spot_img
Wednesday, February 12, 2025

5 questions for Andrew Tate

You oughta know:

[media-credit name=”Andrew Tate” align=”alignright” width=”400″]Andrew Tate[/media-credit]

Andrew Tate joined the North Carolina Railroad Company in late October as vice president of real estate. He previously was president and CEO of the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, leading the recruitment of business and industry to the area, including Raumedic, GF Linamar, Demmel, Norafin and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Andrew joined the North Carolina Economic Development Association board of directors in 2011 and was the association’s president in 2016-17. He is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and Leadership North Carolina. Andrew and his wife, Brooke, are in the process of moving from Hendersonville to Raleigh with their three young sons.

What do you like best about your job?
The people I work with – they bring focus and energy around managing the rail corridor and exploring innovative ways to benefit North Carolina’s economy. I also appreciate the North Carolina Railroad Company’s history, which enables a long-term view in making decisions about investments and real estate. It is rare to find a 168-year old organization that cultivates the practice of innovation, and I enjoy being part of that.

What inspires you?
A challenge inspires me, as does an opportunity to improve. My three sons inspire me. They take on unfamiliar tasks and confront new things daily – and they do it with courage and enthusiasm. They have spurred me in the process.

What is North Carolina’s greatest strength?
The spirit of collaboration that comes in pursuit of a common goal. For example, the North Carolina Railroad Company works closely with the 40 municipalities located along the railroad corridor to maintain and preserve railroad boundaries while also accommodating communities’ growth, and ensuring that the railroad can meet current and future capacity needs as business and industry considers expanding or locating in the state

What was your biggest challenge this week?
NCRR owns and manages the 317-mile rail corridor that stretches from Charlotte to the Port Terminal in Morehead City, and more than 7,000 acres of real estate. Having just joined the company, my challenge has been learning the history of many of these assets, exploring options for their highest and best use, and prioritizing where to direct my time and energy.

Favorite N.C. vacation spot?
Hendersonville. Once my home, it has transitioned from a place where I worked hard to advance our economy to a destination that I can appreciate for its beauty and welcoming culture.

Ben Kinney
Ben Kinney
Ben Kinney is publisher of Business North Carolina magazine. You can reach him at bkinney@businessnc.com.

Related Articles

TRENDING NOW

Newsletters