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Charles A. Hayes, CEcD.

President and CEO Research Triangle Regional Partnership

Charles A. Hayes is president and CEO of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP), the public-private partnership that leads economic development for the 13-county Research Triangle Region of North Carolina.

He is active in numerous professional organizations including:

University of North Carolina Board of Governors

• N.C. Partnership for Economic Development
• N.C. Economic Developers Association (past president)
• International Economic Development Council
• RTI Board of Directors
• Kennan Fellow Advisory Board
• UNC Center for International Understanding

He is a frequent speaker on strategies for promoting economic growth and prosperity in a knowledge-based economy.

Hugh Shelton Leadership Conference

• National Governors Association
• IBM Leadership Event

During his tenure, RTRP has been widely recognized as an exemplary economic-development organization. It has received the following awards/recognitions:

International Economic Development Council’s regional collaboration award

• U.S. Economic Development Administration’s National Award for Excellence in Economic Development Regional Competitiveness Strategic Planning
• Council for Entrepreneurial Development’s Outstanding Service to Entrepreneurs Award
• Goodmon Award for Exemplary Regional Leadership by an Organization and an Exemplary Regional Partnership.

Hayes received bachelors and masters degrees from East Carolina University and economic development certifications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the International Economic Development Council.  Hayes served in the US Army, a Vietnam Veteran. Hayes is married with 3 children and 2 grandchildren and teaches Sunday school at the St. Luke Methodist church in Sanford NC.