Local Limelight with Jordan Whichard of NP Strategy
It was the culmination of a career in politics that has spanned roles from the White House to the Governor's Mansion in Raleigh.
State of play: Now, the veteran of North Carolina politics is taking that experience to help lead the Raleigh office of NP Strategy, a government relations and strategic communications firm.
We talked with Whichard for our latest Local Limelight conversation. This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.
🗳️ How did you end up in the Triangle? I grew up in Greenville and went to UNC-Chapel Hill, so that originally brought me to the Triangle. Then I moved to D.C. to work in politics from 2008 until 2015.
But when my wife, Jessica, and I thought about where we wanted to be, Raleigh and the Triangle always stood out. On my way down here, I worked on then-Attorney General Roy Cooper's announcement to run for governor, and about a year later I joined his administration.
🍽️ Favorite place to eat in the Triangle? There is no question that it is Stanbury.
📚 Last great book you read? " The Devil at His Elbow," a chronicling of the Murdaugh family murders by the Raleigh-based journalist Valerie Bauerlein.
⚾️ What do you think the Triangle is missing? A Major League Baseball franchise. I think one more franchise to add to the Carolina Hurricanes and the NC Courage, which is a top-tier franchise that we go to a lot, would really put the Triangle in another tier of conversation.
I think an MLB team would help bring us more headquarters operations to the Triangle, which is something that's always been sort of a knock on the region. We don't have a ton of headquarters.
🐟 Favorite long weekend spot? A family place along the Pamlico River in Beaufort County.
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