The Charlotte Ledger Podcast

In this special episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger editor Tony Mecia and elections specialist Sucharita Kodali quickly break down the Mecklenburg County ballot, including state legislative races, county commissioner races, local judicial elections and bonds. In less than 10 minutes, they zip through the under-the-radar races that many voters haven’t considered but will find on the bal...

In 2019, Melissa Sutherland made a dramatic career shift, leaving her role as a bank executive at Bank of America to join Best Impressions Catering as the company’s chief operating and financial officer. Her move from a global financial institution to a small catering business offered her the chance to take her expertise to a new industry, she says, helping the company expand from a single locatio...

Many children who are on the autism spectrum or have ADHD also have anxiety or depression, and parents caring for those children experience high stress. Diane Reid Lyon’s goal is to help parents not feel quite so alone while finding ways to help their kids. As a licensed clinical mental health counselor for more than three decades, she's helped hundreds of children, teens and adults find growth an...

Hugh McColl Jr. is a Charlotte household name. As the former chairman and CEO of Bank of America, McColl was a major player in consolidating the banking industry in the 1980s and 1990s that has transformed Charlotte into the financial hub it is today. He was also apart of the group of influential Charlotte leaders that pushed to improve the arts and revitalize uptown. On September 17, 2024, McColl...

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Nate Negrin, owner of SouthernEEZ Landscaping , discusses the rapid evolution of the landscaping industry. Once viewed as a basic service, landscaping now involves advanced technology, sustainability practices and professional expertise. Negrin shares his journey from banking to landscaping, the challenges he faced early on, and the emerging trends...

In a pivotal moment for Charlotte’s University City, Keith Stanley, the newly appointed president and CEO of University City Partners, is bringing a fresh vision to the area. Having transitioned from his role in Milwaukee’s Near West Side Partners, Stanley has been focused on leveraging his experience to enhance the vibrancy and functionality of northeast Charlotte. In this episode of The Charlott...

David Cronenberg’s “Dead Ringers” was an eye-opening film for Brad Ritter. He first saw the horror movie in 1988 alongside college friends — and he hasn’t been able to bring himself to watch it since. “Dead Ringers” exposed Ritter to the world of immersive film, and although he didn’t know it at the time, it would lead to his current role as the executive director of Charlotte’s only arthouse thea...

While some Charlotteans might struggle to list even 50 must-do activities in the city, Axios reporter Brianna Crane faced the opposite challenge. In her new book, “ 100 Things to Do in Charlotte Before You Die ,” narrowing it down to just 100 was the hard part. In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Crane talks with The Ledger's Tony Mecia about the challenges and excitement of curating...

Effective leadership is key to building a thriving work environment and driving team success. Paulette Ashlin, founder and president of Ashlin Associates , is an executive and business coach with a knack for transforming workplace dynamics. With a career spanning various industries, she works to help leaders and teams thrive. In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ashlin talks with The L...

Charlotte's Plaza Midwood neighborhood is often known for its bars and restaurants. But it's more than that: As one of Charlotte's historic streetcar suburbs, Plaza Midwood is a diverse community that stays close-knit. It's also undergoing a lot of change. In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, host Steve Dunn — a Plaza Midwood resident — talks with neighborhood leader Phil Gussman about...

What started as a small Charlotte restaurant in 1977 has since grown into a beloved brand with over 800 locations across 17 states, known for its fried chicken, biscuits and sweet tea. That’s right, today we’re talking about Bojangles. In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger editor Tony Mecia talks with Bojangles' chief marketing officer Tom Boland about how the chicken chain stays...

Since 2018, developer Northwood Office has been working on an ambitious plan to remake the center of Ballantyne with its Ballantyne Reimagined project. Now, the effort on the 535-acre Ballantyne Corporate Park is bearing fruit, with restaurants and retailers opening on the former golf course of The Ballantyne hotel. Leading the effort has been John Barton, president of Northwood Office. In this ep...

From the challenges of scaling and fundraising to the critical need for financial sustainability, business principles can drive nonprofit success. Raj Merchant serves as chair of Feeding Charlotte, a nonprofit that provides nutritious food for those in need. He also serves on the boards of Helping Education and the Kenan-Flagler Business School. In his day job, he’s the director in data and analyt...

Electric vehicles (EVs) have slowly been taking over the roads of Charlotte. Many people have traded in their transmission cars for one that is more environmentally friendly and offers a quieter and smoother driving experience. After a year of driving a Ford Mustang Mach-E, Mark Gustafson, an attorney and mediator with Bell, Davis and Pitt, says he will never go back to a gasoline-reliant car. Gus...

Speak to any nonprofit leader, and you'll frequently hear about the difficulties of delivering essential community services while also handling the operational aspects necessary for growth and stability. This is where skilled volunteering becomes invaluable. Skilled volunteering enables volunteers to contribute their expertise and professional experience to charities. For instance, a nonprofit mig...

Michael Bay was born in a small village in Mesopotamia. Despite his humble beginnings, his ambitions took him far beyond the borders of his village. From helping tourists as a young boy to moving to London driven by the dream of a better life, Bay’s path has been anything but conventional. In London, he started from scratch, washing dishes before venturing into import-export businesses, and later...

You might be surprised by how many brides still flip through the glossy pages of wedding magazines to gather inspiration for their big day, says Charlotte-based wedding photographer Robert Burns II. But as with many types of publications, bridal magazines are increasingly moving to digital formats — swapping that satisfying page-turn with a swift click. Burns recently ventured into the world of di...

As chair of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Planning Commission, Douglas Welton has a front-row seat to the complexities of Charlotte's rapid growth. In his role, he faces the challenges and opportunities presented by the city’s expansion, engaging with developers, city staff and residents alike. Welton's tenure has been marked by a focus on increasing housing supply, advocating for density in appropria...

In his day job, Brian Kahn is the Charlotte office managing partner at McGuireWoods. But Brian also has a side-hustle: He is a founder, writer and co-producer of "Charlotte Squawks," a long-running and critically acclaimed comedy stage show poking fun at local politics, pop culture and sports. On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Kahn discusses the importance of creativity and humor in...

The city of Charlotte has struck a deal with Tepper Sports and Entertainment on funding renovations at Bank of America Stadium, the home to the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC. The city, which would spend $650 million in tourism tax money for the project, says the deal makes smart business sense because the stadium is responsible for more than $1 billion annually in economic impact to the Charl...

Imagine strolling down a vibrant street, filled with neighbors stopping by a community farmer's market, admiring local artwork or grabbing lunch at a food truck. That's SouthPark Community Partners's vision for the SouthPark area in south Charlotte. In April 2024, SouthPark Community Partners released a comprehensive vision plan aimed at enhancing SouthPark's economic vitality and quality of life....

One glance at Blair Primis’s LinkedIn profile, and it’s clear that community involvement ignites his passion. Primis serves on the board for numerous nonprofits and organizations in Charlotte, including Charlotte is Creative, 7th Street Public Market, Carolina Farm Trust and Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center. In his day job, he’s the chief marketing officer of Flagship Specialty Partners, a heal...

Running a nonprofit is tough. But it’s even tougher without the right technology. That’s the challenge that Charlotte-based Apparo — which itself is a nonprofit — is trying to help solve. Apparo plays a vital role in Charlotte’s nonprofit community, by giving charities access to technology solutions and other resources to help their organizations run smoother and smarter. Kimberly Lanphear serves...

Balancing work and family life can be a challenge for workers and companies. On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Sarah Olin and Elena Arecco Bridgmon discuss their experiences building support systems for working parents and helping companies foster a culture that values and accommodates employees’ family responsibilities.  They founded Charlotte-based LUMO , which offers coaching and...

George Sistrunk was a Charlotte lawyer who enjoyed home brewing. But about 15 years ago, he and three lawyer friends decided to take beer-making to the next level and had the idea of turning their garage hobby into a brewery. That’s the origin of Town Brewing Co., a brewery in Charlotte’ Wesley Heights neighborhood. In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Sistrunk talks with host Steve Du...