North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland has appointed Will Miller, a business executive from Charlotte, as the department’s Deputy Secretary of Commerce.
Mr. Miller brings a wealth of knowledge to the agency, with previous experience in the business, non-profit, and government sectors.
Earlier in his career, from 1993 to 2005, Miller worked at Beacon Partners, a full-service commercial real estate firm based in Charlotte. During his time as a partner at Beacon, the company developed industrial and office properties, affording Mr. Miller the opportunity to work extensively with economic development officials and real estate consultants.
In 2005, Miller founded Social Venture Partners (SVP) in Charlotte, the Southeast’s first venture philanthropy initiative. Based on a model developed on the West Coast, venture philanthropy seeks to bring professional, human capital to the non-profit sector. To date, SVP has invested almost $1.5 million in over a dozen non-profits in Mecklenburg County and attracted over 150 partners who donate their time, talent and treasure to the betterment of the community.
In 2010, Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx hired Miller to lead the community effort to host the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Miller worked with local and state community leaders, marketing professionals and political consultants to advance North Carolina’s recruitment effort and secure the bid.
Miller has served on over two dozen boards and commissions including the Charlotte Housing Authority, the Charlotte Region Commercial Board of Realtors and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.
A native of Winston-Salem, Miller graduated from Davidson College in 1978.