BrandBuilders Podcast

329: Marcel Coleman, Run Rak

By Yash Mistry | December 8, 2023

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:42 — 46.6MB)

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Over the years we’ve had lots of new and emerging brands, products, and service providers appear here on The BrandBuilders Podcast. Each of them is unique, but the common thread they share is this: they all recognized there was something missing in the marketplace.

And as they say in science class, nature abhors a vacuum. For the makers, creators, and entrepreneurs that “vacuum” means opportunity. The folks behind Run Rak noticed something was missing from their travel and athletic pursuits, and entered the market with the products to meet active travelers needs.

Run Rak’s Marcel Coleman is our guest today, talking about one of the newest products coming out of this Charlotte-based company.

328: Jeff Owen, JOSCO

By Yash Mistry | December 1, 2023

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:32 — 46.4MB)

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Most every parent tries to share some wisdom with their kids; some of it about life, some of it about business. Our next guest here has a real gem from his father. It goes like this:

“… after attending UNCW and working 3 jobs throughout college, I thought my dad would hire me in the family business. Instead, he told me that I needed to first learn the business on someone else’s dime.”

Now THAT is some sage advice! And it paid off, too. Jeff Owen ran with that advice. And after paving his own way in the sales world, he’s now CEO and president of that family business.

327: Matt Olin, CLT is Creative & OneBand

By Yash Mistry | November 24, 2023

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:07 — 46.0MB)

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You’ve likely heard this one before: Charlotte IS Creative. Just look around and you’ll see artists, musicians, chefs, actors, muralists, sculptors, poets, and more that prove the point.

And there folks working in front of and behind the scenes to help those artists connect, be seen — and more importantly – make a living. Matt Olin is one of those people.

Matt is Co-Founder of Charlotte Is Creative; Co-Publisher of The Biscuit newsletter; Host of CreativeMornings Charlotte, “musical director” of OneBand, TV news host, husband, father, and all-around man about town… and today he’s our guest on the BrandBuilders Podcast.

326: Stephanie Bingham – Project 33 Creative

By Yash Mistry | November 17, 2023

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:55 — 84.5MB)

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A New York Times article from this summer pointed out what a lot of us probably know already. Social media is a lot less ”social” these days. Between the political commentary and all the ads… many brands are struggling to connect – or reconnect – with their audiences.

People and brands are once again seeing the value in creative and engaging IN REAL LIFE events. They key to their success, of course, is the “creative and engaging” part. Stephanie Bingham parlayed a stint with “The Cartoon Network” and Belk into her own agency that specializes in events that do just that. She’s our guest today on the BrandBuilders’s Podcast.

325: Keith C Poettker – Poettker Construction

By Yash Mistry | November 10, 2023

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:44 — 86.4MB)

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Data released this summer shows that the AIA Consensus Construction Forecast predicts a 20% increase in nonresidential building spending this year — a surge not seen since pre-Great Recession boom times.

Spending increases are anticipated across manufacturing, commercial, institutional, and industrial construction – but will it, or can it last?

If you look around the Carolinas, there seems to be plenty of work happening…

Poettker Construction is in the THICK of this “boom.” Their CEO, Keith Poettker is our guest today on the BrandBuilders Podcast. Welcome to the show!

324: Emily Condon – LandDesign & Partners for Parks

By Yash Mistry | November 3, 2023

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:59 — 24.8MB)

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Parks provide real life environmental, aesthetic, and recreation benefits to everyone. They’re some of THE most-requested amenities in most any community. And for good reason: they enhance property values, increase municipal revenue, they bring in homebuyers, create a sense of community… the list goes on!

But, parks can’t do it on their own. It takes folks in the community – and businesses and corporations – to keep parks and green spaces as part of the conversation when budget priorities, land acquisition, and other issues create opportunities for equitable access to parks and green spaces.

In Charlotte, “Partners for Parks” does that kind of lifting. Emily Condon is a board member with that local nonprofit and she’s out guest today on the BrandBuilders Podcast.

323: Brandon Andrews – Inexorable

By Yash Mistry | October 27, 2023

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:19 — 32.4MB)

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In the more than 300 episodes of the BrandBuilders Podcast, we have had some heavy-hitters here on the program. This is one of those episodes…

Very few people PERIOD can boast of a resume that includes: D1 collegiate athletics, modeling, law school, politics, entrepreneurship – work in the US Senate, entertainment, tech, programming, public affairs, advocacy…

And this man is FAR from riding off into the sunset. Brandon Andrews is way too young for that, and it is an absolute honor to have you on the program.

322: Brad Wylde – Charlotte Soccer Academy

By Yash Mistry | October 20, 2023

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:52 — 23.7MB)

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Fall means football, the eventual end to major league baseball, NHL and NBA preseason… and soccer!

Despite Americans playing soccer for over 100 years, it’s only recently started to really gain real traction. It’s now one of the fastest growing sports in the US. As of Q4 2022, soccer is the 4th most followed sport in the country.

Not sure if “Ted Lasso” had anything to do with that or not…

We are BIG fans of the game at my house (presuming you’re reading this, Brian!) and we are really excited about today’s guest on the BrandBuilders Podcast: Brad Wylde from Charlotte Soccer Academy!

321: Lindsey McGee – Paws Social Club

By Yash Mistry | October 13, 2023

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:43 — 29.1MB)

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If you consider yourself a dog “parent,” rather than a dog “owner,” then It’s pretty safe to assume you’re a REAL dog person. If movies like “A Dog’s Purpose,” “My Dog Skip,” or “Marley and Me,” have you clutching the kleenex… well, we have found your tribe.

“Paws Social Club,” bills itself as the social club FOR DOGS – and the humans who love them. They host dog-friendly events all over town, and keep tabs on others so you’ll always have a calendar FULL of “to do’s” with your four-legged friend.

Lindsey McGee is the human behind “Paws Social Club,” and she’s our guest today on the award-winning BrandBuilders Podcast.

320: Tim Edwards – Splatter CLT

By dunstangroup | October 5, 2023

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:58 — 29.3MB)

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LOTS of folks have hidden or underutilized talents. I’ll bet most of our listeners probably don’t know my co-host also plays guitar. Or, that our engineer is also a woodworker… go ahead and let that settle in.

Well, not everyone considers themselves creative. Either they never got the opportunity to “get creative,” don’t have the time, or maybe they just never found the right medium to work with.

We may have a solution to help you unleash your inner “Jackson Pollack.” Roll up your sleeves, folks. We’ve got Tim Edwards from Splatter Charlotte in the studio today!