"On the foundational items, I couldn't have found a better group." shares David Howard, Chair of the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority, as he discussed the process of aligning the purpose and power of the 27-member group. He's spent a lot of time making sure the job at hand begins with an important pause so that everything in front of the group can be accurately, intentionally, and effectively approached. "You need to go slow so you can go fast." He insists. REBIC agrees. But then he said if he could make a new rule for the world, he'd insist we put 'ketchup on everything.' That one might be a personal preference. But it emphasizes how Rob works to make human the people and the issues shaping our region.

Charlotte is doing something not many cities get the chance to do. Control their OWN mobility future. There is much to do to consolidate and refocus, but the future will be fueled by many voices that care. The Authority will oversee the investing of billions of dollars in Mecklenburg County sales tax revenue, and David has a solid grasp on the process, and the vision. Howard is a former Charlotte city councilor who has been chief deputy secretary of the NCDOT and was associate administrator of the Federal Highway Administration. Giving him a broad perspective.

"The work ahead will be serious, demanding, and consequential," Howard said in a LinkedIn post. "The impact of this organization — and this transit investment — will be generational. How we start matters. How we lead matters. And who we serve must always remain at the center of every decision."

As we moved comfortably from subject to subject during the interview, David stated that he's proud of all the members of the authority. And that little by little they're finding common ground and acceptance as they move past individual positioning, to becoming one cooperative voice.

With a strategic mindset and a robust professional network at local, state, and national levels, David excels at driving continuous improvement and crafting innovative solutions to complex challenges. As the Principal of DL Howard Consulting Group, LLC, based in Charlotte, NC, David provides strategic guidance in smart cities, transportation equity, innovation, development, and public policy. Known for his analytical prowess, he is a trusted visionary and thought leader in both the public and private sectors. He shares with us that, "If we can get it right with this body, we can probably get it right for Charlotte, too."

He closed with some powerful beliefs that would prove we did this right. "We're not ready to just commit to a new transportation system, we're going to commit to having a new industry…a successful reinvention of a transportation eco system."

"Big, hairy, audacious goals." That's what Stuart Hair calls the things he sets in motion that deserve to be executed with greatness. This is also a man who loves interreacting with people, and revels in the part of his job where he can connect and respond to the community. So, it's surprising that his idea of a day of pampering is sitting on the front porch of a cabin, deep in the woods and reading a book, while soaking in the quiet of nature.

He also loves Dungeons and Dragons.

Maybe it's that juxtaposition of passions, obsessions, and talents that makes him so agile and so good at his job. We know it made him awfully fun to interview.

Stuart Hair, Director of Commercial and Community Engagement for the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, says he's found his happy place in this position. Calling himself a Visionary Economic Developer, he spends his days making the most of his Masters in economic geography – with an emphasis on urban and regional land use and planning.

As he works to balance the fiscal interests of the airport's economic footprint, especially with a growing city like Charlotte, he reminds us that remembering how to prioritize what is achievable with what is aspirational, keeps the strong financial model of CLT stable and growing.

The airport owns thousands of acres of land besides the runway, terminal, and the parking lots that passengers use. And Stuart has been tasked with developing and implementing a development strategy for how to use that land. In an article from the Observer, Stuart says that beyond the land the airport owns, Charlotte Douglas' zone of influence covers more than 20 square miles, stretching roughly from the Catawba River to Billy Graham Parkway, and from Interstate 85 to Shopton Road.

We all see and feel the excitement of their expansion plans, whether entering the airport as a passenger or driving by it. New runways. Exciting new developments. So much on the horizon. And although Stuart answers to the Charlotte City Manager, he tells us that the airport functions like a private entity, which is very different than a city run department. This allows CLT to take advantage of new opportunities to embrace new infrastructure requests, reflecting the high demand for warehouse industries that bring in many, many new jobs and careers to the region.

His question to himself is, "How do we take this idea of putting transportation, logistics, distribution facilities together, and make it happen?" Somehow, we know Stuart, who is always evolving, will help our airport evolve as well.

Listen to this episode and learn everything you need to know and other great facts that you should know about our own Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Additional Info:

He has worked in economic development since 2006 throughout the Charlotte region with local and state organizations, following a career in private sector administrative operations. Hair is a graduate of Oklahoma University Economic Development Institute (OUEDI) and a Certified Member (CM) of American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE)

He holds a BA from Queens University of Charlotte and a MA from UNC Charlotte. Along with his wife and child, Hair lives in Uptown Charlotte.

Affiliations:

North Carolina Airports Association (NCAA) – Board Member

American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE)

Charlotte Rotary Club – Past Board Member

Brenda Hayden, REALTOR®, industry leader, and housing advocate with more than two decades of experience serving consumers and communities throughout North Carolina and South Carolina, is the 2026 President of North Carolina REALTORS®, representing thousands of real estate professionals across the state.

As our current podcast guest, Brenda gets to work sharing the heart of her commitment to the real estate industry emphasizing that truly listening to the broker community is the only way to form a strategy around leadership and purpose. She also urges us to remember that REALTORS® need to build their communities by not just advocating for each other, but by engaging IN the community. She encourages her charge to attend municipal planning meetings, to learn how to advocate for the things that bring prosperity, to volunteer for municipal leadership positions, and to understand that growth should be embraced with collaborative and cooperative agendas.

Brenda is a Broker/Owner of BDH Realty Advisors and is known for her expertise in residential real estate, leadership development, advocacy, fair housing, and community engagement. Throughout her career, she has held numerous leadership positions, including President of Canopy REALTOR® Association and Canopy MLS in 2019, Chair of DreamKey Partners, and Executive Committee Chair of the Real Estate & Building Industry Coalition (REBIC).

A passionate advocate for housing opportunity, Brenda has served on local, state, and national committees focused on housing affordability, community development, and public policy. Her leadership extends beyond real estate through service with organizations including the Canopy Housing Foundation, Builders of Hope, and numerous community initiatives.

Brenda holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern University and an MBA from Queens University of Charlotte. She is a recipient of the 2022 Canopy REALTOR® of the Year Award and is widely recognized for her collaborative leadership style, commitment to professional excellence, and dedication to expanding access to homeownership and housing opportunities.

When she is not serving clients or leading industry initiatives, Brenda enjoys fitness, bodybuilding, mentoring emerging leaders, and spending time with her family.