Before Grace Weisiger could join her family’s four-generation business, The Weisiger Group (formerly Carolina Tractor and Equipment), her parents told her she needed to gain some experience in a different industry. In 2014, while still a student at the University of Georgia, she received a call from a friend of a friend, who had a cryptic pitch: “I can’t tell you what we’re doing, but we’re starting a company, and it's going to be huge. And we’d like you to be a part of it.”

Skeptical but intrigued, Weisiger listened. That call led her to Bumble, a dating app, which was then just a fledgling idea with a bold mission: empower women to make the first move. What followed was a crash course in startup grit, cultural change and marketing innovation that would shape her career. Today, Weisiger is the founder of Willow Hill, a private investment vehicle.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Weisiger sits down with Ledger editor Tony Mecia to discuss her career, including her family’s business, The Weisiger Group, her early role at Bumble and what she learned, the principles of search funds, her journey in investment and how she approaches finding and leading scalable businesses.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Hillandale Advisors, a Charlotte-based investment and advisory firm that provides strategic counsel to local business owners and invests in private businesses, public equities, and commercial real estate. The Private Business Roundtable hosts events to connect and educate the private business community in Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem. Are you looking for support in capital raising, hiring key talent or selling your business? Contact Matt@HillandaleAdvisors.com or learn more at www.HillandaleAdvisors.com.

You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger, and subscribe to our locally focused newsletters, at TheCharlotteLedger.com.

This episode was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Charlotte celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence on May 20, 2025, at a ceremony and re-enactment in uptown Charlotte.

Watch the full celebration, with commentary and interviews by co-hosts Tony Mecia and Cristina Bolling of The Charlotte Ledger — with impromptu guests including former county commissioner Matthew Ridenhour, planning commission member Clayton Sealey and Ledger history correspondent John Short.

You might also enjoy this podcast about the Meck Dec:

Related Ledger articles:

* “Debating the Meck Dec” (May 12)

* “Charlotte breweries release Meck Dec-themed beers” (May 7)

* “Blowout celebrations planned for Meck Dec milestone” (March 17)

* “Historical Heavyweights: Charlotte’s revolutionary tavern keeper” (March 15)

Need to sign up for this e-newsletter? We offer a free version, as well as paid memberships for full access to all 6 of our local newsletters:

The Charlotte Ledger is a locally owned media company that delivers smart and essential news. We strive for fairness and accuracy and will correct all known errors. The content reflects the independent editorial judgment of The Charlotte Ledger. Any advertising, paid marketing or sponsored content will be clearly labeled.

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What do recruiters and hiring managers think candidates want? What do job seekers actually need? Rethinking your hiring strategy could be the key to long-term success. In this second installation of the “Trends in the Workplace 2025” series, experts break down the shifting workplace expectations and how to attract and retain top talent.

This episode is a recording from March 2025 of the second day of a three-part webinar series, brought to you by Catapult Employers Association and The Charlotte Ledger. The webinar series explores the key trends, technologies and shifts reshaping the workplace in 2025 and beyond.

In this episode, The Charlotte Ledger’s Tony Mecia talks with:

 ◼️ Jacqueline Esposito, a compensation advisor for Catapult, who is responsible for advising Catapult's member companies in the areas of compensation and total rewards

◼️ Kendra Stewart, who has expertise in talent development, workforce planning, strategic HR implementation and management consultation; and

◼️ Shannon Leonida, Catapult’s recruiting team lead.

Be sure to check out the other two episodes on The Charlotte Ledger Podcast:

Part 1: What’s coming in 2025?

Part 3: Retaining and developing your employees

Find out more about Catapult at LetsCatapult.org. Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

This episode is sponsored by Catapult Employers Association. Catapult empowers Charlotte's business community with trusted, local HR expertise. Join Charlotte's top employers this April in Greensboro, NC, at their 2025 HR Conference: HResilient. Learn more at letscatapult.org/hresilient2025/.

Oscar Wong was born to Chinese immigrants in Jamaica. After an engineering career, including a stint in Charlotte, he retired to Asheville and started the city's first brewery since Prohibition. Today, Highland Brewing is North Carolina's largest brewer, and Wong has become known as the state's "godfather of craft beer."

He turned over operation of Highland Brewing to his daughter in 2015 and is now mostly retired. In May 2023, he was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina's highest civilian honor.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Wong discusses his remarkable background, from Jamaica to the U.S. to Asheville, as well as the history of craft beer in North Carolina, his role in shaping the beer industry in the Southeast, and where he sees the craft beer industry going in the future.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Ledger editor Tony Mecia. It is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Local cafeterias sometimes produce more food than they need. Local charities need food to serve the hungry. Kim Aprill co-founded an organization called Feeding Charlotte that bridges the gap between those with excess food and the nonprofits and churches that need it — solving a local problem of food distribution.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Aprill discusses with host Steve Dunn how Feeding Charlotte addresses food insecurity, how food waste contributes to climate change and where the nonprofit gets excess food to donate to those who are hungry.

You can find out more about Feeding Charlotte at https://feedingcharlotte.org.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This episode is part of a series in which we interview winners of The Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards, which honor people aged 40+ who are making our community a better place. Find out information about those awards at Ledger40Over40.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation and Arbitration. It is produced by Lindsey Banks.

In 2014, a national study ranked Charlotte 50th out of the 50 largest metro areas in the United States in economic mobility — meaning that many of those born into poverty in Charlotte were likely to stay in poverty. It was a wake-up call, and Charlotte's large corporations, nonprofits and government mobilized to tackle the problem. Now, nearly 10 years later, how is Charlotte doing?

Sherri Chisolm, executive director of Leading on Opportunity, discusses Charlotte's economic mobility efforts with Charlotte Ledger editor Tony Mecia. They discuss what's being done to improve economic mobility, how to measure progress and how to keep the city focused on a generations-long journey.

You can find out more about Leading on Opportunity at www.leadingonopportunity.org.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Ledger editor Tony Mecia. It is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Figuring out care and support for older adults can be tricky. It involves navigating a complex web of insurance rules, healthcare options and living arrangements — and is a process that is often emotionally taxing. In this episode, Jennifer Szakaly of Charlotte-based Caregiving Corner offers tips for older adults and their loved ones and discusses the nuances of caregiving, the complexity of the healthcare system, and when someone should start thinking about long-term care.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation and Arbitration. It is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Finding the right healthcare coverage for your workers can be complex and confusing, and costs are expected to continue to rise. So how can employers navigate that challenge? The Charlotte Ledger's Tony Mecia talks with Catapult’s Martha Barker about strategies for providing coverage and finding the best options for employees.

This podcast is an audio version of the “Business Toolbox Series,” a webinar collaboration between The Ledger and Catapult to provide practical and useful advice to small- and mid-sized businesses.

This is the recording of a webinar on May 24, 2023. It is the third of three. The first one on the topic of avoiding legal headaches is available as a podcast. So is the second one, on recruiting and retaining workers.

Find out more about Catapult at LetsCatapult.org. Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

The job market is tight — and is expected to continue to be. So how can employers find and retain their best workers? The Charlotte Ledger's Tony Mecia talks with Catapult’s Kendra Stewart about strategies for recruiting and keeping top talent, the importance of company culture and amenities and the shifting generational expectations in the workplace.

This podcast is an audio version of the “Business Toolbox Series,” a webinar collaboration between The Ledger and Catapult to provide practical and useful advice to small- and mid-sized businesses.

This is the recording of a webinar on May 17, 2023. It is the second of three. For more information or to register for them, check out this link.

You can also enjoy this episode as a YouTube video.

Find out more about Catapult at LetsCatapult.org. Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

It's a challenging time for employers these days — what's the best advice for dealing with common human resources challenges? The Charlotte Ledger's Tony Mecia talks with Catapult’s Stephanie Dillon about tips for employers on topics including handling discipline and layoffs, hybrid and remote work and supporting employees’ mental health.

This podcast is an audio version of the “Business Toolbox Series,” a webinar collaboration between The Ledger and Catapult to provide practical and useful advice to small- and mid-sized businesses.

This is the recording of a webinar on May 10, 2023. It is the first of three: the others are on May 17, 2023, and May 24, 2023. For more information or to register for them, check out this link.

You can also enjoy this episode as a YouTube video.

Find out more about Catapult at LetsCatapult.org. Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.org.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

In 2014, Kimbo Bohannon founded Buddy/Mentor, a nonprofit mentoring program for elementary students. She has since retired from her 27-year career in teaching. In this episode, she discusses the importance for students to know someone is cheering them on and how she builds relationships in the community to support Buddy/Mentor.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This episode is part of a series in which we interview winners of The Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards, which honor people aged 40+ who are making our community a better place. Find out information about those awards at Ledger40Over40.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation and Arbitration. It is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Ross Danis served as president and CEO of MeckEd, a Charlotte nonprofit dedicated to ensuring access to opportunity for all children. Danis, who retired in April 2023 (after this podcast was recorded), operates under the idea that there is more than one way to be smart. He discusses ways to help children realize that struggling with traditional schooling doesn’t define their intelligence.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This episode is part of a series in which we interview winners of The Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards, which honor people aged 40+ who are making our community a better place. Find out information about those awards at Ledger40Over40.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation and Arbitration. It is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Commercial real estate has been falling on hard times lately — but one of its bright spots is the development of medical office buildings, because of the steady demand for healthcare. Brannen Edge, CEO of Charlotte-based Flagship Healthcare Properties, talks with Charlotte Ledger editor Tony Mecia about some of the factors affecting the sector, including the rise of telehealth, changing demographics in the Southeast, healthcare consolidation and the latest design trends in medical offices.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Workforce trends for 2025 are taking shape — from AI and automation to evolving employee expectations and hybrid work models. In this kickoff of the “Trends in the Workplace 2025” series, experts break down what’s coming and what it means for the workplace.

This episode is a recording from March 2025 of the first day of a three-part webinar series by Catapult Employers Association and The Charlotte Ledger. The webinar series explores the key trends, technologies and shifts reshaping the workplace in 2025 and beyond.

In this episode, The Charlotte Ledger’s Tony Mecia talks with:

◼️ Dr. Cheryl Richards, the president & CEO of Catapult, who brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in higher education and workforce development; and

◼️ Doug Blizzard, Catapult’s chief solutions officer with more than three decades in HR, leading service delivery and advising on everything from compliance to talent strategy.

Be sure to check out Part 2 and Part 3, which you can listen to on The Charlotte Ledger Podcast.

Part 2: Rethinking your hiring strategy

Part 3: Retaining and developing your employees

Find out more about Catapult at LetsCatapult.org. Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

This episode is sponsored by Catapult Employers Association. Catapult empowers Charlotte's business community with trusted, local HR expertise. Join Charlotte's top employers this April in Greensboro, NC, at their 2025 HR Conference: HResilient. Learn more at letscatapult.org/hresilient2025/.

Dave Redding has been a Charlotte litigator for over 20 years. He’s learned that litigators need to keep themselves mentally and physically fit. In 2011, Redding co-founded a men’s workout group called F3 that's grown to over 50,000 participants worldwide. In this episode, Redding shares why having compassion has made him a better litigator and how F3's leadership structure makes the workout group unique.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This episode is part of a series in which we interview winners of The Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards, which honor people aged 40+ who are making our community a better place. Find out information about those awards at Ledger40Over40.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation and Arbitration. It is produced by Lindsey Banks.

How are Charlotte small businesses doing in this uncertain economic time? In this episode, recorded LIVE at the Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce Business Expo 2023, The Charlotte Ledger's team chatted up 8 local businesses for a couple minutes each, in fields including photography services, coworking, yoga, veterinary medicine, restaurant supply and corporate merch.

This episode features brief interviews with: Ada Stevens of Snap Happy Photos; Isaac Yisrael of Blackstone Security; Dave Chen of D&M Restaurant Supply; Mariana Orzech of Promotion Magic; Andrew Carlson of Veterinary Emergency Group; Molley Corely of Yoga Six; Jennifer Canas of BSI Solutions; Evan Preslopsky of Venture X; and Jessica Helms with the Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Cheryl Richards serves as president and CEO of Catapult, an employers’ association that serves more than 2,300 employers across the Carolinas and beyond. Before joining Catapult, Richards worked in higher education for 32 years.

In this episode, Richards shares how her background prepared her for Catapult, what employment challenges face companies today, and how employers can keep their employees happy and the workplace running smoothly. You can find out more about Catapult at letscatapult.org.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Charlotte Ledger managing editor Cristina Bolling. It is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Fabi Preslar founded SPARK Publications in 1998 as a graphic design firm. Now, SPARK is a custom-publishing design firm that helps businesses across a variety of industries grow and convert their knowledge into marketable books or magazines.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This episode is part of a series in which we interview winners of The Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards, which honor people aged 40+ who are making our community a better place. Find out information about those awards at Ledger40Over40.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation and Arbitration. It is produced by Lindsey Banks.

As part of the 4th anniversary of the launch of The Charlotte Ledger, The Ledger's Tony Mecia and Cristina Bolling discuss company's origins, how Charlotte journalism has changed over the past 25 years and where The Ledger fits into the future of journalism.

This podcast is hosted by Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation and Arbitration and Tim Whitmire of CXN Advisory.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Charlotte Ledger managing editor Cristina Bolling. It is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Women in need of stable employment and job security need more than a working wardrobe – they need services to help them land meaningful jobs and keep them on the path to career success. Nobody knows that better than Kerry Barr O’Connor, executive director of Dress for Success Charlotte, which during the month of March is holding its Your Hour Her Power fundraising campaign.

In this episode, O’Connor discusses the mission of Dress for Success, the needs she sees in the community and the importance of the Your Hour Her Power campaign to helping the organization achieve its mission.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Charlotte Ledger managing editor Cristina Bolling. It is produced by Lindsey Banks.

As Charlotte FC starts its second season, it is hoping to keep the momentum going from its successful first year, in which it exceeded expectations and nearly made the playoffs. The team's sporting director, Zoran Krneta, shares his philosophy on building a roster. He also recalls some the poignant moments surrounding the tragic death of Anton Walkes in a boating accident this preseason — and explains how it is bringing the team closer together.

Krneta discusses how he and others built the team and its outlook for 2023 with The Charlotte Ledger's Carroll Walton and Tony Mecia. You can keep up with Charlotte FC by reading The Ledger's weekly Fútbol Friday newsletter.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Charlotte's arts scene is evolving, and few understand the landscape better than Tim Miner, co-founder of Charlotte is Creative, a non-profit that helps bridge the gap between artists and the business community. In this episode, Miner discusses the development of the arts in Charlotte and what creative types need to flourish here.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This episode is part of a series in which we interview winners of The Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards, which honor people aged 40+ who are making our community a better place. Find out information about those awards at Ledger40Over40.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation and Arbitration. It is produced by Lindsey Banks.

In the 1980s, a handful of local business leaders known as "The Group" would meet to discuss their vision for turning Charlotte into a modern and thriving "New South" city. And they made it happen. Today, the influence of businesses on Charlotte's direction has waned, and decision-making on big issues is more fractured.

Longtime Charlotte journalist Jim Morrill discusses "The Group" and its legacy, which he explored in the February 2023 cover article in Charlotte magazine entitled "Who's in Charge in Charlotte?" Morrill retired in 2021 after a 40-year career at The Charlotte Observer, where he covered politics and government. He and Charlotte Ledger editor Tony Mecia discuss downtown development, the origins of Charlotte's "world-class city" focus, the influence of the business community and how big decisions are made today.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Charles Thomas serves as the Charlotte program director of the Knight Foundation and focuses on the development and preservation of Charlotte's Historic West End neighborhood. In this episode, he discusses how the Knight Foundation invests in the community and encourages residents to participate in the development process.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This episode is part of a series in which we interview winners of The Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards, which honor people aged 40+ who are making our community a better place. Find out information about those awards at Ledger40Over40.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation and Arbitration. It is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Growing up, Courtie Coble’s Saturdays were filled with day trips to Charlotte. Her mother, a self-made entrepreneur who never went to college, would load Coble and her siblings into the car and take them to open houses in Charlotte’s gated communities. Coble would see glimpses of a life that, at the time, felt worlds away from her small town of Burnsville, N.C. But to Coble’s mother, these trips weren’t just outings; they were lessons.

"It’s hard to have what you don’t see," Coble said.

Today, as the visionary and CEO of The Academy of Goal Achievers, she’s passing down that same lesson — showing young people that their futures can be bigger than they ever imagined. Founded in 2015, The Academy of Goal Achievers helps prepare high school students and their families for post-secondary success.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Coble sits down with Ledger podcast host Steve Dunn to talk about the importance of opening up students' horizons and giving them a sense of possibilities.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This episode is part of a series in which we interview winners of The Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards, which honor people aged 40+ who are making our community a better place. Find out information about those awards at Ledger40Over40.com.

This episode is sponsored by AC Creative Collective. Based in Charlotte, N.C., and founded by sisters Amoura and Avery Carter, AC Creative Collective specializes in end-to-end marketing and learning and development services. They are dedicated to helping businesses and organizations streamline their operations and achieve their goals with creativity and precision. From social media strategies to workshops and brand launches, they’ve got you covered. Visit www.accreativecollective.com to learn more.

This podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Dualboot Partners principal Todd Buelow's 25-year career as an entrepreneur is centered around servant leadership. In this episode, he shares how he grew his extensive network to help more people, how being a late bloomer shaped his outlook on life, and what advice he would give to aspiring entrepreneurs.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This episode is part of a series in which we interview winners of The Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards, which honor people aged 40+ who are making our community a better place. Find out information about those awards at Ledger40Over40.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation and Arbitration. It is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Manoj Kesavan founded BOOM Charlotte to create a space for Charlotte's talented artists to showcase their work. In this episode, Kesavan shares his inspiration for BOOM, why diversity is important to Charlotte's art scene and where the city falls short in supporting its local artists.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This episode is part of a series in which we interview winners of The Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards, which honor people aged 40+ who are making our community a better place. Find out information about those awards at Ledger40Over40.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation and Arbitration. It is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Amy Aussieker, executive director of Envision Charlotte, is one of Charlotte's leaders in making the city more sustainable. In this episode, she talks about her work at Envision Charlotte, why it’s so important for our city and why she is breeding soldier flies at the city-owned Innovation Barn.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This episode is part of a series in which we interview winners of The Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards, which honor people aged 40+ who are making our community a better place. Find out information about those awards at Ledger40Over40.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation and Arbitration. It is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Have you ever thought people aged 40+ should be identified and recognized for their good work? Yeah, we did, too — so much that we started The Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards, which celebrate people who are making our community better and who are aged 40 and up.

In this special episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Charlotte Ledger editors Tony Mecia and Cristina Bolling explain the whys and hows of the 40 Over 40 Awards, which are now in their 4th year and culminate with a fun 1980s-themed party in April. They are interviewed by Tim Whitmire of CXN Advisory and Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation and Arbitration.

For more information on the Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards, Presented by U.S. Bank, go to Ledger40Over40.com.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

As we enter 2023, there are big question marks about the future of the U.S. economy. What will happen with inflation, jobs, stocks and the housing market? A panel of experts broke down those topics and more in a Jan. 4, 2023, online forum called “Taking the Air Out of Inflation: 2023 Economic Outlook.” The panel is presented by Davidson College and U.S. Bank, and the moderator is Charlotte Ledger editor Tony Mecia.

Panelists are Eric Freedman, chief investment officer at U.S. Bank Asset Management Group; Siobhan O’Keefe, assistant professor of economics at Davidson College; Matt Phillips, financial markets correspondent for Axios; and Jennifer Streaks, senior personal finance reporter for Insider.

You can watch a video of the discussion, with captions, here.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Since the death of her son Joe in 2010, Diane Restaino of Charlotte has been working toward his dying wish that she raise money to advance research and treatment of pediatric cancer. Over the course of 13 years, Diane grew the Joedance Film Festival into a well-known nonprofit that raised more than $400,000 for Atrium Levine Children's Hospital's cancer program. As Diane announced the festival's end, she reflected on the experience of starting a nonprofit in honor of a child, her grief journey and what Joedance has accomplished in the world of pediatric cancer treatment.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Charlotte's real estate industry is changing — and David Ravin, CEO of development company Northwood Ravin, has had a front-row seat to its evolution over more than two decades. He reflects on his early interest in architecture and urban planning, his time as a student at UNC Charlotte, what he learned at real estate giant Crosland, Northwood Ravin's philosophy on building and where real estate in Charlotte goes from here.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

How does Charlotte's tech sector stack up nationally, and where does it go from here? Veteran local tech entrepreneur John Espey, CEO of Defiance Ventures, assesses Charlotte's strengths and weaknesses in tech, tells what he looks for in making tech investments, discusses the sector's recent challenges and offers an outlook for crypto, artificial intelligence and more.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

When Claire Schuch reported for duty at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in spring 2022, she inherited a department with plenty on its plate. Schuch leads the district’s planning services department, which is responsible for tasks ranging from drawing boundaries for new schools to devising plans to accommodate for growth and shifting populations.

She sat down with Ledger managing editor Cristina Bolling in this episode of the Charlotte Ledger Podcast to talk about her background and the mission behind her department, the importance of understanding the communities beyond the maps and what’s ahead for school growth in south Charlotte.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

If a big transit plan for Charlotte is going to happen, it’s going to take a regional approach. And Geraldine Gardner, executive director of the Centralina Regional Council, has been working on a regional approach to Charlotte-area transit since 2019.

Last year, the Centralina Regional Council and the Metropolitan Transit Commission released Connect Beyond, a regional mobility plan that offers a vision of for improving transit and transportation in the 12-county Charlotte region. It produced more than 150 recommendations that will serve as a blueprint for improving connectivity over the next couple decades.

The Charlotte Ledger’s Tony Mecia talked with Gardner about the vision for a regional transit system — and how to get there.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger, or sign up for our award-winning newsletters, at TheCharlotteLedger.com.

John Short, who writes the "Historical Heavyweights" column for The Charlotte Ledger, talks with Ledger editor Tony Mecia about Charlotte's most fascinating historical figures and the importance of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and early settlers. They also discuss two of Short's other projects: The Charlotte Podcast (which has nearly 300 episodes) and the Elizabeth neighborhood's Halloween pumpkin wall (which Short helps organize).

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Marjorie Molina wasn’t expecting to run for political office. But when a vacancy opened on the Charlotte City Council and friends suggested she give it a try, she went for it.

Some parts of running a political campaign didn’t come naturally, like fundraising. But it worked: She beat four opponents in a May 2022 primary and was sworn in representing Charlotte’s eastside in September 2022.

Molina, 42, spoke with The Ledger’s Tony Mecia about her journey from citizen to politician, what it’s like being a council member, what she hopes to accomplish in her time on council, and what the future looks like for east Charlotte.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

For more information or to sign up for The Charlotte Ledger's newsletters, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com

The Catawba River is Charlotte's source of water. It's vital to our region. So how do we protect it? Brandon Jones of the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation discusses that important topic with The Charlotte Ledger's Lindsey Banks. They explore what being a riverkeeper means, why protecting the river basin is important in Mecklenburg County, the foundation's work and the coolest spot in the basin to visit. Podcast produced by Lindsey Banks.

For original and smart local insights on Charlotte, sign up for The Charlotte Ledger's newsletter at www.TheCharlotteLedger.com.

From a new medical school to changes at doctors’ offices, there’s plenty happening in health care in the Charlotte region. Ledger editor Tony Mecia talks with Rose Hoban of North Carolina Health News and longtime Charlotte reporter and editor Michelle Crouch about an innovative new partnership between The Ledger and North Carolina Health News that will enhance the public’s understanding of health care and the local institutions that deliver it.

The joint effort is a creative solution by two digital media companies to keep the public informed, as many legacy news outlets have cut back on independent local reporting — and as large health care companies continue to grow in size and influence.

We examine the initiative and discuss Charlotte’s health care scene, the outlook for local news and how experienced health writers find and report stories.

The Charlotte Ledger podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

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➡️ To donate tax-free to support the Charlotte health care reporting initiative: https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/donate_clt/

Need to sign up for this e-newsletter? We offer a free version, as well as paid memberships for full access to all 4 of our local newsletters:

➡️ Opt in or out of different newsletters on your “My Account” page.

➡️ Learn more about The Charlotte Ledger

The Charlotte Ledger is a locally owned media company that delivers smart and essential news through e-newsletters and on a website. We strive for fairness and accuracy and will correct all known errors. The content reflects the independent editorial judgment of The Charlotte Ledger. Any advertising, paid marketing, or sponsored content will be clearly labeled.

Like what we are doing? Feel free to forward this along and to tell a friend.

Social media: On Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Sponsorship information/customer service: email support@cltledger.com.

Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Contributing editor: Tim Whitmire, CXN Advisory; Contributing photographer/videographer: Kevin Young, The 5 and 2 Project

Charlotte FC radio color broadcaster Jessica Charman discusses playing soccer as a girl in a male-dominated sport in England, the peculiarities of using British English to explain soccer to an American audience and her favorite moments of the team's first season. Charman, the first female full-time radio broadcaster in MLS, is interviewed by Charlotte Ledger/Fútbol Friday soccer writer Carroll Walton. Podcast produced by Lindsey Banks.

Sign up for the free Fútbol Friday newsletter, with smart and independent news about Charlotte FC, at www.TheCharlotteLedger.com.

University City in Charlotte suffered a big setback with the news in August 2022 that insurance giant Centene was abandoning plans for an East Coast headquarters. Guests Tobe Holmes of University City Partners and Darlene Heater of Panorama Holdings discuss the outlook for University City — and why it seems primed for more growth. They unpack the market's development hotspots, its housing market, infrastructure improvements and best-kept secrets.

Stay in the know about Charlotte by signing up for our newsletter at TheCharlotteLedger.com.

Producer: Lindsey Banks

There are a lot of questions in Charlotte these days about the future of work: remote work, hybrid work, office layouts, companies’ office needs — especially in light of the decision by health insurer Centene to back out of a huge planned East Coast headquarters in Charlotte's University City area. Brett Gray, managing principal of Cushman & Wakefield's Charlotte office, discusses the market for office space in the city with The Ledger's Tony Mecia. Will developers build more office towers in Charlotte? Will companies slash their square footage? What amenities do companies look for nowadays? We examine all that and more in an insightful 15-minute interview.

(^ You can listen to Ledger editor Tony Mecia read this letter to readers by clicking above)

Dear Ledger reader:

It’s the end of 2021, the time of the year when organizations look back and look ahead.

At The Ledger, we’ll try to spare you the overly sappy reflections, but we do think it’s healthy to share with our readers what we’ve done and where we’re heading. We can exist only because of our readers’ support, so we think you deserve periodic updates on how our business is doing.

The short version: In 2021, we continued growing, with more paying members climbing aboard, more people hearing about us and more efforts on our part to experiment with new things that readers might like. We plan to keep that up in 2022.

The longer version: Man, we did a lot. We sent 292 email newsletters, broke a ton of news, highlighted trends and introduced you to fascinating people in our city. We are pretty sure we made you smarter and better-informed.

Some of the work we are most proud of includes:

Investigations: We shared some ambitious investigative pieces, including in-depth looks at the sexual assault allegations at Myers Park High, an unexpected $10,000 colonoscopy bill from Atrium Health, the decline of the Arts & Science Council and the trend toward replacing pediatricians with nurses in hospital nurseries.

New newsletters: We started 2 new newsletters this year — Ways of Life (obituaries); and Transit Time, in conjunction with WFAE and UNC Charlotte’s Urban Institute. Not to brag (too much), but Transit Time was named “Best Local Newsletter” by Queen City Nerve and won a national award from our trade group, Local Independent Online News (LION), for “Collaboration of the Year.”

Trends: Because we are connected to Charlotte, we clued you in to interesting and important trends before they became widely apparent. Supply chain disruptions? We looked into the causes months before politicians made it a talking point. Book shortages? We told you about them two weeks before the New York Times. Wild bidding wars for houses? We shared Realtors’ eye-opening stories a week before The Wall Street Journal had the same idea. And when teens started stocking up on feta cheese in February because of a TikTok video, guess which local newsletter was ON IT — two weeks before The New York Times took note.

The Ledger displayed plenty of range in 2021. Clockwise, from upper left: Midnight hockey in Pineville; J.T. Williams, one of N.C.’s first Black surgeons, who became a politician and diplomat; feta cheese supplies running low in February; the prototype of a drive-thru-only Bojangles in Cotswold; analysis of enrollment declines at south Charlotte public schools; a financial salesman who pursued his dream of opening an east Charlotte reptile shop; the bread-only “Sandwiche” from the fictional Breadland restaurant in our April Fools’ edition; pickleball action heats up among newly vaccinated Sun City residents.

Interesting people: We introduced you to Charlotte people with stories to tell and lessons to share, including an Atrium Covid ICU nurse who experienced the pandemic through different eyes when her grandmother became ill with the virus; newly vaccinated seniors in Sun City who were happy to resume playing pickleball and attending Saturday night ’60s dance parties again; a Broadway fan who received a get-well video message from Lin-Manuel Miranda; investors who put money into tech company AvidXchange and waited 20 years to reap big windfalls; and relocated Northerners who play hockey at midnight in Pineville.

Interviews: We gave you Q&As with well-known and fascinating Charlotte people, including former Bank of America CEO Hugh McColl Jr.; former mayors Sue Myrick and Harvey Gantt; the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art’s new executive director, Todd Smith; Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s new CEO, Marcellus “MT” Turner; and basketball broadcast analyst Jay Bilas.

Growth and development: The story of Charlotte is the story of growth, and we have continued to offer unparalleled and authoritative local coverage of this important topic — from insights on the 2040 Comprehensive Plan; to development trends in Sugar Creek, NoDa, west Charlotte, Ballantyne, SouthPark and University City; to repeated scoops on land deals and development plans and, of course, our popular monthly listing of Charlotte’s rezoning petitions🔥.

Series: We delivered several series of themed articles in 2021, including A Better You, with advice from local experts on how to improve yourself; Urban Adventures, in which we introduced you to exciting parts of Charlotte’s urban core; Second Acts, with stories of people who made career transitions later in life; the second season of Flyover Friday, in partnership with The 5 and 2 Project, which uses video and drone footage to examine development trends; Historical Heavyweights, examining the lives of influential Charlotte historical figures; Entrepreneur Week, in which local business founders shared their insights; and Legends of Charlotte, featuring interviews with some of the city’s longtime movers and shakers. We also just finished a five-week run of locally focused crossword puzzles.

We could keep going — turning over authorship of a newsletter to an artificial intelligence program called Jarvis … letting 4th and 5th graders at Ballantyne Elementary produce a newsletter … launching an audio version of The Ledger on Spotify … crafting an all-too-believable April Fools’ edition … holding our second annual 40 Over 40 awards … in-depth coverage of the ABC liquor shortage and of controversial expansion plans at Myers Park Country Club. …

The point is, it was a productive and fun year, thanks to our network of talented freelancers and partners, our newsletter sponsors and you.

I started The Ledger nearly three years ago because — as someone who cares about Charlotte and believes reliable information is vital to a functioning society — I was disappointed with the decline in responsible and important local journalism. I’m happy to report that I believe The Ledger is now consistently producing smart news for people who care about our city. We’re doing it without the benefit of common tactics that personally annoy me and probably you, such as embarrassingly enthusiastic coverage of restaurants and bars, irritating ads that render articles almost unreadable, absurd clickbait headlines that purposefully omit key information, pay-to-play marketing arrangements, half-baked and biased “news reporting” and so on.

As of this week, The Ledger has 11,000 people who have signed up to receive our emails. Nearly one-quarter of those people are paying members. We’re not the largest local outlet, and we don’t aim to be. Rather, we’re trying to produce a high-quality product for people who appreciate it. More like a fine wine, not a box of Franzia.

Our financial numbers are strong: Membership revenue, which accounts for about 5/6 of the money we take in, rose 84% this year. Our expenses are up, too, because producing quality local journalism isn’t cheap. But overall, we’re encouraged by the growth and grateful for our paying members whose support allows us to expand and experiment.

What’s next: So where do we go from here? Our main focus will be continuing to deliver high-quality, original information for Charlotte. That won’t change. We will continue experimenting with new ways to reach new people and serve our readers. We have plans in 2022 to hold more in-person and online events, building on the success of the Charlotte marketing series (in conjunction with online events company Jumbo), the forum on college admissions and the happy hour with the editors that we held this year.

Mark your calendar for April 28, when we are holding our first-ever in-person awards celebration for our 40 Over 40 recipients. Nominations for those awards, now in their third year, open next month, and we will honor these people who are making important contributions to our community at a fun, ’80s-themed party that we’ve been working on for the last couple months.

In the future, we envision starting newsletters on additional local topics. We foresee adding more full-time staffers to join me and managing editor Cristina Bolling and continuing to increase our use of talented freelance writers. We are purposefully set up differently than other media companies: We’re a locally owned business that is self-financed, and we don’t have (and don’t want) deep-pocketed out-of-state corporate owners or lucrative ad deals paying the bills. We’re content to grow steadily in a way that ensures we are serving our readers as our main customers. 

That’s all for now. As always, if you have any thoughts about our coverage or suggestions for the future, feel free to drop me or Cristina an email. Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2022.

Tony Mecia

Executive editor, The Charlotte Ledger

Thanks for letting us into your inbox in the mornings. Cheers to you and your family for 2022.

One parting thought: Charlotte charitable giving recommendations

If you’re looking for a last-minute, end-of-the-year tax deduction for 2021, you might consider giving to local charities. We asked our community of paying members for recommendations — here’s their list of where they’re donating their money and time:

Need to sign up for this e-newsletter? We offer a free version, as well as paid memberships for full access to all 3 of our local newsletters:

➡️ Learn more about The Charlotte Ledger

The Charlotte Ledger is a locally owned media company that delivers smart and essential news through e-newsletters and on a website. We strive for fairness and accuracy and will correct all known errors. The content reflects the independent editorial judgment of The Charlotte Ledger. Any advertising, paid marketing, or sponsored content will be clearly labeled.

Like what we are doing? Feel free to forward this along and to tell a friend.

Change newsletter preferences: Go to ‘My Account’ page

Social media: On Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Sponsorship information: email brie@cltledger.com.

Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Contributing editor: Tim Whitmire, CXN Advisory; Contributing photographer/videographer: Kevin Young, The 5 and 2 Project

Since Marcellus “MT” Turner took over as CEO and chief librarian of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in 2021, the library system has undergone significant transformation — and it’s not over yet.

The library system, which currently has 21 locations, has ambitious plans to expand to 31 branches to better meet the needs of the city’s growing population. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library wants to bring branches to "library deserts," where residents lack easy access to library resources, as well as modernizing existing facilities to provide more meeting spaces, technology access and interactive learning opportunities.

A major highlight of the system’s growth is the new Main Library coming in 2026, which will replace the previous structure at its long-standing Tryon Street location. Slated to be a state-of-the-art facility, the six-story building will feature expanded public spaces, a café, a makerspace and an immersive theater, with no administrative offices taking up space.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, recorded in front of an audience at The Sharon at South Park retirement community in March 2025, Turner talks about the role of libraries in Charlotte, how it’s shifted over the past few decades, and what we can expect to see in the future.

You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

North Carolina is home to world-class university research — but many groundbreaking ideas never make it beyond the lab. Now, a new nonprofit backed by state and private funds is working to turn university research into thriving businesses, with the goal of creating jobs and boosting the state’s economy.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Michelle Bolas, executive vice president and chief innovation officer of NCInnovation, discusses how the organization works to bridge the gap between lab research and market-ready technology.

In a conversation with Ledger editor Tony Mecia, Bolas discusses: why university research is important to the future of North Carolina; why private industry alone can’t develop promising technologies; projects NCInnovation is supporting at UNC Charlotte, on water quality and electric grid stability; and how NCInnovation spends its money, and what it is doing with the $500 million allocated to it from North Carolina’s General Assembly.

You can find out more about NCInnovation at NCInnovation.org.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter!

In 2005, a group of friends with a shared love of motorcycles, beer and barbecue opened a restaurant in an industrial area near uptown known as South End. Today, 20 years later, that restaurant — Mac's Speed Shop — has grown into a company with nine such restaurants in North and South Carolina, with more on the way.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Tony Salerno, president of Mac’s Hospitality Group, talks with Ledger editor Tony Mecia about how this well-known fixture in Charlotte's restaurant scene has endured and continues to expand. They talk about challenges in the restaurant industry, how Mac's tries to stand out in a growing city, the importance of building a strong team, changes in technology and more.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter!

What does it take to turn a city into a top destination for Broadway tours? Tom Gabbard, CEO of Blumenthal Arts since 2003, joins The Charlotte Ledger Podcast to pull back the curtain on Charlotte’s booming arts scene. Under Gabbard's leadership, Blumenthal has transformed into a powerhouse, managing four theaters and hosting more than 1,000 events annually.

In this engaging conversation—recorded in front of an audience at The Sharon at South Park—Gabbard shares the inside story of how Charlotte became a top 10 market for Broadway touring shows and what it was like being in the room when Lin-Manuel Miranda first pitched the musical "Hamilton."

In a conversation with The Ledger's Cristina Bolling, and in responding to audience questions, Gabbard discusses Blumenthal’s efforts to expand the arts beyond the stage, how it adapted during the pandemic, the balancing act of booking national tours while fostering local talent, and what it’s like being a longtime Tony Awards voter.

Whether you're a theater lover, an arts advocate, or just curious about the business behind the spotlight, this episode is packed with behind-the-scenes stories and insights on the future of the arts in Charlotte.

You can find out more about Blumenthal Arts at blumenthalarts.org.

You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Longtime Republican consultant Carter Wrenn, who spent decades shaping North Carolina politics, has witnessed a dramatic shift in the political landscape since he began his career in the 1970s. Wrenn, a senior advisor to the late U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, helped build the National Congressional Club, a fundraising powerhouse that revolutionized political outreach and advertising.

In a recent interview on The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Wrenn noted that while politics has always been “rough and tumble,” a key difference today is the public’s tolerance for dishonesty.

 “Politicians were afraid to tell lies because they paid a price,” Wrenn said. “People didn't approve of that, and that's changed today. You hear politicians telling tales all the time, and a lot of times, people cheer them.”

In this episode, Wrenn — who recently authored “The Trail of the Serpent: Stories from the Smoke-Filled Rooms of Politics,” a book recounting his political career — talks with retired N.C. political reporter Jim Morrill about his front-row seat in North Carolina politics and shares stories and perspectives from the 1970s through today.

They discuss Wrenn's work with Sen. Jesse Helms and their eventual falling out, how the political landscape has changed since the 1970s and the use of race in political campaigns — including the famout "white hands" commercial Helms ran against former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt in the 1990 Senate race.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

This week’s podcast guest might sound a little familiar. You’ve been listening to his voice for more than two years.

Steve Dunn regularly interviews winners of The Charlotte Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Awards, which are awarded every spring to individuals over the age of 40 who are doing important and inspiring work in Charlotte.

While podcasting has become a significant part of his work, Dunn’s primary profession is mediation—following a career as an employment lawyer. As a mediator with Miles Mediation and Arbitration, Dunn brings his expertise in navigating complex conversations, a skill that translates seamlessly into his role as a podcast host. His approach to interviewing is marked by curiosity and a deep appreciation for the personal and professional journeys of his guests.

Dunn sat down with Ledger editor Tony Mecia to talk about his experiences hosting the podcast over the past couple of years, what he’s learned during the process, and how his job in mediation translates into podcasting.

You can find out more about the 40 Over 40 Awards, presented by U.S. Bank, here. Nominations are open until Feb. 17, 2025, with an awards celebration in May 2025.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

If you've ever tuned into Charlotte’s NPR station in the mornings, you've probably heard the soothing voice of Marshall Terry. But you probably don't know much about him otherwise. In an era marked by building personal brands, influencers and oversharing on social media, Terry is refreshingly old school. He doesn’t post on social media, and he rarely talks to media interviews outside of his job.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Terry talks with Ledger editor Tony Mecia about the unique aspects of Terry’s career, his love for the early morning radio lifestyle and his unexpected journey into broadcasting.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals. 

You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger, and subscribe to our locally focused newsletters, at TheCharlotteLedger.com.

This episode was produced by Lindsey Banks.