Chatter with BNC

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people.

Michelle Doran, the chief operating officer at the Smith Anderson law firm, brings over 25 years of senior leadership experience from various regional and international law firms. The firm has an all-female C suite, a rarity in the business world.

Known for her energetic leadership and mentorship, Doran has a distinguished track record of overseeing business, finance and operations at law firms, including the New York office of an AmLaw 100 international firm where she led operations for eight regional offices around the world. Most recently she served as COO of a Northeastern law firm. Doran holds a degree in organizational leadership and communication from Marist College.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people.

Dr. Jenni Harris is the Executive Director of Business Services, NC Dept of Commerce with expertise in strategy development, implementation, relationship management, cross-sector collaboration and building organizational capacity. Dr. Harris leads diverse teams of key stakeholders and decision-makers toward innovative and strategic solutions that improve higher levels of effective and long-term collaborations and outcomes, and delivers results with expertise in building partnerships within corporate, public and private sectors as well as entrepreneurial environments.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people.

Greg Wilson is the founder and chief executive officer of Ripple Fiber in Charlotte, which provides internet connectivity via its fiber optic network and patented software. The company recently received an investment from Post Road Road, an alternative investment firm focused on digital infrastructure and real estate, to help it expand. Wilson previously spent 20 years in South Africa as a founder and executive of various companies expanding that country's telecommunications market.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people.

John Loyack is the Vice President of Economic Development for the North Carolina Community College System. In this role, Loyack leads the operation of the Economic Development Division, which includes ApprenticeshipNC, BioNetwork, Customized Training, and the Small Business Center Network. The Economic Development team provides education, training, and support services for new, expanding, and existing business and industry in all 100 North Carolina counties through our network of 58 community colleges. Before joining the System, Loyack worked for the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina and the North Carolina Department of Commerce as well as with companies like MercuryMD, Thomson Reuters, Time Warner, and Esteve Laboratories. Loyack earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Spanish from Gettysburg College and holds an MBA in International Business Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. In addition, to being Chair of the Board of Go Global NC, he also is a member of the NC Apprenticeship Council and the NC MEP Advisory Board.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people

Jason Dibble is the co-founder of Boomerang Water, which is based in Midland, outside of Charlotte.The company is dedicated to the elimination of single use plastic water bottles from all major campuses such as resorts, hotels, cruise ships, corporations and college campuses, military bases, and entire towns. The company has seen a 10-fold increase in revenue in the past year and has clients such as a Four Seasons Hotel and The Boca Raton. Dibble served four tours in Afghanistan and Iraq planning and executing seven military operations.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people.

As Director of the Economic Development Partnership, Tom White leads economic development initiatives for NC State, serving as the liaison to local, regional and state economic and workforce development entities. These strategic partnerships result in new jobs and capital investment for North Carolina, as well as meaningful opportunities for students and faculty.

Prior to joining NC State, Tom served as the Director of the N.C. Department of Commerce's Division of Employment and Training. He was also president and CEO of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce. A graduate of Duke University, Tom received his Master of Public Affairs from NC State.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people

Tony Atti is the co-founder and CEO of Durham-based Phononic, an innovating solid state semiconductor solutions that sustainably transforms refrigeration and cooling. Its products go into grocery stores, to cool semiconductor chips at data centers and in HVAC systems. The company was No. 35 on CNBC's Disruptor 50 list for companies that use AI for new business models beyond the era of better, faster and cheaper innovation.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people.

David Klanecky is president and CEO of Charlotte-based Cirba Solutions, one of the largest battery recyclers in the world. Klanecky previously served as executive vice president and COO of Piedmont Lithium, where he helped build North America's largest Lithium company. From 2013 to 2021, David served in increasingly senior management roles within Albemarle Corp., the world's leading lithium producer, including as vice president of strategy and corporate development and as vice president of lithium operations (APAC/EU), with global responsibility for Albemarle's manufacturing/operations, process technology and product management within the global lithium business. He also served as interim CEO of the MARBL joint venture between Albemarle and Mineral Resources Ltd, which includes the Kemerton and Wodgina assets in Australia.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people.

Today's Business North Carolina Chatter podcast features an interview with Paul Shumaker, who has helped win five U.S. Senate rates over the last 25 years, more than any other N.C. consultant. He's credited with using data-driven strategies that have helped transform North Carolina politics into a Republican-dominated state. The Caldwell County native is a graduate of Appalachian State University and founder of Capitol Communications. He and his wife, Ruth, have three adult children.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people.

Today's episode features an interview with Michal Bay, owner of Merino Mill in Mooresville. Bay grew up in eastern Turkey. He began his career in America selling furniture wholesale from his truck. Later, he became a distributor for Istanbul-based rug manufacturer Merinos. He grew so successful that he purchased the vacant Burlington Mill in Mooresville and restored it. Once covered in graffiti, with dozens of holes in the roof, the mill today is thriving with offices, retail and restaurants. The N.C. chapter of the American Planning Association honored the mill with its 2017 "Great Transformation" Award.