Business Leader Media ranked Concorde Construction number 73 in this year’s Top 100 Small Businesses in North Carolina.  This is the second year in a row that Concorde has been recognized to receive this prominent award.  With three simultaneous ceremonies on June 24, 2010 held at Events at Newton Square in Raleigh, George K's Catering and Banquet Hall in Greensboro and Ramada Airport South and Conference Center in Charlotte, Business Leader Media honored the Top 100 Small Businesses in the region.

Recipients of this award employ less than 100 full-time employees, generate more than 50% of their sales in N.C., and have been in business for at least five years. Each company's one-year and five-year revenue growth, business achievements and community involvement were evaluated to come up with the Top 100 rankings. These are the companies which have demonstrated significant business achievements and community involvement in North Carolina.

WebVisible is a Software as a Service (SaaS) company and leading name in local online advertising, known for being a true expert in bringing the Internet as an advertising and customer acquisition medium to small businesses around the world. Concorde Construction served as the general contractor for this high profile web marketing firm’s office relocation from Ballantyne to a 31,000 square foot space in Forest Point Circle.

Dinamic Oil is an International designer and producer of gearboxes, motor-gear units, radial piston motors, winches and orbit motors for industrial and vehicle application.  Concorde Construction served as the general contractor for their new US Headquarters located in the Steele Creek area.  They selected Charlotte because of the city’s proximity to local ports and railways as well as its benefits as a mid-sized city.

Hilton came this close to celebrating the 500th Hilton Garden Inn opening in Krakow, Poland.

It was an internal race to see which property would snag the honor, and with a busy pipeline, it was unclear who would emerge ahead. The brand opened 60 hotels in 2009 and has more than 100 hotels in the pipeline globally.
 
In the end, the designation went to the 118-room Hilton Garden Inn Charlotte/Concord in North Carolina. The property had a soft opening in March and a grand opening celebration late last week where Hilton executives and owners Griffin Stafford Lodging One showed off the property's contemporary design scheme, a new prototype for the mid-scale brand.

Owners Joel Griffin and Doug Stafford started developing the hotel in 2008 as a traditional Hilton Garden Inn, but soon changed their plans when they learned that the brand was developing a new prototype.

The result is what Adrian Kurre, Global Head of Hilton Garden Inn, called "a role model for our 500th hotel."

"I walked into the property this morning and it took my breath away," Kurre said. "We've come a very long way in looking at customers and what customers want," he said, resulting in the focus on the brand's five pillars: work smart, eat well, deep sleep, stay fit and treat yourself. "When you walk into this building, you just feel it. We couldn't have a better hotel in a better location to have as our 500th hotel."

The centerpiece of the new design is the Pavilion, Hilton Garden Inn's signature lobby and public spaces. The redesign created an open layout defined by a glass-walled pavilion that houses registration and common areas such as the hotel’s restaurant, a bar, the 24-hour Pavilion Pantry mini-market and several seating groups.

The idea is to get more use out of the lobby space, and encourage guests to spend more time -- and money -- there.

The property boasts 3,600 square feet of meeting space and on-site catering. It has two patios in the front of the property, which will be in use nearly year-round with the area's temperate weather. The spaces can be used for small receptions or by groups that want to be outdoors, such as classic car show groups who will want space overlooking the parking lot.

The hotel's business-friendly features including a complimentary business center, complimentary wired and wireless Internet, as well as a dedicated T1 line in the function space. The board room features drop-down projection screens as well as a 50-inch TV screen.

Guest rooms feature the Garden Sleep System. The patented technology gives guests the ability to adjust the firmness of the bed, which then conforms to their bodies. Beds are topped with patterned white linens and a mixture of firm and soft pillows.

The hotel also has on-site guest laundry, a fitness center featuring Precor machines, an indoor pool, and a "smokers oasis" porch in the back of the property. Since the property is non-smoking, this solution keeps smokers from the front of the property and contains odors in one area.
 
Charlotte-based Concorde Construction built the property and Layman Hospitality designed the interior and handled the installation.

The hotel sits at a prime location near Charlotte (Lowes) Motor Speedway and the Concord Mills Outlet Mall. So far, the average stay is around three days for business travelers, with leisure travelers arriving on the weekends, according to Steven Boudreau, director of sales. General Manager Owen Parker said the hotel has done well attracting families for youth sports events, and he expects good business from the nearby auto events.

At the opening celebration, local government and tourism officials welcomed the property as a sign of a strengthening economy.

"We're excited about this, particularly in this economy," said Concord Mayor Pro-Tem David Phillips.

The hotel also marked the occasion by giving back to the community. Stafford and Griffin presented a $10,000 check to the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Many hotels in the county -- several different flags and different owners -- are partnering to develop a house. They are raising money throughout the summer and plan to build the house in the fall.

Ayrsley Development Corp has broken ground for a second hotel in the mixed-use development in southwest Charlotte.  The 122-room Homewood Suites will likely open in the first quarter of 2011, says Thomas Henson, Ayrsley Development president.  The hotel will be across from the Hilton Garden Inn in Ayrsley, at the intersection of Ayrsley Town and Kings Parade boulevards.  The 2.37-acre lot was recently purchased for $1.12 million by Ayrsley Hotel Associated II, an affiliate company managed by Henson.  Homewood Suites by Hilton is an extended-stay hotel geared toward guests who stay for five nights or longer. The Hilton Garden Inn is marketed to guests who stay one to three nights.  Henson says his ownership group has been pleased with the occupancy at the Hilton Garden Inn and decided to move forward now with the extended-stay property.  “I’m sort of a contrarian,” he says. “When other people are pulling back, I want to go forward.”  Concorde Construction Co. is the general contractor on the project, and AP Architecture, Inc. is the architect.  Ayrsley, a 180-acre master-planned community off South Tryon Street at Interstate 485, is zoned for up to 550 hotel rooms.

MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 18, 2010—Hilton Garden Inn announced the brand’s 500th hotel opening, the 118-room Hilton Garden Inn Charlotte/Concord in North Carolina. Over the past 14 years, the Hilton Garden Inn brand has become one of the fastest-growing brands in the hospitality industry, with hotels either opened or soon to open in 11 countries around the world.

The landmark 500th hotel is owned by Griffin Stafford Lodging One, a Charlotte-based real estate development firm that specializes in extended-stay and focused-service hotels, and is managed by Griffin Stafford Management. This is the first new-build Hilton Worldwide brand hotel for Griffin Stafford Lodging One, which also has signed a development agreement for a 105-suite Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel in Mooresville, N.C.

The hotel was built by Charlotte-based Concorde Construction Inc., which worked tirelessly to ensure sustainability efforts were put into place during the construction process. In all, more than 468,000 pounds of construction waste was recycled and diverted from landfills, representing 92 percent of the total construction waste.

The Hilton Garden Inn Charlotte/Concord is one of the first within the brand’s portfolio to feature a newly redesigned Pavilion, which has improved overall flow and functionality. Also featured are a variety of contemporary, yet classic, design elements that stay true to the brand’s signature “garden” theme.

“Our guests were looking for space outside of their hotel room that offered both an intimate and casual feel for various uses, such as eating in the restaurant, working in the business center, socializing at the bar, or just relaxing in the lounge. That’s what the redesign of the Pavilion has accomplished,” Kurre noted.  “The new space encourages guests to manage their needs in a less compartmentalized manner, while allowing them to be alone, but not lonely.”

Joel Griffin, principal of Griffin Stafford, agrees. “The updated Pavilion design is very conducive to guest interaction, but it’s beneficial from our point of view because it’s extremely cost-effective and incorporates aspects that should help increase our bottom line. It repositions the bar area to a more highly trafficked space and makes it more accessible to guests.”

Located off of I-85 at Exit 49, the six-story Hilton Garden Inn Charlotte/Concord is approximately one mile from Charlotte Motor Speedway and adjacent to Concord Mills Outlet Mall. It is also near the University Research Park, North Carolina Research Campus, International Business Park and numerous NASCAR team facilities. All guest rooms feature complimentary wired and wireless Internet access and secure, remote printing to the business center; refrigerator, microwave oven and coffee maker; self-adjusting Garden Sleep System® bed; large work desk and ergonomic Mirra® chair by Herman Miller; two telephones featuring voicemail, speaker capability and data port; iron and ironing board; and 32” high-definition LCD television.

Concorde Construction completed the new 20,000 square foot Huron Consulting Group office space in the Kings Parade One Building located in Charlotte's Town of Ayrsley. Huron Consulting is an international consulting firm who moved their operations from Rock Hill to Charlotte. The Concorde Team worked with Huron's real estate team, Jones Lang LaSalle and multiple national and local vendors to successfully complete the project. 

The space, located in an Energy Star building, integrates a number of sustainable elements including Greenguard & SCS certified Trendway Contrada full height panel system, casegoods by Allsteel and Pulse Office Casegoods by First Office, recycled carpet, Energy Star rated lighting systems, and low VOC paints to name a few. 

Concorde Construction received an Innovation Award at the Clean Air Works! annual Champions Luncheon. The award was given to Concorde on behalf of their efforts to coordinate the Ayrsley Carpool Party held earlier this year. The purpose of the Ayrsley Carpool Party was to connect businesses and employees from around Southwest Charlotte (including Ayrsley Town Center, Whitehall, Westinghouse, S. Tryon, and Arrowood Areas) to meet others to form carpool groups and learn how to reduce their carbon footprint.

The Innovation Award is presented to a Clean Air Works! Partner that has developed the most creative or innovative solution or approach to implementing its Clean Air Works program.  The awards event - which honored champions in improving air quality - was held at Johnson C. Smith University. Clean Air works is a regional entity that brings together businesses, elected officials, and public staff from cities and counties around the Charlotte area to work collaboratively on projects to improve air quality.

Concorde Construction Company is proud to announce that David Privitera, Executive Vice President and COO, has been appointed by Union Academy to serve on their Board of Directors. The school board interviewed nine candidates and selected David based on his leadership, business success, community involvement, and passion for education. He is one of ten members serving on the board. David is a managing partner at Concorde Construction, a $26 million company located in Charlotte, NC and was a 2008 Charlotte Business Journal 40 under 40 award recipient.

Don Dixon, Chairman of Union Academy Board of Directors states, "David came highly recommended to our selection committee and board as someone who was passionate about education and one that would be actively engaged in Union Academy's mission of challenging academics, community service and a character-based instructional model."

"We were also impressed by David's track record of success in business with closing and completing large construction projects. This illustrates the kind of experience; due diligence and attention to detail we need at the board level. We wanted someone that was a knowledgeable business professional - one that would be a role model in our community and one that would represent the character and commitment for which Union Academy is widely respected for. David met all of these qualifications and then some."

Concorde Construction has earned the position of 484 on the 2009 Inc. 500, Inc.’s annual ranking of the fastest growing private companies in America. Since debuting in 1991 with 100 of the fastest growing private U.S. companies, then expanding the following year to the Inc. 500 and again in 2007 to the Inc. 5000, the list has served as evidence of the significant accomplishments of entrepreneurial companies. As an Inc. 500 honoree, Concorde Construction shares a prestigious pedigree with such notable alumni as Intuit, GoDaddy, Under Armour, Jamba Juice, Timberland, Clif Bar, Microsoft, Patagonia, American Apparel, Oracle, and scores of other powerhouses.

"Concorde Construction made Classroom Central's renovation project materialize. In 3 weeks, Classroom Central had a completely restored restroom, a room to store cardboard boxes built, shelving units bolted to our walls and a complete fresh coat of paint. They gathered businesses together, brought them to Classroom Central and created a group effort among them all to get this project completed on time. We are so grateful to have friends like Concorde Construction and all those that were a part of this team." Michelle Daley, Operations Manager Classroom Central (Former)

Proceeds will benefit CREW Charlotte, Inc. Scholarship Endowment Fund at the UNC Charlotte Belk College of Business.  This scholarship provides financial assistance to a graduate student with a focus on real estate or an undergraduate student with at least 60 credit hours and a declared major with a real estate concentration.  The endowment was created in 2008 but the first scholarship was awarded in 2006. Historically, scholarships have been $3,000 annually.  Through CREW Charlotte’s partnership with such a distinguished institution of higher learning, we are building a legacy of power, recognition and influence in our community. 

CREW Charlotte, Inc., a non-profit professional organization comprised of individuals whose professions are associated with commercial real estate.  Concorde Construction's Director of Business Development, Holly Alexander, currently serves on the Board of Directors for CREW Charlotte and as a National Delegate and President-Elect.

Queen City in Pink is a national effort that takes place during the Susan G. Komen National Breast Cancer Awareness Week typically held the first week of October.  Here, communities, building owners, and companies show their support by literally lighting up their facilities in pink, tinting fountains pink, and hanging banners or ribbons from buildings.  The Town of Ayrsley was one of 42 entities that participated in Queen City in Pink throughout Charlotte in 2009 and one of over 20 entities to participate in 2008.  The community lights up the Theater, displays pink ribbons around the development, and tints the fountain in the pavilion pink.

Here, students visited Concorde's Parkway Crossing Medical Office Building that was under construction.  They studied the site, the construction materials, and general safety.