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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with McGavock Edwards, Managing Partner at Eckel & Vaughan. With close to 30 years of experience in strategic communications, McGavock brings a wealth of knowledge focused on connecting the right message with the right audience at the right time. Her clients look to her for expert counsel and tactical execution for a multitude of activities — from crisis communication, reputation management and messaging to media relations, internal communication, and social media marketing.…

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Keith Stanley, the President & CEO of University City Partners here in Charlotte, NC. Stanley officially joined University City Partners on January 1, 2023. Keith comes to Charlotte from Milwaukee, and is no stranger to community building. In his prior role, he served as Executive Director of Near West Side Partners, a community organization that spearheaded revitalization, community cohesion, and neighborhood sustainability efforts.…

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Frank Williams, the President of Pioneer Startegies and Brunswick County Commissioner. Pioneer Strategies is a public relations and strategic communication firm, with an emphasis on strategy. They were founded in North Carolina’s capital city of Raleigh, and in 2008 we moved to Brunswick County. Williams was elected Brunswick County Commissioner from District 5 on November 6, 2012 in his first run for public office. He served as Chairman of the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners from December 5, 2016 until December 7, 2020.…

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Lindsay Perry, the Marketing & Events Manager at the Wilson Chamber of Commerce. Passionate about leveraging creativity and strategic planning to support our chamber's mission and serve the vibrant business community in Wilson County. ----- Lindsay Perry on LinkedIn Wilson Chamber of Commerce…

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Scott Dorney, the Executive Director of the North Carolina Military Business Center. Originally from Allentown, PA, Scott graduated from The Citadel in Charleston, SC in May 1977. He also earned a Masters in International Affairs Degree from Columbia University in New York, NY in 1988. Prior to joining the NCMBC in 2004, Scott served six years as the Chief Officer for Support Services for the City of Fayetteville. In this capacity, he directed Human Resources and had management responsibility for other departments, including Risk Management and Information Technology. An entity of the State embedded in our community colleges (with 17 offices statewide), the NCMBC is a unique business development and technology transition organization that grows the defense economy by expanding federal contracting and supporting retention of transitioning military personnel and recruitment of defense contractors to North Carolina. ----- NCMBC Website Scott Dorney on LinkedIn…

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Perry Safran, Partner at Safran Law. Perry Safran is one of the state’s leading construction law attorneys and is the founding partner of the Raleigh-based Safran Law Offices. For ten years, Mr. Safran was engaged in construction and project management and thereafter for forty years, has been engaged in the practice of law. Mr. Safran was previously elected to Raleigh’s City Council and has served as an adjunct professor at both N.C. State University and Campbell School of Law.…

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with John Martin, Partner & Co-Founder of Fourth Elm. Fourth Elm Construction is a commercial General Contractor based in the Piedmont-Triad region of North Carolina, serving clients across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. The Fourth Elm Construction team brings a broad level of expertise to a construction project; this experience includes work in the office, industrial, medical, retail, residential/senior living and automotive market sectors. We provide pre-construction/estimating, design-build, facility maintenance, and construction management/supervision services. John is active in many triad organizations offering unique community insights that has proven invaluable to their clients and subcontractors.…

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Larry Farber, the President & Co-Founder, Middle C Jazz. As both A performer and businessman, music has been the central core of his life. Known locally as “the music man“, Larry played piano with bands from the early age of 12, and he still tickles the keys from time to time. His 47 years as a founding partner with East Coast entertainment, as well as being the founder of Music With Friends in both Charlotte and Houston add to an impressive resume. Adding to his legacy of musical ventures is now Middle C Jazz.…

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Todd Edwards, the Chairman of NC East Alliance Board of Directors. Ben Kinney and Edwards talk the economic development in eastern NC in the last few years, music, and more.…

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Adrienne Cole. Cole is the president and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Chamber and leads the Triangle’s largest business membership organization representing two-thirds of the private sector employment in Wake County. In this role, Adrienne’s core focus areas are economic development, diversity, equity and inclusivity, government affairs, transportation, workforce development, talent, entrepreneurship, leadership development, and supporting small business.…

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Rick Thurmond, the Chief Marketing Officer at Center City Partners & the founder of Confluence. Thurmond talks to Ben Kinney about his career trajectory so far, what's new at Charlotte Center City Partners, shared more about Confluence and Charlotte's music scene, and more.…

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Leigh Altman, a Mecklenburg County commissioner who is chair of the Metropolitan Transit Commission. The group is leading efforts for a $25 billion expansion of the Charlotte area's transportation system, including new light rail, expanded roads and improved bus service. It would be the biggest public works project in state history. Altman discusses efforts for a 1 cent sales tax that requires approval from state lawmakers and a public referendum. She was a lawyer in the Georgia governor's office before moving to North Carolina in 2009, and has worked at Charlotte's Council for Children's Rights. She was elected to the commission in 2020.…

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with AJ Ramsey. Ramsey is the Managing Director & COO of Transworld Business Advisors with over 35 years of involvement in both the corporate and small business worlds with experience in building, running, and selling domestic and international organizations. AJ holds a Master of Business Administration degree with a real estate and finance focus from Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla, Missouri.…

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Trey Cash, the Economic Development Director for Lenoir and Greene Counties. Trey has worked with Greene County Government for many years and has served as Deputy Director for Emergency Services, Emergency Management Specialist/Fire Inspector, and EMT-Intermediate.…

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with Jessica Graham, CEO of Fionix Consulting. Graham is a leader in her profession and her community. She received her accreditation in public relations in 2003 and was named to the Public Relations Society of America College of Fellows in 2019. Jessica has been an active volunteer in the Public Relations Society of America Charlotte Chapter, Southeast District, and nationally. Locally, she’s served on the boards of and volunteered with organizations like Dress for Success Charlotte, Charlotte's Trail of History, American Lung Association NC, Women Executives of Charlotte, JDRF, Classroom Central, Leadership North Carolina and Leadership Charlotte.…

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. David Moore is the CEO of David Moore & Partners and has 20 years of experience providing M&A advice to businesses and individuals. His company provides business brokering, investment banking, due diligence assessments of companies prior to sale, valuations, closing services and capital raises, among other services. He gives real-life examples of surprises he's witnessed in exit planning and other facets of entrepreneurship.…

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features an interview with two leaders at TowneBank, which has become a big player in North Carolina banking with offices in Cary, Charlotte, Greenville, Raleigh and the Outer Banks. Billy Foster is the president and CEO, while Will Morrison oversees Towne Financial’s residential mortgage, insurance, real estate brokerage and wealth management units. Formed as a new bank in 1999, Suffolk, Virginia-based TowneBank has $17 billion in assets. It ranks sixth in market share in the Triangle, first in northeast North Carolina and 11th in Charlotte. Both Foster and Morrison are graduates of Old Dominion University and veteran Virginia bankers.…

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features Thomas Salley, the President of Visit Wilkes, NC. Salley talks to Ben Kinney about his career journey so far, what's new in Wilkes County, the importance of customer service, and more.…

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features Julian "Bubba" Rawl, cofounder of Cary-based Preston Development, which has developed more than 16,000 home lots since 1991. He and partner Tim Smith are now focused on the 8,100-acre Chatham Park, which is on pace to become North Carolina's largest multiuse planned development. The Greenville native discusses his initial foray building ice rinks around North Carolina, Preston's dramatic growth in Cary and Disney's plans to create a large residential community within Chatham Park.…

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina 's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. Today's episode features Eli Cheatham, chief strategic initiatives officer for Raleigh-based International Farming, a private investment company that manages a $1.5 billion portfolio of agricultural land. International Farming has made numerous investments in companies such as CropTrak , The Peach Truck , and Manson Growers within the business software, food products, and horticulture industries. CEO Charles McNairy helped form the company in 2010, and is part of the Harvey family, which has been involved in the agriculture business in North Carolina since the 19th century.…