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Business North Carolina recognizes thriving business owners and professionals under the age of 40 who work in N.C. cities and towns that have fewer than 100,000 residents. This year, we received nominations for talented Trailblazers based from Edenton to Asheville. The list includes a wide variety of occupations including software, logistics, real estate and plumbing. As many jobs shifted from big city office towers in the past several years, some families jumped at the chance to move to less expensive, more spacious homes in small towns on the periphery of North Carolina’s urban areas. Dozens of smaller, mostly suburban towns saw more dramatic population growth rates between 2020 and 2021 than the state’s largest cities, U.S. Census data shows. Wendell, east of Raleigh, was the fastest-growing municipality, with its population increasing by 18% to 11,570 in a single year. Other Triangle and Charlotte suburbs including Apex, Waxhaw and Clayton saw similar growth. But people haven’t been moving only to the towns within a short commute of major cities. Calabash, the town on the South Carolina stateline best known for its seafood, was the sixth- fastest-growing municipality in the past year with 8.6% growth. Aberdeen, near Southern Pines, saw its population grow by 6.6% and ranked No. 13. By contrast, Charlotte grew by 0.3% and Raleigh grew by 0.4%, which represents thousands of new residents. Some young professionals are opting to launch careers and businesses in the state’s smaller towns, finding plenty of opportunities to make their mark. All the trailblazers are having a significant impact in sustaining and building their communities. We appreciate their participation and those who made nominations. ADAM HODGES President | Crown LSP Group Inc. Rocky Mount Under Hodges’ leadership, the warehousing division of his family’s transportation brokerage business has grown from two facilities totaling 585,000 square feet to nine facilities totaling 2.3 million. The company provides logistics services to a variety of N.C. employers in the fields of pharmaceuticals, health care, agriculture, paper, tire manufacturing and consumer products. He’s active in many local civic groups. Carolina Gateway Partnership CEO Norris Tolson says Hodges “is in a strong position to help his hometown of Rocky Mount grow and prosper. We need more trailblazers like him in North Carolina.“ Education: Bachelor of Arts, Hampden-Sydney College; Master of Business Administration, East Carolina University What is most special about your community? The people. Rocky Mount has a diverse community with a lot of opportunity. Biggest influence: From a young age, my parents taught me the value of a dollar and hard work. They provided an opportunity for me to learn the business and get a quality education. My wife and children are the driving force in all that I do. Organization’s biggest success: Our team’s ability to overcome challenges and add new services. We completely retooled our business after the onset of COVID-19 — increasing our customer base in some areas by as much as 500% and offering new services, including e-commerce fulfillment, temperature-controlled storage and drainage.
Business North Carolina recognizes thriving business owners and professionals under the age of 40 who work in N.C. cities and towns that have fewer than 100,000 residents. This year, we received nominations for talented Trailblazers based from Edenton to Asheville. The list includes a wide variety of occupations including software, logistics, real estate and plumbing.
As many jobs shifted from big city office towers in the past several years, some families jumped at the chance to move to less expensive, more spacious homes in small towns on the periphery of North Carolina’s urban areas.
Dozens of smaller, mostly suburban towns saw more dramatic population growth rates between 2020 and 2021 than the state’s largest cities, U.S. Census data shows.
Wendell, east of Raleigh, was the fastest-growing municipality, with its population increasing by 18% to 11,570 in a single year. Other Triangle and Charlotte suburbs including Apex, Waxhaw and Clayton saw similar growth.
But people haven’t been moving only to the towns within a short commute of major cities. Calabash, the town on the South Carolina stateline best known for its seafood, was the sixth- fastest-growing municipality in the past year with 8.6% growth.
Aberdeen, near Southern Pines, saw its population grow by 6.6% and ranked No. 13.
By contrast, Charlotte grew by 0.3% and Raleigh grew by 0.4%, which represents thousands of new residents.
Some young professionals are opting to launch careers and businesses in the state’s smaller towns, finding plenty of opportunities to make their mark.
ADAM HODGES
President | Crown LSP Group Inc.
Rocky Mount
Under Hodges’ leadership, the warehousing division of his family’s transportation brokerage business has grown from two facilities totaling 585,000 square feet to nine facilities totaling 2.3 million. The company provides logistics services to a variety of N.C. employers in the fields of pharmaceuticals, health care, agriculture, paper, tire manufacturing and consumer products. He’s active in many local civic groups. Carolina Gateway Partnership CEO Norris Tolson says Hodges “is in a strong position to help his hometown of Rocky Mount grow and prosper. We need more trailblazers like him in North Carolina.“
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Hampden-Sydney College; Master of Business Administration, East Carolina University
What is most special about your community? The people. Rocky Mount has a diverse community with a lot of opportunity.
Biggest influence: From a young age, my parents taught me the value of a dollar and hard work. They provided an opportunity for me to learn the business and get a quality education. My wife and children are the driving force in all that I do.
Organization’s biggest success: Our team’s ability to overcome challenges and add new services. We completely retooled our business after the onset of COVID-19 — increasing our customer base in some areas by as much as 500% and offering new services, including e-commerce fulfillment, temperature-controlled storage and drainage.