Constructing the Carolinas

Join us for an inspiring conversation about the momentum transforming Eastern North Carolina with three leaders at the forefront of the region’s growth: Benton Moss, CEO of Simmons and Harris and host of the Twin County Spotlight podcast; Bob Pike, President & CEO of Carolina’s Gateway Partnership; and Susan Phelps, Economic Development Manager for Nash County. From downtown revitalizations an...

Join us as we explore the dynamic world of commercial real estate with Brandt Berry, a Senior Associate at Cushman & Wakefield. Based in Raleigh-Durham, Brandt specializes in the sale of office, industrial, retail, and flex properties across the Triangle region.   In this episode, Brandt shares his journey into commercial real estate and discusses the current trends shaping the market. He emph...

Join us for a pivotal episode highlighting a significant leadership transition at Barnhill. After an incredible career that helped shape our operations and culture, we bid a fond farewell to Barry Harden, VP of Operations , as he embarks on a well-deserved retirement. But as one chapter closes, another begins! We’ll introduce and speak with Brad Martin, who’s stepping into Barry’s shoes as the new...

In this insightful episode, we had the distinct honor of diving into the crucial world of fire safety, emergency response, and disaster preparedness with none other than Chief Brian Taylor, North Carolina State Fire Marshal.   With decades of invaluable experience in the fire service, Chief Taylor has been instrumental in shaping the very regulations that keep our communities safe. He's a driving...

Wake County, experiencing explosive growth over the past decade, and Wendell, a town that has nearly tripled in size in just six years, offer unique perspectives on the challenges and strategies involved in balancing infrastructure, economic development, and community identity   In this episode of Constructing the Carolinas , host Valerie Bono sits down with County Manager of Wake County David Ell...

North Carolina’s rural communities are evolving, adapting, and finding new ways to grow. From broadband expansion to small business lending to workforce development, these areas are proving that with the right investment and vision, they can thrive in today’s economy. In this episode of Constructing the Carolinas , host Valerie Bono sits down with Patrick Woodie, President & CEO of the North C...

Why are Toyota, HondaJet, and Wolfspeed investing in the Carolina Core? This rapidly evolving corridor between Charlotte and Raleigh is becoming North Carolina’s next big economic engine, attracting advanced manufacturing, cutting-edge technology firms, and world-class educational talent. Mike Fox, President of the Piedmont Triad Partnership and a key leader of the Carolina Core initiative, shares...

Betsy Bailey has been with CarolinasAGC for a decade, and her work has been instrumental in workforce development and supporting a more inclusive and adaptive construction industry. So how has she done it? And what workforce challenges does she see on the horizon? Today we discuss attracting new talent, supporting minority-owned businesses, engaging in legislative efforts, embracing new technologi...

ECU Health Foundation drives community focused healthcare development, and it's had a tremendous impact with the university students, the health system, and eastern North Carolina as a whole.  Today, Chief Philanthropy Officer Scott Senatore joins us to explain the Foundation's mission, and how everyone - businesses and individuals alike - can get involved and make a difference. Constructing the C...

SLI Capital has been in the news quite a bit, as it recently acquired controlling interest in green space self storage in a deal with Madison Capital, and it's developing a 1200 unit development by Dix Park. Plus it's developing East End Market, a new restaurant and residential hub by five points in a deal with Atlas Capital. Even in a down market, SLI is busy, and today, founder and managing part...

Since the pandemic, the commercial real estate conversation has been loud and at times pessimistic. With over 100,000 employees, JLL is a leader in commercial investments and real estate, but they've had their share of challenges as well.  But that hasn't stopped them from growing and innovating. Today, we welcome Raleigh-Durham Market Lead at JLL Kimarie Ankenbrand to discuss:  Innovation, divers...

Building a stronger community starts with educating the next generation. But coming up with a curriculum to ensure that all of North Carolina's students are maximizing their potential is a huge challenge. On today's episode, North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction , Catherine Truitt, joins us for a conversation around: The strategic plan for education in our state, How things have chan...

The YMCA of the Triangle has transformed quite a bit over the past 165 years, and now it's truly a community-focused entity. Today, Senior Vice President of Real Estate Tim Carr joins us to discuss the YMCA's commitment to promoting healthy spirit, mind, and body through diverse programs, including free camps for refugee children and programs for children with autism.  Tune in to learn about the Y...

From construction boot camps to apprenticeships in advanced manufacturing, the 58 community colleges in North Carolina provide high-quality, affordable programs tailored to meet employer needs. Today, Andrew Gardner shares the wide range of workforce development and education initiatives, and how tailored training programs are impacting students' lives and careers.  Today’s guest is Andrew Gardner...

Johnston County sits just outside of Raleigh and consists of 11 cities, including Smithfield, Clayton, Benson, and Selma. Its claim to fame as being the number one sweet potato producing county in the country. It has the Tobacco Farm, Life Museum, as well as the Ava Gardner Museum. So historically, you'd think of Johnston County as farm country, but things are changing. In fact, North Carolina rec...

Welcome to Constructing the Carolinas, a show where we explore the growth of our communities, cities, and counties across North Carolina and figure out what's on the horizon. This podcast is brought to you by Barnhill Contracting Company , which has been Constructing the Carolinas since 1949, hosted by Valerie Bono, and produced by Earfluence .