Since 2018, developer Northwood Office has been working on an ambitious plan to remake the center of Ballantyne with its Ballantyne Reimagined project. Now, the effort on the 535-acre Ballantyne Corporate Park is bearing fruit, with restaurants and retailers opening on the former golf course of The Ballantyne hotel.

Leading the effort has been John Barton, president of Northwood Office. In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Barton shares insights into the project, how and why it came together and what comes next. Also: Is Charlotte is becoming the next Atlanta?

BONUS EPISODE: If you want additional insights, check out The Ledger's bonus subscriber-only podcast with John Barton, in which he discusses the state of the commercial real estate industry and how Northwood is responding to recent challenges in the office sector.

This podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

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

From the challenges of scaling and fundraising to the critical need for financial sustainability, business principles can drive nonprofit success.

Raj Merchant serves as chair of Feeding Charlotte, a nonprofit that provides nutritious food for those in need. He also serves on the boards of Helping Education and the Kenan-Flagler Business School.

In his day job, he’s the director in data and analytics at Perficient, a leading global technology consulting firm serving Fortune 1000 customers.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Merchant talks about the intersection of entrepreneurship and social impact. He also discusses similarities between early-stage nonprofits and startups, challenges in early-stage nonprofits, and the importance of diverse funding streams.

Merchant received The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Award in 2023. The awards celebrate often unheralded people over the age of 40 who are making important contributions to Charlotte.

This podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. 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. Find out information about those awards at Ledger40Over40.com.

Electric vehicles (EVs) have slowly been taking over the roads of Charlotte. Many people have traded in their transmission cars for one that is more environmentally friendly and offers a quieter and smoother driving experience.

After a year of driving a Ford Mustang Mach-E, Mark Gustafson, an attorney and mediator with Bell, Davis and Pitt, says he will never go back to a gasoline-reliant car. Gustafson even has written an article about what he calls his "personal social experiment" to see if the touted range anxiety and other concerns about EVs held true.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Gustafson sits down with Ledger podcast host Steve Dunn, who also drives an electric vehicle, to bust some EV myths and talk about the advantages and disadvantages of electric vehicles.

This podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

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

Speak to any nonprofit leader, and you'll frequently hear about the difficulties of delivering essential community services while also handling the operational aspects necessary for growth and stability.

This is where skilled volunteering becomes invaluable. Skilled volunteering enables volunteers to contribute their expertise and professional experience to charities. For instance, a nonprofit might need assistance with website design but lacks the staff, time or funds to accomplish it. In such cases, a skilled volunteer proficient in web design can step in to fulfill that need.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger managing editor Cristina Bolling talks to the leaders of three Charlotte area nonprofits about the topic of skilled volunteering and how it's made a difference in their organizations. The guests are Angie Bush, CEO of Hospitality House, Pete Vacho, vice president of operations for Veterans Bridge Home, and Kim Lanphear, CEO of Apparo.

This podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Today’s episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Apparo, a Charlotte-based nonprofit that supports other nonprofits through technology and business process improvement. As a community connector, Apparo now hosts the Blue Diamond Awards, Charlotte's prestigious award series that recognizes organizations and individuals innovatively using tech to better achieve their mission or business goals.

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

Michael Bay was born in a small village in Mesopotamia. Despite his humble beginnings, his ambitions took him far beyond the borders of his village. From helping tourists as a young boy to moving to London driven by the dream of a better life, Bay’s path has been anything but conventional.

In London, he started from scratch, washing dishes before venturing into import-export businesses, and later navigating the challenges of mad cow disease that disrupted his thriving beef trade. His journey continued across numerous countries, including Japan, South Africa and Russia, before he ultimately found a new home and purpose in the United States.

Today, Bay is owner of Merino Mill in Mooresville and three restaurants, The Barcelona Burger & Beer Garden, Alino Pizzeria and Picasso Taqueria. He also owns The Barcelona Burger in Winston-Salem.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Bay discusses his journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur and the lessons he's learned along the way.

Bay was a recipient of The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Award in 2024. The awards celebrate often unheralded people over the age of 40 who are making important contributions to Charlotte.

This podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Today’s episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by SouthPark Community Partners, an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead SouthPark's advancement by driving economic vitality, creating memorable experiences, and ensuring an extraordinary quality of life.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. 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. Find out information about those awards at Ledger40Over40.com.

You might be surprised by how many brides still flip through the glossy pages of wedding magazines to gather inspiration for their big day, says Charlotte-based wedding photographer Robert Burns II.

But as with many types of publications, bridal magazines are increasingly moving to digital formats — swapping that satisfying page-turn with a swift click. Burns recently ventured into the world of digital publishing himself, with his new annual bridal publication, BRIDE Magazine.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Robert talks with the Ledger’s Cristina Bolling about what inspired him to launch Bride Magazine, what's trending in wedding photography, locations and styles, as well as tips for couples planning their big day.

This podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Today’s episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by SouthPark Community Partners, an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead SouthPark's advancement by driving economic vitality, creating memorable experiences, and ensuring an extraordinary quality of life.

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

As chair of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Planning Commission, Douglas Welton has a front-row seat to the complexities of Charlotte's rapid growth. In his role, he faces the challenges and opportunities presented by the city’s expansion, engaging with developers, city staff and residents alike.

Welton's tenure has been marked by a focus on increasing housing supply, advocating for density in appropriate areas and fostering community involvement. His vision for Charlotte's future is one of thoughtful growth, ensuring that the city remains vibrant and inclusive while addressing the practical realities of urban expansion.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Welton talks with the Ledger’s Tony Mecia about Charlotte's rapid growth, affordable housing challenges, transportation issues, public safety and future planning strategies to ensure balanced development and community well-being.

This podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Today’s episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by SouthPark Community Partners, an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead SouthPark's advancement by driving economic vitality, creating memorable experiences, and ensuring an extraordinary quality of life.

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

In his day job, Brian Kahn is the Charlotte office managing partner at McGuireWoods. But Brian also has a side-hustle: He is a founder, writer and co-producer of "Charlotte Squawks," a long-running and critically acclaimed comedy stage show poking fun at local politics, pop culture and sports.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Kahn discusses the importance of creativity and humor in law and theater, and how he balances both of his passions. He also gives a glimpse behind the scenes of how he devises song parodies. New seasons of "Charlotte Squawks" traditionally come out each summer. In 2024, "Charlotte Squawks 19" is playing through June 29 at Booth Playhouse at Blumenthal Arts Center.

Kahn was a recipient of The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Award in 2023. The awards celebrate often unheralded people over the age of 40 who are making important contributions to Charlotte.

This podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Today’s episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by SouthPark Community Partners, an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead SouthPark's advancement by driving economic vitality, creating memorable experiences, and ensuring an extraordinary quality of life.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. 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. Find out information about those awards at Ledger40Over40.com.

The city of Charlotte has struck a deal with Tepper Sports and Entertainment on funding renovations at Bank of America Stadium, the home to the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC. The city, which would spend $650 million in tourism tax money for the project, says the deal makes smart business sense because the stadium is responsible for more than $1 billion annually in economic impact to the Charlotte region.

This newsy and bonus episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast examines the economic effects of sports stadiums, in a conversation with Fred Smith, an economics professor at Davidson College. He teaches courses on urban and public economics, as well as sports economics and American economic history. He spoke with The Ledger's Tony Mecia shortly after the deal was announced in early June 2024.

The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

You can find out more about The Charlotte Ledger and sign up for our newsletters at TheCharlotteLedger.com.

Imagine strolling down a vibrant street, filled with neighbors stopping by a community farmer's market, admiring local artwork or grabbing lunch at a food truck. That's SouthPark Community Partners's vision for the SouthPark area in south Charlotte.

In April 2024, SouthPark Community Partners released a comprehensive vision plan aimed at enhancing SouthPark's economic vitality and quality of life. The plan, developed through extensive community engagement, outlines 64 projects to shape SouthPark's future over the next decade. The goal is to transform SouthPark into a cohesive, engaging environment where residents and visitors can thrive.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, SouthPark Community Partners CEO Adam Rhew talks with The Ledger’s Tony Mecia about the vision plan and what residents can expect to see in the future.

You can find out more about SouthPark Community Partners at southparkclt.org .

This podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Today’s episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by SouthPark Community Partners, an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead SouthPark's advancement by driving economic vitality, creating memorable experiences, and ensuring an extraordinary quality of life.

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