Recognizing Stan Kelly

Floor Speech

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Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Stan Kelly of Winston-Salem and congratulate him on his upcoming retirement as CEO of the Piedmont Triad Partnership. With his departure from this position, he leaves the entire Piedmont region revitalized and ripe for North Carolina's next chapter in modern industry.

Stan began his distinguished career as a personal banker with Wachovia National Bank, a North Carolina-based financial institution. His industrious work ethic, charismatic personality, and keen intellect propelled him to the position of President of Wachovia's wealth management division in 2001. When Wachovia was acquired by Wells Fargo & Company in 2008, Stan was selected as the bank's regional president for the Carolinas. In this role, he ensured the brand transition from Wachovia to Wells Fargo was seamless for employees and clients, alike. His region of more than 450 branches consistently overperformed company expectations in customer service ratings, employee retention, and market share. Stan retired from Wells Fargo in 2014, leaving the company well-positioned for future success in the region.

In 2015, however, Stan was called out of retirement when the Piedmont Triad Partnership selected him as its President and CEO. For over 30 years, the Piedmont Triad Partnership has served as the region's umbrella organization for economic development and has worked arduously to promote transformational commercial growth and success in the heart of North Carolina. The Partnership has been instrumental in building upon the Piedmont's proud history of agriculture, textiles, and furniture to facilitate new, robust sectors of industry including aviation and automotive manufacturing, as well as the emerging sector of regenerative medicine.

As President and CEO of the Piedmont Triad Partnership, Stan again proved himself a remarkable leader. Under his direction, the Partnership launched the Carolina Core brand, a regional initiative to highlight existing infrastructure and develop industrial potential along the future 1-685 corridor. Regional leaders have united with Stan in promoting this economic engine capable of powering the Piedmont into the future. Stan's efforts in developing the Carolina Core have already been instrumental in attracting over 30 thousand new jobs in just five years.

Stan's other accomplishments extend far beyond financial services and economic development. Through various roles, such as Chair of the Board of Trustees of North Carolina State University and the Winston-Salem Foundation, he has studiously worked to give back to his local community and state. Earlier this month, he was honored with North Carolina's most prestigious civic award: The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Despite all of Stan's accomplishments, however, he is undoubtedly most proud of his loving family: his wife, their daughters, son-in-law, and grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Stan Kelly for his invaluable contributions to the Piedmont Triad region and the state of North Carolina. I wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.

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