Former council members Bokhari, Egleston open lobbying office in Charlotte
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Tariq Bokhari (left) and Larken Egleston (right). Photo: Provided by The Southern Group
Former city council members Tariq Bokhari and Larken Egleston are expanding The Southern Group, a government relations and lobbying firm, to Charlotte.
Why it matters: Bokhari, a Republican who served a stint in the Trump administration, and Egleston, a Democrat who's remained active in the community, were part of a wave of young politicians who led Charlotte through major business expansions, population growth and the pandemic.
- They sat together at the council dais for five years, crafting policies around public safety, economic development, transportation and other issues.
- "We know this community, from neighborhoods and nonprofits to boardrooms and government offices," Bokhari said in a press release.
The big picture: The firm is opening its second North Carolina office "at a pivotal moment for Charlotte's business community," a press release states. It already operates in Raleigh.
- The nation's No. 2 banking hub, Charlotte's economy is growing fast with a strengthening job market, ballooning population, and a hot streak of company expansions, diversifying the industries beyond finance.
What they're saying: "Charlotte punches below its weight in Raleigh," Egleston said. "That is not because the city lacks importance. It is because many companies lack a coordinated, senior-level strategy for government engagement."
