Greater Conversations

"I find a lot of people don't know about the number of folks who are living in emergency departments because they don't have any other place to go." In this episode, we sit down with Ryan Blackledge, Vice President of Government and External Affairs at Cone Health, which opened its first Winston-Salem urgent care facility in 2024. In part one of our conversation, Ryan shares his insights on the ev...

"Ninety percent of the startups fail. So, these are brave folks who are willing to go out there and take a major part of their life and put it behind the business." Winston Starts, an admission-based accelerator in Winston-Salem, is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs successfully scale their businesses to new heights. They provide a development framework, valuable resources, and a long runway that...

STITCH Design Shop is an award-winning architectural and interior design firm based in Winston-Salem with offices across the state and a body of work expanding across the U.S. The premise the team lives by – "'to find a better way,' is something you can hear every one of our 23 employees saying on a regular basis. We're always talking about how we can do that in our projects and in our approach to...

"Important to me to unlock what's already in them. It's about putting a different frame around what people know, validating what people know, making connections between what people know, and putting that in the context of community work." HandsOn Northwest North Carolina mobilizes people and organizations to inspire change within the community. Based in Winston-Salem, HandsOn collaborates with ove...

COW is an award-winning UNC School of the Arts (UNCSA) short film about a cargo ship-piloting alien on his livestock abduction route confronted by an angry farmer who sneaks aboard the ship disguised as a cow, with a burning desire for vengeance. The film's producer, Peter Arsenault, and directors Tristan Alkemper and Joe Appel, join us to discuss this humorous, touching, and poignant work, and ho...

More than seven million "Visitors come to Forsyth County and spend about a billion dollars annually. That's money in cash registers of local businesses, and that generates $72 million in state and local taxes. It supports 7000 jobs." Since 1983, Visit Winston-Salem, the official tourism marketing organization for Forsyth County, has invested a portion of the hotel occupancy tax to increase tourism...

"People drive by every day and wave at Ronald, and they don't really know what's happening inside the building. The core of it is Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home for families who have children receiving medical treatment." Stephanie Beeman, Marketing Manager, and Jolyn Roberts, Chief Hospitality Services Officer, join us to discuss services offered by Ronald McDonald House Cha...

"The construction industry is going through a transition right now. For every 100 people that are leaving the construction industry, only seven are replacing them." Jeff McDaniel, CEO and founder of Omniverus, a veteran-owned general contracting company in Winston-Salem, joins us to discuss his entrepreneurial journey, Omniverus' focus on residential and commercial renovation, trade career opportu...

"When people come to us with a need on how to start a business – what markets exist, what partners to consider, funding, social media, a mission statement ... we give it to them through the lens of the African American experience." Calvin Patterson, President of the Winston-Salem Black Chamber of Commerce, joins us to share the organization's 20-year history, programs for entrepreneurs, and partne...

"We want to be a community for anyone that wants to be involved in sports." Noah Downs, the Director of Core Sports, joins us to discuss the organization's mission and activities. Core Sports, in partnership with NC Fusion, connects and promotes adult sports in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County by creating a community for adults interested in sports, organizing events, and fostering social connecti...

Reginald McCaskill, the visionary founder of the Triad & Minority Women’s Business Expo, joins us for an insightful episode as the annual event celebrates its 11th anniversary! The expo has become a cornerstone for business professionals and entrepreneurs in Winston-Salem and throughout the Triad to promote their businesses, network, and gain valuable resources. The event also draws KidzBiz vendor...

"We want businesses to learn how to work on their business rather than in their business. That's the goal – for a business owner to not be in the daily grind, if at all possible, but to be able to strategically plan, and to look at the future." Martha Larson, Director of the Forsyth Tech Small Business Center, has been in business development for over 20 years. With three degrees focused on busine...

"We have a duty ... to equip them and give them tools and skills they need to go to the next level." Since 2021, Alesia Hilton, Director of Career Readiness at Greater Winton-Salem, Inc., has led the creation and development of the ASPIRE WS internship program, serving high school juniors and seniors in Title I schools throughout the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools district. Alesia joins us t...

Stephanie Miles and her sister Cherese Blue launched a joint venture to offer direct primary care and mental health services – a first in Winston-Salem. In 2022, they opened Smith's Primary Care & Wellness to ensure their community is cared for physically, mentally, and emotionally, all in one location. Stephanie, a board-certified primary care Nurse Practitioner, joins us to chat about the practi...

Imagine your preschooler reading your shopping list and then asking you to add their favorite snack because it wasn't on the list. Children are learning to read as early as age three at Bailey Preschool, recognized as one of the best preschools in Winston-Salem by Kid-Friendly Triad. The preschool utilizes a whole-child approach addressing child health, nutrition, and mental well-being to prepare...

We recently lost a pillar in our community, Mr. William Alexander McClain, lovingly known as Mr. Bill. In memory of someone who gave so much to our community, we'd like to share this episode with you again. Please enjoy the conversation. // At the age of 16, with 8-track tapes of James Brown, BB King, and Aretha Franklin in hand, Bill McClain fell in love with the idea of becoming a deejay. Spinni...

In part two of our conversation with Christy Cox Spencer, president of JKS Incorporated, we chat about her passion project, Robert Hall, a private event space with an eclectic, urban vibe in the Industry Hill neighborhood of Winston-Salem. Christy shares the challenges during the renovations, the story of the authentic 1920s mahogany bar said to have come from one of Al Capone's hangouts, the moti...

What do NASCAR, music festivals, bowl games, and Industry Hill have in common? JKS Incorporated – an experiential marketing company based in Winston-Salem with clients across the US. Christy Cox Spencer, president of JKS, joins us to share the excitement of celebrating the company's 40th anniversary and the lessons in resiliency she has learned as a leader and business owner. Follow GWSI on social...

Shayna Smith and Tevin Swinson grew up together in Winston-Salem. Years later, they started their careers just days apart at The Winston-Salem Chronicle. Shayna, the marketing communications manager, and Tevin, a senior reporter for The Chronicle, join us to share the history of this multi-award-winning periodical as it marks its 50th anniversary. We discuss the dynamics of print and digital for t...

Banks Shepherd fell in love with college sports at an early age. His parents told him some of his first words as a toddler were related to college sports! Today, Banks is the General Manager for Wake Forest Sports Properties in Winston-Salem and is living his dream. He joins us to share what his team does behind the scenes to create a great fan experience and how they help brands locally, regional...

"Transportation is access – and it's access to opportunity." Courtney and Gregory James, co-owners of Support Systems of Forsyth County Transportation, join us to share their entrepreneurial journey. What started as an idea for a supportive service in Winston-Salem has become an award- and multi-grant-winning business in four years, growing its fleet from two to 10. Learn why this industry in this...

"To create the ideas and then for them to see the ideas actually work ... puts people in a different place to take their business to the next level." Micah Ray launched D4 Concepts with his business partner and lifelong friend Mike Witt. These Winston-Salem natives use their talents and experience to help strengthen small businesses with people development, strategic planning, and innovation proce...

Winston-Salem has had a history of professional ice hockey since 1973, when the Polar Twins played in the Southern Hockey League. Now, fans are supporting the Carolina Thunderbirds in its eighth season with the Federal Hockey League. Co-owner Cary Ross, Head Coach Steve "Harry" Harrison, and Assistant Coach Jon Buttitta, join us to share the team's love of the community, what's coming up this seas...

Carol Davis, Executive Director of SG Atkins Community Development Corporation, joins us to share the historic connection between the organization and Winston-Salem State University. In this pivotal role, Carol is on a mission for equity and social justice to increase the homeownership and business ownership rates in East Winston-Salem. For more than two decades, SG Adkins CDC has worked to revita...

"They have this well-deserved, well-earned feeling of accomplishment that they can learn and tackle these new challenges. They're capable, and they're ready." Dan Wellman, Program Director for Moji Coffee + More, joins us to share his excitement and the mission of Winston Salem's only nonprofit coffee shop that provides meaningful employment and enriching workforce development to adults with diffe...