Dallas Hardenbrook

International Project Manager Dallas Hardenbrook specializes in helping European businesses invest in North Carolina. His most recent project was helping Bayer Crop Science complete a $10 million, 128-job expansion in the Triangle.

Originally from Colorado, Hardenbrook has been with Commerce for almost 21 years. He brings to his position an appreciation of German culture developed after living in southern Germany for three years following college. His favorite city in Germany is Munich because, he says, the people are so friendly, and he loves the Alps.

Hardenbrook says that North Carolina can make itself more attractive to European investors by focusing on workforce development and educating students who don't continue on to a four-year college after high school.

"We don't have the same kind of apprenticeship program that Europe does, but we are able to highlight our community college system and the valuable vocational, technical and focused training aspects of those colleges."