Domonique Rodgers of NC State fame is now more known for being President of Family First Life Golden State. Domonique Rodgers is happy to report that business is booming in his old stomping grounds of North Carolina and below he shares some of the big stories making the headlines.
The Tar Heel State is known for its dedication to technology and its fabulous food. Recent developments concerning the business world have, in recent weeks, seemed to continue in the same vein in North Carolina.
Domonique Rodgers of NC State explains that advancements in STEM and strong resurgence in the hospitality industry both indicate continuing recovery from the pandemic-infused slump, and new ventures into the electric car industry show great promise.
On the Hunt for Tech Talent
Domonique Rodgers of NC State says North Carolina’s Triangle district, consisting of the intersection of Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, and NC State, are abuzz with competition as companies rush to recruit the latest and greatest of the tech world.
And interest comes not just from North Carolina natives Epic Games and Pendo, either, but from giants Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple, who have all sought to recruit from The Triangle in recent weeks.
This news does not necessarily come as a surprise to many: North Carolina’s universities have long been bastions of technological advancement, particularly in the STEM fields, explains Domonique Rodgers of NC State.
Diversity in Tech Given a Boost
The University of North Carolina is one of several colleges who have recently partnered with Dominion Energy, which announced an initiative worth $2 million from which they hope to encourage diversity in the STEM field.
Domonique Rodgers of NC State says Dominion operates in 16 states across the USA, powering and supplying energy to millions of households and businesses. The company is particularly looking to champion Hispanic students, but they encourage all to get involved in applying. New programs to be unveiled in the Spring will be aimed at encouraging more diversity in a field that is historically dominated by white students.
Fast-Food Businesses Not Slowing Down
Domonique Rodgers of NC State notes that if there have been any positives to come out of the pandemic, one surely must be the advancement in drive-thru business models.
No-contact methods of feeding the hungry residents of North Carolina have been surging in recent months, and announcements of fast-food business openings must have been welcome news to the busy tech graduates being snapped up by industry titans.
Names like Slim Chickens (hoping to open at least 30 new stores in the Carolinas), Del Taco (fast becoming a Mexican food competitor with 5 new outlets planned in NC) and Romeo’s, a 100% vegan drive-thru, are all generating both buzz and job opportunities.
Transition to Medicaid Showing Early Signs of Success
Forever a sticking-point between Democrats and Republicans, Medicaid continues to be up for discussion in North Carolina, a predominantly red state that is nonetheless set to become the 39th in the country to roll out Medicaid.
While the GOP still holds the power in legislature and will ultimately have the final say in whether the scheme is implemented, there is a case to be made for the half a million inhabitants of North Carolina who remain in low-income households and who therefore do not have sufficient health insurance says Domonique Rodgers of NC State.
Much of the reason stems from the state including large rural areas where residents are less likely to be insured.
State representatives remain concerned about funding the program but with estimates of up to $2 billion being injected into the program via federal coffers, along with the reality of the recent pandemic, word among the corridors of the Legislative Building is that North Carolina may be set to embrace the plan.
North Carolina is Driving the Electric Car Industry Forward
Anyone looking to purchase an electric car in the United States currently has a problem: demand is so high for greener methods of transportation all over the world that the waiting time for delivery on the new motor can be up to a year.
Domonique Rodgers of NC State notes that this hasn’t been helped by the global crisis resulting in a shortage of microchips but advances in electric car technology means demand for the vehicles is so strong that some cars are sold out for the next couple of years.
This is good news for North Carolina says Rodgers; most factories specializing in the electric car and car battery field are based in the south of the country, including the Tar Heel State as well as Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia.
Domonique Rodgers of NC State explains that it’s the right time to be in the state for those in the industry, as the job vacancies are there, but this could be coming at the expense of the Midwest, traditionally the home of gas-powered vehicle production.
The motor industry has been in decline for a long time in the USA, but North Carolina’s early diversification into the electric car sector may well have set them up for a secure future.
