Greg Payne joined Economic Leadership as Vice President in 2015. His career prior to that included lengthy experience in commercial real estate, economic development, and land use planning. For more than 13 years he helped business clients in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina with a full range of commercial real estate needs, from industrial and office  properties to land development and real estate investments. Greg also spent 10 years with local governments in North Carolina and Virginia, guiding initiatives in economic and business development as well as land use planning.

For Economic Leadership, Greg leads many efforts related to research, data analysis, disseminating best practices, and crafting strategic plans in workforce and economic development.

Greg received his bachelor’s degree from Duke University, and his master’s in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia. He is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) of the National Association of REALTORS and a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma.

A long-time resident of Mebane, NC, Greg is an avid fan of live music, travel, sports, and red wine. He’s also a trivia nut, and has an unfortunate addiction to bad puns.