"Transportation is access – and it's access to opportunity." Courtney and Gregory James, co-owners of Support Systems of Forsyth County Transportation, join us to share their entrepreneurial journey. What started as an idea for a supportive service in Winston-Salem has become an award- and multi-grant-winning business in four years, growing its fleet from two to 10. Learn why this industry in this community is dear to Courtney and James, the steps and resources they used to grow, the innovations they're currently using, and their plans for an eco-friendly future.

Follow GWSI on social media, or email us at [email protected].

For additional resources, information, and membership, visit winstonsalem.com

"To create the ideas and then for them to see the ideas actually work ... puts people in a different place to take their business to the next level." Micah Ray launched D4 Concepts with his business partner and lifelong friend Mike Witt. These Winston-Salem natives use their talents and experience to help strengthen small businesses with people development, strategic planning, and innovation process.

Follow GWSI on social media, or email us at [email protected].

For additional resources, information, and membership, visit winstonsalem.com

Winston-Salem has had a history of professional ice hockey since 1973, when the Polar Twins played in the Southern Hockey League. Now, fans are supporting the Carolina Thunderbirds in its eighth season with the Federal Hockey League. Co-owner Cary Ross, Head Coach Steve "Harry" Harrison, and Assistant Coach Jon Buttitta, join us to share the team's love of the community, what's coming up this season for fans, and a new program being launched in collaboration with the City of Winston-Salem and the police department to advance the sport of hockey to kids in underserved communities.

Follow GWSI on social media, or email us at [email protected].

For additional resources, information, and membership, visit winstonsalem.com

Carol Davis, Executive Director of SG Atkins Community Development Corporation, joins us to share the historic connection between the organization and Winston-Salem State University. In this pivotal role, Carol is on a mission for equity and social justice to increase the homeownership and business ownership rates in East Winston-Salem. For more than two decades, SG Adkins CDC has worked to revitalize communities near the campus with affordable housing, supported entrepreneurs launching small businesses and increasing job creation in the area, and helped to develop leaders in neighborhood organizations. Sierra Palmer, Shared-Use Kitchen Manager and Business Counselor for the Women's Business Center at SG Atkins CDC, joins us to discuss those initiatives.

Follow GWSI on social media, or email us at [email protected].

For additional resources, information, and membership, visit winstonsalem.com

"They have this well-deserved, well-earned feeling of accomplishment that they can learn and tackle these new challenges. They're capable, and they're ready." Dan Wellman, Program Director for Moji Coffee + More, joins us to share his excitement and the mission of Winston Salem's only nonprofit coffee shop that provides meaningful employment and enriching workforce development to adults with differing abilities.

Follow GWSI on social media, or email us at [email protected].

For additional resources, information, and membership, visit winstonsalem.com

"The main thing is that they have autonomy and ownership over the destiny of their economic futures." Luke Hoffman, Regional Director, based in Winston-Salem, and Lauren Tudor, Executive Director of the North Carolina Employee Ownership Center, join us to talk about employee participation when they have a stake in a business and are involved in decision-making. They also share how employee ownership contributes to strengthening economies and living wages and how business owners can create access to a lasting legacy through an employee ownership opportunity.

Follow GWSI on social media, or email us at [email protected].

For additional resources, information, and membership, visit winstonsalem.com

"We search for a 'yes.' We look for ways to make deals work." Jamarkus Swinson is a yes-maker – in business and his personal life. He was part of the inaugural cohort of the Piedmont Federal Savings Bank GPS Program, an on-the-job training curriculum meant to recruit candidates of diverse backgrounds to become commercial bankers. In three short years, Jamarkus has rapidly climbed the ladder to become a Business Development Officer and Branch Manager at Piedmont Federal's ROAR location in Winston-Salem. Recognized as an emerging leader, he has recently been honored as a Winston Under 40 Leadership Award Winner. Jamarkus joins us, along with colleagues Ginger Salt, Chief Experience Officer, and Ned Erickson, Director of Community Impact, to discuss his career journey and Piedmont Federal's social investment strategy – people, place, and planet.

Follow GWSI on social media, or email us at [email protected].

For additional resources, information, and membership, visit winstonsalem.com

Hasani Mitchell, Community & Economic Development Program Administrator for Forsyth County Government, joins us to discuss his team's strategic work – from business recruitment and tax incentives to job creation. Hasani identifies and supports opportunities to increase economic development incentives, affordable housing, infrastructure development, and grant funding activities in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. We dive into all of that and discuss how ARPA funding led to the creation of the county's Microenterprise IDA Program for small businesses.

Follow GWSI on social media, or email us at [email protected].

For additional resources, information, and membership, visit winstonsalem.com

In part two of our conversation with Darrell and Abbey Garner, founders of ByGood Coffee in Winston-Salem, we dive into their entrepreneurial background and how Abbey's heritage sparked the creation of ByGood specialty loose-leaf teas. They also "spill the tea" on the next big thing they're working on to build community.

Follow GWSI on social media, or email us at [email protected].

For additional resources, information, and membership, visit winstonsalem.com

"Our core values are to put people first, listen then respond, innovate continuously, and give back to our community." Founded in Long Island, New York, in 2016, Darrell and Abbey Garner wanted to bring awareness of specialty coffee and loose-leaf tea to the area. During the height of the pandemic, the husband and wife duo relocated their small-batch roastery to Winston-Salem. Darrell and Abbey join us to discuss the transition and their connections to the area. Plus, they give us a coffee education in part one of this conversation.

Follow GWSI on social media, or email us at [email protected].

For additional resources, information, and membership, visit winstonsalem.com