Kendall Henderson

Director of Business Development, Rowan County Economic Development Council

Native of Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Industry: Economic Development

Kendall Henderson grew up in south Florida, but she and her siblings have always had an attachment to North Carolina, where her parents lived before careers took them to South Florida. The Henderson kids always chose vacations with their grandparents in North Carolina — even over trips to Europe. “It felt like home,” Kendall says. She came to UNC-Wilmington for college and has spent the last five years in Salisbury as Director of Business Development for the Rowan Economic Development Council. She is charged with identifying and attracting new businesses to Rowan County, and facilitates the growth, retention, and expansion of existing companies.

Coming to Salisbury was “the opportunity to step inside an exciting new career and to grow an already thriving, charming community,” she says. She sees Salisbury-Rowan as a place with “a sweet small-town feel but access to all the large exciting urban city attractions and amenities. Folks here are truly invested in seeing you win and succeed and will go above and beyond to ensure you do just that,” she says.

Kendall describes Rowan County as magnetic. “There’s a quiet, yet strong confidence and sense of pride that you can feel pulsate throughout the community,” she says. “It’s an undeniable energy that you can’t help but embrace. You want to be a part of this because while we’ve come so far, the very best is yet to come.”

Rowan County is positioned to benefit from current trends in the country, she says. “Now is the time of great change and shift in our country,” she says. “People are asking the hard yet important questions of … what do they truly want … what brings them true fulfillment … what brings joy to their lives. 

“In Rowan County, your money goes further here,” she says. “It’s much more affordable to live here and own a home, without having to compromise the great experiences of a large metro area. You feel like you’re in the heart of it all while owning your very own slice of heaven”

The Rowan County slogan, Be an Original,™ is also a welcoming sign for newcomers.  “It means having permission to show up just as you are, knowing that you’ll be celebrated and embraced,” Kendall says. 

Kendall’s favorite restaurant is LaCava. “I love their approach to authentic Italian food, and their craft cocktails are out of this world. It’s a unique, 19^th century church with stained glass windows, arched ceilings; it’s a beautiful piece of history. Every time I go, it’s truly an experience. It has a really warm and inviting ambience that I can never seem to get enough of.”

Historic Gold Hill Village is her favorite outdoor space. “It’s small-town USA, rich in history, and a step back in time. This old gold mining town is nostalgic, quaint and so very charming.” 

OctoberTour is her favorite event. “I have a passion for historic homes. It’s a weekend in downtown Salisbury and shows off Salisbury’s rich history. You see unique restoration projects. It’s exciting to see these homes restored to their glory. The event keeps history alive in the community.”

With her lifetime love of historic real estate, finding active historic and arts districts in Salisbury-Rowan helped her feel more connected to the community. She has also found connections through the Rowan Chamber of Commerce’s Rowan Young Professionals group. 

“There’s a lot to do and see in the booming arts districts here — Waterworks Visual Arts Center, Rail Walk Studios & Gallery, and East Square Artworks. “Theater, art gallery crawls, local artists,” she says. Her advice: Get involved!