Getting Real With Rob

Hosted by Real Estate & Building Industry Coalition (REBIC)

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Jun 2026

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Getting Real With Rob is the official podcast of the Real Estate & Building Industry Coalition in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hosted by Executive Director Rob Nanfelt, Getting Real With Rob features real conversations with industry leaders about real estate, housing and community.

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June 9, 202632 min

David Boliek | State Auditor of North Carolina

Dave Boliek, our guest on Getting Real with Rob, became the 21st State Auditor of North Carolina in January of 2025. Now, almost 18 months into his term, he's focused and alert about what it means to ensure your tax money is being spent with accountability. When you first meet him, the wireframe glasses and classic attire might keep you from seeing that little bit of Elliot Ness in his eyes. Animated, articulate, and very well educated on the political landscape of the State Auditors position, he's almost like a kid in the outfield who can't wait for you to throw him the ball. And when it hits his glove, you get more than a solid catch. You have someone who tells you exactly what they plan to do next, and then he does it. It's that kind of energy that brings a refreshing take to a subject that some would believe incredibly dry. Auditing. But he sees it as the best job ever. Part statistician, part strategist, part psychologist and part detective, it's all good for Dave Boliek. Born in Lincolnton, North Carolina, Dave has lived in Fayetteville, Durham, Eden, Greensboro, Chapel Hill, Thomasville, Hickory, Boone, and Raleigh. He is a former prosecutor, small business owner, and most recently worked as an attorney and served as Chairman of the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees. Dave's legal career includes being an Assistant District Attorney in Cumberland County, where he prosecuted crimes in District and Superior Courts, and as a litigator practicing in State and Federal Courts. As Chairman of UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees, Dave led the effort to eliminate the university's operating deficit and created the Board of Trustees' first Audit and Risk Committee. He and his wife Haden live in the Durham/Chapel Hill area and have four children. He is a proud Eagle Scout, and a Christian who serves as an elder in his church. Dave earned an undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and has a law degree and master's degree in business administration from Campbell University. About the Office of the State Auditor: The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor (OSA) is your fiscal watchdog. We audit more than $100 billion in state assets and liabilities each year, bringing transparency to local, state, and federal government. Our reports and findings include recommendations that result in good government reforms. OSA thoroughly investigates alleged cases of fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer dollars, working with law enforcement on prosecution when warranted. We encourage all members of the public with information on improper government conduct to inform OSA through the safe and secure Tipline.)

May 12, 202639 min

Blaine Brownell | Professor and Director of the Raven's School of Architecture, UNC Charlotte

"UNC is all about Charlotte" shares Blaine Brownell, during our recent recording. As the Director of the Raven's School of Architecture, UNC Charlotte, he emphasizes that Charlotte is poised for amazing success and is highly optimistic about the future, our talent, and our ability to adapt, but cautions us about the danger of assumptions. REBIC has been working on adding peripheral opinions to our podcast, working to share information about the entire landscape of disciplines needed to maintain our cities and our success. In advocacy we talk a lot about the size of home and the size of the lot, and the size of the price tag. But Professor Brownell puts it all in perspective when he tells us we must get out of our own way to continue to thrive. And shares that learning how to become a great architect is as much about collaboration as it is design. Pointing to his years in studying and living in Japan, he shared freely his fascination with their culture. And admires their efficient, clean, and innovative approach to design and to renewal. It's a theme he refers to throughout the episode, and frankly, it's the best reason to listen to our latest episode of Getting Real with Rob. Blaine Brownell is an architect, author, and leading thinker on how emerging materials are reshaping the built environment. His work focuses on the intersection of material innovation, environmental performance, and design—exploring how buildings can move beyond static systems to become dynamic participants in ecological processes. He is the author of ten books, including the forthcoming Radical Green, which advances new material strategies for regenerative and net-positive architecture. Since 2009, he has written the "Mind & Matter" column for Architect magazine, contributing over 800 articles on the frontiers of material innovation. In addition to his academic work as Professor and Director of the School of Architecture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Brownell advises leading organizations—including 3M, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Mayo Clinic, and the Danish Architecture Center—on material futures, sustainability, and design innovation. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Nature, and other international publications. He speaks globally on the future of materials, climate-responsive design, and the evolving role of architecture in a rapidly changing world. Brownell earned a B.A. in architecture with a Certificate in East Asian Studies at Princeton University in 1992, and a Master of Architecture from Rice University in 1998. He practiced for seven years at NBBJ in Seattle, Washington. In 2006 he became a Fulbright Scholar to Japan with a focus on emergent materials and applications in architecture and design. After a visiting professorship at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Brownell taught at the University of Minnesota School of Architecture, Minneapolis starting in 2008, eventually serving as director of graduate studies and interim department head. In 2020 he became the Director of the School of Architecture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

April 6, 202640 min

Mark Jerrell, Chair Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners | Representative District 4

Mark Jerrell, chair of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners and the representative for District 4, which comprises the eastern part of Mecklenburg County. And we have to say, this podcast episode is one we've been looking forward to for a long time. His leadership qualities are complemented by his easy-going demeanor, and a quick wit. But the building of a leader happened early in his life, he shared. Because of his upbringing, and the loud voice of a strong momma in his head, Mark is committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring that resources are accessible for our most vulnerable residents. He is passionate about issues of equity, education, affordable housing, access to social services, environment, social and environmental justice, connectivity, parks and open space, and ensuring that we have relevant programming for all residents. He is also focused on ensuring that minority-owned businesses, seniors, working families and students have the opportunity and resources needed to experience a high quality of life. But he also understands that you cannot have prosperity without keeping businesses strong and welcoming the growth that makes opportunity possible. Mark is an entrepreneur and proud veteran, having served in the United States Army Reserve. He also holds a bachelor's degree in political science as well as an MBA.  We discovered, in an interview with the Charlotte Observer, how he collaborates, so successfully, with other local and state elected officials. "…I believe we must work together to create comprehensive strategies to improve the lives of all residents in Mecklenburg County. Our issues are inter-connected, and we cannot work in silos or in isolation to change outcomes for our most vulnerable. I will continue to convene elected, community, business leaders, and other key stakeholders to work together on solutions for our most critical issues." Among the many subjects we broached during his interview, we were keen on his reasons for supporting so completely the recently passed Transportation Referendum. Yes, he represents the eastern part of Mecklenburg County, which some in that district will say isn't a priority area for the close to $30 billion that will be raised over the next few decades, he disagrees, knowing that mobility is like a rising tide that lifts all ships. He also says that elected leaders "don't have the luxury" to isolate specific groups that might not benefit as much from the plan but rather must balance the overall needs of the county's 1.2 million residents. He told us that Charlotte area's growth reflects the idea that this is an area where everyone wants to live so making innovative investments in infrastructure is imperative. One of his best-known triumphs is that he's been able to galvanize cooperative efforts of the Commission. But he does so with the humility and strong purpose of someone who knows who he is. Where he came from. And that people need to feel they're a part of creating something good.

March 6, 202628 min

Ed Driggs, Charlotte City Councilperson District 7

When Ed Driggs, Charlotte City Councilperson for District 7, sat down for our interview, he elaborated on many civic issues. But woven in between the answers, we heard him speak of two important principles that he uses to facilitate the positive outcomes he's known for. One. Make sure the people in the room feel comfortable. And two, never stop learning. These words offer sage advice to not only anyone reading this but stands as a key to his results-driven municipal leadership that has stood the test of time. Representing Charlotte's District 7 since 2013, we may think his task has grown easy. But he represents an engaged, vocal, and passionate segment of the city. It is in the crosshairs of the nudge of growth that is demanding big neighborhood changes. Many of those changes feel uncomfortable and are accelerating. That being said, District 7 is almost a test zone for the way our region is learning to balance tradition with revision. No one has a better view of those changes and their impact than Councilperson Edmond Driggs. With the experience needed to inform outcomes across all segments of policy making, he serves as the Chair of Transportation, Planning and Development Committee and serves on the newly stand-alone Safety Committee. With the ease of a man who offsets the stress of his leadership job with his love for music and playing his guitars, (He has a lot of them. Many are classics!), he explains in detail how delicately balanced we are in regulating our current prosperity and how little it would take to throw us off our envious status as a vibrant and economically growing city. Always in flux, city councils often bring new members with strong opinions and sometimes no perspective or experience. The goal is to keep real needs in focus, so all citizens are served and nurtured. This podcast is one you sit and listen to with eagerness and curiosity. You'll learn a lot. In his professional life, Ed was a banker and analyst at Bankers Trust Company in New York, Frankfurt, and London, and then worked at Goldman Sachs and Company in New York until his retirement in 2001. Since retiring, Ed has been active in various community roles and has served on the boards of Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, the North Carolina League of Municipalities, the Mecklenburg County Boy Scouts of America, WTVI, The Association of Public Television Stations well as on the Central Piedmont Community College President's Council. Ed received an AB degree cum laude in Economics from Princeton University and pursued graduate studies in mathematical economics at Berlin University and the University of Oxford. In 1971, he received a commission in the U.S. Army Reserve, from which he retired in 1987. He and his wife Caroline live in South Charlotte and have two adult children.

February 9, 202639 min

Danté Anderson, Charlotte City Councilperson District 1

It's been 2 years since Danté Anderson, City Councilperson for District 1, joined us for an episode of Getting Real with Rob. And although the sitting Council looks a little different, Danté still brings her signature gravitas to the podcast booth, just as she does to any interview. Appointed as the Chair to the newly independent Charlotte City Safety Committee, she clarified what she sees as an effort to connect all the relevant safety-minded entities within the City with Uptown residents and business owners, to ensure they support and uphold the work of our dedicated police force. "60% of our budget is dedicated to safety, covering police and fire protection," she shares, and then transitions into a narrative around her intention to lean into agendas that support safe, affordable housing in Charlotte. She calls home ownership, "…the second most important step to increasing safety in our community…" The first being a sustainable plan to bring in good paying jobs and provide a way for people to get educated so they can access these jobs, better equipping them to buy a home. Councilperson Anderson brings a wealth of experience in the private sector to her work in the policy making realm. However, she remembers Charlotte before we became one of the fastest growing cities in the Nation. "I'm a native daughter of South Charlotte, raised during an era of the Queen City when Eastland Mall was a gem, Saturday afternoons at Queens Park were a treat and the possibilities were abundant." She continues, "As a poor African American girl reared in public and low-income housing, I've experienced housing instability and food insecurity throughout my childhood. Yet, if one were to tell me the possibility of improving my desired outcomes barely existed based on my location in the city, I would have rebuked that notion. I was hopeful, encouraged to reach higher, and keenly believed possibility could become reality." Her CMS education armed me with the appropriate knowledge and skillset to successfully navigate through a dual BS Degree in Electrical Engineering and Cinema Studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Master of Fine Arts in Cinema Studies from New York University's The Tisch School and acquire an MBA from Harvard Business School. She desperately wanted the concept of achievement to resonate for all Charlotte residents, regardless of what side of the city they called home, and regardless of their location on the economic mobility ladder. "I firmly believe my professional skills & experience, insight, civic engagement, and tribal knowledge of being a native Queen City resident can uniquely help to advance City Council's key focal objectives."

January 13, 202627 min

David Longo | Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer – CBI Workplace Solutions

"It's really easy to identify a problem; it's actually not that hard to come up with solutions. The real work comes with implementing them." shares David Longo, our first guest of 2026, as he gave his closing remarks. Our episode drilled down into the details of the Transportation Referendum and the accompanying 1 cent sales tax increase that passed last November as David's leadership was instrumental in forging bipartisan collaborations between Raleigh and Charlotte. Helping to move this historic initiative forward, its successful passing reinforced his belief that real progress happens when people put community above politics. The referendum passed on the first attempt with 52 percent of the vote—an unprecedented outcome for an initiative of its scale and complexity. David's role in advancing the Mecklenburg County Transportation Referendum, a once-in-a-generation effort to transform the region's infrastructure is a masterstroke of opportunity and vision. The soon-to-be-imposed sales tax will generate $19.4 billion in local funding over the next 30 years and will be matched by $6 billion in federal funding. The total results, say many, is estimated at $250 billion in long-term economic development. A long time Charlotte influential, David has spent more than three decades transforming how organizations view their workplaces—not as static environments, but as powerful tools that shape culture, enhance collaboration, and elevate the human experience. That fingerprint will be conspicuously prominent as he takes his place as an appointee of the Metropolitan Transit Authority Board. As the Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of CBI Workplace Solutions, he was also the 2025 Chair of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance – an organization that referendum proponents sought support from — acting as a strategic genius by building bridges of purpose that transcended divisive agendas. Through these civic efforts, David has earned a reputation as someone who works across lines of difference, uniting Democratic and Republican leaders, business executives, educators, and community advocates around shared goals. As we dig into his background, the foundations of his philosophies become obvious. Raised in a loving and faithful home, he learned the value of responsibility, gratitude, and respect for others. His early influences—family, faith, and scouting—profoundly shaped his worldview and gave him a lifelong desire to serve others. In 1993, David founded CBI Workplace Solutions in Charlotte, North Carolina, guided by a simple yet transformative conviction: the workplace matters. What began as a small entrepreneurial venture quickly grew into one of the Southeast's premier workplace solutions firms, serving clients across North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida. Under David's leadership, CBI became a trusted distribution partner to MillerKnoll and Falkbuilt, delivering workplace solutions that integrate design, technology, and human insight. His approach transcends furniture and floor plans, and he believes that when leveraged correctly, the 'built' environment can profoundly improve people's lives, their processes, and their performance. As Chair of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, he has been a unifying voice in the region, bringing together the public and private sectors to pursue long-term investments that enhance quality of life and regional competitiveness. In 2023, David co-chaired the $2.5 billion Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bond campaign, the largest school bond in North Carolina's history. His leadership helped secure widespread, bipartisan support for modernizing and expanding educational facilities across the county. At the center of David's life is his family. He has been married to his wife, Chris, for more than forty years, and together they have raised three children and now cherish time with their two grandchildren. Family remains his greatest source of joy and grounding, reinforcing the values that have shaped both his personal life and leadership journey. In addition to his business and charitable work, David lends his leadership to a variety of civic and institutional boards, including UNC Charlotte, the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council, Novant Health, Charlotte Center City Partners, and now the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority. David Longo continues to live out a calling larger than himself—building not just workplaces, but communities, not just businesses, but legacies of purpose. "Success is not about status or power—it's about how we use our gifts to lift others."

December 9, 202535 min

Aaron Houck, Land Use Attorney with Robinson Bradshaw

In this episode, we turn our attention to policy makers and citizen groups' persistent distaste for growth, and confusion around managing it intelligently. And all over the US, albeit the world, there is a tug of war between those who live in a place and those who want to live in a place with each believing they hold virtue over the other. With NC assumed to become the seventh most populated state in the country by 2030, leaning in is a prerequisite to resolving our issues. That's why we're thrilled to welcome our guest Aaron Houck, a land use attorney at Robinson Bradshaw, who specializes in assisting his clients with zoning and entitlement endeavors and has some fascinating opinions about both sides of the argument. But he's also someone who is questioning the human tenues that block our ability to flourish. So, what dogmas are fueling the grumblers who stand between us the right answers? Aaron reminds us that just because you're in the room doesn't mean you get to make all the decisions. And he brings up the point that although a city's outcome should be influenced by local citizens having what he calls, "a voice, a veto and a vote", we don't think about the people wo aren't in the room and are being denied all three. These are the folks who will need a home next year, or after school in 5 years, or when they're transferred here in 10 years. What will they find? Will they forever be the reason existing residents groan in distaste? It is these ideas and more that light up the airwaves on our current Getting Real with Rob podcast. It's a conversation about how to see things on a larger stage and increase our peripheral view. It is about helping our elected leaders and neighborhood groups understand the economic and behavioral nuances that must be addressed. Otherwise, we're stuck in anger. That's neither democracy nor leadership. By way of background, Aaron Houck brings to his profession an intricate set of skills and insights. His family moved to Charlotte when he was eight years old, he is a proud graduate of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, having attended Newell Elementary School, J.T. Williams Middle School, and Independence High School. And he went to Davidson College, where he double-majored in economics and political science, served as co-editor-in-chief of The Davidsonian, and played on the scouting squad for the women's basketball team. He then braved the cold, darkness of Cambridge, Massachusetts, for three years at Harvard Law School before returning to Charlotte to work as a real estate attorney at Robinson Bradshaw. He left the practice of law to pursue a Ph.D. in political science at Duke University, and he taught for seven years at Queens University of Charlotte, where he was a tenured professor in the Political Science Department. He subsequently boomeranged back to Robinson Bradshaw. Where it gets fascinating is when Aaron's career as a lawyer and a political scientist was fueled by an interest in how cities work (and why they don't). At Queens University of Charlotte, he taught a course on the "Politics of Urban Design" that included taking a group of students to Barcelona. As a land use attorney, he helps his clients navigate rezoning and entitlement processes. Aaron and his wife, Pearl, have two kids. They live in the Elizabeth neighborhood. They enjoy college sports and spending time in the North Carolina mountains. Listen now to this episode!

November 18, 202528 min

Dan Puvak, Operations Partner—Architectural & Estimating Services at True Homes

A veteran of nearly every discipline in home building, our podcast guest Dan Puvak, Operations Partner—Architectural & Estimating Services at True Homes in Monroe, NC reminds us that unpacking the intricacies of building a home is something relatively few understand. He would love to see more narratives dig deeper into the facts and details so the public can become educated about its elegance and importance to our economy and our communities. Sharing his views on how the UDO, even in its imperfect form, can help create predictability and therefore efficiency in planning and execution of developments, he also explained that the UDO parameters are often discarded in favor of neighborhood groups who push against agreed upon ordinances in favor of popularity-driven opinions. And the problem intensifies when decisions are made without considering the missing voices of those who will be the future members of a community. "There are too many who make decisions based on sentiment, and not facts. We're not considering how the vetted data is already showing us who is moving here, where the jobs are, the needed traffic planning, and what kind of product these future neighbors need and want." He points out that these same loud voices sway elected officials to constantly question and change existing policy, dramatically changing the metrics of cost and design. Along with cooperative dialog during the entitlement and approval process, he insists that data about schools, traffic, engineering, and forward planning should be respected as the first way to inform development planning strategies. As we dug deeper into how the mechanics of home building can become more efficient the conversation naturally moved towards AI. Dan overwhelmingly agreed that any design models loaded into AI must first be a reflection of exceptional planning, innovation, and a clear vision. Then AI can cull through and tighten processes or planning, resulting in a better end product for the company and the customer. Dan, by way of responsibilities with True Homes, influences nearly every decision within the company. He unifies architecture, estimating, and BIM into one operating system that speeds product launches, improves cost accuracy, and protects margin. He leads new product development, cost modeling, pricing and margin management, and the technical standards that keep offerings scalable. He's pushing building technologies that turn models into business data—specifically a BIM backbone that generates purchase orders directly, links options to the supply chain, and delivers first-time-right takeoffs at scale. He is quick to point out that he started his career at the first rung, working for a builder by sweeping out and punching-out homes, which is why he insists every model of execution reflect field reality. After becoming a corporate leader, he has committed to giving back and has served for years as a judge for NAHB's four-year student competition. Mentoring the next generation of homebuilding professionals is a priority and a privilege, and he finds the work genuinely rewarding.

October 20, 202526 min

Torrey Feimster | CEO for Ascension Community Development Corporation

Torrey Feimster is championing efforts that pave pathways to accelerated generational wealth through homeownership, thereby helping to close the widening wealth gap. Torrey chatted with Rob Nanfelt about the nuances of this benevolent mission, but it's clear this is a personal passion for Torrey in addition to a mission for good. Previously, Torrey served as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at GEM Investments (GEM), a $ 12 billion+ OCIO, where he advanced diversity initiatives and participated in the development of GEM's proprietary impact investing framework, which includes a racial and social equity scoring model. Ascension, incubated within GEM, continues to benefit from this strategic partnership while operating independently. But the roadmap being put into place by Ascension's leaders and public/private partners has a list of incredible milestones they intend to hit within the next 6 years. Like delivering over 600 mixed-income houses with a significant portion in the attainable housing price range. He is quick to emphasize that Ascension's holistic approach to community economic development prioritizes both housing attainability and financial education, ensuring that all residents can have the opportunity to thrive. Discovering the algorithm that will bring this mission to life is why you need to listen to the entire podcast! "By investing in diverse-price point housing developments, offering educational empowerment programs in financial literacy, and fostering community economic development initiatives, we aim to create vibrant, mixed-income communities where everyone has access to quality housing and opportunities for economic advancement." According to the Ascension website. It goes on to state that they're reshaping the narrative on affordable housing in Charlotte by prioritizing sustainable homeownership over traditional rental solutions. While many focus solely on providing affordable rental units, they believe that true empowerment comes from owning a home. By offering affordable homes for purchase, we're not only addressing the immediate need for housing but also fostering long-term stability and generational wealth within our communities. As is the case with our podcast, we enter the interview with our lighting round questions that inevitably strike gold in revealing the character-shaping events and choices that have shaped our guest. Torrey gives us a glimpse into what drives him, and therefore what is catalyzing the forward movement with Ascension. And it should be noted that the partners in this endeavor include Kingdom Development Partners guided by James Scruggs, a guest who graced our podcast booth in 2024. In the past, Torrey has served as Assistant to the President and Director of Corporate Relations at Johnson C. Smith University and was Publisher at PRIDE Magazine, Charlotte's premier African American lifestyle publication. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust, an organization that provides endowment management and investment expertise to build and grow permanent funds for arts, science, and history organizations in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community. He received a B.A. in Speech, Communication, and Rhetoric from Wake Forest University, a Certificate in Capital Markets from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC-Chapel Hill, and a Certified Diversity Professional Designation from the ILR School at Cornell University. https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/104214/homeownership-is-affordable-housing.pdf

September 16, 202525 min

Sagar Rathie | Managing Director - Office at Crescent Communities | 2025 President NAIOP Charlotte

"You can have an impact!" states Sagar Rathie as he deftly handled our questions from host Rob Nanfelt. As our latest podcast guest, he approached the interview with enthusiasm and a plan. Immediately endearing and always prepared, Sagar has made a meteoric rise in the commercial development industry here in Charlotte. He also calls himself a bit of a Renaissance man but also stated that one of the mobile apps he couldn't live without is his GPS (…so he knows where he's going!). Then he explained how, given a choice between being the smartest person in the room or the funniest, he would choose to be funny. Cementing our impression of him as a man who balances discipline and structure, with sheer persuasion. Schooled as an engineer, his focus for NAIOP in 2025 and beyond is establishing a robust advocacy connection between Charlotte's commercial industry and our representatives at the state level. Moved deeply by the magic that happens when a concept and dream of a development becomes tangible and real, he is also committed to helping those even younger than him get a start in the commercial industry with a good mix of wonder and dedication to engagement. Here's more information about our podcast guest: Sagar Rathie joined Crescent Communities in 2016 and currently serves as Managing Director, Office for the Commercial division. He leads all aspects of the Company's office acquisitions and developments throughout the Southeast and Southwest, with an active investment and pipeline development portfolio totaling 2.5 million SF and representing $1.3 billion in capital deployed. Sagar is responsible for sourcing, entitling, designing, financing, and executing on new and value-add office and mixed-use developments across the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, Central Florida, Texas, and Arizona. Sagar has extensive capital markets experience, having collectively raised nearly $4.0 billion in third party equity and debt throughout his career. Previously, he was Crescent Communities' Director of Corporate Finance and Investor Relations, where he played an integral role in the company's financial forecasting and planning efforts, assisted with the investment committee process, and led numerous strategic initiatives for the company. Prior to Crescent Communities, Sagar was in Investment Banking with Piper Sandler, and a Manager at GlaxoSmithKline. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Discovery Place, President for the NAIOP Charlotte Chapter, active with ULI as a member of the Capital Markets Committee, a recent graduate of Leadership Charlotte, and heavily involved with the community. Sagar received his master's in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, master's in engineering from Duke University, and Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering also from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.