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.

On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Alex Shuford III, CEO of Rock House Designer Brands, the family-rooted holding company behind Century Furniture, Hancock & Moore, Hickory Chair, and more. A self-described English major turned furniture executive, Alex traces his winding journey from running interior design shops in the San Francisco Bay Area through the dot-com bust to leading one of North Carolina's signature manufacturers. He shares candid takes on navigating tariffs and thin margins, why he sees AI as a "job enhancer" rather than a threat, and the company's return to the lighting category. Plus, a shared love of the Grateful Dead.

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.

On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Michael Lemanski, founder and managing partner of NSV Development, about transforming distressed downtowns across North Carolina. A chemical engineer turned developer, Michael shares how a job shutting down a historic paper mill inspired him to repurpose old buildings rather than tear them down — work that has led to roughly $350 million in development in Durham and a remarkable partnership with the city of Wilson. He breaks down the public-private deals behind the new Wilson Warbirds minor league baseball stadium, an in-stadium hotel, and the $6 billion in surrounding economic development reshaping downtown Wilson.

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.

On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Craig Stover, Senior Director for New Nuclear Development at Dominion Engineering, about the rapidly evolving nuclear energy landscape. Craig shares his journey from a high school BMW factory tour to becoming one of the first hires on the V.C. Summer Project in South Carolina, and now leading a new division focused on building nuclear plants. The conversation explores the shift from gigawatt-scale reactors to smaller modular designs, the role of nuclear in powering data centers and decarbonizing industry, and why the Carolinas have become a major hub for nuclear innovation. Plus, Craig shares his love for Dave Matthews and Hootie & the Blowfish.

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.

On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Whitley Adkins, fashion stylist, creative director, and style editor for South Park Magazine. From playing dress-up in her grandmother's closet in Rocky Mount to chasing her dreams in New York City, Whitley shares the winding journey that led her to launch The Queen City Style and reshape Charlotte's fashion scene. She and Ben dig into the decline of men's business attire, the power of dressing well as your "visual calling card," and why formality still matters. Plus, Whitley reveals the bands she's blasting on set and at concerts with her son.

On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Doug Searcy, president of Barton College in Wilson, North Carolina. Doug shares the story of his western North Carolina upbringing, the family courage that opened the door to higher education, and an unforgettable college lesson in accountability after he dented the president's car. He and Ben dig into Barton's growth alongside a thriving Wilson, new programs in health sciences and AI-driven business, and why civil discourse and critical thinking matter more than ever. Stick around to the end for Doug's love of 80s rock, James Taylor, and a good Dick's hot dog.

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.

In today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Brian Vigna, cybersecurity specialist at NC State University's Industry Expansion Services, about why small businesses can't afford to ignore cybersecurity. Brian shares his winding path from sports broadcasting to cyber, explains the "defense in depth" mindset, and breaks down the real cost of a breach, from lost production to forensics. Then the two swap notes on live music, trading favorite jam bands (Goose, Dogs in a Pile, Eggie), the magic of Nugs, and top North Carolina venues. Plus, how to tap IES's free resources for small manufacturers.

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.

On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Adam Sperling, Executive Director of the Truist Championship, about the return of premier professional golf to Charlotte's iconic Quail Hollow Club, May 6-10. Adam shares his winding path into the golf world — from a college internship at the 2003 PGA Championship to stints at Pebble Beach, Las Vegas, and eventually Charlotte for the 2021 Presidents Cup — and why he fell in love with the region. He breaks down what's new for this year's tournament, including three reimagined fan zones, a partnership with Atrium Health offering free water and Stanley cups, first-ever public grandstand seating on the 17th green courtesy of Hendrick Auto, and a new wayfinding app powered by CPI Security. The two also dig into what makes Charlotte's corporate community so uniquely invested in events like this, the power of golf as a community gathering, and — naturally — their shared love of Goose, Bruce Springsteen, and whether playing music on the course is still controversial.

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.

In this episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Ken Norton, executive director of Cakeable, a Charlotte-based nonprofit workforce development program that trains adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and places them in jobs throughout the community. An Air Force veteran turned pastor turned nonprofit leader, Ken explains how Cakeable uses its cafe and coffee house on Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte as a training ground, then graduates participants into positions everywhere from the Carolina Panthers stadium to the Delta Sky Lounge to Compass Group cafeterias. He discusses the challenges of scaling a mission-driven nonprofit, how Cakeable's social workers support both graduates and the businesses that hire them, and why the organization sees itself not as a charity but as an advocate for highly capable people who bring real value to the workplace.

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.

In this episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Jim Hansen, Regional President and Southeast Territory Executive for PNC Financial Services Group, about his 25-year career journey in banking — from starting at a small North Carolina bank called Centura, through mergers and moves, to helping bring the PNC brand to life across the state. Jim discusses PNC's ambitious plan to add 50 new branches across North Carolina over the next four years, why physical branches still matter in a digital world, and how the company is embracing AI through an internal agentic AI hackathon open to all 55,000 employees. The two longtime friends also bond over their shared love of NC State, classic rock radio, and the Acquired podcast.

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.

In this episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Zeb Smathers, the mayor of Canton, North Carolina, about how his small western North Carolina town has weathered an extraordinary run of adversity — from COVID to Tropical Storm Fred's devastating floods, the sudden closure of the paper mill that employed 1,100 people, and Hurricane Helene. A Duke undergrad and UNC law graduate who returned home to practice law with his father, Zeb shares how Canton went from a 20% downtown occupancy rate to nearly 90% by embracing its authentic mill town identity rather than trying to become something it wasn't. He lays out his bold vision for "The Hometown of Tomorrow" — redeveloping the 150-acre former mill site into an economic engine for the entire region — and reflects on the grit and grace that define not just Canton, but North Carolina's small towns.