About Pharr
We have a proven and compelling track record of success. This is the result of staying focused and true to our company vision while always keeping our core values at the forefront of every decision we make.
Our Vision
The greatest discoveries are made by those who can see what others haven’t — those willing to look far ahead, try a new way, embrace a bold idea.
Our new mark is full of energy and promise as a visual representation of where Pharr’s future is headed, both forward and upward.
Our Company
Founded in 1939 by visionary leader WJ Pharr, our company has long prized innovation while also building and sustaining a strong community in our hometown of McAdenville, NC.
Our ability to anticipate a market’s future needs, embrace bold ideas and respond nimbly has contributed to our growth over the years and driven some of the most successful product offerings, including revolutionary high-performance yarns used in protective apparel applications, as well as market-changing, cost-effective, multicolor residential carpet products.
Through our Belmont Land business, we have seen great success in hotel investment and real estate development throughout the southeast.
Our family-owned company’s deep-rooted culture that values relationships and empowers people has created the support for innovation to flourish across our diverse businesses. Innovative, bold and energetic, we will continue moving forward, driven by a commitment to our core values.
Core Values
Innovation thrives here because we are a principled, passionate company guided by our values. Our values have shaped our progress and serve as a compass to point Pharr forward.
Family
Family-founded and family-led, we build and nurture an empowering work culture as we develop properties and services that ultimately benefit other families and communities.
Innovative
We encourage and expect associates to bring bold, inventive thinking to our businesses, ultimately propelling Pharr with the power of innovation.
Responsive
We are always there for our clients: quick to deliver what we promised, quick to support them and quick to anticipate their future needs.
Strong Relationships
We protect, cultivate and prioritize strong relationships with our clients and colleagues because we know lasting relationships are the foundation of success.
Trustworthy
We earn the respect and trust of our clients, vendors and industries because we always deliver what we promise, and we always make good on our word.
Our Leadership Team
We empower passionate leaders like these to strengthen our community.
Bill Carstarphen – President and CEO
As the president and CEO of Pharr, Bill has led a dynamic executive team on a variety of strategic initiatives. These initiatives include a successful transition from Pharr’s legacy yarn sales business into a vertically integrated flooring company and building a highly specialized yarn sales business supporting the protective apparel industry. These initiatives were accomplished through multiple acquisitions and more than $100 million of investment, which ultimately culminated into a sale of Pharr’s textile businesses in early 2020. Since the sale, Bill has been leading an effort to reposition the company to maintain its viability for future generations.
Bill became President in 2005 and has spent his entire 35-year career at Pharr. He has served in numerous roles including manufacturing, product management and real estate development. Throughout his career, Bill has developed an extensive network of partners involved in the company’s real estate projects, which include hospitality, commercial and residential development.
Bill graduated from Wofford College and has a keen interest in supporting the community, protecting the environment and historic preservation. He enjoys a variety of outdoor activities. He and his family reside in the historic town of McAdenville, where they remain dedicated to helping preserve the town’s rich history.
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Fred Erickson – Chief Financial Officer, CPA
Fred has spent 15 years as Pharr’s CFO. Prior to that, he worked 13 years as CFO of a public company investing in manufacturers, sports and media companies, and 12 years in a Big Eight public accounting firm serving public and private companies in multiple industries. Fred has been directly involved in more than 20 M&A transactions ranging from $3 million to more than $100 million. Additionally, he has sourced, negotiated, executed and managed numerous corporate credit and equipment financing facilities, including multilender and multitranche relationships, some exceeding $100 million. Fred is very experienced in managing finance, accounting, tax, IT, legal, treasury and employee benefits functions, and he is actively involved in operations management from a planning, oversight and strategic perspective. A graduate of Wittenberg University, Fred lives in Landrum, South Carolina, and enjoys homestead farming, hiking and family gatherings.
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Christy H. Gliddon – EVP of Human Resources, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Christy is responsible for leading Pharr’s overall human resources strategy and operations, leadership development, organizational alignment, talent management, benefit design and implementation, employee relations, and safety and health. She previously held human resources leadership positions in multiple industries across private, public, PE-backed and family-owned businesses. Since joining Pharr, Christy’s vision-to-action approach has facilitated efforts that have resulted in more streamlined processes, more effective cross-functional collaboration and improved engagement at all levels of the organization. Christy graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and enjoys tennis, hiking and travel.
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George Altice – Director of Engineering
George has worked with Pharr for his entire career and is responsible for management and maintenance of the company’s leased industrial facilities and tenant relations, in addition to Pharr’s office, residential and commercial buildings. George has diverse experience with managing industrial waste treatment operations; mechanical systems such as HVAC, air handling and boilers; industrial electrical systems; and water and sewer installations, including managing relationships with service providers as well as various contractors, utilities providers and municipalities. He is a certified North Carolina code enforcement official, fire prevention level III. George has degrees in emergency preparedness and fire protection technology and serves as an adjunct instructor at Gaston College. He lives in Belmont, North Carolina, where he has served as fire chief for several years.
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Greg Peeler – Vice President of Tax, CPA
Greg is responsible for federal and multistate tax compliance and tax planning for Pharr’s corporate entities, which include C corporations, S corporations, partnerships and foundations, as well as individual tax compliance and tax planning for individual family shareholders. Greg specializes in complex tax matters, such as 1031 exchanges, R&D credits, opportunity zone investments, shareholder basis and IRS audits. In addition, he manages the company’s various corporate risk insurance programs, legacy retiree benefits and defined contribution plans, working directly with providers and plan participants. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, and enjoys playing golf, spending time with family and attending college basketball games.
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Bill Pittman – Vice President of Finance, CPA
Bill has worked six years with Pharr. Prior to that, he spent eight years with Big Four professional services firm PwC, serving audit clients in multiple industries. Bill manages all financial reporting and accounting functions and has managed and executed Pharr’s Human Capital Management System software conversion and Pharr’s migration to Microsoft Dynamics Business Central enterprise systems. He is also actively involved in Pharr’s real estate development and management functions. Bill graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, and enjoys playing the drums and beach trips with his family.
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Jessica Trombold – EVP of Investments & Operations
Jessica is responsible for leading Pharr’s investment and operations strategy in real estate and other business investments. Jessica has fourteen years of experience in real estate investment, development and finance and most recently spent six years at Nuveen in Charlotte, NC. At Nuveen, she held various roles across real estate transactions, asset management, development and capital raising and was responsible for leading the national mixed-use portfolio. Jessica has additional experience in hotel investments and operations, corporate finance, and restructuring. Jessica graduated with a B.A. in Finance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is an active member of ULI and 100 Women, a UNC Kenan-Flager network dedicated to attracting and mentoring female leaders. She lives in Fort Mill, South Carolina and enjoys hiking, the beach and spending time with family.
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