Doug Doggett (’83) Receives Poole College’s Distinguished Alumni Award
In recognition of his career success and outstanding support of Poole College and NC State, the lifelong entrepreneur and family business owner was honored with the prestigious award.
By Lea Hart
Doug Doggett (’83) received the Poole College of Management’s Distinguished Alumni Award as his family looked on with pride during the university’s Evening of Stars Gala.
The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes an alumnus for both career successes and outstanding support of the university. Over the years, Doggett has contributed to Poole through support for scholarships and toward the overall needs of the college, as well as to NC State Athletics and the NC State Alumni Association.
“I give back so that other people can have the opportunities that I’ve had,” he said. “If I can help somebody have the opportunity to start on a more solid foundation financially, and not be saddled with a bunch of student debt, then I want to do so.”
He’s met some of the students who received support through his financial contributions and has been delighted to hear stories from them about pursuing their own dreams of an education.
“I give back so that other people can have the opportunities that I’ve had.”
His own success and enterprising spirit go back to his first business venture — mowing lawns at 12 years old. Doggett had business cards printed up and marketed himself around his neighborhood.
The entrepreneurial mindset and focus never went away, and today he is president of Doggett Concrete in Charlotte, North Carolina, having purchased the organization from his father in 2006. He’s taken the successful business his father built and grown it. His drive and work ethic, he says, come from his dad.
Doggett grew up on the job sites for Doggett Concrete, going to work with his dad before he was even a teenager. He later worked summers and holiday breaks there while he was in high school and college.
“I loved going to the job sites, and I loved talking to the different people in the trades,” he recalls. “I learned so much from that.”
When Doggett learned he was this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, he said it was no surprise that he thought of his dad.
Doggett said he’s humbled by the honor and also proud that he could invite his father, wife and daughter to join him in receiving the award.
“Doggett Concrete was his baby,” Doggett said. “I feel like I’ve done a good job taking care of the business and growing the business, and I know he’s proud of that.”
It was not his only entrepreneurial venture over the years. Prior to taking the helm at Doggett Concrete, he started a waterproofing business in the late 1980’s, Moisture Loc, and later he partnered with Concrete Supply Company to start Concrete & Materials Placement, LLC — a full-service concrete pumping materials placement company.
He credits his time at NC State with providing the foundation for everything that came after. Doggett began his college education at Wingate University where he received an associates degree before transferring to NC State. He took a combination of business and engineering courses to set him up for success in his future career, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management.
“I was very focused at NC State on learning the aspects of the business and the things that could really help me along the way at Doggett Concrete,” he said. “More than anything, I learned to take calculated risks.
“I brought an ability to the business to accurately calculate risks in certain situations — if the risk is acceptable then I would go further and set up contingencies or back up plans to ensure the best outcome.”
NC State’s part in his own success sparked a passion in Doggett to help other students be successful.
Doggett says he has not missed a dime that he’s given back — the reward is in seeing others succeed.
“It’s almost akin to my entrepreneurial spirit,” he said. “I want to see other people succeed — it’s not just about me succeeding, but how can I leave an imprint on someone else’s life and help them.”
As he prepared to head to Raleigh to receive the award, Doggett said he was feeling both honored and a little surprised by the recognition. Not one to focus on himself, he turned the attention back to the students when talking about the award.
“Some of them have had hardships and they are very appreciative of the financial support,” he said. “It’s rewarding when you can meet these students and really see that you’re helping.
“What I do is because I have the capability of doing it; I want to make a difference for future NC State graduates and society.”
