Running a business with your sibling might sound like a challenge, but for Amoura and Avery Carter, it’s become their secret weapon. The Charlotte-based sisters co-founded AC Creative Collective, a firm offering marketing and learning and development services across the Carolinas. With complementary skills — Amoura in strategy and operations, Avery in design and messaging — the two are helping businesses cut through the noise and build authentic, effective brands.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, the Carters talk about what led them to entrepreneurship, how they combine creativity with structure and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. They also discuss why so many companies struggle with consistent branding and employee development, the importance of planning and authenticity in a noisy digital landscape, and the advantages (and quirks) of running a business as sisters.

Listen in for a wide-ranging conversation about purpose-driven entrepreneurship, and how two Charlotte natives turned their passion into a growing, people-centered business.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, please visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

This episode is sponsored by AC Creative Collective. Based in Charlotte, N.C., and founded by sisters Amoura and Avery Carter, AC Creative Collective specializes in end-to-end marketing and learning and development services. They are dedicated to helping businesses and organizations streamline their operations and achieve their goals with creativity and precision. From social media strategies to workshops and brand launches, they’ve got you covered. Visit www.accreativecollective.com to learn more.

Joy Callaway started her career in marketing, but after rediscovering her childhood love of storytelling, she traded spreadsheets for stories. Now the Charlotte-based author has seven books to her name, including two new releases in very different genres: a World War I-era historical novel set in west Charlotte called “The Star of Camp Greene,” and a contemporary romance rooted in small-town charm called “Sing Me Home to Carolina.”

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Callaway talks with former Ledger managing editor Cristina Bolling about her journey to becoming a full-time author, how she researches her books and why setting plays such a central role in her work.

Listen in for a conversation about writing, research and the unexpected ways stories find us.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals. 

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

As North Carolina employers grapple with a tight labor market and rapid technological change, community colleges are stepping up to meet the demand, and more students are taking notice. Enrollment at the state’s two-year colleges jumped 8.3% this spring compared with the previous year, outpacing the national average.

John Loyack, vice president of economic development for the North Carolina Community College System, attributes the growth to the system’s flexible pathways, from associate degrees and short-term certificates to custom training for local employers. The state’s community colleges are playing a key role in preparing workers for fast-growing industries like advanced manufacturing, aviation, life sciences and cybersecurity — all sectors where hands-on training and technical credentials are essential.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Loyack sits down with Ledger editor Tony Mecia to talk about the role community colleges play in the local economy, the impact of student debt debates on educational choices, "hot jobs" and specific industries and skills that are in high demand, and much more!

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals. 

For more information on The Charlotte Ledger or to subscribe to one of our newsletters, please visit TheCharlotteLedger.com

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Charlotte’s hospitality and retail scene is changing rapidly, but what’s really driving the evolution?

Industry experts agree that Charlotte’s hospitality market is thriving but becoming more competitive, with new players entering the scene and raising consumer expectations. Neighborhoods like South End have been pivotal in putting Charlotte on the map. However, the suburban retail market is now gaining momentum — like in SouthPark, Ballantyne and Huntersville.

A new report, called the Charlotte Hospitality and Retail Guide 2025, lays out the key trends shaping the city’s retail landscape. In this episode, Ledger editor Tony Mecia is joined by three contributors to the report: Daniel Gibson of NiceDay, a marketing agency that specializes in retail, hospitality and real estate; Adam Williams of Rebel Rebel, an urban retail advisory firm that provides full-service brokerage and consulting services; and Bryan Southwick of Southwick Architecture + Interiors, a hospitality-focused architecture and interior design firm

They break down the city’s shifting development patterns and the rise of smaller-format retail, new expectations from consumers and how developers and restaurateurs can adapt to stand out in a competitive market.

This podcast episode is brought to you by Coca-Cola Consolidated, Charlotte’s local bottler and the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the US. Coke Consolidated recently invested $15 million into its Monroe facility, which included a new technical training academy, the first of its kind within the Coca-Cola System. Learn more at www.CokeConsolidated.com/media.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

Before Susan Evren became the executive director of the Go Jen Go Foundation, a Charlotte nonprofit supporting families facing breast cancer, she was no stranger to pushing limits. A passionate ultrarunner, Evren has completed grueling 50k races — events that test not just endurance, but mental grit.

Evren’s journey on the trail has informed her approach to nonprofit work, she says. Just as every race comes with unexpected hills and challenges, so does supporting families in crisis. At Go Jen Go, she walks alongside women navigating one of the toughest seasons of their lives, ensuring they feel seen, supported and never alone.

In this episode, Susan opens up about how ultrarunning shaped her leadership philosophy, the lessons she’s learned from the families Go Jen Go serves and the legacy of Jen Pagani — the organization’s namesake and her friend. It’s a conversation about endurance, heart and what it really means to keep showing up, mile after mile, for the people who need you most.

Evren received The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Award in 2025. Find out more about the 40 Over 40 awards by going to Ledger40over40.com.

You can learn more about Go Jen Go here.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at www.FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals.

For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Before Grace Weisiger could join her family’s four-generation business, The Weisiger Group (formerly Carolina Tractor and Equipment), her parents told her she needed to gain some experience in a different industry. In 2014, while still a student at the University of Georgia, she received a call from a friend of a friend, who had a cryptic pitch: “I can’t tell you what we’re doing, but we’re starting a company, and it's going to be huge. And we’d like you to be a part of it.”

Skeptical but intrigued, Weisiger listened. That call led her to Bumble, a dating app, which was then just a fledgling idea with a bold mission: empower women to make the first move. What followed was a crash course in startup grit, cultural change and marketing innovation that would shape her career. Today, Weisiger is the founder of Willow Hill, a private investment vehicle.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Weisiger sits down with Ledger editor Tony Mecia to discuss her career, including her family’s business, The Weisiger Group, her early role at Bumble and what she learned, the principles of search funds, her journey in investment and how she approaches finding and leading scalable businesses.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Hillandale Advisors, a Charlotte-based investment and advisory firm that provides strategic counsel to local business owners and invests in private businesses, public equities, and commercial real estate. The Private Business Roundtable hosts events to connect and educate the private business community in Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem. Are you looking for support in capital raising, hiring key talent or selling your business? Contact [email protected] or learn more at www.HillandaleAdvisors.com.

You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger, and subscribe to our locally focused newsletters, at TheCharlotteLedger.com.

This episode was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Charlotte celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence on May 20, 2025, at a ceremony and re-enactment in uptown Charlotte.

Watch the full celebration, with commentary and interviews by co-hosts Tony Mecia and Cristina Bolling of The Charlotte Ledger — with impromptu guests including former county commissioner Matthew Ridenhour, planning commission member Clayton Sealey and Ledger history correspondent John Short.

You might also enjoy this podcast about the Meck Dec:

Related Ledger articles:

* “Debating the Meck Dec” (May 12)

* “Charlotte breweries release Meck Dec-themed beers” (May 7)

* “Blowout celebrations planned for Meck Dec milestone” (March 17)

* “Historical Heavyweights: Charlotte’s revolutionary tavern keeper” (March 15)

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If you've ever tuned into Charlotte’s NPR station in the mornings, you've probably heard the soothing voice of Marshall Terry. But you probably don't know much about him otherwise. In an era marked by building personal brands, influencers and oversharing on social media, Terry is refreshingly old school. He doesn’t post on social media, and he rarely talks to media interviews outside of his job.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Terry talks with Ledger editor Tony Mecia about the unique aspects of Terry’s career, his love for the early morning radio lifestyle and his unexpected journey into broadcasting.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals. 

You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger, and subscribe to our locally focused newsletters, at TheCharlotteLedger.com.

This episode was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Did a group of Charlotte patriots really declare independence from Britain more than a year before the rest of the colonies? Or is the tale of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence — the “Meck Dec,” said to be signed on May 20, 1775 — just a case of wishful thinking and poor recollections?

As the 250th anniversary of the Meck Dec approaches, this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast looks deeper into that enduring debate — one that has been raging for more than two centuries, and one that even Thomas Jefferson and John Adams weighed in on.

The episode is a recording of a panel discussion held in early May 2025 at The Sharon at SouthPark retirement community and led by The Ledger’s Cristina Bolling. The panelists were:

Scott Syfert,  co-founder of the May 20th Society, chairman of the Trail History Board and author of “The First American Declaration of Independence?”

Kendall Kendrick, director of the Charlotte Trail of History and  Charlotte Liberty Walk

John Short,  a history buff who writes The Charlotte Ledger’s “Historical Heavyweights” series

In this episode, the expert panel unpacks the history, explores the evidence and explains why this centuries-old mystery still matters today. Whether you’re a history buff or just curious about Charlotte’s past, this conversation will fill you in on one of the region’s most fascinating and contested stories.

You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com. You can find out more about the May 20 Society at may20thsociety.org .

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Joanna Beck has an eye for identifying inefficiencies. She helps businesses see their potential for improving their operations. She founded Beck Insights, a business consulting and strategy firm, with the mission to help businesses recognize their challenges and make the necessary changes to thrive.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Beck sits down with podcast host Steven Dunn to talk about her experience in transforming inefficient business operations into profitable, structured systems — and how small changes can lead to significant improvements.

This episode is part of a series in which we interview winners of The Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards, which honor people aged 40+ who are making our community a better place. Beck won in 2024., Find out information about those awards at Ledger40Over40.com.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

This podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.