BrandBuilders

Remember the good ol’ days? Yeah, we all do. Maybe you’re living them now! And maybe you have some great memories from your high school or college days that you love keeping around. For more than a few of us, there’s that T-shirt that brings back the good times, and we don’t hate feeling that vibe again. That’s the idea behind Glory Days Apparel – streetwear that feels good and makes us feel...

What are your methods for finding the best employees for your company? Recruiting services? Job postings? A Hail Mary pass to the end zone that you hope gives you a game-winning touchdown employee? Say it with me, ‘There must be a better way.’ Kelly Venable knows that too. As Founder and President of “Your Hiring Coaches,” she likes to “Put Aces in their Places” – as she likes to say. Why take cha...

Staying sober during the holidays can be hard. Everywhere you go, there are parties and cocktails… and more parties. What can you do? Our next guest is not a recovering alcoholic but just decided to stop drinking and pursue life sober. Molly Ruggere is a certified life coach and alcohol freedom coach who leads a club for people who want to be active and do fun things that don’t include alcohol. Si...

If you feel good, you want to look good too. Our next guest on the BrandBuilders Podcast will have you looking good in your suit, but only if you’re accepted off his waiting list. William Wilson makes custom men’s suits and clothing, and not everyone can have one. But the man is as unique and diverse as the suits themselves – an 8-year Navy veteran, who became the first African American man to win...

If you’re a runner, you know running can save lives. There are a number of running nonprofits for kids in the Charlotte area, and even more running clubs and groups to get you up out of your chair and into a healthy, active lifestyle. But one running nonprofit will inspire you beyond just a smile – it will make you want to get up and help! That nonprofit is Running Works – a program designed to pr...

It’s no secret that Charlotte is in a building boom. Everywhere you look, there are cranes and construction companies busy at work. They’re as varied as letters of the alphabet, too, so how do you choose one that fits your own project? Gary Olnowich and Karen Yoder are here on the BrandBuilders Podcast to give us some insight, and about how they grew their company to become established so quickly...

Nothing touches our hearts more than a child with special needs. Sometimes it’s a terminal disease like cancer, or a physical disability, or even a lifelong chronic condition created by a birth defect. We often find ourselves opening our hearts to them through various charities like Make A Wish, Special Olympics, or a local group, started right here in Charlotte, that arranges Sports-themed wishes...

When your love of bourbon goes beyond just needing a good, stiff drink — to wanting a smooth taste and a history lesson — Charlotte Bourbon Society is the place to go. Ken Bernardo, a banker by trade, and his wife Tracey love a good bourbon — but they go beyond just taste-testing bottled drinks into a full-fledged discovery of flavors and where to find them. The Charlotte Bourbon...

We all want to be at least a little bit greener. And you’ve probably seen solar panels popping up on homes and businesses in your neighborhood. Is it right for you? And how does solar even work with Charlotte’s tree-lined streets? Our next guest is here to help. Matt Stavis is director of utility, commercial, and industrial solutions for Powerhome Solar – and he knows a thing or two about resident...

You know that when the Realtors Association wants YOU to build their new office, that says something. I mean, these are the folks who sell buildings for a living! Well, the company that built the new Charlotte Regional Realtors building in Midtown Charlotte has been in business for nearly *70 years*.  That’s a long time, and you’ll see their work around the region in Atrium Medical offices, Cannon...

Charlotte’s got Major League Soccer! We got the announcement a couple of years ago, and while the pandemic has delayed the launch of the “Charlotte Football Club” games, the fans have not taken any time off getting ready for the inaugural season. That’s why the club’s “CFO” — which in this case, means “Chief Fan Officer” — is already hard at work. Shawn McIntosh brings over a dec...

We’d all like to sleep in once in a while — it’s a great way to “rest up” when your mind or body is exhausted, and it’s something we just don’t do enough (ask any parent of young kids!) Adequate sleep is also important for mental health! How many of us get grouchy or short-tempered when we don’t get enough sleep? That’s most of us. And sleep really goes beyond just daily temperament wh...

It’s a race local runners look forward to all year: the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. In fact, this year, they’ve waited TWO years to run it in person! The pandemic canceled last year’s marathon, just one year after so many people signed up that they exceeded the number of finishers’ medals available. That was a nice problem to have. On Saturday, November 13th, they’re back and better than eve...

Starting your own small business can seem like an overwhelming task. First, you know your product — it’s that thing you know you can make money doing or selling. But what about the rest? The details? Those little things that seem to take away so much time from the business *you know you could grow exponentially* if you could just. get. the details. done? That’s the whole idea behind BC Creat...

In the land of fried chicken and juicy pork barbeque, it’s not every day you hear someone extolling the virtues of a meatless diet. I mean, we grew up with the food pyramid that had protein as the top tier, usually as a lean cut of meat like chicken or beef. Our next guest on the BrandBuilders Podcast, though, says you can re-think that top triangle on your food pyramid, and it could be a healthie...

If you have students in middle school, it’s not too early to start looking at college and career options. I know — you’re probably thinking your adorable youngsters just finished preschool (in your mind) — but they are actually closer to the day they graduate from high school than they are to that day they started kindergarten. Yikes! How do you start making the choices about schools,...

About 1 in 54 children in our country were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder last year, with boys 4 times more likely than girls to be diagnosed. But there is still so much we are learning about Autism — and foremost, is that it can take many shapes and characteristics. In other words, it is a spectrum, not any one thing. Rudy Thoms’ has spent his career in medical device sales, but th...

It’s no secret healthcare costs are pretty high, and one simple procedure or one bad illness can send you into personal bankruptcy. Even with insurance, your out-of-pocket costs are a significant chunk of money. No wonder health insurance benefits are one of the top expenditures for any company, too. So how does a business know it’s giving employees the coverage they need, without cutting corners...

The beauty industry for women in the US is a staggering $62 billion dollar business, and that goes up to $511 Billion worldwide for 2021. So you might guess, there’s money to be made in the beauty business, right? Well, of course. But in a year when a lot of women just didn’t feel comfortable shopping for make-up because of COVID, or salons were shut down, two Charlotte women brought a beauty box...

There are a thousand internet gurus out there who can tell you how to start a business, and many more who preach the sermon of being your own boss as an entrepreneur. But how many of them can tell you how to grow your business while still enjoying life, and EXIT your business successfully — as in, sell it for a lot of money and enjoy life a little more? Our next guest on the BrandBuilders Po...

No doubt 2020 was a strange year for musicians — after all, how can you play a gig if you can’t be live on stage and in person, with an audience? Yet at a time when a lot of musicians saw their source of income dry up, George Ramsay and his instructors at Bold Music had already transitioned to an online platform for some lessons. It wasn’t hard to go full virtual from there and they were bus...

Meet the man behind the mixing board. Yash Mistry has been with the BrandBuilders podcast from the beginning. Today we’ll learn a little more about his brand – Mistry Projects – and what he does when he isn’t making us sound good.

If you know anything about golf, you know the name Bobby Jones. The only golfer to ever win the pro/amateur Grand Slam, he left an unmatched legacy of sportsmanship and golf. After retiring at age 28 in 1930, he designed the world-famous Augusta National golf course and created the Masters Tournament. His legacy continued through his children and grandchildren… and now GREAT grandchildren, one of...

If you have a business that stocks products, you probably have a warehouse. You also probably like to get the products out of your warehouse quickly through sales. But as you expand your product line, how do you store more products without adding warehouse space? Our next guest on the BrandBuilders Podcast is a pro at making it all fit. Seth Weisberg is the CEO of ABCO Systems — specialists...

It’s not breaking news that this year — with all of its stay-at-home, work-from-home, kids-at-home-learning time — has been tough on our mental health. Right now while the days are hot and the sun is shining — and vaccinations are up — we’re starting to go out again and breathe a little easier. But while fresh air and sunshine can do a lot for our mood right now, sometimes...