Before joining the Wilmington Chamber, Josh Hallingse served as the Executive Director for the Transylvania Economic Alliance, where he led the Alliance's economic development program since 2015. Recent wins include a significant expansion of Raybow USA, a $15.8M/74 job biotech project, development, and several small business expansions/relocations. Hallingse was also part of the team to develop the Sylvan Valley Industrial Center, the community's first shell building, home to outdoor gear builder SylvanSport and CanArchy Craft Brewing Collective.
Before leading the Alliance, Hallingse spent six years with the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development (HCPED) as the Director of Existing Industry. While with HCPED, he was responsible for the organization's existing industry program while assisting with business recruitment projects and advancing sites and buildings efforts. Hallingse was part of several noteworthy projects, including Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Legacy Paddlesports, and numerous existing industry expansions. Hallingse also spent time in Charlotte as a Senior Project Manager for the Charlotte Regional Partnership, a 16-county regional economic development organization where he was responsible for business development activities. His most notable project in Charlotte included working with Union County to secure O'Neil Data Systems, a high-tech $140M/250 job project that expanded to the region from California.
Hallingse holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Religious Studies from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master of Public Administration degree from Appalachian State University. Hallingse previously served two terms as a Board of Trustee for Blue Ridge Community College and is a current North Carolina Economic Development Association board member.
