CCAP Spotlight 

Q&A with Hailey Rorie

Our first CCAP spotlight is your CCAP co-chair extraordinaire, Hailey Rorie.  Hailey is the Director of Community Relations for Northwood Office, where she handles all things community related. Read on to learn more about Hailey and her journey to the community affairs profession. 

Tell us about your background and career path to Northwood Office.

I grew up on a farm in rural Ohio where I learned the importance of a hard work ethic and a strong community at a very young age. My father and grandfather set an excellent example for my sisters and me, serving as elected officials, holding positions on various boards and generously volunteering their time. I thought a tight-knit community was the norm. 

Then, I set out for college and soon realized our little farm community was actually quite unique. The big city was a whole new ballgame, and I was naive to the real-life challenges more urban communities faced. That realization inspired me to change my major to PR and pursue internships that helped me gain valuable experience in the philanthropic world. 
 
After college, I took the first job I was offered, a sales position at a marketing firm in Columbus, Ohio. It didn't take me long to find I'm not cut out for sales, but the job ended up being my ticket to Charlotte. Soon after moving south, I took a marketing job at an event planning firm specializing in events across the southeast. I fell in love with the sense of accomplishment that came with executing events and wore many hats to help broaden my experience, but I was missing that genuine community connection. 
 
In 2014, four months after we welcomed our firstborn to the world, I stumbled across a Community Director position on LinkedIn at Bissell Companies (acquired by Northwood in 2017). The role offered the perfect balance of producing events with a community focus. It seemed too good to be true. So, despite being a new, crazed mom who hadn't interviewed professionally in over six years, I decided to go for it – and here I am. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made for myself and my family. 

Tell us more about your work at Northwood.

I manage all things community for Northwood Office, a commercial real estate firm that owns and operates a 535-acre master-planned community in Ballantyne. There are over 350 companies and 18,000+ employees who come to work here every day. My job is to create a strong sense of community through massive charitable campaigns, signature events, volunteer opportunities, establishing local partnerships, etc. 

It's unique in terms of how we make an impact – a little less funding-focused and more about finding creative, tangible ways to rally our community around efforts that assist the greater Charlotte region. I believe most people/companies want to give back to their community, but they don't always have the resources, or some would rather serve their time or donate a tangible item versus writing a check. So, we've found the most success when we think outside the box and provide multiple opportunities to support our initiatives and most of all, make giving fun and convenient.
 
I also manage internal communications, PR, media relations and work with our marketing and development team on Northwood's vision for the future of Ballantyne, which is really exciting for the entire Charlotte region.

What is your favorite part of the job? 

My favorite part of the job is finding creative ways to get people and companies engaged and then seeing the power behind a community that comes together. I'm always amazed when I look back at the impact we've made over the years through various programs, and with our Ballantyne Reimagined project underway, there are so many new opportunities that lie ahead.

What are you currently passionate about in the community?

I'm passionate about so much community work, but I feel there's not enough focus on mental health advocacy, especially on the heels of a global pandemic! If there's anything I've learned from this past year and a half, it's that we could do a better job driving awareness around unaddressed mental health issues and allowing more access to treatment. 
 
We live in this fast-paced, overstimulating, complicated world. As I think about my children's future, I hope their generation will be better educated to effectively identify and address mental health. No one is impervious to these disorders and overcoming the stigma would be life-changing for so many.

Tell us about your family. What do you like to do in your free time?

My husband, Will, and I live in Fort Mill with our two boys. Liam (7) is a rising second-grader and aspiring pediatrician. Mack (2) spends much of his time fine-tuning his baseball swing and bossing around our giant Bernadoodle, Annie. (She's the girl I never had!)
 
We love sports, music, a good road trip, entertaining friends and family and exploring Anne Springs Close Greenway. My boys are obsessed with my parents’ farm, so ASCG has become our little local slice of heaven. 

Current book recommendation:

Untamed by Glennon Doyle (I consider it a bedside staple)

Favorite Charlotte restaurant:

Soul Gastrolounge 

What do you like best about CCAP? 

The meaningful connections I've made over the years are so valuable, and it's been such a pleasure to serve as co-chair the past few years. I’m excited to see the membership continue to grow!