that used to mark the edges of the thriving Black business and residential community of Charlotte, Boundary Street, which is now tucked in and around the southwest loop of the I-277. But that's just a tip of what inspires them.  Let's start with the term, "Lean in." Words Rodney and William believe are the key to the way we should approach every venture. They see our region as a landscape of people and businesses that are knitted together like a beautiful quilt. Even though those are simple terms, they take very seriously the idea of insisting that we define our city's targets for the future, not just have them. Additionally, they believe you should "Lean in" to expansion, to the arts, to transportation, and especially to small businesses.  They also believe that it isn't the organizations that move us forward, it's the people in those organizations. "Who's being loud?" Was the question posed by Rodney when we asked him what REBIC can do to help. "What are each of your individual members doing to help?" And with that, we see why these gentlemen are conspicuously unique and refreshing.  Another fascinating response surfaced when we inquired about their strategy to bring more collaboration to the table between developers and policy makers. Wherein they suggested we need a commonsense committee to help us get to the right things; an overlay of friends and caring experts for each development on the table, who can help resolve burdensome and illogical regulations that are preventing something positive from happening.  They also boldly shared what they feel is missing in planning, zoning laws, and developer perception, stating their best advice is to simply ask a policy maker or staff member to lunch and get to know them. "Reach out your hand, Rob." Rodney invited, and then they shook hands. "I just gave you a gift. We are now friends." That kind of personal approach is what they feel is their 'secret sauce.'  Listen to this interview now!

    39 min

  8. 06/24/2025

    Michael Foess, Founding Executive of Montrose LLC, 2025 REBIC Board President

    Michael Foess (pronounced Fess) is a highly accomplished executive leader with over 25 years of experience in engineering, development, and project management. He is serving as the REBIC Board President of 2025 and brings with him a packed agenda for progress. It is during this episode that he shares his deeper visions for REBIC and for members of the entire Real Estate community. Within the context of regulatory and growth push-back as key elements bogging down housing affordability momentum, Michael sees the way forward by using human strategies as much as a logistic one. With an admission of the missteps taken by policy makers he places the pivotal responsibility for improvement on the shoulders of leaders in our industry. And encourages them to explore the effectiveness of creating a more open and cooperative atmosphere at all levels of negotiation and entitlement. Reinforcing the idea that neighbors, policy makers and elected officials are all fellow share holders in a new development, he parses through the rhetoric and brings the narrative straight back to us. The interview here is a fascinating dialog that leaves no room for confusion and makes progress tactile: Be better at communicating the why, communicating the process, and then really listen. In addition to these human agendas, Michael takes a long look at the positive side of the sweeping changes AI will make in our world, especially its effects on our industry. And encourages us all to meet the moment so we can use this tool wisely and urgently as we envision a more efficient future for development. By way of background, Michael has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Michigan State University and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC. He is a registered Professional Engineer and licensed general contractor in North Carolina and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Michael is currently on the Board of Directors for the Home Builders Association of Greater Charlotte and the 2025 Chair for REBIC's Board of Directors. He is also a subcommittee member for the National Home Builders Association's Subcommittee on Land Use Policy and the past Chair, Land Development Council for the Home Builders Association of Greater Charlotte. As the Founding Executive of Montrose LLC, a real estate development consulting firm providing tailored portfolio management, program management, and project management services to developers, builders, investors, and family offices. Montrose is currently managing the entitlement and development of 2,761 residential lots, 3 commercial projects, and a beach front resort community in Central America. Mr. Foess' achievements include successfully launching an in-house land development platform for a privately held, regional builder, entitling, developing, and delivering 6,645 single-family lots across in four years. Michael has also successfully delivered more than 16 commercial and industrial development projects, including a 152,000 ft² retail center and the most advanced automated mixed materials recovery facility on the east coast.

    31 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Getting Real With Rob is the official podcast of the Real Estate & Building Industry Coalition in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hosted by Executive Director Rob Nanfelt, Getting Real With Rob features real conversations with industry leaders about real estate, housing and community.

Information

  • Creator
    Real Estate & Building Industry Coalition (REBIC)
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved 2022 REBIC
  • Show Website
    Getting Real With Rob