#

Back

A Different Path: Crossfit

A Different Path: Crossfit

by | Feb 2, 2016 | Do, February 2016

This legendary CrossFitter couldn’t run a mile 10 years ago.

IF YOU RAN into the pretty, petite and soft-spoken Christmas Abbott on the streets of downtown Raleigh, Olympic weightlifter might not be the first thing to come to mind.

But with a name like Christmas, she’s used to raising a few eyebrows.

Abbott is a CrossFit celebrity and co-owner of Raleigh’s CrossFit Invoke, former Reebok-sponsored athlete and author of the best-selling book “The Badass Body Diet.”

And about 10 years ago, she could barely run a mile.

A self-proclaimed “rebel” growing up, Abbott, now 34, admits to drugs, drinking and smoking from her teenage years into her early 20s. In 2004, she was working as a defense contractor in Iraq when her life changed.

“I woke up one day and knew I couldn’t keep doing what I was doing. The sound of incoming mortar bombs will give you a new perspective on life,” Abbott says.

She started working out with colleagues who were in the Special Forces. They were doing workouts like she had never seen before – hard, heavy, intense. It was her first foray into the world of CrossFit – a competitive fitness sport that early on was unofficially adopted by various branches of the military. CrossFit uses a combination of high-intensity interval training, Olympic weightlifting, plyometrics and more.

She was hooked. She moved to Raleigh in 2009 and started coaching at a local CrossFit gym during the day and worked at The Raleigh Times at night as a waitress. She led a bootcamp called “30 Days of Christmas” and saved enough to open CrossFit Invoke in 2010. Her facility is one of the largest in the area in terms of equipment, members and coaches.

Abbott tries to be at Invoke during most weekdays, but she admits her travel schedule can be tricky. She goes around the country training for competitions, giving seminars and motivational speeches and has been named a host for the upcoming “Spartan Race” on NBC Sports.

HarperCollins, which published her first book in March 2015 has signed her for a second book aimed for release in early 2017. She’s launching a new online nutritional program in 2016 and is also developing a corporate wellness program.

“As my past indicates, I get in trouble with downtime. What can I say, I’m a woman of excess,” laughs Abbott. “But in all seriousness, I would much rather work my butt off and contribute something positive than find myself back into my old lifestyle. That terrifies me and pushes me.

“Since I started my life over, I’m on a different path. And the longer I’m on this path, the further removed I am from what I could have spiraled into. When I am on the road and get to meet people who changed their lifestyle because they heard my story, it means everything to me.”

Business of the Burbs: Established Raleigh Suburbs

Business of the Burbs: Established Raleigh Suburbs

by | Sep 24, 2015 | Buzz, October 2015

As Raleigh tops many “BEST OF” lists, the Raleigh suburbs continue to market themselves as hot spots—with booming historic districts, festivals and multi-million dollar recreation facilities.

The competition is heating up across these towns as they pull out all the stops—and the big bucks—to attract new residents. Here’s a look at their strategic messages, what they’re spending and why it’s great news for homeowners.

Businesses follow talent to the burbs.

“There’s been a huge shift in how we approach economic development, even in the past decade,” says Jenny Mizelle, economic development director for the town of Holly Springs.

“For years, small towns focused on luring new businesses so a workforce of future residents would follow. Now we’re seeing that businesses follow the talent. We spend a lot of energy making our town an attractive place for people to live because we know companies will follow, which in turn makes our community more sustainable in the long run.”

Speaking of Holly Springs, here’s a run down of the town and some of the other of the more established Raleigh suburbs.

 

HOLLY SPRINGS

Population: 29,869

Income: $89,187
Age: 34
Average home price:

$280,725

holly springs salamanders -

BEER, BALL AND BUSINESS

Did you know that Holly Springs cemented its place in the Triangle craft brewery scene long before it caught on in Raleigh or Durham?

Carolina Brewing Company recently celebrated its 20th year in business after finding a home in Holly Springs in 1995. That year, the brewery introduced Carolina Pale Ale, which remains one of the best-selling beers in the Triangle.

“We started scouting for area locations in 1994,” says Joe Zonin, Carolina Brewing Company co-owner. “Since we were self-distributing at the beginning, we needed a spot that would be located outside expensive retail zones, yet central to the entire Triangle. Holly Springs fit that model perfectly. And of course the phrase ‘Brewed and Bottled in Holly Springs’ has a great sound to it. The town has been very supportive of us as we’ve grown together the last 20 years.”

$40 million economic incentive

The town has boomed in the last couple of decades, says Mizelle. The opening of the NC-55-bypass about 15 years ago created a four-lane highway through the town and made Holly Springs a more attractive option for big busi- nesses looking to open new facilities.

The town’s first major coup to its 66-acre Holly Springs Business Park was Novartis’s $1 billion flu vaccine manufacturing facility in 2009, which brought more than 500 jobs to the area. Holly Springs officials offered an economic incentive package estimated to be worth about $40 million to attract Novartis.

The company sold the plant to Australian-based company CSL in 2014.

Down the road from the business park is the new $20 million North Main Athletic Complex, home to the Holly Springs Salamanders. This past summer, the team stepped up to bat as the first Coastal Plain League expansion team in five years. The stadium draws crowds of 2,000 during home games.

 

APEX

Population: 42,150

Income: $88,558

Age: 31
Average home price:

$243,125

downtown apex

 

MONEY TALKS

In August, Apex topped Money Magazine’s list of “Best Places to Live in America.” Lauded for its charming downtown area and top-notch schools, Apex has doubled its population since 2000 and continues to see big growth.

“In terms of bringing national recognition to our city, rankings like the one in Money Magazine are absolutely invaluable, says Joanna Helms, economic development director with the town of Apex.

“The Town of Apex has worked hard for years to make sure we have the infrastructure in place and space allotted to bring some big companies out to this side of town,” Helms continues. “Companies often cite the importance of their employee’s quality of life. What better place to set up shop than the best place to live in the country?”

A waiting list for downtown

Apex, a historic train town, is best known for its vibrant to Helms, there is a multi-year waiting list for businesses downtown houses and storefronts.

The Halle Cultural Arts Center, built in 1912 as the Apex Town Hall, opened in 2008, providing a venue for special events, theatrical productions and creative arts classes. The town’s newest attraction, the Rodgers Family Skate Plaza at Trackside, opened this past summer.

Trackside is a $1.1 million, 13,000-square-foot, four-tiered skate plaza that mimics street skating conditions and includes competition skateboarding elements.

“I have heard multiple skaters who live all over are visiting the park and saying that it’s the best skate park in the state,” says Kyle Denis, Apex resident and owner of downtown business Apex Outfitters and Board Co. “I’m very proud to live and work in a town that listens to the needs and wants of its citizens. The area is better because of it.”

A third of the population goes here

The town hosts events throughout the year. Apex PeakFest, which is held every spring, is the town’s largest and most anticipated event. Attended by more than 15,000 people – more than a third of its population – the arts and crafts festival includes live music, food, games and other activities.

Helms hopes the town’s recent recognition will be a big draw for companies looking to move into the area, even over bigger cities like Raleigh or Durham.

 

FUQUAY-VARINA

Population: 23,655

Income: $59,000

Age: 36
Average home price:

$294,276

Downtown Fuquay-Varina

 

A $95,000 INVESTMENT

In 2014, Fuquay-Varina signed a $95,000 conTract with Raleigh-based advertising agency Clean Design to develop a new town logo and get a better sense of the town’s identity.

“Clean Design gave out a survey for people in our town to take and then were absolutely blown away that 1,300 people actually took the time to respond, says Susan Weiss, communications director for the Town of Fuquay-Varina.

“That wasn’t a surprise to us. We know that we’re a super involved and engaged community. People who are drawn to that kind of small-town-feel love it here.”

Two downtowns

Fuquay-Varina wants to play up one of its most unique features – the two distinct downtown districts that were preserved after Fuquay Springs and the town of Varina merged in 1963. Both downtowns are home to frequent street festivals and art shows. Each spring, the town hosts the “En Plein Air Paint-Off” where local artists compete in bringing downtown landscapes to life by painting live in front of a crowd. Winning art is auctioned off, and replicas are used as street art throughout the town’s historic districts.

Splash on demand

The town’s local government relies heavily on feedback from the community on what they want to see, says Weiss. And when 30 percent

of a town’s population is under the age of 18, family friendly attractions are in demand.

In July, the town opened a 6,000-square- foot splash pad that features multiple jets of streaming water from more than 35 water features.

“The splash pad was built due to requests from our residents,” says Weiss. “We love to offer things that are free and open for people across the Triangle to enjoy.”

 

WAKE FOREST

Population: 37, 046

Income: $75,050
Age: 35
Average home price:

$259,200

Downtown Fuquay-Varina

A SHIFT IN THE LANDSCAPE

When Wake Forest University left the town of its namesake in the 1950s, the effects were devastating. “We went from a bustling town one day to a ghost town the next,” says Chip Russell, planning director with the town of Wake Forest. “Our town lost nearly half its population. It took about 20 years to bounce back.”

A quest for jobs

After the university announced its departure, the Wake Forest Chamber of Commerce was formed to help advertise and recruit manufacturing jobs to the city. During the 1960s, large manufacturing companies like Schrader-Bellows and Athey Products chose to establish manufacturing centers in Wake Forest, bringing hundreds of much-needed jobs to the area.

“It was a total shift in the business landscape in the area. Prior to the 1960s, Wake Forest was a college town with businesses that catered to the needs of college students. Those manufacturing jobs were pivotal to bringing us back to life,” Russell says.

Dedicated to the arts

Downtown is a big part of Wake Forest’s future, says Angela Bendorf Jamison, downtown business owner and vice chair of Wake Forest Downtown, a nonprofit organization committed to keeping downtown vibrant.

“We put a lot of time and effort into our historic and downtown districts – widening sidewalks, installing new streetlights and expanding parking areas,” says Bendorf.

On the second Friday of every month, shops, galleries, restaurants and other establishments along the town’s historic South White Street, known as the arts and entertainment district, stay open late as part of Art After Hours. Paintings, photography and other crafts are on display while street artists and musicians perform.

In 2013, the town opened a $1.3 million, 10,000-square-foot performing arts and event venue, Renaissance Centre, as a place to host exhibitions, workshops, community theatre, classes, concerts and other events.

“We want people from across the Triangle to come see what downtown Wake Forest has to offer,” Jamison says

Read the companion piece to this article: “Business of the Burbs: “Up-and-coming Raleigh suburbs”.

Raleigh at Work: Who’s Hiring, Who’s Not

Raleigh at Work: Who’s Hiring, Who’s Not

by | Aug 22, 2015 | Buzz, September 2015

Who’s hiring?

That’s what recent college grads want to know, especially as the Raleigh job market continues to attract 20-somethings nationwide in addition to thousands graduating each year who want to stay put. With the national spotlight continuing to push students toward degrees promising higher job placements, namely in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, college students are paying attention.

“Freshman walking through the doors at new student orientation are still worried about the typical things—will I like my roommate, will I find my way on campus—but we’re starting to see more students wondering about what degree is going to ensure they find a job upon graduation,” says Leslie Rand-Pickett, assistant director of NC State University’s Career Development Center. “Ten years ago, a job offer after college was almost assumed.”

Despite initial worries, students are finding plenty of opportunities. Local universities say the number of open job positions they’re filling—and the number of companies signing up to recruit—continues to increase.

Triangle companies have their pick of job prospects.

In fact, some grads in competitive majors are turning down offers in major cities to stay in Raleigh, recently named by Career Builder and Forbes the third best place to work in the nation during the second quarter of 2015.

NC State’s computer science program, for example, reports 75 percent of its graduates stay in the Triangle.

“Computer science is one of the most in-demand professions in the country,” says Rand-Pickett, “and the fact our graduates choose to stay here speaks highly of what this area has to offer.”

—Caroline Barnhill

 

Who’s not hiring?

Other industries, including legal, were harder hit during the 2008 economic downturn and have been slower to recover. The Law School Admission Council recently reported applications to U.S. law schools in 2014 were at their lowest level in 10 years.

Elliot Abrams, 29, a criminal defense attorney with Cheshire Parker Schneider & Bryan in Raleigh who graduated in 2011 from Georgetown Law School, said firms have been slow to hire the past few years. As a result, attorneys fresh out of law school were competing for the same jobs with more experienced lawyers who suddenly found themselves out of work.

“It was a tough time for a lot of people,” says Abrams. “But in the last year or two, we’re starting to see new positions open up and more movement among attorneys leaving to join different firms after they hunkered down during the worst of the recession. Law firms are being more cautious in their hiring processes, but the jobs are there.”

 

Statistics that will make recent grads smile

Since last year, full-time job openings rose 20 percent nationwide. Experts say the increase was seen in positions normally deemed a “luxury” for companies; the increase indicates confidence in the improving economy.

Industries with most openings hiring recent grads:

Sales: 14%

Marketing and PR: 6%

Customer service: 5%

HR/Training: 3.5%

Engineering: 2%

Average salary: $43,000

Check out our other stories in the “Raleigh at Work” series: “The local job market and “Cool jobs”.