President's Blog

February Edition

Carolina On My Mind: Honoring Black Leadership in Corporate Real Estate

February invites reflection on where we’ve been, who helped shape the path, and how we carry that legacy forward. As we recognize Black History Month, it’s an especially meaningful time to spotlight the Black leaders and firms whose influence has helped shape corporate real estate, not just nationally, but right here in the Carolinas.

Our region continues to experience extraordinary growth. From Charlotte to the Triangle, from Greenville to Charleston, corporate real estate plays a defining role in how companies expand, how communities evolve, and how people experience work. Black professionals have long contributed to this progress---often behind the scenes, sometimes against the odds, and always with lasting impact.

Here in the Carolinas, Black-owned and Black-led firms have helped shape some of our most visible and transformative projects. McKissack & McKissack, one of the nation’s oldest Black-owned design and construction firms, has had a presence in the Southeast for years, contributing to large-scale commercial, institutional, and infrastructure projects that demand both technical excellence and cultural awareness. Their work underscores how thoughtful planning and execution can elevate not only buildings, but the communities around them.

We also see Black leadership influencing corporate real estate through development, brokerage, project management, and advisory roles across our region’s major markets. Professionals based in Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham have helped guide headquarters relocations, major portfolio strategies, and workplace transformations for global companies choosing to call the Carolinas home. Their fingerprints are on the offices we work in, the campuses we design, and the neighborhoods being reimagined around them.

Leaders like Don Peebles, founder and CEO of The Peebles Corporation, demonstrated early on that large-scale, complex real estate development could be both financially successful and community centered. His work across major U.S. cities helped expand the vision of what inclusive development could look like and who gets to lead it.

Equally important is the role Black leaders have played in advancing conversations that matter deeply to CoreNet Global: inclusive growth, supplier diversity, equitable development, and talent pipelines. Some have started to serve as mentors, board members, and advocates, ensuring the next generation of corporate real estate professionals sees opportunity in an industry that did not always feel accessible.

Black History Month is not just about celebrating firsts or highlighting individual success stories.  It’s about recognizing sustained leadership and influence. It’s about understanding that the strength of our corporate real estate community comes from diverse perspectives working together to solve complex challenges.

As a chapter rooted in one of the most dynamic regions in the country, CoreNet Global Carolinas has an opportunity to lead by example. We can continue to elevate diverse voices on our panels, build intentional relationships with minority-owned firms, and support professionals at every stage of their careers. These efforts strengthen not only our chapter, but the entire industry we serve.

“Carolina On My Mind” is ultimately about stewardship…of place, of people, and of progress. This February, I’m proud to lift up the Black leaders and firms who have helped shape our region’s corporate real estate landscape and to reaffirm our commitment to a future defined by opportunity, inclusion, and excellence.

Thank you for the leadership you bring to our community and for helping make the Carolinas a place where everyone can thrive.

Harold R. Hicks, CFM, MCR
President, CoreNet Global Carolinas

January Edition

Carolina on My Mind
By Harold Hicks, CFM, MCR

President, CoreNet Global Carolinas Chapter

January 2026 Edition

Community, Connection, and Leadership: Why CoreNet Carolinas Matters More Than Ever

As we begin a new year, January gives us a moment to pause---not just to look ahead, but to reflect on what truly sustains us as professionals and as a community. In corporate real estate, the pace of change remains relentless. Markets shift, strategies evolve, and expectations continue to rise. Yet one thing remains constant: the power of connection.

That is why CoreNet Global---and specifically our Carolina’s Chapter matters now more than ever.

A Community Built on Trust and Shared Experience

CoreNet is not just a professional association; it is a community of peers who understand the complexity of what we do and the responsibility we carry. Whether you are a corporate end user navigating portfolio strategy, a service provider delivering solutions in an increasingly competitive environment, or a sponsor investing in relationships that go beyond transactions, this chapter exists to support you.

The real value of CoreNet is found in the conversations that don’t happen in boardrooms.  It’s the candid exchanges, the lessons learned, and the shared experiences that help us all make better decisions. In a world full of noise, CoreNet offers clarity through trusted relationships.

For Our Corporate End Users

Your role has never been more strategic. You are asked to balance cost, culture, flexibility, sustainability, and talent all while preparing for what’s next. The Carolina’s Chapter is committed to being a place where you can learn from one another, challenge assumptions, and gain insight from professionals who truly understand the pressures you face.

This year, our goal is to continue creating content, programs, and discussions that are practical, relevant, and forward-looking—designed to help you lead with confidence.

For Our Service Providers

You are essential partners in this ecosystem. Your expertise, innovation, and perspective elevate the entire community. CoreNet provides more than access.  It provides meaningful engagement, where relationships are built on trust, credibility, and shared success.

As a chapter, we value service providers who show up, contribute, and invest in the community. Your voice matters, and your involvement strengthens the experience for everyone.

For Our Sponsors

Your support enables everything we do...from educational programming to networking opportunities and leadership development! More importantly, your partnership demonstrates a commitment to the long-term health of our industry and our region.

We don’t take that support lightly. In 2026, we remain focused on delivering value, visibility, and connection that justify your investment and reinforce why CoreNet Carolinas is a smart, strategic partnership.

Leadership Is a Shared Responsibility

Leadership within CoreNet doesn’t reside solely with the board or committee chairs.  It lives with every member who engages, volunteers, mentors, and participates. This chapter thrives because of people who are willing to give their time, share their knowledge, and support one another.

As President, I am continually inspired by the professionalism, generosity, and leadership I see across our membership. Together, we have the opportunity to shape not only the future of our chapter, but the future of corporate real estate in the Carolinas.

Looking Ahead—Together

As we step into the new year, my hope is simple: that you find value, connection, and opportunity within this community. Engage early. Attend an event. Join a committee. Reach out to someone you haven’t met yet.  Invite colleagues not yet connected!

CoreNet works best when we work together.

Thank you for being part of the Carolina’s Chapter of CoreNet Global. I look forward to all we will accomplish in the year ahead.

With Gratitude and Purpose,

Harold Hicks
President, CoreNet Carolina’s Chapter
CoreNet Global

December Edition

Carolina on My Mind
By Harold Hicks, CFM, MCR

President, CoreNet Global Carolinas Chapter

Designing for Community: CRE’s Role in Building the Next Generation of Carolina Workplaces

As we look ahead to a new year, one theme continues to rise above the rest for corporate real estate professionals across North and South Carolina: COMMUNITY. Whether we’re shaping campuses in Research Triangle Park, reimagining towers in Charlotte, or enabling growth in Greenville and Charleston, our work is increasingly defined by a simple but powerful mandate:  Design places where people genuinely want to be.

Across the Carolinas, companies are rethinking the workplace not just as an operational necessity, but as a strategic tool for connection, culture, and wellbeing. And corporate real estate sits at the center of this evolution.

The Hospitality Mindset Comes Home to the Office

One of the most striking trends across our region is the infusion of hospitality principles into workplace strategy. Leaders are realizing that if we expect employees to commute in, collaborate, and innovate, then workplaces must be designed with intention, warmth, and service at their core.

Buildings are beginning to feel more like boutique hotels or well-run campuses—welcoming entry sequences, amenity-rich common areas, curated food and beverage experiences, and concierge-style services that make the workday smoother. This is not about luxury; it's about human experience. It’s about signaling that people matter.

In the Carolinas, where hospitality is part of our cultural DNA this shift feels natural. We know how to create environments that feel inviting, and our CRE community is leading the way.

Sustainability as a Shared Commitment

Alongside hospitality, the Carolinas are demonstrating that sustainability is not a coastal or urban trend, it is a regional imperative. Corporate campuses across NC and SC are integrating solar, exploring electrification, upgrading building systems, and designing for long-term resilience. Many organizations are still viewing decarbonization as not just the right thing to do, but a competitive advantage for talent and brand.

What’s remarkable is how sustainability efforts are becoming community-building tools themselves. Whether it’s a solar installation that sparks employee pride or green spaces that bring people together, environmental stewardship continues to emerge as a foundation for workplace identity.

Rebuilding Community Through Place

The most profound shift we’re seeing is the recognition that the workplace must function as a community anchor. After years of distributed work, companies are no longer asking “How do we get people back?” but “How do we create environments worth coming back to?”

The Carolinas are pioneering answers. We’re seeing:

• Community-focused floorplans that prioritize gathering spaces over isolated desks
• Neighborhood-based planning that brings teams together intentionally
• Multipurpose hubs that support learning, collaboration, and celebration
• Outdoor environments that take advantage of our climate and natural beauty
• Partnerships with local food, art, and service providers that strengthen regional identity

Workplaces are becoming cultural centers, innovation hubs, and talent magnets that embody the spirit of the Carolinas themselves.

The CRE Community’s Call to Action

As CRE professionals, we are no longer just delivering projects, we are shaping the future of how organizations connect, collaborate, and grow. The next generation of Carolina workplaces will be those that combine:

• The warmth and intentionality of hospitality
• The long-term stewardship of sustainability
• The human-centered vibrancy of community

THIS IS OUR MOMENT TO LEAD!

In a region defined by innovation, inclusivity, and genuine southern welcome, we have everything we need to build workplaces that not only perform but inspire!

Let’s continue to deliver places and spaces that bring people together, strengthen our organizations, and celebrate what makes the Carolinas extraordinary.

COMMUNITY starts with us!

With Gratitude and Purpose,

Harold Hicks
President, CoreNet Carolina’s Chapter
CoreNet Global