Chatter with BNC

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On this episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Kevin Howell, the 15th chancellor of North Carolina State University. As an NC State alum himself, Ben chats with Chancellor Howell about his journey from student body president in the late 1980s to leading the university today. They discuss NC State's unique role as a land-grant institution with a presence in every North Carolina county, the innovative Centennial Campus partnership, and new initiatives like Wolfpack Connect, which guarantees admission to community college transfer students. Chancellor Howe also shares his passion for music and how the arts complement NC State's STEM-focused mission.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. In this episode of Chatter with Business North Carolina, host Ben Kinney speaks with David Jackson, the president and CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. They discuss David's journey from working in college athletics to leading the Chamber, the impact of Appalachian State University on the local economy, and the community's resilience in the face of challenges like Hurricane Helene. The conversation also touches on the vibrant music culture in Boone and the importance of storytelling in promoting local businesses.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. In this episode of Chatter with Business North Carolina, host Ben Kenney speaks with Gary Frey, co-owner and director of business development for BGW Advisors, a Charlotte-based accounting firm. Gary shares his unconventional journey through various challenges in his career, emphasizing the importance of resilience, community, and connection in entrepreneurship. He discusses the growth and culture at BGW Advisors, his passion for serving others, and how music plays a significant role in his life. The conversation highlights the entrepreneurial spirit in Charlotte and the value of building relationships in business.  

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. In this episode of Chatter with BNC, host Ben Kenney speaks with Jessica Solis Aguilar, the Policy and Program Manager at the Institute for Emerging Issues at NC State. They discuss the upcoming Emerging Issues Forum, celebrating its 40th anniversary, and the focus on water infrastructure as a critical issue for North Carolina. Jessica shares her professional journey, the importance of community engagement in selecting forum topics, and her personal interests in music.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. In this episode of Chatter with Business North Carolina, host Ben Kenney speaks with marketing expert Winn Maddrey about the evolving landscape of media and marketing, the impact of AI, generational differences in communication, and their shared love for music. They discuss how companies are adapting to changes in media consumption and the importance of quality content, while also reflecting on personal experiences.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. In this episode of Chatter with BNC, host Ben Kenney speaks with Chris Moeller, founder and CEO of Orion Growth. They discuss Chris's entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of starting a business during the Great Recession, and the evolving landscape of work and housing in the wake of COVID-19. Chris shares insights on affordable housing issues in North Carolina and his passion for vinyl records, highlighting the importance of music in his life. The conversation wraps up with Chris's vision for the future of Orion Growth and his commitment to making a positive impact in the community.  

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. In this episode of Chatter with BNC, host Ben Kinney speaks with Chris William, host of Carolina Business Review. They discuss Chris's professional journey, the impact of Carolina Business Review on the business landscape in the Carolinas, and the feedback received from viewers as the show goes on hiatus. The conversation also touches on Chris's personal interests, including music, and concludes with reflections on the business environment in the Carolinas.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. In this episode, host Ben Kenney speaks with Chris Kellam and David Campbell, co-founders of Kellum and Campbell Accounting. They share their professional journeys, the founding of their firm, and their strategies for growth and expansion across North Carolina. The conversation also touches on their community engagement efforts, partnerships with East Carolina University, and personal interests in music, highlighting the importance of work-life balance in the accounting profession.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kenney talks with Pete Proimos, founder of the Filotimo Foundation. Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at seven months old, Pete defied expectations—building a successful automotive manufacturing business sold to Berkshire Hathaway in 2023. He shares how he kept his diagnosis hidden for decades and why he launched the foundation to help adults with CF who are now living longer than ever imagined. Hear powerful stories of families transformed through fertility support, his Greek immigrant roots, and what "filotimo"—helping others while expecting nothing in return—truly means.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Tim Walsh, Banking, Analytics and Cognitive Principal at Deloitte and Chair of the Dean's Advisory Board at UNC Charlotte. Tim shares his journey from his first university hire in advanced analytics to building Deloitte's data and analytics practice in Charlotte over two decades ago. The conversation explores the dynamic state of banking today, from the surge in M&A activity among regional banks to innovation in products like stablecoins and tokenized deposits following the Genius Act. Tim also discusses Charlotte's remarkable growth as a banking talent hub and UNC Charlotte's forward-thinking approach to computing education, including its standalone College of Computing and Informatics, pioneering undergraduate data science program, and 26-year-old cybersecurity symposium that attracts national and international speakers.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Gary Salamido, President and CEO of the North Carolina Chamber. Gary shares his unexpected journey from pharmacist to advocacy leader, spending 19 years at Glaxo before joining the Chamber in 2011. The conversation explores the Chamber's groundbreaking Carolina Health Works initiative, a small business health insurance program 12 years in the making that aims to help North Carolina's 144,000 businesses with 2-50 employees access more affordable healthcare options. Gary emphasizes the importance of listening and building relationships in business, lessons learned from his pharmacy background and entrepreneurial father. They also discuss music preferences, with Gary revealing his love for the Rat Pack, Frank Sinatra, and classic rock from the 1980s.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Elizabeth Underwood Kazimir, Director of Economic Development for the Stanly County EDC. Elizabeth shares her journey into economic development, from graduating during the pandemic in 2020 to leading transformative growth initiatives in Albemarle and Stanly County. The conversation explores exciting projects attracting talent from across the country, the challenges of building supportive communities for economic development, and how Elizabeth carved her own path in a field where her mother already worked. They also dive into music preferences, debate Spotify versus Apple Music, and discuss Elizabeth's own podcast, "The New Economic Developers on the Block," where she's usually asking the questions.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Sharon Decker, seasoned business executive and former North Carolina Secretary of Commerce. With a distinguished career that includes executive leadership at Duke Energy and serving in the cabinet of Governor Pat McCrory, Sharon blends deep industry insight with public-service vision. She holds a summa cum laude degree from University of North Carolina at Greensboro and brings decades of experience driving growth, innovation and community impact.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with James Ledford, President of Golf Pride. With a rich background spanning strategic consulting, global business development, and consumer products, James leads Golf Pride's innovation and brand evolution from its Global Innovation Center in Pinehurst. He's focused on delivering club-grip performance and advancing technology that inspires confidence for players at every level.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney talks with Shay Prosser, CEO of consulting firm North 12 Partners, where she serves as a Fractional Chief Strategy & Growth Officer helping organizations define their vision, align their teams, and accelerate growth. Shay is also Regional Cohort Leader for Birthing of Giants, a program for owners of scaling businesses to focus on practical, actionable strategies with expert advisors. Shay talks with Ben Kinney about here professional journey, what's new at her organizations and of course, music. 

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Craig Alden, Financial Advisor and Area Manager at Pinnacle Financial. Craig has built a distinguished career in banking and wealth management, leading teams and guiding clients toward financial success. Before joining Pinnacle, he held several leadership roles in the financial industry. He earned his degree in Business Administration from Appalachian State University, where he developed the foundation for his career in client-focused financial services.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Kelly Calabria, Chief of Communications, Marketing, and Corporate Social Responsibility at Blue Cross NC. Kelly leads the company's efforts to shape its brand, engage communities, and drive meaningful health impact across North Carolina. With a career spanning public relations, brand strategy, and social innovation, she's passionate about using storytelling and purpose-driven leadership to improve lives and strengthen connections between business and community.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Business North Carolina Managing Editor Kevin Ellis talks with Aaron Slate, Market President for Truist in Asheville. Aaron shares insights on how western North Carolina is rebuilding and recovering one year after Hurricane Helene. From supporting local businesses to strengthening community resilience, Aaron discusses the lessons learned, the role of financial institutions in disaster recovery, and what's next for the region's economic revitalization.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney talks to Greg Moores, VP of Strategy and Marketing at Search Solution Group. Greg's career has been defined by guiding organizations through growth, transformation, and brand positioning. With experience in strategy, marketing, and client development, he has helped businesses strengthen partnerships, expand market presence, and achieve measurable success. At Search Solution Group, Greg leverages his expertise to align vision with execution, ensuring clients thrive in competitive industries. His journey reflects a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and driving results, making him a trusted leader in shaping strategic direction and delivering meaningful business impact.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode Ben Kinney speaks with David Hamilton, Director of Communications for Lenovo North America. David has built a dynamic career in strategic communications, leading brand storytelling and media relations across the tech industry. Before joining Lenovo, he gained extensive experience in public relations and marketing roles that shaped his expertise in messaging and corporate strategy. David holds a degree in journalism and mass communication, a foundation that continues to guide his approach to impactful communication and leadership.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney talks with Jeff McIntyre, President of McIntyre Manufacturing Group in Lexington, NC. A second-generation leader in the company founded by his father, Jeff has spent his career learning every facet of design, fabrication, and production. With a strong foundation in both business and engineering, he continues to guide McIntyre Manufacturing by blending tradition with innovation, ensuring the company thrives in today's competitive manufacturing landscape.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Kevin King, Founder and CEO of Anatra, a North Carolina-based aerospace company pioneering next-generation autonomous cargo aircraft. With a background in scaling global manufacturing and a passion for revitalizing U.S. aerospace, Kevin is leading Anatra's mission to deliver critical supplies to the hardest-to-reach places—across oceans, into disaster zones, and beyond—using secure, scalable, and American-made amphibious UAVs.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Jeff Wood, Director of Economic Development for Craven County, North Carolina. Originally from Morgantown, West Virginia, Jeff brings over 15 years of experience leading impactful economic projects, from managing a $150 million flood recovery program to securing millions in investments and creating hundreds of jobs across multiple communities. Tune in to hear how he's fostering industrial growth and shaping the county's economic future.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney talks with Amy Cubbage, President of North Carolina Partnership for Children, North Carolina's nationally recognized early childhood initiative. With a career dedicated to public policy, nonprofit leadership, and improving outcomes for children and families, Amy has worked across education, healthcare, and government sectors. At Smart Start, she leads efforts to ensure every child in North Carolina has the foundation to succeed in school and in life. Amy shares her insights on early childhood development, community partnerships, and the future of education in shaping stronger communities.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney talks with Kyle Touchstone, Director of Raleigh Economic Development. With extensive experience in guiding business growth and talent strategy, Kyle has led economic development efforts in communities across North Carolina and beyond, including leadership roles in Gainesville, Florida, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Now in Raleigh, he works to attract new industries, foster public-private partnerships, and position the city as a global hub for innovation. Kyle shares insights on sustainable growth, workforce development, and the strategies shaping the future of Raleigh's economy.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, we speak with Brent Christensen, President & CEO of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. Since joining in 2015, Brent has transformed regional economic development—uniting county-wide efforts, attracting billions in investment, and launching initiatives like Launch Greensboro and Action Greensboro. Before this, he led economic development efforts in Mississippi and Florida, consistently earning 5-Star Accreditations for his organizations. Brent also brings strong academic credentials with a Duke University degree and an MBA from the University of South Florida. Tune in to learn how he fosters collaboration, navigates regional growth, and shapes the future of Greensboro. ----- Brent Christensen on LinkedIn Greensboro Chamber of Commerce ------ Ben Kinney on LinkedIn Business North Carolina

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features BJ Losch. Losch was promoted to president of Live Oak Bancshares and Live Oak Bank in August 2023, after joining as CFO in 2021. He previously spent 12 years at First Horizon Corporation as senior executive vice president and CFO, and held senior roles at First Union and Wachovia. Losch holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from University of Richmond and an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features Kevin Carlock, Two Trees Pictures. Kevin Carlock was raised in Greensboro, North Carolina. He competed in Division I golf at Davidson College and graduated in 2019. After college, he relocated to Los Angeles to begin his career at Creative Artists Agency. During the pandemic, he made the move to Charlotte, where he launched Two Trees Pictures. The company plans to release FOOTNOTE in 2025.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features Coleman Cowan. Cowan is a seasoned trial attorney and Partner at James Scott Farrin, known for leading high-stakes litigation in personal injury, product liability, and insurance bad faith. A Senior Lecturing Fellow at Duke Law, he's earned honors like North Carolina's “Legal Elite” and “Super Lawyers.” Coleman serves on the Civil Rules Committee for the Middle District of NC and chairs the NC Bar Association's Professional Vitality Committee, shaping both practice and policy in the legal field.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an Interview with Scott Stone, the President & CEO of American Engineering. Stone has over thirty years of experience in professional services companies with particular expertise in financial and operations management, business development, marketing, and strategic planning, as well as technical engineering, construction management, and program management. 

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an Interview with Cecilia Holden, the President and CEO for myFutureNC, a statewide initiative focused on the state's educational attainment goal. Among other public service, she served as the Chief of Staff for the North Carolina Department of Commerce and Director of Government and Community Affairs for the State Board of Education. Her private sector experience includes a career with IBM, as well as a Registered Investment Advisory firm. Holden holds a Master's in Business Administration from Duke University, a certificate in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina School of Government and a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Business from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features Joe Paradise, the Managing Partner for KPMG's Carolinas, Florida, and Puerto Rico region, leading over 2,500 professionals. With 30+ years of experience, he advises companies on transformations, IPOs, M&A, and operational growth. Joe is also the firm's Partner-in-Charge of Alumni, driving initiatives like the BRITE board readiness program. Based in Charlotte, he's a passionate advocate for innovation, leadership development, and leveraging AI to power business transformation.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features the former Mayor of Raleigh, Mary-Ann Baldwin. She is now busy as the Executive Director of the Cooper Charitable Foundation, a Raleigh-based organization that partners with local nonprofits to provide housing stability grants for those in need; in tandem with her role as VP of Community Relations for Raleigh-based construction company Cooper Tacia.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features Triangle real estate executives Jamie Baker and Moss Withers, who discuss the recent merger of Lundy Management Group with Lee & Associates. The combined firm manages more than 13 million square feet of property, including retail stores, office towers and cancer centers. Withers has been among the state's most active commercial real estate brokers at Lee and previously NAI Carolantic. Baker helped build Lundy into a regional leader. They discussed the state's real estate market with David Mildenberg of Business North Carolina.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Mike Gillis, Partner and Co-CEO at DMJPS CPAs + Advisors. He helps privately-held businesses and their owners achieve their long-term financial goals with proactive planning. He is a frequent presenter on tax matters and works extensively in the area of succession and exit planning strategies for businesses. Mike is originally from Pennsylvania. He attended Thiel College in Pennsylvania and graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Accounting and Business Administration, and became a CPA in 1984.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Dr. Mary Jo Cagle, CEO of Cone Health since June 2021. She will be retiring on May 31, 2025, after about 14 years at the Greensboro health system. She talks about the importance of community relationships in healthcare, Cone Health's advantages of partnering with Kaiser Permanente's Risant Health last year and throws in a little Alabama football.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Kathryn Atkinson, Director of CME and Events for the NC Academy of Family Physicians. Kathryn is also President of the Association Executives of North Carolina. She speaks with BNC Publisher Ben Kinney about her professional journey, AENC"s upcoming 7oth Anniversary and her love of '90s country music.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Mollie Ruf, the Marketing and Communications Manager at Rowan County EDC. Originally from a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, Ruf relocated to Salisbury, North Carolina the summer of 2009 after graduating from Florida Southern College. Ruf has in this community for various organizations over the past decade. In this episode, Ruf talks to Ben Kinney about what's new at Rowan County EDC, and more.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Winn Maddrey, President of Blue Nine Partners. Winn has been working in communications his entire career, from the public sector in Washington, D.C. to the private sector. Clients have ranged from B2B to B2C, from private entities to publicly held. In addition, he has worked with VC and PE-backed companies. Used to being engaged on issues that exist in the boardroom, at the podium or in a media interview, Winn is adept at advising on these issues, coaching clients in these scenarios and even being the spokesperson.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Greg Lowe is President of HCA Healthcare North Carolina Division, the state's sixth largest health system based in Western North Carolina and CEO of Asheville's Mission Health. Lowe had previously served as chief executive officer of HCA Healthcare's Chippenham and Johnston-Willis (CJW) hospitals, a two-campus system in Richmond, Va., since 2016. Lowe studied healthcare administration at the University of Utah and received his Masters of Healthcare Administration and Master of Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. He and his wife, Lee, reside in Asheville with their four sons. He enjoys cycling, the outdoors, sports and coaching.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Jess George - Head of Government & Community Affairs at Google Fiber. Jess George is an experienced leader in policy, government and community affairs with a focus on digital equity & broadband policy. In addition to tech policy and governmental affairs, Jess has 15 years experience in civic engagement, immigrant & worker rights and nonprofit management. 

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with NC Secretary of Commerce, Lee Lilley. Lee Lilley's service as North Carolina's Secretary of Commerce began on January 1, 2025. Appointed to the office by Governor Josh Stein, Secretary Lilley brings extensive economic development experience to the role. Immediately prior to joining the department, Secretary Lilley served as the Director of Economic & Pandemic Recovery for Governor Roy Cooper. In that position, he coordinated statewide pandemic recovery efforts, served as State Infrastructure Coordinator, and led economic development initiatives for the Cooper Administration. Lee also advised Cooper Administration leadership on strategy and communications.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Carla Barnard, the CEO of Likewise Commercial Real Estate. After graduating from the University of Oxford, Carla worked as a commercial real estate attorney for Hogan Lovells LLP in London, specializing in real estate finance, investment and complex development work for institutional clients including Prudential, Ford Motor Company, Barclays Bank, HSBC and a number of REITs.  She has advised extensively on solar farm and renewable energy producing property transactions and hotel and care home M & A. Carla currently serves as Broker In Charge at Likewise Commercial Real Estate,  playing an integral role in elevating Commercial Real Estate in Western North Carolina.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Esther Moberly, the Sustainability Manager at Coca-Cola Consolidated. Esther has over 20 years of designing and implementing programs that significantly improve organizations' environmental impact. Ben Kinney talks to her about her career journey so far, their sustainability efforts at Coca-Cola in the communities, and more.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Cecelia Thompson, the executive director of Action Greensboro, part of the city's chamber and its primary economic and community development agency. The Elon University graduate leads efforts including from talent and workforce development, advocacy campaigns and city marketing efforts. She and Dave discuss key initiatives in the state's third-largest city, which is embracing the entry of the $14 billion Toyota Motor battery in adjoining Randolph County.   -----   https://greensboro.org/actiongreensboro/ https://buildthefoundation.org/bio/cecelia-thompson/

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Donovan A. Everett, the President & CEO of D.A. Everett Construction Group. Donovan was born into the construction business and started leading construction projects for his father's construction company at the age of 15. While pursuing his undergraduate degree, Donovan worked for one of the largest commercial real estate developers in the region. Upon graduating college, Donovan went on to work for one of the largest national Construction Management firms, Balfour Beatty, running large commercial projects. ----- D.A. Everett Construction Group Website Donovan Everett on LinkedIn  

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Dr. Sharon Paynter. Dr. Paynter serves as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Economic and Community Engagement at East Carolina University and Associate Professor of Political Science. She joined East Carolina University in 2009 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship in Public Policy at Brown University. She earned a Ph.D. In Public Administration from North Carolina State University (2008), Master of Legal Administration from the University of Denver (2004), and Master of Public Administration (2003) and Bachelor of Science in Biology (1994) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Roddey Player, the Owner & CEO at Queen City Homestore. He is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the retail appliance, electronics and furniture industry. Player talks to Ben Kinney about growing a family business in NC, how he got to be where he is today, what's new in the business, and more.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Mark Mahoney, the CEO and co-founder of Jackrabbit Technologies, which is a market leader in providing software for scheduling and back-office functions of youth activities, including gymnastics, swimming and cheerleading.  While Mahoney lives in the Charlotte area, all 130 Jackrabbit employees work remotely. A former NC Tech Exec of the Year, he has a master's degree from the University of Georgia, where he was a varsity gymnast.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Dave Simpson, the President & CEO at Carolinas AGC. Ben and Dave talk about how the latter went from being a writer to where he is today, what's new in the construction industry in NC, music, and more. 

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Tarik Woods, the Policy and Program Manager at NC State Institute for Emerging Issues. He leads research and stakeholder engagement to frame issues and identify major programmatic themes, including synthesizing data to identify and recommend best practices and determining opportunities for policy and practice developments at the state and regional levels. Tarik is from Salisbury, North Carolina. He received his undergraduate degree in Philosophy, focusing in Economics, from UNC Chapel Hill.