AFSHIN GHAZI
The Ghazi Company
By Jill Santuccio
         
At age four, arriving on an airplane in Washington D.C. from his native Iran with his mother, Afshin Ghazi never would have dreamed that his name would be amongst those of major developers, such as the likes of Johnny Harris and the others whom Ghazi recognizes as the pioneers of phenomenal growth in Charlotte.
 
Adjustment to American life was a challenge, but often humorous. At six years old, his mother signed him up for baseball camp where he arrived, to much laughter, with a baseball glove on each hand. Next up in his exploration of athletics was football, where his first position was on the line. Moments after he was toppled to the ground, his mother ran out onto the field, snatched him up and proclaimed he would be playing soccer instead.
 
After a move to Louisville, Ky., his mother married a doctor and Afshin was soon surrounded by relatives who were locally-recognized doctors and engineers. Instead of pursuing the career path of his father and uncles, he set out for Charlotte to, in his words, "become his own man."
 
From the humble beginnings of operating a hair salon franchise based in Weddington, Afshin became more interested in the tenant and real estate side of business rather than running a chain of beauty shops. He formed mentoring relationships with George Cornelson, Bill Branstrom and learned from other successful developers and businessmen around him.
 
With major projects completed at SouthPark, University City and Park Road, his "catalytical" project will be the forthcoming EpiCentre in center city Charlotte. The $275 million, 320,000 square-foot complex will feature condominiums, a W Loft hotel, retail, restaurants and entertainment. A luxury movie theater serving food and adult beverages will be complimented by a bowling-themed concept that will serve corporate and group clients.
 
He also sees a future of growth linking center city to the SouthEnd area through connections over 1-277 along Tryon Street - another "catalytical" project he hopes to facilitate in Charlotte.
 
Through it all, Ghazi focuses on his touchstones of integrity: "Be your own man, be honest, take care of those around you and deal with the cards that you are dealt."
     
Head Table: Chris Ogbonna, Tom Templeton, David Zimmerman, Cecily Durrett, Jeff Blackey, Tigger Alexander
Invocation: Emmy Lou Burchette;
Visitors & Guests: Bob Knight; Health & Happiness: Phil Volponi; Song: David Erdman; Piano: Thomas Moore

• Condolences are expressed within our Rotary family: Ron Campbell's father, Wilson Campbell, passed away last week; Harriman Jett lost a nephew this week.
        
• Benton and Alice Bragg welcome their birth of their fourth child, Charles Burton Bragg (Charlie) born August 30th; George Wilson and Heidi Barringer were married over the weekend.
          
• Martin Grable, Community Blood Center of the Carolinas, co-chaired the Executive Leadership Forum of America's Blood Centers in Vancouver, British Colombia last month; Bill Anderson, executive director of Communities in Schools, provided an editorial regarding the school dropout crisis; Phil Kline invites everyone to the opening weekend of the Fiberart International exhibition at the Mint Museum of Craft + Design. FREE admission to the public all weekend at the Tryon Street location. Also, a FREE Family Fun day will take place at MMC+D on Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m.; John Lassiter and Edwin Peacock made it through the primary to compete for an at-large seat on City Council; Tom Bartholomy, Better Business Bureau of Southern Piedmont, was featured in a mortgage-related story on NBC's Today show.
     
• FLU SHOTS will be given at the hotel on October 16th. Mark your calendar!

• Ed Wadsworth provided an update on the Peru Container Project as fellow committee members Gilberto Bergman and Regina Patton presented a donation of $1000 on behalf of the club.

• President David announced the Red Badge Club, an initiative designed to help new members get oriented and involved in the club. Once the new member completes a checklist of items (serving as a greeter, making up at another club, presenting HIGWIA, attending orientation sessions, etc) they will graduate from a red badge to a clear badge.

• Membership chair Tom Bartholomy thanked everyone for their help in the membership drive. The on-going process will be to identify your prospective member at the check-in table, ask that they drop off a business card, the club will pick up their meal, and a follow-up will be made by someone on the membership committee.

• HOST DINNERS: check the schedule on the website. Sign ups are needed for dessert at both the Marciano's on 9/22 and the Bergman's on 9/29. Coming up in October: Steve Meckler 10/13; Katie Tyler 10/18; David Anderson 10/27.