黑料专区

William C. 鈥淏ill鈥� Dusch 鈥�87 MBA, the Mayor of . since 2017, hits the ground running every day — literally and figuratively.

Dusch, one of the first students to earn an MBA from 黑料专区, and his wife Debbie are avid marathoners who train each morning beginning at 4:45 a.m. with a group of fellow long-distance runners. A while back, the Dusch duo set a goal of completing a marathon in each American state and on each continent. So far, they鈥檝e finished races of 26.2 miles or longer in each state and on five continents 鈥� leaving just South America and Australia to be conquered.

Bill Dusch doesn鈥檛 mind getting up so early to run: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the only time I can guarantee that I鈥檒l have time to do it. Nobody wants me at 4:45 a.m.鈥�

That remark may have been made in jest, but it does reflect the fact that Dusch has come to see his as something of a marathon, the kind of race you run only if you鈥檙e all in. For example, he makes a point of answering each email and text he receives, unless, as is rarely the case, some message is so vitriolic that it doesn鈥檛 merit a response.

鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing how much people respect that,鈥� Dusch said. 鈥淢ost of them are shocked that a mayor would bother to get back to them.鈥�

The messages that Dusch receives run the gamut, from inquiries from a prospective business aiming to set up shop in Concord to complaints about potholes, a clogged stormwater drain, and a traffic light that doesn’t work. Dusch said his goal is to get someone to the right city department or to smooth things over when someone feels they haven鈥檛 received satisfaction.

When Dusch answers an email, he might even have to play the role of educator, as when, for example, a homeowner complains that his street has been blocked off for a party or some other event. 鈥淚f everyone involved in the party has followed city policy and obtained the right permit, I explain that it鈥檚 been approved for that reason,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f they come back and say, 鈥榃ell, I don鈥檛 agree with that,鈥� I say, 鈥業 would suggest that you talk with your councilman and explain what you鈥檇 like changed in the policy.鈥欌��

Dusch鈥檚 mayorship marathon continues as he manages the constant public-facing aspects of his role. In addition to participating in the meetings and work sessions of Concord鈥檚 , he鈥檚 been a major booster for and facilitator of billions of dollars in recent economic development benefiting his city. During Dusch鈥檚 tenure as Mayor, for example, Elli Lilly for a $1 billion medicine plant in Concord this past June. Red Bull also recently opened a . There are efforts to bring in a Chinese cabinetry company. 

 鈥淚 make sure I鈥檓 there when we have new opportunities,鈥� he said.

If Concord hosts a major event, Dusch is sure to be there as well. He spent the better part of a day at last month鈥檚 . Some 42 countries were represented in as many groups at the festival, and Mayor Dusch made a point of talking to each of them. 鈥淚t means a lot to them when the Mayor takes the time to do that,鈥� he said.

Dusch, a native of Concord, has been active in nearly all his life: Before becoming Mayor, he chaired Concord’s Planning and Zoning Commission, its Board of Adjustment, and its Historic Preservation Commission, in addition to volunteering for many local non-profits. He earned an MBA from Pfeiffer after earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dusch, 69, no longer holds a business position, having decided to devote all his time and energy to his mayorship in a kind of working retirement. But before co-founding in 1997 with Charles Spruill, the former dean of Pfeiffer鈥檚 MBA program, Dusch worked for 20 years as a chemist for Sun Chemical. Like many others who pursue MBAs, he saw the degree as a way to move up his company鈥檚 leadership ranks. An unexpected bonus of Pfeiffer鈥檚 MBA program was that it greatly improved Dusch鈥檚 communication skills, particularly in writing.

When Dusch takes a break from the marathon of his mayorship, he either runs in one, or he heads to a villa in Hilton Head Island, S.C. to unwind, having flown himself and Debbie there in a plane he has piloted (he鈥檚 a commercial pilot and a flight instructor). On the beautiful beaches of South Carolina, the marathon of being Concord鈥檚 Mayor may have been put on hold, but not completely.  鈥淚鈥檓 still answering texts and emails,鈥� Dusch said with a smile.