Bill Payne

Bill Payne has been an existing industry specialist with Commerce's Asheville office for five years. His job requires him to travel to 10 counties throughout Western North Carolina to support industrial expansion and job growth. Some of the stronger industries are automotive, aerospace, furniture and machining-related industries.

"Our area has a large workforce base with a strong work ethic," says Payne. "Companies expand due to the availability of a quality workforce and community and state support incentives."

Most recently, Payne was involved in the expansion of brake systems and components manufacturer Continental Teves' Henderson County operations, which brought 338 jobs to the area. Continental Teves is part of German giant Continental AG. The deal came together after Payne and Henderson County Economic Developer Andrew Tate visited the plant manager of Continental Teves in Fletcher and discussed the local and state government's support if his parent company would consider an expansion of his facility. Payne says that soon afterward they got a call stating that the company was indeed considering an expansion.

Payne and his wife have lived in Asheville for 15 years. They have four children and eight grandchildren, with a ninth due in September. He cites the mild, four-season weather, fine dining and access to skiing, hiking and tourist attractions such as Harrah's Cherokee and Ghost Town in the Sky as reasons why Asheville is such a great place to live.

Counties in North Carolina served: Buncombe, Burke, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Yancey