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.

In this episode, host Ben Kenney speaks with Chris Kellam and David Campbell, co-founders of Kellum and Campbell Accounting. They share their professional journeys, the founding of their firm, and their strategies for growth and expansion across North Carolina. The conversation also touches on their community engagement efforts, partnerships with East Carolina University, and personal interests in music, highlighting the importance of work-life balance in the accounting profession.

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 Kenney talks with Pete Proimos, founder of the Filotimo Foundation. Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at seven months old, Pete defied expectations—building a successful automotive manufacturing business sold to Berkshire Hathaway in 2023. He shares how he kept his diagnosis hidden for decades and why he launched the foundation to help adults with CF who are now living longer than ever imagined. Hear powerful stories of families transformed through fertility support, his Greek immigrant roots, and what "filotimo"—helping others while expecting nothing in return—truly means.

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 Tim Walsh, Banking, Analytics and Cognitive Principal at Deloitte and Chair of the Dean's Advisory Board at UNC Charlotte. Tim shares his journey from his first university hire in advanced analytics to building Deloitte's data and analytics practice in Charlotte over two decades ago. The conversation explores the dynamic state of banking today, from the surge in M&A activity among regional banks to innovation in products like stablecoins and tokenized deposits following the Genius Act. Tim also discusses Charlotte's remarkable growth as a banking talent hub and UNC Charlotte's forward-thinking approach to computing education, including its standalone College of Computing and Informatics, pioneering undergraduate data science program, and 26-year-old cybersecurity symposium that attracts national and international speakers.

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 Gary Salamido, President and CEO of the North Carolina Chamber. Gary shares his unexpected journey from pharmacist to advocacy leader, spending 19 years at Glaxo before joining the Chamber in 2011. The conversation explores the Chamber's groundbreaking Carolina Health Works initiative, a small business health insurance program 12 years in the making that aims to help North Carolina's 144,000 businesses with 2-50 employees access more affordable healthcare options. Gary emphasizes the importance of listening and building relationships in business, lessons learned from his pharmacy background and entrepreneurial father. They also discuss music preferences, with Gary revealing his love for the Rat Pack, Frank Sinatra, and classic rock from the 1980s.

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 Elizabeth Underwood Kazimir, Director of Economic Development for the Stanly County EDC. Elizabeth shares her journey into economic development, from graduating during the pandemic in 2020 to leading transformative growth initiatives in Albemarle and Stanly County. The conversation explores exciting projects attracting talent from across the country, the challenges of building supportive communities for economic development, and how Elizabeth carved her own path in a field where her mother already worked. They also dive into music preferences, debate Spotify versus Apple Music, and discuss Elizabeth's own podcast, "The New Economic Developers on the Block," where she's usually asking the questions.

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 Sharon Decker, seasoned business executive and former North Carolina Secretary of Commerce. With a distinguished career that includes executive leadership at Duke Energy and serving in the cabinet of Governor Pat McCrory, Sharon blends deep industry insight with public-service vision. She holds a summa cum laude degree from University of North Carolina at Greensboro and brings decades of experience driving growth, innovation and community impact.

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 James Ledford, President of Golf Pride. With a rich background spanning strategic consulting, global business development, and consumer products, James leads Golf Pride's innovation and brand evolution from its Global Innovation Center in Pinehurst. He's focused on delivering club-grip performance and advancing technology that inspires confidence for players at every level.

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 talks with Shay Prosser, CEO of consulting firm North 12 Partners, where she serves as a Fractional Chief Strategy & Growth Officer helping organizations define their vision, align their teams, and accelerate growth. Shay is also Regional Cohort Leader for Birthing of Giants, a program for owners of scaling businesses to focus on practical, actionable strategies with expert advisors. Shay talks with Ben Kinney about here professional journey, what's new at her organizations and of course, music.

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 Alden, Financial Advisor and Area Manager at Pinnacle Financial. Craig has built a distinguished career in banking, leading teams and guiding clients toward financial success. Before joining Pinnacle, he held several leadership roles in the financial industry. He earned his undergraduate degree from High Point University and his MBA from Wake Forest University, where he developed the foundation for his career in client-focused financial services.

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 Kelly Calabria, Chief of Communications, Marketing, and Corporate Social Responsibility at Blue Cross NC. Kelly leads the company's efforts to shape its brand, engage communities, and drive meaningful health impact across North Carolina. With a career spanning public relations, brand strategy, and social innovation, she's passionate about using storytelling and purpose-driven leadership to improve lives and strengthen connections between business and community.