Patrick Pierce

Director of Economic and Business Development, North Carolina Railroad

Patrick Pierce currently serves as the Director of Economic and Business Development at the North Carolina Railroad Company. In this role, he leads initiatives to drive economic growth and business development across the state, working to maximize the railroad’s potential to stimulate local economies, support industry growth, and create job opportunities. Specifically, his department administers several economic development grant programs helping communities and companies build rail-served sites across North Carolina.

Prior to joining North Carolina Railroad Company in August 2024, Patrick served as the Economic Development Director for the Town of Clayton, North Carolina, a position he held since April 2020. During his tenure, Patrick spearheaded numerous key initiatives, including the development of an award-winning downtown rebranding strategy, approval of multiple economic development agreements to grow millions of square feet of commercial and industrial space in the Town, and completion of the Town’s 2045 Comprehensive Growth Plan. His leadership was instrumental in fostering relationships with key employers, attracting hundreds of millions of dollars of investment, and enhancing the Town’s economic base.

Before moving to North Carolina, Patrick was the President & CEO of Economic Alliance Snohomish County, serving the northern suburbs of Seattle. He has extensive experience in government affairs, public policy, and economic development, including work at local and regional levels, with a particular focus on transportation, workforce development, advance manufacturing, and international trade.

Patrick holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Seattle University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Washington. He earned his Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) certification from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in 2021 and continues to serve on IEDC’s Public Policy Advisory Committee.

Outside of work, Patrick enjoys spending time with his two daughters, playing guitar, running along the Mountains-to-Sea Greenway, and following his favorite Seattle sports teams from across the country.