Podcast appearances and mentions of tony mecia

As North Carolina employers grapple with a tight labor market and rapid technological change, community colleges are stepping up to meet the demand, and more students are taking notice. Enrollment at the state's two-year colleges jumped 8.3% this spring compared with the previous year, outpacing the national average.John Loyack, vice president of economic development for the North Carolina Community College System, attributes the growth to the system's flexible pathways, from associate degrees and short-term certificates to custom training for local employers. The state's community colleges are playing a key role in preparing workers for fast-growing industries like advanced manufacturing, aviation, life sciences and cybersecurity — all sectors where hands-on training and technical credentials are essential.On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Loyack sits down with Ledger editor Tony Mecia to talk about the role community colleges play in the local economy, the impact of student debt debates on educational choices, "hot jobs" and specific industries and skills that are in high demand, and much more!This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger or to subscribe to one of our newsletters, please visit TheCharlotteLedger.comThis episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Charlotte's hospitality and retail scene is changing rapidly, but what's really driving the evolution? Industry experts agree that Charlotte's hospitality market is thriving but becoming more competitive, with new players entering the scene and raising consumer expectations. Neighborhoods like South End have been pivotal in putting Charlotte on the map. However, the suburban retail market is now gaining momentum — like in SouthPark, Ballantyne and Huntersville. A new report, called the Charlotte Hospitality and Retail Guide 2025, lays out the key trends shaping the city's retail landscape. In this episode, Ledger editor Tony Mecia is joined by three contributors to the report: Daniel Gibson of NiceDay, a marketing agency that specializes in retail, hospitality and real estate; Adam Williams of Rebel Rebel, an urban retail advisory firm that provides full-service brokerage and consulting services; and Bryan Southwick of Southwick Architecture + Interiors, a hospitality-focused architecture and interior design firmThey break down the city's shifting development patterns and the rise of smaller-format retail, new expectations from consumers and how developers and restaurateurs can adapt to stand out in a competitive market.This podcast episode is brought to you by Coca-Cola Consolidated, Charlotte's local bottler and the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the US. Coke Consolidated recently invested $15 million into its Monroe facility, which included a new technical training academy, the first of its kind within the Coca-Cola System. Learn more at www.CokeConsolidated.com/media.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Before Grace Weisiger could join her family's four-generation business, The Weisiger Group (formerly Carolina Tractor and Equipment), her parents told her she needed to gain some experience in a different industry. In 2014, while still a student at the University of Georgia, she received a call from a friend of a friend, who had a cryptic pitch: “I can't tell you what we're doing, but we're starting a company, and it's going to be huge. And we'd like you to be a part of it.” Skeptical but intrigued, Weisiger listened. That call led her to Bumble, a dating app, which was then just a fledgling idea with a bold mission: empower women to make the first move. What followed was a crash course in startup grit, cultural change and marketing innovation that would shape her career. Today, Weisiger is the founder of Willow Hill, a private investment vehicle.In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Weisiger sits down with Ledger editor Tony Mecia to discuss her career, including her family's business, The Weisiger Group, her early role at Bumble and what she learned, the principles of search funds, her journey in investment and how she approaches finding and leading scalable businesses.Today's episode is sponsored by Hillandale Advisors, a Charlotte-based investment and advisory firm that provides strategic counsel to local business owners and invests in private businesses, public equities, and commercial real estate. The Private Business Roundtable hosts events to connect and educate the private business community in Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem. Are you looking for support in capital raising, hiring key talent or selling your business? Contact Matt@HillandaleAdvisors.com or learn more at www.HillandaleAdvisors.com.You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger, and subscribe to our locally focused newsletters, at TheCharlotteLedger.com.This episode was produced by Lindsey Banks. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Charlotte celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence on May 20, 2025, at a ceremony and re-enactment in uptown Charlotte.Watch the full celebration, with commentary and interviews by co-hosts Tony Mecia and Cristina Bolling of The Charlotte Ledger — with impromptu guests including former county commissioner Matthew Ridenhour, planning commission member Clayton Sealey and Ledger history correspondent John Short.You might also enjoy this podcast about the Meck Dec:Related Ledger articles:* “Debating the Meck Dec” (May 12)* “Charlotte breweries release Meck Dec-themed beers” (May 7)* “Blowout celebrations planned for Meck Dec milestone” (March 17)* “Historical Heavyweights: Charlotte's revolutionary tavern keeper” (March 15)Need to sign up for this e-newsletter? We offer a free version, as well as paid memberships for full access to all 6 of our local newsletters:The Charlotte Ledger is a locally owned media company that delivers smart and essential news. We strive for fairness and accuracy and will correct all known errors. The content reflects the independent editorial judgment of The Charlotte Ledger. Any advertising, paid marketing or sponsored content will be clearly labeled.◼️ About The Ledger • Our Team • Website◼️ Newsletters • Podcast • Newcomer Guide • A Better You email series◼️ Subscribe • Sponsor • Events Board • Merch Store • Manage Your Account◼️ Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, LinkedIn This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

If you've ever tuned into Charlotte's NPR station in the mornings, you've probably heard the soothing voice of Marshall Terry. But you probably don't know much about him otherwise. In an era marked by building personal brands, influencers and oversharing on social media, Terry is refreshingly old school. He doesn't post on social media, and he rarely talks to media interviews outside of his job.On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Terry talks with Ledger editor Tony Mecia about the unique aspects of Terry's career, his love for the early morning radio lifestyle and his unexpected journey into broadcasting.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals. You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger, and subscribe to our locally focused newsletters, at TheCharlotteLedger.com.This episode was produced by Lindsey Banks. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

In a world where the disparity between different socioeconomic classes is increasing, organizations like United Way of Greater Charlotte play a critical role in forging paths toward greater economic mobility for future generations.United Way of Greater Charlotte is one of the Charlotte region's largest health and human services nonprofits. The nonprofit stands at a unique confluence of the public sector, private corporations, philanthropy and nonprofit organizations, which allows it to harness resources and expertise from different arenas.United Way has put nearly $18 million in community investments into 134 nonprofit organizations across a four-county area: Anson, Cabarrus, Union and Mecklenburg.In this episode of the Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Kathryn Firmin-Sellers, who first joined United Way of Greater Charlotte in 2018 as chief impact officer before becoming president and CEO in April 2025, sits down with Ledger editor Tony Mecia to discuss the organization's mission to lift children and families out of poverty by leveraging community partnerships. This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

In a time of economic turbulence and market volatility, understanding where things stand—and where they're headed—feels more important than ever.In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger editor Tony Mecia talks with economist Mark Vitner. Vitner, a longtime Charlotte-based economist formerly with Wells Fargo, is now chief economist for Piedmont Crescent Capital, a boutique economic consulting firm. He explains why the Charlotte region has remained resilient—and what clouds may be gathering on the horizon.Vitner notes that while the fundamentals remain solid, warning signs are starting to flash—especially when it comes to trade tensions, inflation expectations and real estate. He also discusses how Charlotte's unique strengths position it better than many peer cities to weather a potential downturn.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Tony Mecia.You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Engaged and motivated employees are more likely to stay and grow. In this third and final installment of the “Trends in the Workplace 2025” series, experts share the secret sauce to retaining talent and how to transform employees into your company's biggest competitive advantage.This episode is a recording from March 2025 of the third day of a three-part webinar series, brought to you by Catapult Employers Association and The Charlotte Ledger. The webinar series explores the key trends, technologies and shifts reshaping the workplace in 2025 and beyond.In this episode, The Charlotte Ledger's Tony Mecia talks with: ◼️ Dr. Carlie Houchins, who leads Catapult's learning solutions team responsible for designing, developing and deploying products; and◼️ Jill Feldman, the director of strategic HR services at Catapult.Here's the line-up for the other two episodes, which you can listen to on The Charlotte Ledger Podcast:Part 1: What's coming in 2025?Part 2: Rethinking your hiring strategyFind out more about Catapult at LetsCatapult.org. Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.This episode is sponsored by Catapult Employers Association. Catapult empowers Charlotte's business community with trusted, local HR expertise. Join Charlotte's top employers this April in Greensboro, NC, at their 2025 HR Conference: HResilient. Learn more at letscatapult.org/hresilient2025/. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

What do recruiters and hiring managers think candidates want? What do job seekers actually need? Rethinking your hiring strategy could be the key to long-term success. In this second installation of the “Trends in the Workplace 2025” series, experts break down the shifting workplace expectations and how to attract and retain top talent.This episode is a recording from March 2025 of the second day of a three-part webinar series, brought to you by Catapult Employers Association and The Charlotte Ledger. The webinar series explores the key trends, technologies and shifts reshaping the workplace in 2025 and beyond.In this episode, The Charlotte Ledger's Tony Mecia talks with: ◼️ Jacqueline Esposito, a compensation advisor for Catapult, who is responsible for advising Catapult's member companies in the areas of compensation and total rewards◼️ Kendra Stewart, who has expertise in talent development, workforce planning, strategic HR implementation and management consultation; and◼️ Shannon Leonida, Catapult's recruiting team lead.Be sure to check out the other two episodes on The Charlotte Ledger Podcast:Part 1: What's coming in 2025?Part 3: Retaining and developing your employeesFind out more about Catapult at LetsCatapult.org. Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.This episode is sponsored by Catapult Employers Association. Catapult empowers Charlotte's business community with trusted, local HR expertise. Join Charlotte's top employers this April in Greensboro, NC, at their 2025 HR Conference: HResilient. Learn more at letscatapult.org/hresilient2025/. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Workforce trends for 2025 are taking shape — from AI and automation to evolving employee expectations and hybrid work models. In this kickoff of the “Trends in the Workplace 2025” series, experts break down what's coming and what it means for the workplace.This episode is a recording from March 2025 of the first day of a three-part webinar series by Catapult Employers Association and The Charlotte Ledger. The webinar series explores the key trends, technologies and shifts reshaping the workplace in 2025 and beyond.In this episode, The Charlotte Ledger's Tony Mecia talks with:◼️ Dr. Cheryl Richards, the president & CEO of Catapult, who brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in higher education and workforce development; and◼️ Doug Blizzard, Catapult's chief solutions officer with more than three decades in HR, leading service delivery and advising on everything from compliance to talent strategy.Be sure to check out Part 2 and Part 3, which you can listen to on The Charlotte Ledger Podcast.Part 2: Rethinking your hiring strategyPart 3: Retaining and developing your employeesFind out more about Catapult at LetsCatapult.org. Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.This episode is sponsored by Catapult Employers Association. Catapult empowers Charlotte's business community with trusted, local HR expertise. Join Charlotte's top employers this April in Greensboro, NC, at their 2025 HR Conference: HResilient. Learn more at letscatapult.org/hresilient2025/. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

John Short, who writes the "Historical Heavyweights" column for The Charlotte Ledger, talks with Ledger editor Tony Mecia about Charlotte's most fascinating historical figures and the importance of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and early settlers. They also discuss two of Short's other projects: The Charlotte Podcast (which has nearly 300 episodes) and the Elizabeth neighborhood's Halloween pumpkin wall (which Short helps organize).This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

North Carolina is home to world-class university research — but many groundbreaking ideas never make it beyond the lab. Now, a new nonprofit backed by state and private funds is working to turn university research into thriving businesses, with the goal of creating jobs and boosting the state's economy.In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Michelle Bolas, executive vice president and chief innovation officer of NCInnovation, discusses how the organization works to bridge the gap between lab research and market-ready technology.In a conversation with Ledger editor Tony Mecia, Bolas discusses: why university research is important to the future of North Carolina; why private industry alone can't develop promising technologies; projects NCInnovation is supporting at UNC Charlotte, on water quality and electric grid stability; and how NCInnovation spends its money, and what it is doing with the $500 million allocated to it from North Carolina's General Assembly.You can find out more about NCInnovation at NCInnovation.org.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

In 2005, a group of friends with a shared love of motorcycles, beer and barbecue opened a restaurant in an industrial area near uptown known as South End. Today, 20 years later, that restaurant — Mac's Speed Shop — has grown into a company with nine such restaurants in North and South Carolina, with more on the way.In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Tony Salerno, president of Mac's Hospitality Group, talks with Ledger editor Tony Mecia about how this well-known fixture in Charlotte's restaurant scene has endured and continues to expand. They talk about challenges in the restaurant industry, how Mac's tries to stand out in a growing city, the importance of building a strong team, changes in technology and more. This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

This week's podcast guest might sound a little familiar. You've been listening to his voice for more than two years.Steve Dunn regularly interviews winners of The Charlotte Ledger's 40 Over 40 Awards, which are awarded every spring to individuals over the age of 40 who are doing important and inspiring work in Charlotte.While podcasting has become a significant part of his work, Dunn's primary profession is mediation—following a career as an employment lawyer. As a mediator with Miles Mediation and Arbitration, Dunn brings his expertise in navigating complex conversations, a skill that translates seamlessly into his role as a podcast host. His approach to interviewing is marked by curiosity and a deep appreciation for the personal and professional journeys of his guests.Dunn sat down with Ledger editor Tony Mecia to talk about his experiences hosting the podcast over the past couple of years, what he's learned during the process, and how his job in mediation translates into podcasting.You can find out more about the 40 Over 40 Awards, presented by U.S. Bank, here. Nominations are open until Feb. 17, 2025, with an awards celebration in May 2025.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Charlotte Center City Partners, an organization that promotes and advocates for uptown and South End, recently published its annual report on the state of the Center City in 2025.Charlotte Center City Partners President and CEO Michael Smith and James LaBar, senior vice president of economic development, recently sat down with Ledger editor Tony Mecia to talk about the state of the center city and its upcoming plans for the area.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

The 2025 Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) Championship is set to take place at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte from May 12-18, 2025, bringing one of golf's four major championships back to the Queen City. Tournament Director Jason Soucy, who has spent decades in the sports industry, is leading the effort to organize the event, which is expected to draw global attention.On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger editor Tony Mecia talks with Soucy to talk about the magnitude of hosting a major championship, the planning to accommodate tens of thousands of fans each day, careers in sports management and the fan experience at Quail Hollow Club.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Michelle Crouch is a freelance writer and healthcare reporter for The Charlotte Ledger and North Carolina Health News, which is a nonprofit statewide newsroom that covers a variety of healthcare topics in North Carolina.In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger editor Tony Mecia talks with Crouch about the state of healthcare — why it is the way it is, and where it is heading. It's a recording of a conversation and Q&A session at The Sharon at South Park on Jan. 6, 2025. It is part of a monthly series of discussions at The Sharon on current events.In response to questions from Mecia and residents of The Sharon, Crouch also discusses the landscape of healthcare in Charlotte and how it affects patients, why there is a drive to consolidate healthcare, tips for consumers on how to navigate medical billing, the significance of the new medical school at The Pearl in Charlotte and the use of artificial intelligence in medicineFind out more about The Charlotte Ledger and subcribe to our newsletter at TheCharlotteLedger.com.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

One of the questions Charlotte Ledger founder and executive editor Tony Mecia is asked a lot is, “How is it going with The Ledger?” As we begin 2025, now is the traditional time to answer. In the spirit of transparency, we're giving you a peek behind the curtain of our operation.The Ledger published an article on Dec. 30, 2024, recapping the year, what The Ledger accomplished and what we hope to see in 2025. You can check it out here.But we wanted to take it a step further. Mecia recently sat down with Ledger Podcast host Steve Dunn to talk more in-depth about The Ledger's 2024, how we operate and where we're heading. In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, they discuss The Ledger's growth, its revenue, its business model, changes in media, where The Ledger fits into the local media landscape and more.You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

In 2018, Dr. Dale Owen and nearly 90 physicians left Atrium Health to form Tryon Medical Partners, driven by a vision of patient-centered care without the bureaucracy of large health systems. This bold move, initiated amidst legal battles and skepticism, aimed to prioritize personalized care and coordination while reducing costs.Fast forward six years, Tryon Medical now serves nearly 200,000 patients in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area, demonstrating the viability of independent practices despite immense challenges.In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Owen recounts the obstacles faced in establishing Tryon Medical "out of air" — from securing facilities and staff to building insurance partnerships. In a conversation with The Ledger's Tony Mecia, he discusses the lessons he has learned building a medical practice, the challenges of Covid, the complexities of the U.S. healthcare system and Tryon's growth plans following a partnership with a private-equity investment company.This podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

For many people in Western North Carolina, everything changed on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.Hurricane Helene brought record levels of rainfall, reaching as high as 30 inches in some places and triggering massive flooding and mudslides. Roads, buildings, trees, power lines and entire water systems were wiped out, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. More than 90 people died in North Carolina.In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger editor Tony Mecia talks with Ledger staff reporter Lindsey Banks about the storm and its aftermath. Banks is a Buncombe County native with close ties to Western North Carolina, and she spearheads The Ledger's Mountain Updates newsletter. The Ledger created it in September 2024 as a pop-up (temporary) newsletter focused on the crisis and recovery in the North Carolina mountains.The two talk about her experience growing up in the mountains, what it was like seeing her hometown destroyed by the hurricane, what her friends and family have described in the aftermath and the experience of reporting and writing about the mountains.All issues of Mountain Updates can be found online here. If you're not on The Ledger's email list, you can sign up for Mountain Updates and other newsletters at TheCharlotteLedger.com. Ledger subscribers can sign up for Mountain Updates on their account settings page.This podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

In this special episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger editor Tony Mecia and elections specialist Sucharita Kodali quickly break down the Mecklenburg County ballot, including state legislative races, county commissioner races, local judicial elections and bonds.In less than 10 minutes, they zip through the under-the-radar races that many voters haven't considered but will find on the ballot.Check out the accompanying 10-minute podcast on statewide races, such as those for governor, lieutenant governor, insurance commissioner and attorney general.For full details on the candidates and the races, be sure to check out the Charlotte Ledger Election Hub at NCElectionHub.com. It has brief biographies of 200 candidates in five Charlotte-area counties (Mecklenburg, Union, Gaston, Cabarrus and Iredell), as well as links to candidate questionnaires and articles from other media.The goal is to provide you with trustworthy, unbiased information you can use to cast your vote.Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

In this special episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger editor Tony Mecia and elections specialist Sucharita Kodali quickly break down the 14 statewide races on the 2024 general election ballot.In less than 10 minutes, they zip through the races that will be on the ballot for every North Carolinian: the Council of State — including races for governor, lieutenant governor, agriculture commissioner and so on — as well as statewide judicial races and a constitutional amendment.Check out the accompanying 10-minute podcast on the Mecklenburg ballot.For full details on the candidates and the races, be sure to check out the Charlotte Ledger Election Hub at NCElectionHub.com. It has brief biographies of 200 candidates in five Charlotte-area counties (Mecklenburg, Union, Gaston, Cabarrus and Iredell), as well as links to candidate questionnaires and articles from other media.The goal is to provide you with trustworthy, unbiased information you can use to cast your vote.Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

While some Charlotteans might struggle to list even 50 must-do activities in the city, Axios reporter Brianna Crane faced the opposite challenge. In her new book, “100 Things to Do in Charlotte Before You Die,” narrowing it down to just 100 was the hard part.In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Crane talks with The Ledger's Tony Mecia about the challenges and excitement of curating a list that captures the essence of the city, balancing beloved staples with hidden gems that even longtime residents might not know. They also discuss advice for newcomers, what makes Charlotte distinctive from other cities and the process of writing a book.This episode is sponsored by HopeWay, a nonprofit mental health organization offering life-changing treatment and education. On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, HopeWay is hosting an evening with Alexi Pappas, an acclaimed Olympian, bestselling author and filmmaker, who will share her story of mental resilience and the lessons she learned along the way. To purchase tickets, visit hopeway.org.This podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Effective leadership is key to building a thriving work environment and driving team success. Paulette Ashlin, founder and president of Ashlin Associates, is an executive and business coach with a knack for transforming workplace dynamics. With a career spanning various industries, she works to help leaders and teams thrive.In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ashlin talks with The Ledger's Tony Mecia about the art of effective leadership and positive accountability. She shares insights and leadership tips from her latest book, “Five Actions of Positive Accountability,” explaining how clear expectations, constructive feedback and understanding individual motivations can significantly boost team performance.She also discusses the importance of emotional intelligence and adaptive communication, the 360-degree feedback process, how to have hard conversations, challenges of accountability, feedback techniques leaders can employ in their workplace and generational differences in what employees might need.This episode is sponsored by HopeWay, a nonprofit mental health organization offering life-changing treatment and education. On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, HopeWay is hosting an evening with Alexi Pappas, an acclaimed Olympian, bestselling author and filmmaker, who will share her story of mental resilience and the lessons she learned along the way. To purchase tickets, visit hopeway.org.This podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

What started as a small Charlotte restaurant in 1977 has since grown into a beloved brand with over 800 locations across 17 states, known for its fried chicken, biscuits and sweet tea.That's right, today we're talking about Bojangles.In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger editor Tony Mecia talks with Bojangles' chief marketing officer Tom Boland about how the chicken chain stays relevant in a fiercely competitive industry, how it innovates its menu and the thinking behind its expansion beyond the Southeast.We talk Bo-Berries, sports marketing, customer menu hacks that evolved into menu items, the "Bo-linda" AI drive-thru chatbot, UNC Chapel Hill's "biscuit boys," tailgating strategy, data analytics in fast food, the power of the WWE and many other intriguing topics.This podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

The state of Charlotte's beer scene, with The Charlotte LEdger's Tony Mecia; Hornets' PA voice passes away.

As chair of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Planning Commission, Douglas Welton has a front-row seat to the complexities of Charlotte's rapid growth. In his role, he faces the challenges and opportunities presented by the city's expansion, engaging with developers, city staff and residents alike.Welton's tenure has been marked by a focus on increasing housing supply, advocating for density in appropriate areas and fostering community involvement. His vision for Charlotte's future is one of thoughtful growth, ensuring that the city remains vibrant and inclusive while addressing the practical realities of urban expansion.On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Welton talks with the Ledger's Tony Mecia about Charlotte's rapid growth, affordable housing challenges, transportation issues, public safety and future planning strategies to ensure balanced development and community well-being.This podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.Today's episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by SouthPark Community Partners, an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead SouthPark's advancement by driving economic vitality, creating memorable experiences, and ensuring an extraordinary quality of life.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

The city of Charlotte has struck a deal with Tepper Sports and Entertainment on funding renovations at Bank of America Stadium, the home to the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC. The city, which would spend $650 million in tourism tax money for the project, says the deal makes smart business sense because the stadium is responsible for more than $1 billion annually in economic impact to the Charlotte region.This newsy and bonus episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast examines the economic effects of sports stadiums, in a conversation with Fred Smith, an economics professor at Davidson College. He teaches courses on urban and public economics, as well as sports economics and American economic history. He spoke with The Ledger's Tony Mecia shortly after the deal was announced in early June 2024.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger and sign up for our newsletters at TheCharlotteLedger.com. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Imagine strolling down a vibrant street, filled with neighbors stopping by a community farmer's market, admiring local artwork or grabbing lunch at a food truck. That's SouthPark Community Partners's vision for the SouthPark area in south Charlotte.In April 2024, SouthPark Community Partners released a comprehensive vision plan aimed at enhancing SouthPark's economic vitality and quality of life. The plan, developed through extensive community engagement, outlines 64 projects to shape SouthPark's future over the next decade. The goal is to transform SouthPark into a cohesive, engaging environment where residents and visitors can thrive.On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, SouthPark Community Partners CEO Adam Rhew talks with The Ledger's Tony Mecia about the vision plan and what residents can expect to see in the future.You can find out more about SouthPark Community Partners at southparkclt.org .This podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.Today's episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by SouthPark Community Partners, an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead SouthPark's advancement by driving economic vitality, creating memorable experiences, and ensuring an extraordinary quality of life.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Charlotte is a fast-growing city. And it's also one of the lowest-density major cities in the U.S. What are the implications of that? And what moves should Charlotte make to accommodate all these newcomers?In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, we talk with Shannon Binns, executive director of Sustain Charlotte. It's a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for sustainable development and urban issues in the Charlotte region. Binns founded the nonprofit in 2010 with a focus on equitable growth, transportation diversity and community livability.He and Ledger editor Tony Mecia discuss the city's transit plan, Charlotte's historic reliance on cars, changes in local land-use planning and more.Today's episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by SouthPark Community Partners, an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead SouthPark's advancement by driving economic vitality, creating memorable experiences, and ensuring an extraordinary quality of life.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Aleksandra Degernes is the visionary founder of the Eastern European Business Network in Charlotte. Originally from Russia, Alexandra immigrated to the United States in 2013 and quickly recognized the need to unite and empower Eastern European professionals and entrepreneurs in her new community.With a background in event production and a passion for fostering connections, Alexandra has led the Eastern European Business Network in providing invaluable resources, networking opportunities and advocacy for its members.On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Degernes discusses Charlotte's growing Eastern European community, her personal journey of immigration to the United States and settling in Charlotte, and what it's like being a Russian-American in the current geopolitical climate.On May 30, 2024, The Eastern European Business Network is holding its first major event, called "The Power of Networking." You can find out more about the organization at eebn.org.Today's episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by SouthPark Community Partners, an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead SouthPark's advancement by driving economic vitality, creating memorable experiences, and ensuring an extraordinary quality of life.This episode was hosted by Ledger executive editor Tony Mecia.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Who's going to live in all these apartments, with The Charlotte Ledger's Tony Mecia; SEED20 is coming; CPCC enrollment up.

*Includes sponsored content Election analysis with Tony Mecia from Charlotte Ledger; longtime WBTV anchor removed abruptly; new exhibit at Levine Museum of the New South.

Amy Hillis is the co-founder of Social Pet Hotel and Daycare, a pet care company with two locations in Charlotte and one location in Pineville. Hillis started the business with her husband, Bill, in 2014 to offer customized, high-end care for Charlotte's pets, including daycare, boarding and grooming.In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Hillis talks about her journey as an entrepreneur in the pet care industry and the evolving landscape of pet care in Charlotte.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.For more information about Social Pet Hotel and Daycare, visit SocialPetHotel.com.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Ledger executive editor Tony Mecia and produced by Ledger staff writer Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

For the March 2024 primary election in Mecklenburg County, what is on the Republican ballot? What do voters need to know?In this special express version of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, editor Tony Mecia talks with Republican former Charlotte City Council member Kenny Smith and Ledger elections researcher Sucharita Kodali about the candidates for office — who they are, why they say they're running and how the races are shaping up.And we do it all in under 12 minutes.We'll give you the overview you need to be informed about races for U.S. Congress, governor and the N.C. Council of State and the General Assembly.For more information about the 2024 elections, check out the Charlotte Ledger Election Hub, with candidate biographies, videos, questionnaires and links to articles and resources — for the Democratic and Republican primary ballots.Election Day is March 5, 2024. Early voting runs through March 2, 2024.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

For the March 2024 primary election in Mecklenburg County, what is on the Democratic ballot? What do voters need to know?In this special express version of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, editor Tony Mecia talks with Bryan Holladay of CLT Public Relations and Ledger elections researcher Sucharita Kodali about the candidates for office — who they are, why they say they're running and how the races are shaping up.We'll give you the overview you need to be informed about races for county commissioner, the General Assembly, U.S. Congress and the N.C. Council of State.For more information about the 2024 elections, check out the Charlotte Ledger Election Hub, with candidate biographies, videos, questionnaires and links to articles and resources — for the Democratic and Republican primary ballots.Election Day is March 5, 2024. Early voting runs through March 2, 2024.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Office space vacancies spread across Charlotte; Charlotte ledger's Tony Mecia on if Charlotte's commercial space growth is an illusion; a lost dog story for the ages.

Josh Jacobson is the founder and CEO of Next Stage, a Charlotte based social impact consulting firm that works with nonprofits. Next Stage operates The UnFundable Project, an initiative that raises awareness about a concept called trust-based philanthropy. The Charlotte Ledger is a media partner for the initiative.In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Jacobson shares his insights on how nonprofits operate, what trust-based philanthropy is, and what the Unfundable Project is doing for Charlotte.The Charlotte Ledger wrote about some of these trends in a recent article, "New twist on charitable giving: trust."Find out more about The UnFundable Project, including a February 2024 celebration, go to https://nextstage-consulting.com/unfundable/.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Ledger executive editor Tony Mecia and produced by Ledger staff writer Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Banking, leadership and philanthropy have always been intertwined in Charlotte, and we explore that history and those connections in a conversation with Dee O'Dell, head of business banking sales at U.S. Bank, which is the fifth-largest bank in the country. O'Dell is based in Charlotte, where U.S. Bank has about 1, 200 employees, and his division serves customers nationally that have between $2.5 million and $25 million in annual sales.O'Dell has served in multiple community roles, including chairman of the United Way of Greater Charlotte board of directors and co-chair of the Opportunity Task Force, which examined ways to improve economic mobility.In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, O'Dell shares his insights about Charlotte's banking sector, the evolution of banking in Charlotte, the changing landscape of leadership and philanthropy, U.S. Bank's growth in the city, and where the economy appears headed.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Ledger executive editor Tony Mecia and produced by Ledger staff writer Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Kristen Wile is the founder of Unpretentious Palate, a subscription-based publication that covers Charlotte's dining and drinking scene. Unpretentious Palate focuses on in-depth coverage, including executive chef changes, restaurant openings/closings and detailed restaurant reviews.In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Wile talks with Ledger editor Tony Mecia about Charlotte's evolving restaurant scene and the challenges of providing independent coverage of restaurants in an era dominated by social media and influencers. She also shares tips on how to find high-quality local restaurants and provides a few recommendations of underrated spots.For more information about Unpretentious Palate, go to UnpretentiousPalate.com.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Ledger executive editor Tony Mecia and produced by Ledger staff writer Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

In a special mini-podcast that clocks in at an easy-to-listen-to 8.5 minutes, we discuss the 2023 CMS school construction bonds that are on the ballot in Mecklenburg County. What do they do? Why do supporters say they are needed, and why are some people opposed? What would be the effect on taxes?Ledger editor Tony Mecia answers these questions and others, based on his reporting on the issue.For more information about the 2023 elections, check out the Charlotte Ledger Election Hub, with candidate biographies, videos, questionnaires and links to articles and resources.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks. Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

In a special mini-podcast that's under 10 minutes, we discuss candidates running for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education in 2023: Who are they? Why are they running? What's at stake?There are 14 candidates running for 3 seats. Ledger editor Tony Mecia discusses the race with WFAE's Ann Doss Helms and Ledger elections researcher Sucharita Kodali.For more information about the 2023 elections, check out the Charlotte Ledger Election Hub, with candidate biographies, videos, questionnaires and links to articles and resources.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks. Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

In a special mini-podcast that's less than 10 minutes, we discuss candidates running for Charlotte City Council and Charlotte mayor in 2023: Who are they? Why are they running? How could Charlotte's city government change?Ledger editor Tony Mecia discusses the election with Charlotte Public Relations' Bryan Holladay and Ledger elections researcher Sucharita Kodali.For more information about the 2023 elections, check out the Charlotte Ledger Election Hub, with candidate biographies, videos, questionnaires and links to articles and resources.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks. Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

On May 18, 2023, a fire broke out at a construction site in SouthPark that took the lives of two construction workers, Demonte Sherrill and Reuben Holmes. Charlotte TV station WBTV obtained videos, pictures, interviews and records from the Charlotte Fire Department's file, and released a special report called “WBTV Investigates: Fire and Failure” in September that digs into the May 18 fire and its causes.On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, The Ledger's Tony Mecia talks with WBTV investigative reporter David Hodges about what WBTV discovered in its investigation and what went into the reporting process — and how much of a problem this might be at construction sites in the Charlotte region.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Ledger editor Tony Mecia and produced by Ledger staff writer Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Restaurants look a lot different than they did a couple decades ago, with restaurant owners preferring open floor plans, using outdoor space like never before and placing the kitchen at the center of the action. In a conversation with The Charlotte Ledger's Tony Mecia, Jason Hlewicki of the construction firm Swinerton discusses trends in the restaurant industry in Charlotte and the Carolinas.He discusses the evolution of Charlotte's dining scene, how restaurant design has changed, and the outlook for different types of restaurants in the Carolinas — as well as the status of the construction industry.Swinterton is based in California with regional offices in Charlotte, Raleigh, Atlanta, and other cities.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Ledger editor Tony Mecia and produced by Ledger staff writer Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Charlotte-Douglas International Airport is the 7th-busiest in the world in terms of takeoffs and landings. It handles more than 118,000 passengers a day. But it's not done growing. Not even close. In this episode, Stuart Hair of the airport and aviation design expert Ben Goebel of architecture firm Gresham Smith discuss CLT's plans for growth over the coming decades.They discuss the latest on the renovation and expansion of the airport's main terminal, Concourse A, a new runway, development around the airport, the iconic rocking chairs, how to solve congestion on concourses B and C — and what's coming next.Hair and Goebel are two of the speakers at the South Charlotte Partners Regional Transportation Summit on September 11, 2023, at The Ballantyne hotel. It brings together policymakers from federal, state and local government to discuss transportation and mobility in the Charlotte region. You can find out more and get tickets here. (The Ledger's Transit Time newsletter is the media partner of the event.)Today's conversation is with Tony Mecia of The Charlotte Ledger. The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks. You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger and subscribe to our newsletters here. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Artificial intelligence has been getting a lot of buzz in recent months — and Lauren Marturano has a front-row seat on how it works and where it is heading. She's the founder and CEO of Zinnia, a tech platform that helps businesses plan events, and some of the software is powered by AI.In a conversation with The Ledger's Tony Mecia, Marturano discusses her experience building a tech company in Charlotte, the challenges facing women in the tech industry and advances in AI that are improving companies' productivity. This episode is part of The Ledger's “Faces of AI” series, an up-close look at Charlotte-area people and businesses that are using artificial intelligence.“This is a huge, pivotal moment for technology, and probably the biggest one we'll see in our lifetime,” Marturano says. “… AI is going to totally transform the way that businesses run and operate. Companies that don't adapt to using AI, I think, are going to fall pretty far behind.”You can find out more about her company, Zinnia, at getzinnia.com.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Ledger editor Tony Mecia. It is produced by Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

It's probably more than fair to say that “traditional media,” like the kind our parents used to know, is a thing of the past. Newspaper subscriptions have dwindled for years… TV news is a shell of what it was in its prime. And car makers may not even include the AM band on the radio. Sorry folks, your Facebook news feed is NOT the actual news. And what's left of the “news” is arguably entertainment at best, and loaded with pop-up ads. So where do you turn if you want to know what's REALLY going on?? One local journalist decided to answer that question with a question: Would people be willing to subscribe to a newsletter that was JUST the local news?? Tony Mecia is the executive editor of the Charlotte Ledger. He's our guest today on the BrandBuilders podcast!

Oscar Wong was born to Chinese immigrants in Jamaica. After an engineering career, including a stint in Charlotte, he retired to Asheville and started the city's first brewery since Prohibition. Today, Highland Brewing is North Carolina's largest brewer, and Wong has become known as the state's "godfather of craft beer."He turned over operation of Highland Brewing to his daughter in 2015 and is now mostly retired. In May 2023, he was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina's highest civilian honor.In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Wong discusses his remarkable background, from Jamaica to the U.S. to Asheville, as well as the history of craft beer in North Carolina, his role in shaping the beer industry in the Southeast, and where he sees the craft beer industry going in the future.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Ledger editor Tony Mecia. It is produced by Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

In 2014, a national study ranked Charlotte 50th out of the 50 largest metro areas in the United States in economic mobility — meaning that many of those born into poverty in Charlotte were likely to stay in poverty. It was a wake-up call, and Charlotte's large corporations, nonprofits and government mobilized to tackle the problem. Now, nearly 10 years later, how is Charlotte doing?Sherri Chisolm, executive director of Leading on Opportunity, discusses Charlotte's economic mobility efforts with Charlotte Ledger editor Tony Mecia. They discuss what's being done to improve economic mobility, how to measure progress and how to keep the city focused on a generations-long journey.You can find out more about Leading on Opportunity at www.leadingonopportunity.org.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Ledger editor Tony Mecia. It is produced by Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Finding the right healthcare coverage for your workers can be complex and confusing, and costs are expected to continue to rise. So how can employers navigate that challenge? The Charlotte Ledger's Tony Mecia talks with Catapult's Martha Barker about strategies for providing coverage and finding the best options for employees.This podcast is an audio version of the “Business Toolbox Series,” a webinar collaboration between The Ledger and Catapult to provide practical and useful advice to small- and mid-sized businesses.This is the recording of a webinar on May 24, 2023. It is the third of three. The first one on the topic of avoiding legal headaches is available as a podcast. So is the second one, on recruiting and retaining workers.Find out more about Catapult at LetsCatapult.org. Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

The job market is tight — and is expected to continue to be. So how can employers find and retain their best workers? The Charlotte Ledger's Tony Mecia talks with Catapult's Kendra Stewart about strategies for recruiting and keeping top talent, the importance of company culture and amenities and the shifting generational expectations in the workplace.This podcast is an audio version of the “Business Toolbox Series,” a webinar collaboration between The Ledger and Catapult to provide practical and useful advice to small- and mid-sized businesses.This is the recording of a webinar on May 17, 2023. It is the second of three. For more information or to register for them, check out this link.You can also enjoy this episode as a YouTube video.Find out more about Catapult at LetsCatapult.org. Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

It's a challenging time for employers these days — what's the best advice for dealing with common human resources challenges? The Charlotte Ledger's Tony Mecia talks with Catapult's Stephanie Dillon about tips for employers on topics including handling discipline and layoffs, hybrid and remote work and supporting employees' mental health.This podcast is an audio version of the “Business Toolbox Series,” a webinar collaboration between The Ledger and Catapult to provide practical and useful advice to small- and mid-sized businesses.This is the recording of a webinar on May 10, 2023. It is the first of three: the others are on May 17, 2023, and May 24, 2023. For more information or to register for them, check out this link.You can also enjoy this episode as a YouTube video.Find out more about Catapult at LetsCatapult.org. Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.org.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Commercial real estate has been falling on hard times lately — but one of its bright spots is the development of medical office buildings, because of the steady demand for healthcare. Brannen Edge, CEO of Charlotte-based Flagship Healthcare Properties, talks with Charlotte Ledger editor Tony Mecia about some of the factors affecting the sector, including the rise of telehealth, changing demographics in the Southeast, healthcare consolidation and the latest design trends in medical offices.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

As part of the 4th anniversary of the launch of The Charlotte Ledger, The Ledger's Tony Mecia and Cristina Bolling discuss company's origins, how Charlotte journalism has changed over the past 25 years and where The Ledger fits into the future of journalism.This podcast is hosted by Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation and Arbitration and Tim Whitmire of CXN Advisory.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Charlotte Ledger managing editor Cristina Bolling. It is produced by Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

As Charlotte FC starts its second season, it is hoping to keep the momentum going from its successful first year, in which it exceeded expectations and nearly made the playoffs. The team's sporting director, Zoran Krneta, shares his philosophy on building a roster. He also recalls some the poignant moments surrounding the tragic death of Anton Walkes in a boating accident this preseason — and explains how it is bringing the team closer together.Krneta discusses how he and others built the team and its outlook for 2023 with The Charlotte Ledger's Carroll Walton and Tony Mecia. You can keep up with Charlotte FC by reading The Ledger's weekly Fútbol Friday newsletter.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

In the 1980s, a handful of local business leaders known as "The Group" would meet to discuss their vision for turning Charlotte into a modern and thriving "New South" city. And they made it happen. Today, the influence of businesses on Charlotte's direction has waned, and decision-making on big issues is more fractured.Longtime Charlotte journalist Jim Morrill discusses "The Group" and its legacy, which he explored in the February 2023 cover article in Charlotte magazine entitled "Who's in Charge in Charlotte?" Morrill retired in 2021 after a 40-year career at The Charlotte Observer, where he covered politics and government. He and Charlotte Ledger editor Tony Mecia discuss downtown development, the origins of Charlotte's "world-class city" focus, the influence of the business community and how big decisions are made today.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Have you ever thought people aged 40+ should be identified and recognized for their good work? Yeah, we did, too — so much that we started The Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards, which celebrate people who are making our community better and who are aged 40 and up.In this special episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Charlotte Ledger editors Tony Mecia and Cristina Bolling explain the whys and hows of the 40 Over 40 Awards, which are now in their 4th year and culminate with a fun 1980s-themed party in April. They are interviewed by Tim Whitmire of CXN Advisory and Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation and Arbitration.For more information on the Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards, Presented by U.S. Bank, go to Ledger40Over40.com.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

As we enter 2023, there are big question marks about the future of the U.S. economy. What will happen with inflation, jobs, stocks and the housing market? A panel of experts broke down those topics and more in a Jan. 4, 2023, online forum called “Taking the Air Out of Inflation: 2023 Economic Outlook.” The panel is presented by Davidson College and U.S. Bank, and the moderator is Charlotte Ledger editor Tony Mecia.Panelists are Eric Freedman, chief investment officer at U.S. Bank Asset Management Group; Siobhan O'Keefe, assistant professor of economics at Davidson College; Matt Phillips, financial markets correspondent for Axios; and Jennifer Streaks, senior personal finance reporter for Insider.You can watch a video of the discussion, with captions, here.For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

If a big transit plan for Charlotte is going to happen, it's going to take a regional approach. And Geraldine Gardner, executive director of the Centralina Regional Council, has been working on a regional approach to Charlotte-area transit since 2019.Last year, the Centralina Regional Council and the Metropolitan Transit Commission released Connect Beyond, a regional mobility plan that offers a vision of for improving transit and transportation in the 12-county Charlotte region. It produced more than 150 recommendations that will serve as a blueprint for improving connectivity over the next couple decades.The Charlotte Ledger's Tony Mecia talked with Gardner about the vision for a regional transit system — and how to get there.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger, or sign up for our award-winning newsletters, at TheCharlotteLedger.com. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Marjorie Molina wasn't expecting to run for political office. But when a vacancy opened on the Charlotte City Council and friends suggested she give it a try, she went for it.Some parts of running a political campaign didn't come naturally, like fundraising. But it worked: She beat four opponents in a May 2022 primary and was sworn in representing Charlotte's eastside in September 2022.Molina, 42, spoke with The Ledger's Tony Mecia about her journey from citizen to politician, what it's like being a council member, what she hopes to accomplish in her time on council, and what the future looks like for east Charlotte.The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.For more information or to sign up for The Charlotte Ledger's newsletters, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

From a new medical school to changes at doctors' offices, there's plenty happening in health care in the Charlotte region. Ledger editor Tony Mecia talks with Rose Hoban of North Carolina Health News and longtime Charlotte reporter and editor Michelle Crouch about an innovative new partnership between The Ledger and North Carolina Health News that will enhance the public's understanding of health care and the local institutions that deliver it.The joint effort is a creative solution by two digital media companies to keep the public informed, as many legacy news outlets have cut back on independent local reporting — and as large health care companies continue to grow in size and influence.We examine the initiative and discuss Charlotte's health care scene, the outlook for local news and how experienced health writers find and report stories.The Charlotte Ledger podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.—➡️ To donate tax-free to support the Charlotte health care reporting initiative: https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/donate_clt/Need to sign up for this e-newsletter? We offer a free version, as well as paid memberships for full access to all 4 of our local newsletters:➡️ Opt in or out of different newsletters on your “My Account” page.➡️ Learn more about The Charlotte LedgerThe Charlotte Ledger is a locally owned media company that delivers smart and essential news through e-newsletters and on a website. We strive for fairness and accuracy and will correct all known errors. The content reflects the independent editorial judgment of The Charlotte Ledger. Any advertising, paid marketing, or sponsored content will be clearly labeled.Like what we are doing? Feel free to forward this along and to tell a friend.Social media: On Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.Sponsorship information/customer service: email support@cltledger.com.Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Contributing editor: Tim Whitmire, CXN Advisory; Contributing photographer/videographer: Kevin Young, The 5 and 2 Project Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

There are a lot of questions in Charlotte these days about the future of work: remote work, hybrid work, office layouts, companies' office needs — especially in light of the decision by health insurer Centene to back out of a huge planned East Coast headquarters in Charlotte's University City area. Brett Gray, managing principal of Cushman & Wakefield's Charlotte office, discusses the market for office space in the city with The Ledger's Tony Mecia. Will developers build more office towers in Charlotte? Will companies slash their square footage? What amenities do companies look for nowadays? We examine all that and more in an insightful 15-minute interview. Get full access to The Charlotte Ledger at charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe

Tony Mecia of the Charlotte Ledger joins Pete to talk about the amount of growth in the Queen City, and discusses how the housing market here has handled the influx of people moving to Charlotte.  Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/petekalinershow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(^ You can listen to Ledger editor Tony Mecia read this letter to readers by clicking above) Dear Ledger reader:It's the end of 2021, the time of the year when organizations look back and look ahead.At The Ledger, we'll try to spare you the overly sappy reflections, but we do think it's healthy to share with our readers what we've done and where we're heading. We can exist only because of our readers' support, so we think you deserve periodic updates on how our business is doing.The short version: In 2021, we continued growing, with more paying members climbing aboard, more people hearing about us and more efforts on our part to experiment with new things that readers might like. We plan to keep that up in 2022.The longer version: Man, we did a lot. We sent 292 email newsletters, broke a ton of news, highlighted trends and introduced you to fascinating people in our city. We are pretty sure we made you smarter and better-informed.Some of the work we are most proud of includes:Investigations: We shared some ambitious investigative pieces, including in-depth looks at the sexual assault allegations at Myers Park High, an unexpected $10,000 colonoscopy bill from Atrium Health, the decline of the Arts & Science Council and the trend toward replacing pediatricians with nurses in hospital nurseries.New newsletters: We started 2 new newsletters this year — Ways of Life (obituaries); and Transit Time, in conjunction with WFAE and UNC Charlotte's Urban Institute. Not to brag (too much), but Transit Time was named “Best Local Newsletter” by Queen City Nerve and won a national award from our trade group, Local Independent Online News (LION), for “Collaboration of the Year.”Trends: Because we are connected to Charlotte, we clued you in to interesting and important trends before they became widely apparent. Supply chain disruptions? We looked into the causes months before politicians made it a talking point. Book shortages? We told you about them two weeks before the New York Times. Wild bidding wars for houses? We shared Realtors' eye-opening stories a week before The Wall Street Journal had the same idea. And when teens started stocking up on feta cheese in February because of a TikTok video, guess which local newsletter was ON IT — two weeks before The New York Times took note.The Ledger displayed plenty of range in 2021. Clockwise, from upper left: Midnight hockey in Pineville; J.T. Williams, one of N.C.'s first Black surgeons, who became a politician and diplomat; feta cheese supplies running low in February; the prototype of a drive-thru-only Bojangles in Cotswold; analysis of enrollment declines at south Charlotte public schools; a financial salesman who pursued his dream of opening an east Charlotte reptile shop; the bread-only “Sandwiche” from the fictional Breadland restaurant in our April Fools' edition; pickleball action heats up among newly vaccinated Sun City residents.Interesting people: We introduced you to Charlotte people with stories to tell and lessons to share, including an Atrium Covid ICU nurse who experienced the pandemic through different eyes when her grandmother became ill with the virus; newly vaccinated seniors in Sun City who were happy to resume playing pickleball and attending Saturday night '60s dance parties again; a Broadway fan who received a get-well video message from Lin-Manuel Miranda; investors who put money into tech company AvidXchange and waited 20 years to reap big windfalls; and relocated Northerners who play hockey at midnight in Pineville.Interviews: We gave you Q&As with well-known and fascinating Charlotte people, including former Bank of America CEO Hugh McColl Jr.; former mayors Sue Myrick and Harvey Gantt; the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art's new executive director, Todd Smith; Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's new CEO, Marcellus “MT” Turner; and basketball broadcast analyst Jay Bilas.Growth and development: The story of Charlotte is the story of growth, and we have continued to offer unparalleled and authoritative local coverage of this important topic — from insights on the 2040 Comprehensive Plan; to development trends in Sugar Creek, NoDa, west Charlotte, Ballantyne, SouthPark and University City; to repeated scoops on land deals and development plans and, of course, our popular monthly listing of Charlotte's rezoning petitions

Human Touch - Community Voice Award - Tony Mecia of the Charlotte Ledger

Here we are at the first episode of the Steve Dunn Podcast. Bear with me as I figure out how to do this, including now, as I type this, as you read this, my first show notes. https://charlotteledger.substack.com/p/why-i-started-the-ledger (Tony Mecia) is an old friend and the founder of https://charlotteledger.substack.com/ (The Charlotte Ledger), an essential email newsletter bringing you information you don't already know about local news, business, and the personalities that define our city. I asked him to be my first guest on this podcast because I genuinely admire the work he does. I also figured since we know each other, and our wives know each other, he would have to say yes. And he did! Like any new venture, The Charlotte Ledger is a work in progress. Tony and https://charlotteledger.substack.com/p/why-i-joined-the-ledger (Cristina Bolling), the Ledger's Managing Editor, are constantly working to improve their product and try new things. It is no surprise they are enjoying success, growing a substantial subscriber base in just a couple years. Tony and I talk about his career in journalism, his founding of The Ledger, and we dig deep into the choices he and Cristina have made in producing a newsletter that is timely and relevant, yet refreshingly free of clickbait, sensationalism, and political pandering characterizing so much of the ad-driven digital media landscape. Subscribe to The Charlotte Ledger https://charlotteledger.substack.com/ (here). It's free! If you enjoy it as much as I do, you will find the paid subscription options offer additional quality content at a reasonable price.

www.f3nation.com

Last week, we hosted a workshop with Tony Mecia of The Charlotte Ledger to discuss covering local news on Substack. Tony worked in journalism as the business reporter and editor with the Charlotte Observer before he decided to strike it out on his own. He started The Charlotte Ledger and grew it the old-fashioned way, building relationships locally and relying on word-of-mouth from friends. Today, The Charlotte Ledger is a thriving business with a team of freelancers and regular contributors.Writers like Tony have paved the way for independent local news on Substack. In our workshop, we brought together the greater community of local news writers to learn from Tony's experience and absorb best practices for local news publishing on Substack.  Hamish McKenzie, the co-founder of Substack and a writer himself, hosted the interview with Tony and discussed his journey publishing, growing, and going paid. At the end of this post, we also share Tony's quick tips for polishing your newsletter.The interview has been edited for length. You can listen to the full interview as a podcast in this post. To sign up for future writer interviews and workshops, head here. Why do you care so deeply about local news?My background is in local news. I worked as an editor and reporter here in Charlotte for more than 10 years. I saw the connections that you can make here reporting, and how important it is to have somebody in your local community who is watching out for citizens, not paid for by marketing or advertising, and who can actually report honestly and straightforwardly. We've lost that, especially in smaller to mid-sized markets like Charlotte. As local news in Charlotte weakened, I started looking at my options. I wasn't going to move somewhere else. I don't want to move to Washington or New York for a job in journalism. I've lived here for more than 20 years. My home is in Charlotte and I care about Charlotte. So I thought, well, maybe I can start something.At this time, there were a lot of national newsletters – Morning Brew, The Hustle – but there weren't a whole lot of folks using the newsletter format as a vehicle to report original local news.Tell me about the moment you decided to go independent. What were you most nervous about?The difference between writing nationally and locally is that your potential audience is a lot smaller when local. If I'm writing about cybersecurity or technology or national politics, the whole country may read that. Charlotte's a city of about 900,000 people in a county of 1.1 million in a region of 2.3 million. But I just thought, let's try it. I started in March of 2019. The first editions went to 12 friends and family members. My mom was very happy to get it. I posted it on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, since our focus is business-adjacent news in Charlotte. I asked that folks read, and if they liked the writing, that they please tell people about it. I had no idea what was going to happen. What I found was the readership just kept growing. The total list is just a very steady upward line. That made me think, okay, I've got something here. We were publishing three mornings a week, and it was all free at that point. How did it feel making the leap to paying subscribers?The Charlotte Ledger was free for almost an entire year. The typical advice from Substack is to wait three months, or less in some cases, before going paid. But I was nervous that our growth would slow down once because we'd be putting a lot of writing out for paid subscribers that would no longer be shareable.That actually hasn't been true. That first day when we turned on the paid subscriptions, I expected that a handful of people would sign up, but money just started pouring in. It was a few thousand dollars, and I thought, wow, this actually resonates with people. People are willing to pay for this.It was a tremendous feeling. It wasn't as if it was so much money that I could retire, but it was a good feeling to know that what you're producing is worth something to somebody.If I had to do it over again, we probably wouldn't have waited an entire year before turning on paid subscriptions. That hesitancy was just because of my nervousness. Waiting a year, with no income, with no revenue coming in is a long time. It worked out – my wife works, and we had some severance from a previous job and all that – but in hindsight, we should have turned on paid a little faster.Why did you decide to cover business news rather than just local news in Charlotte?I'm not opposed to doing local news, and we do a fair amount of general news, but our theory has always been that we want to do writing that's better than what's already in Charlotte, and we want to do writing that's different than what's already in Charlotte.The number of business reporters here in Charlotte had declined, and I saw an opening content-wise. My background was in business news. It's something that I knew and felt comfortable covering. There's a pretty big market for it in Charlotte. We're a business town with banks and tech companies. It's a pretty big city. Business writing also has the advantage that if the newsletter is useful to an employee, they can charge the subscription cost to their company as a business expense. What wisdom can you pass on to other local news writers who are considering Substack?Two things. First, it's hard for journalists whose background is in reporting a story to all of a sudden have to think like a business person. But you need to think about your audience. There's a temptation with local journalism to think, “I'm writing about Charlotte, so anybody in Charlotte is going to be interested in it.” To succeed, you'll need to hone that down a little bit more. Ask: Who are you trying to appeal to? And how will you find them? You need to think strategically about who the people are who are most likely to read your work, then determine where they hang out physically or online and how you could reach them where they are. Use your marketing or business brain on those strategy questions.Second, you're not alone. I've gotten a lot of good advice from fellow local news writers – City Hall Watcher in Toronto, The Mill in England. I'm not saying that we've got all the answers, but we've done this for longer than most people in the local news space on Substack. Steal good ideas from other people.Tony's quick tips for local news writersDon't overthink your paid vs. free strategy. The Charlotte Ledger has days of the week where their posts are free. Their “paid days” are Wednesdays and Fridays. On occasion, they cover free topics that may be outside their publication scope because the team believes they may be shareable.Let free readers know what they are missing. For every paid post, The Charlotte Ledger sends out a shorter “teaser” version to their free subscribers. If free subscribers want to read the rest, they need to subscribe. Because of this tactic, The Charlotte Ledger sees new subscriptions even on “paid days.” Include guidance about subscribing at the top of every email. “Although we don't want to be ‘annoying,' we do have to think like a business.”To promote locally, consider partnerships. There are no magic growth hacks with local news. Instead, you'll need to do a lot of little promotions consistently. Partner with a variety of people in your community to get in front of different groups. Tony has partnered with Charlotte's local radio station, local Facebook Groups, and even hosted an awards show to ensure members of his community bump into The Charlotte Ledger. 10,000 readers is a useful benchmark. If you believe you can build a list of 10,000 free readers, you have a strong chance of converting 10% (1,000) of those people into paid subscribers. That's enough to support a livelihood.Hoping for more tips on how to start a local news publication on Substack? Check out our comprehensive playbook here. Spotlight On is a series of live events hosted by Substack. The goal is to learn from writers across categories who have experienced success on Substack. Join us for our next Spotlight On: Fiction with Elle Griffin. Thank you for subscribing. Share this episode.

Last week, we hosted a workshop with Tony Mecia of The Charlotte Ledger to discuss covering local news on Substack. Tony worked in journalism as the business reporter and editor with the Charlotte Observer before he decided to strike it out on his own. He started The Charlotte Ledger and grew it the old-fashioned way, building relationships locally and relying on word-of-mouth from friends. Today, The Charlotte Ledger is a thriving business with a team of freelancers and regular contributors.Writers like Tony have paved the way for independent local news on Substack. In our workshop, we brought together the greater community of local news writers to learn from Tony’s experience and absorb best practices for local news publishing on Substack.  Hamish McKenzie, the co-founder of Substack and a writer himself, hosted the interview with Tony and discussed his journey publishing, growing, and going paid. At the end of this post, we also share Tony’s quick tips for polishing your newsletter.The interview has been edited for length. You can listen to the full interview as a podcast in this post. To sign up for future writer interviews and workshops, head here. Why do you care so deeply about local news?My background is in local news. I worked as an editor and reporter here in Charlotte for more than 10 years. I saw the connections that you can make here reporting, and how important it is to have somebody in your local community who is watching out for citizens, not paid for by marketing or advertising, and who can actually report honestly and straightforwardly. We've lost that, especially in smaller to mid-sized markets like Charlotte. As local news in Charlotte weakened, I started looking at my options. I wasn’t going to move somewhere else. I don't want to move to Washington or New York for a job in journalism. I've lived here for more than 20 years. My home is in Charlotte and I care about Charlotte. So I thought, well, maybe I can start something.At this time, there were a lot of national newsletters – Morning Brew, The Hustle – but there weren't a whole lot of folks using the newsletter format as a vehicle to report original local news.Tell me about the moment you decided to go independent. What were you most nervous about?The difference between writing nationally and locally is that your potential audience is a lot smaller when local. If I'm writing about cybersecurity or technology or national politics, the whole country may read that. Charlotte's a city of about 900,000 people in a county of 1.1 million in a region of 2.3 million. But I just thought, let’s try it. I started in March of 2019. The first editions went to 12 friends and family members. My mom was very happy to get it. I posted it on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, since our focus is business-adjacent news in Charlotte. I asked that folks read, and if they liked the writing, that they please tell people about it. I had no idea what was going to happen. What I found was the readership just kept growing. The total list is just a very steady upward line. That made me think, okay, I've got something here. We were publishing three mornings a week, and it was all free at that point. How did it feel making the leap to paying subscribers?The Charlotte Ledger was free for almost an entire year. The typical advice from Substack is to wait three months, or less in some cases, before going paid. But I was nervous that our growth would slow down once because we'd be putting a lot of writing out for paid subscribers that would no longer be shareable.That actually hasn't been true. That first day when we turned on the paid subscriptions, I expected that a handful of people would sign up, but money just started pouring in. It was a few thousand dollars, and I thought, wow, this actually resonates with people. People are willing to pay for this.It was a tremendous feeling. It wasn’t as if it was so much money that I could retire, but it was a good feeling to know that what you're producing is worth something to somebody.If I had to do it over again, we probably wouldn’t have waited an entire year before turning on paid subscriptions. That hesitancy was just because of my nervousness. Waiting a year, with no income, with no revenue coming in is a long time. It worked out – my wife works, and we had some severance from a previous job and all that – but in hindsight, we should have turned on paid a little faster.Why did you decide to cover business news rather than just local news in Charlotte?I'm not opposed to doing local news, and we do a fair amount of general news, but our theory has always been that we want to do writing that's better than what's already in Charlotte, and we want to do writing that's different than what's already in Charlotte.The number of business reporters here in Charlotte had declined, and I saw an opening content-wise. My background was in business news. It’s something that I knew and felt comfortable covering. There's a pretty big market for it in Charlotte. We’re a business town with banks and tech companies. It's a pretty big city. Business writing also has the advantage that if the newsletter is useful to an employee, they can charge the subscription cost to their company as a business expense. What wisdom can you pass on to other local news writers who are considering Substack?Two things. First, it's hard for journalists whose background is in reporting a story to all of a sudden have to think like a business person. But you need to think about your audience. There's a temptation with local journalism to think, “I'm writing about Charlotte, so anybody in Charlotte is going to be interested in it.” To succeed, you’ll need to hone that down a little bit more. Ask: Who are you trying to appeal to? And how will you find them? You need to think strategically about who the people are who are most likely to read your work, then determine where they hang out physically or online and how you could reach them where they are. Use your marketing or business brain on those strategy questions.Second, you're not alone. I've gotten a lot of good advice from fellow local news writers – City Hall Watcher in Toronto, The Mill in England. I'm not saying that we've got all the answers, but we've done this for longer than most people in the local news space on Substack. Steal good ideas from other people.Tony’s quick tips for local news writersDon’t overthink your paid vs. free strategy. The Charlotte Ledger has days of the week where their posts are free. Their “paid days” are Wednesdays and Fridays. On occasion, they cover free topics that may be outside their publication scope because the team believes they may be shareable.Let free readers know what they are missing. For every paid post, The Charlotte Ledger sends out a shorter “teaser” version to their free subscribers. If free subscribers want to read the rest, they need to subscribe. Because of this tactic, The Charlotte Ledger sees new subscriptions even on “paid days.” Include guidance about subscribing at the top of every email. “Although we don’t want to be ‘annoying,’ we do have to think like a business.”To promote locally, consider partnerships. There are no magic growth hacks with local news. Instead, you’ll need to do a lot of little promotions consistently. Partner with a variety of people in your community to get in front of different groups. Tony has partnered with Charlotte’s local radio station, local Facebook Groups, and even hosted an awards show to ensure members of his community bump into The Charlotte Ledger. 10,000 readers is a useful benchmark. If you believe you can build a list of 10,000 free readers, you have a strong chance of converting 10% (1,000) of those people into paid subscribers. That’s enough to support a livelihood.Hoping for more tips on how to start a local news publication on Substack? Check out our comprehensive playbook here. Spotlight On is a series of live events hosted by Substack. The goal is to learn from writers across categories who have experienced success on Substack. Join us for our next Spotlight On: Fiction with Elle Griffin. Get on the email list at on.substack.com

Tony decided to build a subscription news service focused hyper-locally on Charlotte. In this episode he talks about new business models in media enabled by Substack. He talks about creating a free service and converting it into paid. And the two discuss the changing landscape of tech and media broadly.

We chatted with Tony Mecia of The Charlotte Ledger, a publication focused on local business news in Charlotte, North Carolina in the United States. Get on the email list at on.substack.com

We sat down with Tony Mecia of the Charlotte Ledger to learn more about his career, how he approaches Charlotte business news, the funniest Charlotte story of the year and the opening of the Hooters in Gastonia.

Kevin Cullis and Joshua Sharf fill in for Jimmy and speak with Tony Mecia

Managing credit card rewards can be time-consuming and confusing. Hear from CreditCards.com columnist Tony Mecia on the best cards to get, what to expect from your rewards, how to get more mileage out of your miles and when you can close a card you no longer use. So, let's get Charged Up! about getting the lowdown on credit card rewards!

Novelist and political humorist Rick Robinson discusses a few trending political stories. Then, "Weekly Standard" writer Tony Mecia discusses the details of President Trump's tax plan.Image credit: mark reinstein / Shutterstock.com

9 AM - 1 - Late COW; Is life better than 50 years ago?. 2 - Tony Mecia from the Weekly Standard on his piece: "Plowed Under - The regulatory state vs. a California farmer.". 3 - The News with Marshall Phillips. 4 - We continue to chat; Final Thoughts.

9 AM - 1 - Late COW; Is life better than 50 years ago?. 2 - Tony Mecia from the Weekly Standard on his piece: "Plowed Under - The regulatory state vs. a California farmer.". 3 - The News with Marshall Phillips. 4 - We continue to chat; Final Thoughts.

9 AM - 1 - Late COW; Is life better than 50 years ago?. 2 - Tony Mecia from the Weekly Standard on his piece: "Plowed Under - The regulatory state vs. a California farmer.". 3 - The News with Marshall Phillips. 4 - We continue to chat; Final Thoughts.