Known for their "can do approach," the Terry Law Firm helps clients effectively meet their goals in the most efficient way possible. The boutique law firm is based in SouthPark and combines business acumen with years of legal expertise to offer Charlotte residents a trustworthy and reliable partner throughout their residential and commercial real estate handlings, among other services.

Dan Terry started the Terry Law Firm in 2014 after years of working with a large law group. He originally focused on real estate closings, but over the years evolved the practice into a full-service business serving the Carolina markets. Today, the firm is a team of 15 and offers legal guidance and protection for corporate and business law, as well as assistance with wills, trusts, estate planning and administration, in addition to residential and commercial real estate handlings with the help of their team of attorneys, including Stephanie Barfield, Rich Hoefling, and Jonathan Polking.

"We offer a high-end and hands-on experience," says Dan. "We hit the ground running when we opened, and it is amazing to think about how we have grown over the years. Everyone on the team has been with me for years which is very special."

Dan fondly recounts calling the late Phil Jurney as he made plans to open his namesake firm. "I called Phil and I told him to get ready for me. And he was. I had people counting on me for a paycheck, and he made sure we were ready to go. "

A partner since day one, TowneBank looks forward to continuing to help Dan and his team as they evolve. "We like to be there for all of Dan's day-to-day needs, but also as a sounding board for larger business and financial decisions," says Warren Miller, senior vice president and commercial banking officer at TowneBank. "Not to mention, he has been a big cheerleader for TowneBank as we expand in the Charlotte market."

Dan and Warren's relationship extends beyond business, too. "I was desperate to find some golf balls during the height of COVID," says Dan. "I mentioned that to Warren and next thing I know he has dropped off a sleeve of TowneBank balls. You can't get much more full service than that!"

To learn more about the Terry Law Firm, visit TheTerryLawOffice.com.

Volunteers from across the country mobilize each year for the United Way's Day of Caring. This volunteer effort is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who lives or works in our community to gain a deeper understanding of local needs. The TowneBank Family looks forward to participating in this annual event by serving a variety of organizations across our footprint in North Carolina and Virginia.

In Charlotte, the TowneBank team worked with Second Harvest Food Bank to sort and organize food for those in need. Second Harvest supplies food throughout a 24-county region of North and South Carolina through a network of over 800 emergency pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and programs for low-income children and seniors.

The need in the area is staggering – with over 14.9% of the population, just over 553,000 people, living in poverty. This number includes 182,000 children and 48,000 seniors. Second Harvest, founded in 1981, has distributed over 70 million pounds of food and household items, with 42 million pounds consisting of fresh produce, meat, and dairy.

Melanie Robinson, senior vice president and private banking officer, helped organize two large volunteer groups at Second Harvest Food Bank in honor of Day of Caring. "I believe it is always our duty to give back," says Melanie. "The past two years have emphasized that we are one community and how important it is to take care of one another."

"The TowneBank team was such a fantastic volunteer group," said Betsy Van Dyne, volunteer coordinator for the Second Harvest Food Bank. "In total, the group inspected and sorted close to 1200 pounds of food, equating to at least 21,750 meals to community members in need. We could not do what we do without our amazing volunteers!"

Second Harvest Food Bank offers several different programs to help met those in need wherever they may be. For example, their backpack program provides meals for students over weekends and holidays when school meals are not available, and their rural mobile pantries extend to families with limited access to their brick-and-mortar food bank. The organization also works with Meals on Wheels to provide easy-to-open food for seniors, provides tailored outreach to veterans, and even serves dogs and cats through their Pet Food Bank.

To learn more about Second Harvest Food Bank and how you can get involved, visit SecondHarvestMetrolina.org/Give-Food.

For the past two years, our lives have been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. But sometimes there are hidden gems buried beneath the chaos. Disruption is what leads to innovation and positive change, and embracing a forward-thinking mindset helps us move beyond present circumstances and develop new ways of thinking and doing things.

Bob MacLeod, owner of MacLeod Construction, has always been one to ask, "Why do we do it this way?" and suggest, "Let's try this." His forward-thinking strategy is the heart and soul of the company, which is why it's part of the company's logo and painted on each truck. MacLeod Construction is a grading and concrete construction business headquartered in Charlotte. Bob started his business in high school, and what began as a landscaping and maintenance provider has now been serving Charlotte and the surrounding area for over twenty-five years. The involvement of family members, including Bob's father, brother, and son, has been invaluable in the company's growth and success.

Bob's forward-thinking philosophy has served the company well over the years. In 1999, there was so much concrete work that the company had trouble getting product. Demand was high and suppliers could not deliver on time. Bob didn't panic. Instead, he viewed the disruption as an opportunity for his company to start producing ready-mix concrete. That same year, Bob introduced another innovation: the company became the first to exclusively use front-discharge trucks for delivery in the Charlotte market; front facing trucks are safer, quicker, and more efficient. By the end of 2006, MacLeod Construction was one of the leading concrete producers in the Charlotte market.

When Bob was faced with decision-making in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, he once again relied on his forward-thinking strategy. The company was already 90% digital, so there were no technological adjustments needed. Instead, Bob adapted to the times by shifting the company's focus to specialty customers. This shift led to lower production volumes but an increase in profitability, and his employees were able to work fewer hours, giving them more time with their families and a better work-life balance. Not all disruptions are bad; sometimes they give us an opportunity to improve.

Bob has dealt with a dozen or so banks over 20 years, and prior to joining Towne, he was spending an inordinate amount of time securing financing for projects. Last year, in the midst of chaos, he once again trusted his forward-thinking philosophy and decided to make a change. Bob says, "Towne has blown my mind. The folks in Charlotte are so accommodating. They spent time getting to know my business, and everything is exactly as presented, in the time it's promised." Bob continues, "I cannot say enough good things about Towne. Towne is a big part of our recent success. We've closed more deals in 10 months than we have in the past 10 years. I've never recommended a bank before, but now I have been wholeheartedly recommending TowneBank to others." When we focus on what lies ahead and not what has always been, we sometimes strike gold.

For more information, visit MacLeodNC.com.

An estimated 3,100 people are currently experiencing homelessness in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County area. Meanwhile, the inventory of permanent, affordable housing is decreasing, while the need increases. The Home Again Foundation (HAF) is working hard to change those numbers. Home Again is a nonprofit organization created with the mission to provide sustainable, affordable housing along with supportive services for the homeless and those who are at risk of becoming homeless.

"We believe everyone deserves a safe place to call home, the dignity of a new beginning, and the hope of a brighter future," says Rick Gilbert, who created the Home Again Foundation in 2018. It all started in 1995 when Rick, his wife, and their seven-year-old daughter Rachel were going out to eat. They encountered a homeless man outside the restaurant who was asking for money or food. Rachel wanted to know why the man didn't have money or food. Rick didn't have a good answer for her, but her question inspired him to research the issue of homelessness. He discovered Room in the Inn, a national program and for the next 25 years, he worked with Room in the Inn in North Carolina.

Wanting to do more to help the homeless, Rick began Home Again Foundation and now work is well underway on Home Again's New Beginnings project. The first development completed, known as Small Beginnings, is located on Cochrane Drive in north Charlotte. Ranging from one bedroom to three-bedroom homes, the housing is set aside for people with low income who also have challenges finding housing. Everything from bad credit, an eviction history, past convictions or current or previous homelessness all can be roadblocks to obtaining a home. So far, eight homes have been constructed and residents have already moved in. After living in safe and stable homes, these new residents have increased their self-sufficiency scores, obtained GEDs, new jobs, and have added a handsome baby boy.

New Beginnings will evolve into a cottage community that will help tackle the city's affordable housing crisis. Home Again Foundation has set a goal to create a total of 300 homes in a community setting that will include an outdoor theater, 24-hour childcare, arts and crafts centers, workforce development programs, fitness centers, a commercial kitchen, community gardens, a chapel, and a community center. Residents of New Beginnings will have supportive services available including social workers, life skill training, benefits coordinator, job training, addiction counseling, and legal services, just like the residents of Small Beginnings have.

TowneBank is honored to partner with the Home Again Foundation. Christine Keely, vice president and manager of the TowneBank location in SouthPark, serves on the Home Again board. She shares a quote from Ron Hall, author of Same Kind of Different as Me – "Most people never really sat down and got to know a homeless person, but every homeless person is just a real person that was created by God and it is the same kind of different as us; they just have a different story."

The Home Again Foundation can use help from volunteers in a variety of ways. For more information and to see how you can help, visit HomeAgainCLT.org.