BrandBuilders

Choate Construction Company was founded in 1989, as the economy headed into recession. Talk about great timing, right? Construction projects were few and far between, the team was small, and their “fleet” was just one old truck. But they went ahead with it anyway. Now, they’ve got 6 regional offices, nearly 500 employee-owners, and experience in all kinds of construction. That’s one heck of a foun...

Let’s talk about hair. Everybody’s got it. Some have a ton of it, others not so much. Over a lifetime, we wash it, dry it, style it, cut it, let it grow – or not. And, every one of us loses some of it every day. And for some of us, we lose it faster than it grows back. Hair loss can be scary, traumatic, or depressing for lots of people. The good news is, there are LOTS of solutions for thinning ha...

Whether you’ve read it or not, you probably know the book, “7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Steven Covey authored that one along with LOADS of other best-sellers about people, work, and productivity. Covey’s books are as quotable as the movie “Caddyshack,” and packed full of “bottom line” insights like this quote: “So often, the problem is the system, not the people. If you put good people i...

For a lot of people, one of the best things to come out on the other side of the pandemic… was the return to in-person events. The virtual thing was unique for a while, but we’re social beings. We WANT to be around each other and collaborate, congregate, and celebrate. But, getting back to whatever normal looks like has presented plenty of challenges for people who work in the events space. Those...

There was a commercial a few years back about a company that said they, “quote,” they make a lot of the things you know “better.” Truth is just about ANY product you use is PACKED with pieces and parts. And there are companies that may have never heard of that make those pieces and parts. One of those companies is Sur-Seal. They engineer, design, and manufacture ALL kinds of parts for all kinds of...

Garage bands, listen-up! Charlotte has a NEW place to play for musicians and creative noise-makers of all types. No, it’s not a storage shed or your mom’s basement… it’s called Jambox. Jambox is more than 2000 square feed of rehearsal rooms and event space for music videos, photo shoots, meetings, parties, and more. You can even rent amps, sound equipment, and other gear so you and your band can r...

If you’ve been following us here at the Dunstan Group for any time, you know we’re big into working with folks who do great things in the community. One of those groups we’ve been working with for a looonngg time is the 24 Foundation. Since its inception in 2002, 24 Foundation has raised over $26 million to support cancer navigation and survivorship programs through local and national beneficiarie...

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 entertainmen...

For some people, the idea of running a marathon is just plain crazy. For some, it’s a bucket list item, and for others, it’s something they do over and over again! No matter where you are on that list, one thing’s for sure: running a marathon is a big deal. It takes time and training, and it also takes a team committed to doing the work to put on an event that has tons of moving parts. Charlotte i...

We read some headlines just this week that said, “the great resignation is over,” and that the economy is actually still adding jobs. But ask just about anyone and they’re STILL struggling to find talent. And when that talent can’t be found down the street or across town, that’s where companies like Oyster HR come in. They help businesses hire, run payroll, and provide benefits – for talent locate...

Convergint is a company that works alongside a global network of partners and manufacturers to design, install, and service security, fire alarm, life safety, audio-visual, and building automation solutions for enterprise customers. They believe what sets THEM apart in the marketplace is their company culture, guided by their values and beliefs. This, they say, helps them stay accountable to their...

Every business – and every business owner and founder – has an origin story. Some are pretty straightforward, others take a more roundabout route. Jim Mallory traveled the world in the Navy, started his own business, learning the ropes – and the paint trade – as he went along. Today there are twenty-two Mallory Paint Stores in the Puget Sound area of Washington State. Their Brand Manager, Sarah Ro...

Our next guests are long-time partners and friends of the team here at The Dunstan Group. Jenn Snyder Gibson’s name comes up regularly around here, as Executive Director of the Hood-Hargett breakfast club. Her husband is Quinton Gibson, a world-class and world-traveled professional musician. But they’re not here to talk shop. They’re here today to talk about something really personal, and how open...

Tiffany Mielnik Parrish had a history of pain, illness, misdiagnosis, and frustration with no answers for the chronic pain and illness she had experienced since childhood. The pain persisted through her adult life as a professional, and into her role as a mother. Rather than wait any longer for answers, she decided to create her own solution – and one that’s helping others, too. So she founded Sel...

If we all scream for ice cream, then this episode of the BrandBuilders Podcast is going to get pretty loud. We’re talking to a pair of ice cream entrepreneurs who are bringing something new and different – and we’ll bet, pretty delicious – to the frozen treat game here in Charlotte. Garrett Tichy and Jess Berresse are co-founders of Seemingly Overzealous, a dairy-free dessert location that opens t...

With work, school, kids, family, and every other type of distraction in our lives, it can sometimes be hard to find a quick meal that doesn’t compromise your commitment to a healthy lifestyle. Most everyone WANTS to eat healthy, but sometimes it’s just hard, confusing, or just plain inconvenient. That’s where Nautical Bowls fits in. They combine healthy, fresh, superfoods in what they call an “upl...

Founded in 1923 as the Charlotte Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, CEENTA has grown to become one of the largest multispecialty practices of its kind on the East Coast. That’s good news if you’re a patient—since you won’t have to travel to get top-quality care. In fact, CEENTA doctors pioneered some procedures right here in Charlotte that are now used daily around the world. Today, CEENTA has more tha...

Here’s a bold claim for you: We deliver results-driven professionals to results-driven companies. That’s what Mach Partners says about their ability and expertise in the professional recruitment services. We love that kind of attitude! Mach Partners is a leading Executive Search firm focused on delivering top Private Equity, Technology, Hedge Fund, Real Estate, Operations, Accounting, and Alternat...

A potential client can’t find you without a website. But these days it takes more than a web address and some good-looking graphics to attract customers and rise above the competition. That’s where Antilles Digital Media comes in. Antilles Digital Media delivers high quality website design and SEO services to rank ahead of your competitors on search engine results. This allows their clients to inc...

Starting over is hard work – whether it’s a job change, divorce, coming out, or living through grief… they all present unique challenges. Sisters Olivia Howell and Jenny Dreizen are making those transitions easier with “Fresh Starts Registry,” a first-of-its-kind platform built to support those going through brave and bold changes. They’ve told their story in interviews with Forbes, New York Magaz...

Right out of college, our next guest began a career at Microsoft. Jonathan Kite held different roles that allowed him to interact with hundreds of different companies. He learned how they developed, supported, and evolved software to solve business problems. When his two other co-founders approached the idea of a startup, he knew the time was right to try something new and fill a gap in the multif...

In case you haven’t been keeping score, sports history is being made fresh daily this fall, right here at Queens University. The Royals have notched first-ever Division 1 goals, points, and WINS in baseball, basketball, lacrosse, volleyball, field hockey… and more. To the doubters, let’s just say the Royals have put the A-Sun conference on notice! Everyone loves a winner, and there’s LOTS to love...

There’s NOTHING easy about losing a family member. That heartbreak must be magnified exponentially when it comes to losing a child. In Charlotte, families who do suffer this life-altering event don’t have to go it alone. Since 1978, KinderMourn has helped bereaved parents, grieving children and teens by offering support and counseling programs, creating awareness of bereavement issues and empoweri...

So… how do you write an introduction for someone who’s in the business of making other people look and sound good? That’s easy! You “borrow” a couple of lines from their website! Here goes: “Beth Booker is a creative entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in PR and Marketing with the education to match. As the CEO of two PR companies, her diverse background spans multiple industries, from f...

In 1977, Blake Annable began designing and manufacturing sports equipment and apparel in Western Canada for specialty retailers and corporate clients. What began as a small business venture eventually grew to become one of the largest privately-owned and operated international apparel companies. That company is now called Stormtech. They got their first big break when a popular gym bag they made g...