Karla Hammer Knotts is an industry rock star. Pleasant. Insightful. Funny. And she calls a spade a spade. She was also our member spotlight in December of 2023, and we just can’t get enough of the world according to Karla. Currently Co-Owner and Vice President of Knotts Development, she is a passionate advocate of the industry and spends a great deal of her time digging into areas of purported malfeasance so that our industry can thrive in our beautiful Charlotte region. When we asked her why offering help comes so easy to her, she admits to having not only pretty good photographic recall but also good retention and comprehension of what she reads. And for those who know her, that is an undisputable fact.

This podcast elevates all the above themes by weaving personal insights around the high-level science of policy dissection. And you feel smarter just listening. While being entertained, you find yourself writing down what she says and what she offers as advice so you can be ready next time you have your own issue to resolve.

For those of you that are new to our podcast or to REBIC, here is more information about Karla, our expert real estate analyst and on-the-spot problem solver. Her advocacy for the housing industry in North Carolina is legendary. Mostly because it isn’t about her list of accomplishments, it’s that the accomplishments are truly impactful. And she’s not done yet. With more than 30 years of experience in the real estate industry, including being inducted into the North Carolina Housing Hall of Fame in 2021, being named a Life Director for the Home Builder Association of Greater Charlotte, President of the HBAGC in 1999, chair of multiple committees for NCHBA, and locally her background includes a breathtaking number of appointments to various advisory committees and steering committees. Most importantly, she doesn’t reach a conclusion before studying and researching any regulations at issue and looking deeply into how they’re applied. She tells us, “As a home builder you understand how regulatory issues ultimately affect the affordability of homes for prospective buyers.” A perspective that serves her well and all those who work with her.

We’re proud and honored to feature Karla Knotts in this month’s Getting Real with Rob podcast!

Jim Morasso, Restauranteur and Developer, is our guest for this episode of Getting Real With Rob. A Gastonia changemaker who believes success is the result of creating opportunities for people to thrive. With over 30 years of education and experience in the hospitality industry –Steak & Ale, Houston’s, TGI Fridays, Harpers and Mickey & Mooch – his experiences laid the groundwork to establish, build and create along with his partners the iconic restaurants such as Epic Chophouse in Mooresville NC, and Chillfire Bar & Grill in Denver NC. But it’s the story of how he secured, imagined, and opened Webb Custom Kitchen in Gastonia NC -- Voted top 100 Romantic Restaurants in America by Forbes Magazine, and top 25 private steakhouses in America – that has caught the attention of so many of his peers. His ability to ‘paint a picture’ for the town leaders, as he refers to it in the interview, sets him apart in momentum and agility. The perfect reason to make him a guest on our podcast.

Jim tells us his formula for success has always been to focus on five key topics. “First, the guests and the quality of their experience. Number two, people, who are the life blood of our business. Training, development, and opportunity for our associates is number three. Strong systems and procedures are number four. And number five states that if you follow the first four, then our community and the company will always thrive.”

For REBIC members who believe it is our responsibility to convey our vision with conviction and a sense of stewardship, all will enjoy hearing Jim talk about how he works to marry the community with the future in a cooperative and healthy way. His journey from Gastonia naysayer to local virtuoso will help inform the entire entrepreneurial narrative for anyone who believes relationships should be at the heart of development.

* NOTE, ERROR: During this podcast, our guest, Jim Morasso mistakenly mentioned the value of the Gastonia downtown condominiums as selling for $375,000. The correct number is a value of $875,000. It refers to the development in the former Rustin Furniture Building on West Main Ave, Gastonia NC. To preserve the cadence of the episode, and with the permission of Jim, we did not edit out this error.

Background on Gastonia Development by Jim:

A board member of the Gaston Business Administration (G.B.A.), this group’s focus is to develop the 13 small cities and towns in Gaston County.

Built in 1927 by renowned architect Hugh White for J B Webb, Webb Theater was transformed in 2016 to Webb Custom Kitchen. Attention to history and acquiring artifacts that once graced the theater were just some of the strategies to return this gem to its prior brilliance. Featured in Architectural Digest and Smithsonian Magazine. A Morasso/Shrake partnership.

TRW2020 LLC was created to repurpose the historic Rustin Furniture store built in 1900. One of the first furniture stores to place a TV in the windows capturing the City of Gastonia with standing room only on Main Ave. After 30 years of neglect and leaking roofs eating the inner structures integrity of the building, we moved ahead to restore and repurpose this center of Main Ave landmark. The building will be called Rustin on Main and will showcase 3 luxury condominiums on the top floor and 3 retail office spaces at street level. A Morasso/Shrake partnership.

Working with the City of Gastonia, CNB1920 LLC purchased the Historic Citizens National Bank. Designed and built by Hugh White in 1920. The plan for this grand place has always been slated to serve its community. Once a savings and trust, we want to transfer this into a brain-trust. Education and business startups are the rebirth of forgotten cities. This facility has deep community ties and will realize its true potential to combine education, mentorship, business rebirth in a live work environment. Other amenities within this campus will include a business club and a landmark restaurant named the FED. A Morasso/Shrake partnership

Community Service highlights:

“There are many deserving groups in our community and our involvement grows every year. Groups like The Least of these for Foster Children, Boys & Girls Club, Webb Street School for intellectual disabilities, Salvation Army, Off the Streets homeless initiative, and Dove House a Childs advocacy center to name a few have been adopted and embraced due to the needs of our communities.”

We’ve long wanted to introduce you to those REBIC internal team members whose exceptional skills help us move our mission forward. And we’re proud to feature David Coble, one of our valuable Area Advocacy Managers to the podcast booth for this episode.

You’ll have to pay attention to keep up with the cascading flow of information coming from David during this interview. His boots-on-the-ground perspective, honest delivery, and fact-based perspective is just one of many reasons he has helped REBIC influence, advocate, and change things for the better!

Since 2017 David has maintained a successful Land Development consulting firm, guiding his clients in the development community through zoning and other land related requirements across North and South Carolina. He has helped facilitate governmental approval of hundreds of millions of dollars in commercial and residential projects as well consulted on land acquisition for multiple developers.

As far as his pedigree, it begins with being an expert at creating relationships. This exists at all levels, especially with state and local elected officials. He has consulted on winning campaigns as well as building working relationships with General Assembly leadership. With a financial pedigree that includes 15 years at Bank of America as a Program and Project Manager, he began his professional career in 1999 with First Union after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a BA in Communication Studies and a minor in Marketing. In 2013 David was elected as Commissioner at Large for the Town of Mooresville, NC and served until 2017. During that time David served on various committees including the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Nominating Committee and as the Board of Commissioner’s liaison to the Mooresville Graded and Iredell-Statesville School Systems. In 2014 David Co-Chaired the bond committee Our Schools First that successfully worked for voter approval of school bonds for new school construction and building upgrades for Mooresville Graded and Iredell-Statesville Schools.

Since initiating our REBIC podcast, we have had many esteemed interviewees give us a true glimpse into their personal beliefs and self-governing principles. We now include our guest Terry M. Brown Jr., North Carolina House Representative for the 92nd District, into that club of transparency. Why? Terry likes to call himself an honest broker meaning that whenever he enters into a discussion over policy, he approaches the encounter by moving the intent forward without a need to first protect the partisanship of the issue. He states that he is always honest about what he knows, what he believes his bill can and will do, and encourages others to also meet him with facts. That’s why we think you’ll find this episode worth a listen.

Brown, a lifelong North Carolinian, also serves as a House Democratic Whip. A nod to his ability to bring voices to a table that is often rife with polarization. Born and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, to two public school educators, Representative Brown is a graduate of the University of North Carolina Charlotte (2009) and Campbell University School of Law (2015). While at Campbell Law, Brown was runner up in the National Tournament of Champions and earned a Mock Trial National Championship. Additionally, Brown also served as the President of the Black Law Students Association and received the David R. Teddy Award for Leadership. In 2023, Brown was inducted into the Campbell Law Competitive Advocacy Hall of Fame.

Representative Brown generously shared his agenda with us, emphasizing the importance of education, creating and sustaining growth, and keeping the new jobs that come to our state filled with NC residents. He also lights up when he talks about quality of life for those who seek to come to our state sharing that we are stewards of not only the new job and the new home opportunity for residents filling our state, but to be mindful of their humanity and diligently support the creation of amenities that will elevate their lifestyle options. He is also committed to policy that helps those who are emerging from abusive relationships to enjoy a fresh start to life by mitigating financial consequences that may push them into an inescapable grip of poverty. Our discussions showed him to be a man of many passions.

Prior to being elected to the legislature, Terry was a community advocate for affordable housing and justice reforms. Terry has been recognized in Mecklenburg County as one of the top 30 Under 30 and 40 Under 40 in both the business and civic community. Terry currently works as a litigation attorney focusing on financial litigation and complex commercial business litigation with the international law firm of Winston & Strawn. In the General Assembly, Terry has been elected the House Minority Whip, and serves on the Judiciary 3, Appropriations, Appropriations-Health and Human Services, Energy and Public Utilities, Insurance Regulatory Reform, and Unemployment Insurance committee. Terry has introduced forward thinking legislation on topics ranging from public education to mental health.

Terry is married to his supportive wife Arielle, a local pediatric mental health counselor.

Rob Nanfelt, Executive Director of REBIC in Charlotte, NC, is our usual host for Getting Real With Rob. But today, he finds himself in the guest chair and interviewed by AnneMarie DeCatsye, CEO of Canopy REALTOR Association. In this episode he discusses all things UDO, (and becomes the victim of the Lightning Round questions himself!). His responses are comprehensive and detailed, giving us a valuable glimpse into the City of Charlotte’s master planning document.

Charlotte’s Unified Development Ordinance, referred to as the UDO, has been a point of celebration and angst since being implemented in June of 2023. As we revisit it one year later, questions and complaints about its content persist. However, our members should understand that REBIC has been working behind the scenes since long before the document was ever drafted. Key leaders in the development field worked during the review process to help insert reality into the paragraphs and sections of this complex document. One of the most fact-filled episodes we’ve ever recorded, Rob goes from A to Z explaining the phases of improvement we’re working to help refine. Many listeners may not know that REBIC has formally submitted over 30 change requests, using a form provided on the REBIC website. The party requesting a change can give give a complete and detailed picture of the issue, with context, and offer suggestions about what a change (or text amendment) should contain. Improvements to the document are made solely by the Planning Board, but our hope is that these amendments not only rectify faulty language, but help the UDO become more robust and real-time in the future.

By way of background, Rob Nanfelt, a long time Charlotte resident, joined REBIC as their Executive Director in the fall of 2109, bringing over 25 years of public policy experience to the position. The foundation for this knowledge was honed by his time as a political Chief of Staff on Capitol Hill and a decade long leadership position promoting advocacy for the Colorado Association of Home Builders.

If you work with Rob, you know he possesses a unique ability to quickly understand complex challenges and identify appropriate solutions and is known for easily guiding diverse parties with opposing goals toward common objectives. The statements, “Be overprepared. Stop complaining. Let’s discuss solutions, not problems.” are three of his favorite phrases. He deftly operates at the intersection between soundbite platitudes and real-life-on-the-ground execution believing that only when we examine true cause and effect can we expect to create a plan for meaningful change and achieve positive outcomes.

It wasn’t long into our interview before the conversation got really interesting: “I’ve lived in places that weren’t growing. You don’t want that. It’s sad, actually…” stated our guest Bart Landess, The Executive Director of the Catawba Lands Conservancy and The Carolina Thread Trail. You wouldn’t think our greatest supporter would be a conservationist, but growth and conservation can be complimentary. This all plays into his greatest hope, that we can preserve natural spaces that keep our region beautiful and our people healthy, and it also made plain that conservationists understand municipal growth as much or more than anyone. And that, when planned properly, with an eye for keeping open space accessible, growth can be a very positive thing. “Most folks who are into conservation are big fans of density, because if you have a denser development, it means you can leave green space, and still have the same number of units.”

As we chatted about the planning history of Charlotte, the ‘how we got here’ narrative that fits for most cities that grew quickly in the 20th century, we learned how we shifted from necessary small clusters of homes and businesses with everything close by and lots of parks, to car-centric housing developments that lack essential amenities like grocers and parks because it was assumed that homeowners would drive to get to them. It is a perspective REBIC is excited to share with you, and we were proud to have Bart in the booth. After you listen, we hope you’ll share this episode because Bart is a great asset to our community. And loves to help offer insight and guidance about the transformative powers of open space.

Bart Landess feels like this career is his calling. Originally from Virginia, he spent his childhood on his grandparents’ farms, working in construction, hiking, camping, trail running, even spelunking (really!). With an idyllic summer mixed in, where he worked in a state park renovating old trails. As Bart happily regales stories and shares facts, you feel smarter and happier about dirt in general. And you feel this urge to find shoes you can get dirty so you can walk a trail with him, instead of being stuck in a studio. But then because he’s so full of facts you don’t want to forget, you are glad the record button is ‘on.’ For instance, do you know what a Paw Paw fruit is? Had you considered that Charlotte’s native forests long, long ago were not pine, that pine was planted for the pulp industry? And did you know that Mountain Island Lake provides drinking water for 10% of North Carolina’s citizens? Yeah…where are my hiking shoes?

A little bit more about Bart, he arrived in Charlotte to attend Davidson College as a young man and began practicing law in Charlotte in 1986 with Smith Helms Mulliss and Moore. Going on to work at Davidson College from 1990-1999, then progressing on to the Foundation for the Carolinas for 10 years, he was also with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte from 2010-2019 before coming to Catawba Lands Conservancy and Carolina Thread Trail. When asked to summarize the mission he represents, he shares, “At CLC and CTT, we stress the enhancement to quality of life and health that comes from natural spaces and trails, and work now to assure that, as we double in size in the next 30 years, those values are preserved for future generations and our region remains a beautiful and wonderful place to live and work.”

Listen to and share this amazing podcast!

Let’s hit this topic head on: The crux of the no-growth argument contends that by stopping growth, current residents can keep things stable and unchanged. Although avoiding change is impossible and unhealthy, they ignore this decision’s devastating results proven out repeatedly across the country such as skyrocketing taxes, shrinking access to housing, the inability to attract the best talent to fill needed service positions, business failure, even a disconnect from funding at the state and federal level. Towns age out, infrastructure deteriorates, young people stay away, and regret sets in.

In this vein we were pleased to invite Chris Carney, Mayor of Mooresville, to our sound booth this month. He is both a leader, guide, and an equalizer. Contending with these passionate sentiments daily, he is slowly and surely helping his Town Commissioners and residents cooperate at the ground level promoting solid financial strategies. With deft charm, logic, and irrefutable facts he explains how crippling the no-growth outcome is to any area. How? Listen to this enjoyable episode and find out.

Just 3 days after the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) announced an agreement that would end litigation of claims brought on behalf of home sellers related to broker commissions, Anne Marie DeCatsye, Esq., and CEO of Canopy Realtor® Association joined us in the podcast booth. She shared her insight regarding the impact the settlement has on our region and gave us a preview of Canopy’s upcoming Members Value Campaign, intended to unify the voice of the Canopy membership to all buyers and sellers. She mentioned that unlike other states that are scrambling, NC has always had mandatory buyer agency agreements. But this episode touches on more than just this issue. What many may not know is that Anne Marie, (who tells us one of her biggest pet peeves is people calling her Anne, and that bacon and brussels sprouts is amazing,) served as a deputy executive director for REBIC from 1995 to 2000.

As our conversation ran the gamut from macro to micro, including encouraging everyone in the REBIC membership to do their homework about the inherent value of a Realtor®, she shared her opinions about how essential it is to keep in check policy-overreach that prevents builders from being able to build affordable housing. She also commented passionately on the collaborative value of homebuilders, commercial real estate professionals, and the Realtor® community who decide to work together. We cannot leave out how strongly she admonished us all to register to vote!

Nationally, DeCatsye serves on the Realtor.com MLS Advisory Board, the MLS GRID Board of Managers as corporate secretary, and represents Canopy MLS on the MLS Roundtable, an industry thought-leadership group. She was recently appointed to the Broker Public Portal (BPP) Board of Managers, a collaborative venture between real estate brokerages and MLSs. She is frequently sought out by local and national media to comment on the Charlotte regional housing market regarding issues impacting the industry, and is a popular and respected speaker, having been invited to share her expertise on many influential industry panels.

Listening to Anne Marie’s opinions is a worthy endeavor, as her pedigree is vast. In addition to a bachelor’s in English and philosophy from Creighton University, DeCatsye earned a law degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., while working full-time on Capitol Hill. DeCatsye has received an impressive number of awards and recognition, including that she was named one of Charlotte’s Most Admired CEOs in 2019 and 2022 by the Charlotte Business Journal. In 2009, she was awarded the Charlotte Business Journal’s Women in Business Award and recognized by The Mecklenburg Times as one of Charlotte’s Most Influential Women. Early in her career, she was recognized by the Charlotte Business Journal in 2021 as one of Charlotte’s 40 under 40. She has been honored in the industry by RISMedia as a 2022 Real Estate Newsmaker in the “Crusaders” category and named one of the most powerful people in real estate since 2018, in the Swanepoel Power 200 report.

DeCatsye currently serves on the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) Legal Action Committee. She previously served on the Council of MLSs Board of Directors, the NAR Board of Directors representing large regional MLSs, the NAR Association Executives Committee (AEC), the MLS Executive Advisory Group to the NAR Leadership Team, the NAR AE Strategic Actions Committee, and several other NAR committees, including the NAR Housing Summit, Governance Presidential Advisory Group, and the Risk Management Committee. She also served as chair of the MLS Executives Forum.

To read her entire bio and understand the depth of her local influence and insight, go to our member spotlight page here.