Architects of Ambition: The Lasting Legacy of Tim Smith & Bubba Rawl
Honoring the 2025 Business Persons of the Year
To be named Business Persons of the Year by the Triangle Business Journal is a distinction reserved for those whose work transcends mere accomplishment; it is a recognition of visionaries who fundamentally alter the story of a region. This year, that honor shines on Tim Smith and Julian “Bubba” Rawl, two master developers whose dedication, foresight, and unwavering commitment have helped sculpt the Triangle area of North Carolina into one of the Southeast’s most vibrant and desirable destinations.
Their story is rooted in more than numbers and land acquisitions; it is a testament to a way of working that honors tradition while boldly embracing the future. Over 42 years, as partners and co-founders of Preston Development Co., Smith and Rawl have guided the creation of remarkable places, each one nurturing dreams, building connections, and elevating the possibilities for families and businesses alike.
Forging Foundations: The Artistry and Integrity Behind Enduring Partnerships
Tim Smith and Bubba Rawl are a study in contrasts harmonized by mutual respect. Smith, with a foundation in engineering, brings technical insight and a mapmaker’s precision to each project. Rawl, wields an entrepreneurial intuition, honed through early ventures, including the sale of a sportswear company to Nike, and an unerring sense for what makes a community thrive.
Their partnership is built on a patient approach, trust, and an unwavering commitment to their craft and clients. Inside their offices, one finds maps carefully layered across walls, symbols of Smith’s meticulous planning and Rawl’s imaginative vision. “We’re like the band director,” Smith explains. “We bring together the most talented people, hand them their instruments, and invite them to play in concert.”
That collaborative spirit has been a constant, from prestigious addresses like the Prestonwood Country Club in Cary to the iconic Landfall community in Wilmington. Each project reflects a deep appreciation for history and a respect for the land, combining bold ambition with thoughtful stewardship.
Chatham Park: A Vision Realized, A Legacy Forged
Chatham Park stands as the crowning achievement in a long legacy of transformation. Conceived over years of quiet preparation and careful land assembly, the project spans 8,500 acres, with over 150 tracts and a projected 27,000 homes designed for more than 75,000 residents. That vision, once considered overly ambitious, now forms the bedrock of Pittsboro’s future.
2025 was nothing short of monumentous. The year saw Disney break ground on Asteria, a 1,500-acre residential community, only the second of its kind in the nation, within Chatham Park. The YMCA, a gleaming $30 million facility, emerged in the heart of the community, instantly redefining local standards with its innovative design and welcoming nearly 6,000 members mere months after opening.
From masterful golf course communities to mixed-use residential hubs, Smith and Rawl’s projects are revered not just for their scale but for how they knit people and purpose together. Chris Ehrenfeld, a notable Chatham County developer, aptly describes Chatham Park as “an unbelievable asset,” one that creates “endless opportunity” for the county’s people.
Overcoming Obstacles with Vision and Resolve
Forging such a monumental legacy has rarely been easy. Infrastructure headaches were tackled head-on with a blend of ingenuity and perseverance. “We developed our own sewer plant,” notes Rawl, an act of sheer will and resourcefulness that changed the fate of the entire project.:
Equally formidable were the human challenges. Some residents greeted the idea of explosive growth with skepticism. Transforming a town of 4,500 into a regional magnet for tens of thousands of newcomers required patient dialogue, transparent leadership, and, above all, respect for the community’s identity. Smith emphasizes:
“We want Pittsboro to stay unique. Chatham Park will have its own sense of place, distinct from Cary.”
Such finesse is critical as Chatham Park embraces its next chapter: the South Village, an ambitious 4,900-acre phase adding more than 15,000 housing units, retail, hotels, medical space, and offices. Navigating vocal opposition and public scrutiny, Smith and Rawl hold firm to a core philosophy: “Our rule from Day One is that we don’t fight back… We keep going, always with the long view in mind,” Rawl explains.
Building Landmarks, Shaping Destinies
While Chatham Park may stand as the most visible evidence of Smith and Rawl’s legacy, their influence is woven throughout the Triangle and beyond. Their roster of accomplishments includes:
- Landfall in Wilmington is a prestigious gated community that has been repurposed and revitalized under its stewardship.
- Carolina Colours in New Bern is a thoughtfully planned golf course community that blends tradition and growth.
- Mosaic, the dynamic 226-acre “gateway to Chatham Park,” seamlessly combines retail, restaurants, offices, and homes for a true live-work-play environment.
- Longstanding partnerships with SAS and philanthropic investments, including gifts of land and the construction of outdoor YMCA pools in Cary, Wakefield, and Knightdale.
Their guiding philosophy is about more than stewardship; it’s about setting the stage for generations. They understand that a lasting community is built not just with brick and mortar, but with trust, care, and an unyielding commitment to quality.
Igniting a Legacy: The Relentless Pursuit of Enduring Community
As they enter their fifth decade in business together, both Smith and Rawl remain energized, deeply engaged, and fiercely committed. Their calendars remain filled with strategy sessions, community meetings, and opportunities to mentor the next generation of developers. “Our job never felt like work,” Smith observes. “We’re driven by the joy of seeing something grow and knowing we’ve made a difference.”
Drawing inspiration from Robert Simon, the legendary Reston, Virginia, founder who worked actively into his centenarian years, Smith declares: “I hope to keep going until I’m 110. Retirement isn’t even on my mind.”
Through all the accolades, now crowned by this year’s Business Persons of the Year honor, Smith and Rawl have never lost sight of the simple, traditional values that underpin their success: integrity, vision, personal touch, and a fundamental belief in the power of a well-crafted community.
As the Triangle continues to rise, it does so on the shoulders of giants, like Tim Smith and Bubba Rawl, architects of ambition, whose hands have shaped not only landscapes and skylines but the very soul of a region. Their story is still being written, and the legacy they leave will endure for generations to come.
Read the Triangle Business Journal’s — Business Person of the Year —The Groundbreakers —Business Persons of the Year Tim Smith and Bubba Rawl have spent their careers building amenity-rich developments that have helped boost the Triangle’s reputation as a magnet for business owners, families, and talent.
