Chancellor, alumni named to CBJ’s inaugural Power 100 list

UNC Charlotte Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber, a faculty member and several alumni and board members have been named to The Charlotte Business Journal’s inaugural Power 100 list.

The list, released Sept. 30, highlights the leaders who will drive the Charlotte region’s next stage of growth.

Gaber, who ranked No. 6 overall, was the only educational leader named to the top 10. The article notes UNC Charlotte’s “critical role in the region’s economy.”

Gaber described how UNC Charlotte will impact the region over the next two years.

“We’re producing talent, producing research,” Gaber said. “We’re going to continue to say as there are needs, we will continue to produce potential employees for the future. We continue to talk about what else we can do in terms of research studies. We want to partner with businesses.”

The newspaper’s editorial staff ranked the top 10, and the other 90 members of the class are listed in alphabetical order.

“CBJ’s Power 100 focuses intently on the people who are exercising the power they have to make more of the region — building bigger companies, launching unique training initiatives, investing in emerging corridors, questioning the status quo, innovating and diversifying, and most importantly, targeting ways to bring more and better jobs here,” said Robert Morris, CBJ editor.

University faculty member Mike Mazzola, director of the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center and the Duke Energy Distinguished Chair in Power Engineering, is among the Power 100, too. The CBJ noted Mazzola’s focus on electric vehicle transportation. Earlier this year, EPIC unveiled PoleVolt, an electric vehicle charging station developed in partnership with Duke Energy, the city of Charlotte and the Centralina Regional Council.

The list also includes startup founders, business owners and industry boosters associated with UNC Charlotte. They are:

• Malcomb Coley, U.S. Central Growth Market Leader and Charlotte managing partner, EY, and member of the Belk College of Business Board of Advisors, who ranked No. 4.
• Chris Dennis, UNC Charlotte alumnus, founder of E-Fix Development Corp.
• Tracy Dodson ’97, ’98, assistant city manager and head of economic development for the city of Charlotte.
• Ryan Kennedy ’04, CEO of Atom Power Inc.
• Chris Peek ’93, president and CEO of CaroMont Health
• Pat Rodgers, president and CEO of Rodgers Builders and a member of the Childress Klein Center for Real Estate Board of Advisors