Abe Van Wingerden,
Co-CEO, Metrolina Greenhouses
Abe's passion for developing people and growing the business through innovation inspires us all. He says, "Innovation is not an "invention" by a person or department, it is a "mindset" by everyone at the company on finding ways to get 1% better every day."
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Abe received his MBA from Emory University in Atlanta, GA in 1993 and his B.A. in Business and Political Science from St. Andrews College in 1991. Before becoming the Co-CEO of Metrolina Greenhouses in 2007, Abe worked for Procter and Gamble in several marketing and management roles. He also served on several boards including St. Andrews College and the International Association of Horticultural Producers.
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Abe has been married to Condi for 30 years. They are the proud parents of three sons: Noah, Andrew, and Zach.
Prior to joining Metrolina Greenhouses in 20217, Pete served as the Merchandising Director at Lowes for 15 years where he managed categories such as Paint, Cleaning, Decorative Lighting, Hardware and yes - Live Goods. He began his retail career at Target where he spent 7 years in numerous management positions including store manager. Pete graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a bachelor's degree in economics and there he met his wife Kris, to whom he's been married for 30 years. Pete and Kris have two sons Jackson and Jeremy. As the Director of Merchandising Services, Pete has a passion for coaching and leading teams. He also enjoys spending time with family, fitness, yardwork, and just about anything with buffalo or hot sauce.
Pete Newtown, Director of Merchandising Services
Metrolina Greenhouses
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Chris Arline,
Dale Carnegie Charlotte
Chris Arline is the dynamic Director of Client Engagement at Dale Carnegie Charlotte and has been a certified trainer since 2014. Chris brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, facilitating courses on high-level presentations, employee engagement, internal human relations, effective communication, stress management, and personal effectiveness.
Throughout his career, Chris has collaborated with a diverse range of clients, including industry giants like Continental, Microsoft, Harris Teeter, Charlotte Pipe, Coca Cola Bottling Consolidated, Auto Owners Insurance, Electrolux, Food Lion/Ahold Delhaize, Steel Partners, Kone Elevators, Concrete Supply, Paragon Medical, MW Components, Window World, Mecklenburg County ABC Board, ABB, Lassonde Pappas, and Metrolina Greenhouses.
Before joining Dale Carnegie, Chris spent 17 years in the television/media industry, where he held various roles from intern to General Manager. He was renowned for his ability to build bridges across departments and get things done.
Chris is also a passionate foodie, with a love for Asian, Middle Eastern, and pizza (ask him about Alino’s!). He enjoys balancing great-tasting food with health, experimenting with new recipes alongside his wife.
Chris holds a BS in Business Management from Guilford College in Greensboro, NC, and an MBA from Wake Forest.