President's Blog

Carolina

July Edition

"Carolinas Rise Up!"

By Ben Bailey – Chapter President, CoreNet Global Carolinas

What an exciting time to be a Carolinian! As I write this, we are on the cusp of celebrating 250
years of independence, our U.S. Men's National Soccer Team is still competing for the World
Cup, and our Carolina Hurricanes are once again Stanley Cup Champions. We are fortunate to
have so much to celebrate this summer.


Watching the Hurricanes’ recent championship parade, I couldn’t help but reflect on what that
level of success requires from individuals and the broader team. In the case of the Hurricanes,
it’s important to note that there was no single superstar carrying the load. They won with a
deep, complementary roster — veteran leadership, a breakout goaltender and timely scoring
from different contributors every night. No one player could have won that trophy alone. It
took the collective effort and talents of the entire team working in collaboration to rise above
the nightly challenges and achieve their goal.


At the risk of “reaching,” I think some similarities can be drawn to our profession as corporate
real estate (CRE) leaders. At the highest level, CRE professionals are the sole voice of expertise
within their organization. They are uniquely responsible for workplace strategy, portfolio
decisions and multi-million-dollar investments. It can be an isolating role as executive
stakeholders rarely appreciate the complexity of our work which spans finance, design,
technology, sustainability, human behavior and more.


That is precisely why our industry “team members” matters so much. When end-users, service
providers, academics and young leaders gather to share ideas, trends and innovation, we create
the depth and breadth of understanding that no individual, however talented, can replicate.
We challenge each other's thinking, share relevant experiences and, over time, we all get better
together. The strength of the individual player is reinforced by the strength of the team
surrounding them.


Another key component of any professional championship team is the front office. General
Management responsible for predicting the evolution of the game and making the right
investments to position the team for success. In our case that “front office” is CoreNet Global
and they are committed to bold actions that will equip our membership with the resources and
understanding to confront any foreseeable challenge. These investments fall into four strategic
pillars that are designed to make us more:

•Credible – Advancing the practice of CRE through cutting-edge research, a new Global
Research Council and expanded professional development.
• Connected – Building a vibrant global community through stronger digital collaboration
platforms, growing chapter connections and a Virtual Chapter model for underserved
geographies.
• Competitive – Boosting CRE careers and developing next-generation talent through university
relations, mentorship, scholarships and a global job board.
• Champion – Serving as the voice of our profession through proactive media presence, a new
CRE Industry Index and stronger industry advocacy.
We are tapping into these pillars to accelerate our progress and the value we deliver to our
members at the Chapter level as well. In fact, we have plans for some very engaging and
innovative events on the horizon for late summer and fall.


Stay tuned and know that whatever position you play in the CRE industry, there's a place for
you on our championship roster. 

With Shared Purpose,

Ben Bailey

President CoreNet Global Carolinas 

May Edition

"Carolinas Rise Up!"

By Ben Bailey – Chapter President, CoreNet Global Carolinas

The first time I heard Petey Pablo’s Carolina anthem “Raise Up” happened to be in a Denver, Colorado night club in 2001. It was summertime and I was on break from university working an internship there. I remember pausing for a moment and listening more intently before thinking – “he didn’t just say North Carolina did he?”

Being a native Charlottean it was shockingly unexpected to hear my home state represented in the chorus of a new popular song, two-thirds the distance across the country no less! Even better than that, everyone was dancing along. It felt like a transitional “coming of age” moment where the humble place I knew as a child was on the cusp of transforming into something much more.

Twenty-five years later, the transformation accelerates and everyone is still dancing along. Our region boasts the Top State for Business in CNBC rankings 3 of the last 4 years, economic growth that consistently outpaces the national average, a well-diversified balance of industries and steady in-migration due to our abundant professional opportunities and renowned quality of life. By any account, it is a great time to be a Carolinian.

However, despite our success these last several decades we are not insulated from the challenges and uncertainties facing the broader economy or the corporate real estate (CRE) industry. For example, we face a volatile trade environment, persistent inflation, demographic shifts and the implications of artificial intelligence on the workforce to name only a few. In the midst of all of this near-term uncertainty, CRE leaders remain accountable for strategic, long-term investment decisions for the workplace and experience that will be felt for generations to come.

Fortunately, you do not have to navigate this complex and transformational moment alone. CoreNet Global is launching bold new initiatives to equip CRE leaders with the resources and connectivity to manage through the sea of uncertainty. These new initiatives include establishing a global research council to improve thought leadership, creating new platforms for stronger member connectivity, finding new ways of attracting university students to our industry and publishing a CRE industry index to establish our voice as an industry-leading authority.

Building on these global initiatives, our Carolinas Chapter will accelerate our regional progress and drive value for our members through three areas of focus for 2026 and beyond:

  • Connection: We will create opportunities that are regionally rooted and globally interwoven, giving you access to peers across markets within our region and around the world.
  • Content: We will deliver impactful insights for navigating this dynamic moment by leveraging local universities and regional CRE leaders to develop thoughtful content on emerging topics.
  • Engagement: We will activate a community focused on inclusion, opportunity, and shared success by fostering meaningful networking events that result in professional growth and personal friendships.

Carolinas - We have arrived at another transitional moment, and so we must once again “Rise Up” together to meet it! There has never been a better time to join, engage, volunteer or sponsor our CoreNet Carolinas Chapter. We have grand plans for 2026 and we want you to be there – learning, contributing and collaborating in community as we navigate this moment. Together we can face down every challenge and advance the legacy of corporate real estate in the Carolinas and beyond.

Click here to view full speech from the 2026 CORE Awards highlighting the Chapter Outlook from Ben Bailey.

With Shared Purpose,

Ben Bailey

President CoreNet Global Carolinas 

June Edition

"Carolinas Rise Up!"

By Ben Bailey – Chapter President, CoreNet Global Carolinas

Over the last couple of months, I’ve had the benefit of engaging directly with corporate real estate (CRE) leaders from across our region and around the world. We spoke broadly about near-term and long-term challenges and opportunities. The consistent theme that I take from those conversations is the sense that we are on the cusp of a transformative moment in Corporate America that will have a watershed effect for CRE and the work experience more generally.

The disruption is being driven from several angles and is already impacting strategic decisions that will be felt for years to come. I mentioned some of those trends in my last article, but I omitted the most salient and revolutionary of them all – artificial intelligence (Ai).

Depending on your oracle of choice, Ai is either the savior that will rescue all humanity from the mundane activity that stimies our creative potential or the perfect, 24/7, no breaks-needed, omniscient, white collar worker that has come to displace us all. Wherever you land on that spectrum, I’m sure we can agree that its current and future incarnations are entirely new to humanity and certain to transform the way we work, play and live.

Fortunately, our species has managed unprecedented change relatively well over the course of our history. Our intelligence, ingenuity and agility have proven very effective adaptation tools but always most impactful when paired with our innate ability for collaboration.  For instance, the first professional guilds that arose in Medieval Europe following the chaotic fall of the Roman Empire brought stability, quality standards and training that laid the foundation for the Renaissance. More recently during the industrial revolution, where tens of millions moved from rural areas into cities in search of new opportunities within a rapidly transforming economic system, groups of workers banded together to secure safer working conditions, reasonable workday expectations and child labor laws.

These were pivotal and challenging moments in history that required much more than can be expected of one individual. As we navigate the portfolio of complexity and change before us now, communities – professional and personal – are an essential element of the path forward to a prosperous future.

We are working to make CoreNet Carolinas one of those reliably impactful communities that gives you the opportunity to collaborate with peers in shaping the future of CRE.

However, there are a few things we need from you to help us realize our ambitious potential:

First, seek community. Be present at our events, not just as an attendee, but as an active participant. Your perspective is a critical piece of the puzzle, and it is only by sharing our varied experiences that we can map a path forward.

Second, build community. This is where ideas become action. Volunteer for a committee, bring your ideas to our board, or sponsor our cause financially. By contributing your time and resources, you help us pour more value back into the very community that supports us all.

Third, become community. Step into our leadership team, welcome new members with the warmth and hospitality our region is known for, and mentor the next generation. Embody the best of our profession and become a steward of the supportive, collaborative culture we aim to create.

This work is our shared legacy. In the words of anthropologist Robin Dunbar, "All of our success throughout evolution is because we have the capacity to thrive in groups." Let us embrace this idea now as we create a thriving chapter, region and profession for generations to come!

Click here to view full speech from the 2026 CORE Awards highlighting the Chapter Outlook from Ben Bailey.

With Shared Purpose,

Ben Bailey

President CoreNet Global Carolinas