NEWSMAKERS: ROAD TO SUCCESS

You may not recognize his name, but there's a good chance he's influenced your life here in North Carolina's Piedmont-Triad in one way or another. 30 years ago, Bernie Mann bought what was a struggling publication and turned it into a "Celebrating North Carolina" powerhouse. But before he became a magazine publisher, he owned radio stations across the northeastern and southern sections of the country. In this episode, he describes how his upbringing in New York City led to one spectacular personal and professional life.

He's been a key figure in turning a quiet travel venue in central North Carolina into an economic development and aerospace powerhouse. Within the next few years, the Piedmont-Triad International Airport will be the home of one of the largest concentrations of aircraft manufacturers in the world! But it's also a traditional airport that--like many others--is facing challenges that include competition from other airports, recruiting airlines and dealing with aging facilities. In this episode, PTI's Executive Director Kevin Baker discusses all this with Neill McNeill including his back story that includes how his much older brother was a major influence.

During the last more than 20 years, Glenn Dobrogosz has turned a sleepy science center in Greensboro, NC into a legitimate tourist draw and--you could argue--an economic development machine. In this episode, the Greensboro Science Center's executive director tells Neill McNeill how and why he arrived in Greensboro, explains the "secret sauce" behind the facility's success and his big plans for the future.

Don Stewart leads what will soon become one of North Carolina's largest employers: Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina in the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite. By the time its fully operational within the next few years, it will employ at least 5,100 people. In this episode, Stewart and Neill McNeill talk about some of the major issues/challenges facing the electric vehicle industry and the facility itself--which is not unlike a small city.

Not many in Central North Carolina have as complex a list of responsibilities as Don Stewart. He's the president of Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina, Toyota's first big effort to make lithium-ion batteries in the United States for its cars and trucks. This operation in the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite in Randolph County consists of multiple large buildings (7 million collective square feet) and is a nearly $14 billion investment. It also plans to have 5,100 employees by the time its fully operational within the next 5 years. But what many don't realize is Stewart has a fascinating back story: much of which he shares in this episode with Neill McNeill.

He's had a front row seat to some of the largest economic development deals in North Carolina history. Mike Fox is the president and CEO of the economic development organization, The Piedmont-Triad Partnership. In this episode, Fox describes to Neill McNeill the history behind the organization, what it's doing today and what it was like to be a part of a couple of major local aerospace negotiations whose results included the largest project (in terms of announced jobs) ever in North Carolina!

It would be hard to find someone with a more complex list of professional responsibilities than Mike Fox. Attorney. North Carolina transportation authority. Economic developer. He does it all. In this episode, Fox describes to Neill McNeill his growing up in western North Carolina, the early days of his law career and his time as chairman of the North Carolina Board of Transportation during perhaps the most challenging time in the State DOT's history.

It would be hard to name two more important behind-the-scenes people in live entertainment than the father-son duo of Jim and Michael Brammer. Jim's the founder/CEO of The Concert Stuff Group. Michael's the chief strategy officer. Together they run a company that provides audio, video, staging, production and transportation services (among many others) for many of the world's top artists. In this episode, Jim and Michael describe to Neill McNeill the company's different components, their involvement in one of the largest concerts of its type in North Carolina history and a new project Jim's helping develop in downtown Winston-Salem. Jim also offers up a few words of wisdom that are well worth your time!

There's a good chance if you've attended a large live event featuring just about any major artist--from Billy Joel to Paul McCartney to Luke Combs among many, many others, there's a good chance you've experienced the work of the company Jim Brammer founded and still runs. The Concert Stuff Group is based in Davie County, North Carolina but consists of multiple businesses across the world that are leaders in live entertainment staging, lighting, audio, production and many other services. In this episode, Brammer explains to Neill McNeill how an encounter with the Rolling Stones started a love of music that led to him becoming one of the industry's pioneers.

They're among the largest economic development wins in North Carolina history: the Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina complex in the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite and JetZero's announcement it'll bring its next generation aircraft factory and corporate headquarters to Greensboro: billions of dollars in economic impact, more than 20,000 announced jobs. And Marvin Price was a key figure in both. He's the Executive Vice President Economic Development for the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. In this episode, he tells Neill McNeill some of the back stories behind those recruitments and where he sees the city moving ahead in terms of attracting more employers.

He's among THE top economic developers in the United States. And during his half-decade as executive vice president, economic development for the Greensboro (North Carolina) Chamber of Commerce, Marvin Price has helped lead initiatives that have led to more than $20 billion in capital investment and well more than 25,000 announced jobs. (This includes the largest economic developmen "win" in North Carolina history.) In this episode, he talks with Neill McNeill about growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, what led him into this line of work and how a great "pitch" led him to come to Greensboro, a city--he admits--was never really on his radar!

When it comes to commercial building construction in Central North Carolina, it would be hard to find a more influential person than Mike Lancaster. From the new Care Tower at the Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, to the Qubein Children's Museum in High Point to the first phase of the Lenovo Center renovation in Raleigh, Lancaster has been heavily involved. He's the president and CEO of Blum Construction, a 100+ year old company based in Winston-Salem. In this episode, he discusses with Neill McNeill what it's taken to win and complete these projects, some of his industry's biggest challenges, his biggest mistake, and what he looks for when it comes to hiring people. If you or someone you know has ever had a desire to go into construction, this is like a master class.

When it comes to success, not many in North Carolina's Piedmont-Triad have experienced it quite like Mike Lancaster. He's the president and CEO of Blum Construction, a company based in Winston-Salem that recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. There's a very good chance you've seen or have spent time in a building locally that Blum has built and Lancaster's had a hand in building. In this episode, he and Neill McNeill talk about his leading the company through some challenging times, including COVID. He also talks about the company's history and his own inspiring story of reaching this point.

What does it take to become a billionaire? In this episode, the CEO and president of the Carroll Companies (a real estate and development firm based in Greensboro NC) discusses with Neill McNeill how he did just that. In some ways, it's a master class on taking ideas (even though some may "flop") and turning them into very successful businesses. Carroll also talks about some of his company's major local projects in North Carolina's Piedmont-Triad, a couple of his major passions (one is racing cars) and the key to his success.

Forbes Magazine titled its 2023 article on him "The Guru of Greensboro: How a College Dropout Built a $2.9 Billion Real Estate Empire." Not bad for someone who grew up modestly in Guilford County, NC and would eventually become among the most successful real estate developers in the United States. In this episode, the founder and CEO of the Carroll Companies, Roy Carroll, speaks with Neill McNeill about how he overcame many challenges to take the small construction company he started after his dad lost his job... into an operation that just keeps on growing.

For the third year in a row USA Today readers have voted Biscuitville as having the best fast food breakfast in the United States. Not bad for a company that gew out of a pizza restaurant in Burlington, North Carolina in 1975. While Biscuitville may be a relatively small company in the world of fast food, it's quickly become one of the most recognizable brands in the business. In this episode, Biscuitville Executive Chairman Burney Jennings discusses with Neill McNeill the company's best-selling biscuit, the fairly recent update of the company's brand and the keys to his and his company's success.

For the third year in a row USA Today readers voted Biscuitville as having the best fast food breakfast in the United States. Not bad for a company that grew out of a pizza restaurant in Burlington, North Carolina in 1975. While Biscuitville may be a relatively small company in the world of fast food, it's quickly become one of the most recognizable brands in the business. In this episode, Biscuitville Executive Chairman Burney Jennings talks about how his dad founded the company--in part--using something he received from his great-grandmother on her death bed.

After Joey Cheek grew up in Greensboro, NC and won 3 Olympic speed skating medals, he--among other things--dabbled in the business world where he started or helped start a couple of companies. One of those companies he calls a "miserable failure." Now, he's taking what he learned in all those experiences helping others start their own businesses through his job as Executive Vice President of Entrepreneurship for the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. In this episode, he describes to Neill McNeill--in detail--what he believes is crucial to starting a successful business. It's truly a 29 minute entrepreneurship master class.

Before he won gold, silver, and bronze Olympic ice speedskating medals, Joey Cheek grew up in Greensboro skating with skates that had wheels. Today, he's back in his hometown working as Executive Vice President of Entrepreneurship with the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. In this episode, Cheek reflects on his athletic career: the switch from wheels to blades, the practice, the competition, the fame, the emotional challenges he faced after winning it all and his charity work that followed. It's an inspiring story that includes a lot of information you may not know about this fascinating person.

In this episode, world-renowned author, philanthropist, public relations executive and power broker Dr. Robert J. Brown describes to Neill McNeill how he, as a registered Democrat, began work in Republican President Richard Nixon's White House while offering a perspective of the former president you haven't heard before. Dr. Brown also talks about the key role he played in freeing former South African President Nelson Mandela from prison. And finally, he talks about what he believes has been the key to his success during his last 90+ years!

In this episode, world-renowned author, philanthropist,public relations executive and power broker Dr. Robert J. Brown describes to Neill McNeill how he became a close friend and colleague of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the early days of the civil rights movement. Hear—among otherthings--- how these two met, some of the things Dr. Brown believes most people don’t know about Dr. King, how Dr. King essentially predicted his own death, how Dr. Brown learned of Dr. King’s assassination and Dr. Brown’s description of what he believes is Dr. King’s true legacy.

Many have called him the most influential person you’venever heard of. From being a close friend and colleague of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to working in the Nixon White House to helping free Nelson Mandela from prison in South Africa, Bob Brown has had a complex, inspiring and “connected” life. But it all started growing up in a segregated southern city(High Point, North Carolina). Here he tells Neill McNeill about his youth and the influence his grandmother had on his life.

Peter Voorhoeve is not only one of the world’s leadingauthorities on trucking and moving things from one place to another (what many call “logistics”), he’s also one of the leading proponents and innovators of building zero emission large trucks. In this episode, he discusses with NeillMcNeill how navigating this mission is difficult in the current political environment. He also talks about how his company, Volvo, is leading the industry in trucking safety and how soon we could see autonomous trucks on the roads and highways.

He grew up and was educated in the western European country of the  Netherlands (what many refer to as Holland) only to live around the world before moving to Greensboro. Today, he’s one of the world’s authorities on trucking and logistics. In this podcast, he talks with Neill McNeill about—among other things---the several languages he speaks and his experiences living everywhere from Belgium to Australia to China before ending up in North Carolina’s Piedmont-Triad.

Like all city managers, Trey Davis does a lot of “administrating.” From recommending a budget (Greensboro’s is more than $800 million) to navigating the politics of the city council, his is among the toughest of jobs. But just a few days before Christmas in 2024, Davis facedsomething not many city managers face in their careers. Here him discuss with Neill McNeill learning about the death of Greensboro Officer Michael Horan and how he helped the city manage the difficult days that followed. He also talks about some of his big priorities moving forward and the keys to his success. New episodes release in coordination with when they debut on WGHP FOX8’s new connected TV app, myfox8+ which is a free download on Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire.

From growing up in a small North Carolina town just north ofRaleigh-Durham in a law enforcement family to running the state’s third largest city with a budget of more than $800 million and 3,500 employees, Trey Davis’ life journey is nothing short of compelling and inspiring. And during thatjourney he not only spent time in law enforcement himself, he even served as an ordained minister. New episodes release in coordination with when they debut on WGHP FOX8’snew connected TV app, myfox8+ which is a free download on Apple TV, Roku andAmazon Fire.

From growing up in a poor family in both eastern and western North Carolina to becoming one of the most influential educational authorities in the state, Peter Hans speaks with Neill McNeill about the keys to his success. Hear how his involvement in the campaigns and administrations of some of the state’s most prominent politicians led to his transition into education. Plus, how growing up in a modest home had influenced his mission to keep higher education in North Carolina affordable and accessible. New episodes release in coordination with when they debut on WGHP FOX8’s new connected TV app, myfox8+ which is a free download on Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire.