Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

Steve Rao, 39, is a small businessman and entrepreneur, with 12 years experience working in the high-tech industry. He resides in Morrisville with his wife, Dr. Komal Parekh, and his two children, Sonia and Rayan. Steve earned his B.A. in political science from Emory University, where he was a collegiate tennis player, and his J.D. from the West Virginia University College of Law. He is also a 2009 graduate of the prestigious Institute of Political Leadership Fellows Program.

Steve is the founder, CEO, and Chairman of TSG Academies, a sports management and coaching company created in 2004. TSG serves the sports and wellness needs of corporations, private schools, and municipalities in Wake County.

Steve also served as a Business Development Consultant at Datacraft Solutions, a global software company offering automated inventory replenishment systems to manufacturing companies. At Datacraft, Steve managed global partnerships in India and Europe and represented North Carolina to the international business community every day.

In 2004, Steve was appointed by Senator Marc Basnight to the State IT Advisory Board and is currently serving his third term in that role. As a Board member, Steve advises and consults the CIO of North Carolina on technology purchases and technology policy for the state.

Steve is a Charter Member of TIE Carolinas, a global mentoring organization for entrepreneurs and is committed to increased state and county investment in small businesses to spur job creation. In 2007, Steve worked with the TIE Carolinas leadership to help organize a business mission to India and has worked to develop relationships with Indian multinationals looking to invest the Southeast United States.

During these tough economic times Wake County remains one of the fastest growing counties in America. This growth combined with the economic downturn has presented our county with many unprecedented challenges. Sustainable job growth is the key to overcoming these challenges. As your next County Commissioner, job creation will be the central focus of my term in office.

The County Commissioners elected this year will make critical decisions regarding our education system, transportation infrastructure, and the environment. These choices will directly impact our business climate and quality of life. As a small businessman who has worked globally, an entrepreneur, and a father of young children in our schools, I will bring a new, global perspective to these decisions.

Our citizens are no longer just competing with the next county or the next state for jobs; we are competing with the entire world. On recent business trips to India I have seen first hand the investments other countries are making in their futures. If Wake County is to build on our reputation as one of the best places to live and do business, we must not fall behind.

This is the time to set aside partisan politics and build a broad base of support for innovative solutions to the challenges we face.

- Creating Jobs: Assisting small businesses, recruiting international employers, keeping taxes low, and rewarding innovation generates high paying jobs.

- Education: Quality world-class schools for all students help our economy and save taxpayers money. Focus on achievement and improving technology.

- Transportation: Continued improvement of our road system is critical, but we must develop other transportation options, including regional rail.

- Environment: Strong planning for growth, implementing watershed protection, and finding solutions to clean up our air is crucial to long term economic sustainability.