Dave Boliek, our guest on Getting Real with Rob, became the 21st State Auditor of North Carolina in January of 2025. Now, almost 18 months into his term, he's focused and alert about what it means to ensure your tax money is being spent with accountability. When you first meet him, the wireframe glasses and classic attire might keep you from seeing that little bit of Elliot Ness in his eyes. Animated, articulate, and very well educated on the political landscape of the State Auditors position, he's almost like a kid in the outfield who can't wait for you to throw him the ball. And when it hits his glove, you get more than a solid catch. You have someone who tells you exactly what they plan to do next, and then he does it.

It's that kind of energy that brings a refreshing take to a subject that some would believe incredibly dry. Auditing. But he sees it as the best job ever. Part statistician, part strategist, part psychologist and part detective, it's all good for Dave Boliek.

Born in Lincolnton, North Carolina, Dave has lived in Fayetteville, Durham, Eden, Greensboro, Chapel Hill, Thomasville, Hickory, Boone, and Raleigh. He is a former prosecutor, small business owner, and most recently worked as an attorney and served as Chairman of the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees.

Dave's legal career includes being an Assistant District Attorney in Cumberland County, where he prosecuted crimes in District and Superior Courts, and as a litigator practicing in State and Federal Courts. As Chairman of UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees, Dave led the effort to eliminate the university's operating deficit and created the Board of Trustees' first Audit and Risk Committee.

He and his wife Haden live in the Durham/Chapel Hill area and have four children. He is a proud Eagle Scout, and a Christian who serves as an elder in his church. Dave earned an undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and has a law degree and master's degree in business administration from Campbell University.

About the Office of the State Auditor:

The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor (OSA) is your fiscal watchdog. We audit more than $100 billion in state assets and liabilities each year, bringing transparency to local, state, and federal government. Our reports and findings include recommendations that result in good government reforms. OSA thoroughly investigates alleged cases of fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer dollars, working with law enforcement on prosecution when warranted. We encourage all members of the public with information on improper government conduct to inform OSA through the safe and secure Tipline.)

"UNC is all about Charlotte" shares Blaine Brownell, during our recent recording. As the Director of the Raven's School of Architecture, UNC Charlotte, he emphasizes that Charlotte is poised for amazing success and is highly optimistic about the future, our talent, and our ability to adapt, but cautions us about the danger of assumptions.

REBIC has been working on adding peripheral opinions to our podcast, working to share information about the entire landscape of disciplines needed to maintain our cities and our success. In advocacy we talk a lot about the size of home and the size of the lot, and the size of the price tag. But Professor Brownell puts it all in perspective when he tells us we must get out of our own way to continue to thrive. And shares that learning how to become a great architect is as much about collaboration as it is design.

Pointing to his years in studying and living in Japan, he shared freely his fascination with their culture. And admires their efficient, clean, and innovative approach to design and to renewal. It's a theme he refers to throughout the episode, and frankly, it's the best reason to listen to our latest episode of Getting Real with Rob.

Blaine Brownell is an architect, author, and leading thinker on how emerging materials are reshaping the built environment. His work focuses on the intersection of material innovation, environmental performance, and design—exploring how buildings can move beyond static systems to become dynamic participants in ecological processes. He is the author of ten books, including the forthcoming Radical Green, which advances new material strategies for regenerative and net-positive architecture. Since 2009, he has written the "Mind & Matter" column for Architect magazine, contributing over 800 articles on the frontiers of material innovation. In addition to his academic work as Professor and Director of the School of Architecture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Brownell advises leading organizations—including 3M, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Mayo Clinic, and the Danish Architecture Center—on material futures, sustainability, and design innovation. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Nature, and other international publications. He speaks globally on the future of materials, climate-responsive design, and the evolving role of architecture in a rapidly changing world.

Brownell earned a B.A. in architecture with a Certificate in East Asian Studies at Princeton University in 1992, and a Master of Architecture from Rice University in 1998. He practiced for seven years at NBBJ in Seattle, Washington. In 2006 he became a Fulbright Scholar to Japan with a focus on emergent materials and applications in architecture and design. After a visiting professorship at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Brownell taught at the University of Minnesota School of Architecture, Minneapolis starting in 2008, eventually serving as director of graduate studies and interim department head. In 2020 he became the Director of the School of Architecture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Mark Jerrell, chair of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners and the representative for District 4, which comprises the eastern part of Mecklenburg County. And we have to say, this podcast episode is one we've been looking forward to for a long time. His leadership qualities are complemented by his easy-going demeanor, and a quick wit. But the building of a leader happened early in his life, he shared. Because of his upbringing, and the loud voice of a strong momma in his head, Mark is committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring that resources are accessible for our most vulnerable residents.

He is passionate about issues of equity, education, affordable housing, access to social services, environment, social and environmental justice, connectivity, parks and open space, and ensuring that we have relevant programming for all residents. He is also focused on ensuring that minority-owned businesses, seniors, working families and students have the opportunity and resources needed to experience a high quality of life. But he also understands that you cannot have prosperity without keeping businesses strong and welcoming the growth that makes opportunity possible.

Mark is an entrepreneur and proud veteran, having served in the United States Army Reserve. He also holds a bachelor's degree in political science as well as an MBA.  We discovered, in an interview with the Charlotte Observer, how he collaborates, so successfully, with other local and state elected officials.

"…I believe we must work together to create comprehensive strategies to improve the lives of all residents in Mecklenburg County. Our issues are inter-connected, and we cannot work in silos or in isolation to change outcomes for our most vulnerable. I will continue to convene elected, community, business leaders, and other key stakeholders to work together on solutions for our most critical issues."

Among the many subjects we broached during his interview, we were keen on his reasons for supporting so completely the recently passed Transportation Referendum.

Yes, he represents the eastern part of Mecklenburg County, which some in that district will say isn't a priority area for the close to $30 billion that will be raised over the next few decades, he disagrees, knowing that mobility is like a rising tide that lifts all ships.

He also says that elected leaders "don't have the luxury" to isolate specific groups that might not benefit as much from the plan but rather must balance the overall needs of the county's 1.2 million residents.

He told us that Charlotte area's growth reflects the idea that this is an area where everyone wants to live so making innovative investments in infrastructure is imperative.

One of his best-known triumphs is that he's been able to galvanize cooperative efforts of the Commission. But he does so with the humility and strong purpose of someone who knows who he is. Where he came from. And that people need to feel they're a part of creating something good.