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Oral History Interview with S. Davis (Dave) Phillips, January 27, 1999. Interview I-0084. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007).
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  • Abstract
    S. Davis (Dave) Phillips, a successful High Point, North Carolina, businessman and Commerce Secretary under Governor Jim Martin, discusses business in North Carolina and his own success as a businessman. Phillips helped build High Point into the global furniture capital it is today, and when he assumed his position at the state Department of Commerce, he focused on luring businesses to North Carolina, a state where infrastructure and the natural environment provided their own incentives. Phillips is proud of his tenure in the government and of his efforts to push forward Martin's regionalist strategy of including every area of the state in North Carolina's economic development.
    Excerpts
  • Innovation and technology yield financial success
  • Importance of innovation for business success
  • Description of a business venture
  • Describing North Carolina's growth
  • Remembering stint as Secretary of Commerce
  • Regional economic strategy
  • Making North Carolina attractive to businesses
  • Influence of environmental concerns on luring businesses
  • Bringing North Carolina's business leaders together
  • Business-friendly attitude seems to belie political affiliations
  • Need to invest in education
  • Belief that North Carolina's workforce integrated successfully
  • Learn More
  • Finding aid to the Southern Oral History Program Collection
  • Database of all Southern Oral History Program Collection interviews
  • Subjects
  • North Carolina--Politics and government--1951-
  • Furniture industry and trade--North Carolina
  • Industries--North Carolina--History--20th century
  • High Point (N.C.)
  • Phillips, S. Davis (Stanley Davis)
  • North Carolina--Economic development--History--20th century
  • Labor supply--North Carolina
  • The Southern Oral History Program transcripts presented here on Documenting the American South undergo an editorial process to remove transcription errors. Texts may differ from the original transcripts held by the Southern Historical Collection.

    Funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services supported the electronic publication of this title.