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If you’ve been in Charlotte for a few years, you’ve probably heard about the social mobility study that ranked the Queen City 50th out of 50 metropolitan areas for upward mobility. In other words, if you’re born poor in Charlotte, you’re likely to remain poor your whole life if you stay here. It is distressing, to say the least.

Our next guest on the BrandBuilders Podcast is part of a collaborative effort to change that statistic. Mark Talbot is Director of Economic Development at Freedom Communities – a nonprofit that’s more than a think tank – it immerses itself in the west Charlotte corridor with tools to change lives. With a resume in commercial real estate and ministry, his experience is the one-two punch Charlotte needs to tackle its social mobility problem.

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This is a great time to be a builder in Charlotte. But before any structure can be used, it has to be certified as safe and sturdy. We can thank our engineers for that! And making sure you bring the right engineer to the project is an essential part of doing the job right. That’s why we’re glad to have Mike Iosue with us today on the BrandBuilders Podcast – he’s the guy who connects the right engineers to the right projects.

Mike is the Director of Business Development for Ellinwood + Machado – structural engineers who make sure buildings go up safely and remain sturdy for years to come. He’s also the founder of Carolina BUILT, an organization of builders and related industries who come together to help nonprofits across the area.

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Right now we are all filled with the spirit of the season, or as a lot of people like to say, “The Reason for the Season.” But the reason goes beyond the season, and our next guest on the BrandBuilders Podcast is living that every day with his nonprofit for children with incarcerated parents.

Cyril Prabhu started Proverbs 22:6 because he saw that prison was breaking families – not just breaking them up, but breaking them. And that children of incarcerated parents had a more than 80% chance of someday being incarcerated themselves. And that the way to break that cycle was through reconciliation of parent and child – and that’s what he set out to do. His own story is incredible, too – and we’re excited that he’s joining us to tell us all about who he is and what he does.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:16 — 23.6MB)

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Remember the good ol’ days? Yeah, we all do. Maybe you’re living them now! And maybe you have some great memories from your high school or college days that you love keeping around. For more than a few of us, there’s that T-shirt that brings back the good times, and we don’t hate feeling that vibe again.

That’s the idea behind Glory Days Apparel – streetwear that feels good and makes us feel like we’re living the glory days, even if those days are right now. JD Harris is the guy who made his favorite high school T-shirt into an entire business with a shop in South End, and this stuff is pretty cool. He’s joining us now on the BrandBuilders podcast to tell us how he took his communications degree- to a career in finance- to his own business with a distinctly Charlotte feel.

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What are your methods for finding the best employees for your company? Recruiting services? Job postings? A Hail Mary pass to the end zone that you hope gives you a game-winning touchdown employee? Say it with me, ‘There must be a better way.’

Kelly Venable knows that too. As Founder and President of “Your Hiring Coaches,” she likes to “Put Aces in their Places” – as she likes to say. Why take chances on your next hire when data can point you in the right direction, to fill in gaps on your staff and create the energy and culture you want in your office? Sounds like a great idea, and Kelly and her Director of Recruiting Laura Stephens join us today on the BrandBuilders Podcast to tell us how they do it.

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Staying sober during the holidays can be hard. Everywhere you go, there are parties and cocktails… and more parties. What can you do?

Our next guest is not a recovering alcoholic but just decided to stop drinking and pursue life sober. Molly Ruggere is a certified life coach and alcohol freedom coach who leads a club for people who want to be active and do fun things that don’t include alcohol. Simple, right? She’s joining us on the BrandBuilders Podcast just in time for New Years, to give us ideas on how to have fun that doesn’t require drinking.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:53 — 26.1MB)

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If you feel good, you want to look good too. Our next guest on the BrandBuilders Podcast will have you looking good in your suit, but only if you’re accepted off his waiting list.

William Wilson makes custom men’s suits and clothing, and not everyone can have one. But the man is as unique and diverse as the suits themselves – an 8-year Navy veteran, who became the first African American man to win a NASCAR race, who became a successful customer builder, who became an upscale clothier and sought-after motivational speaker. WOW. That’s quite a resume, and we’re honored he’s spending a few minutes with us today.

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If you’re a runner, you know running can save lives. There are a number of running nonprofits for kids in the Charlotte area, and even more running clubs and groups to get you up out of your chair and into a healthy, active lifestyle. But one running nonprofit will inspire you beyond just a smile – it will make you want to get up and help!

That nonprofit is RunningWorks – a program designed to promote healthy lifestyles for our neighbors experiencing homelessness and poverty. It not only fosters relationships through running, but helps connect its team members with community resources in healthcare, jobs, and housing… to name a few. Their Chief Operating Officer Matt Sharp is here with us today on the BrandBuilders Podcast to bring us up to date on new programming since the group worked through the difficult times of COVID.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:05 — 17.3MB)

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It’s no secret that Charlotte is in a building boom. Everywhere you look, there are cranes and construction companies busy at work. They’re as varied as letters of the alphabet, too, so how do you choose one that fits your own project? Gary Olnowich and Karen Yoder are here on the BrandBuilders Podcast to give us some insight, and about how they grew their company to become established so quickly in Charlotte’s construction scene.

Catalyst Construction launched in 2018, but Gary’s experience goes all the way back to 1983 — and he says his major influence was not even in the industry! His wife Karen brings a perspective about details, that makes Catalyst a complete package. We love the teamwork — so welcome Gary and Karen!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:09 — 18.7MB)

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Nothing touches our hearts more than a child with special needs. Sometimes it’s a terminal disease like cancer, or a physical disability, or even a lifelong chronic condition created by a birth defect. We often find ourselves opening our hearts to them through various charities like Make A Wish, Special Olympics, or a local group, started right here in Charlotte, that arranges Sports-themed wishes — called Dream On 3.

Dream On 3 arranges VIP experiences for their “Dream Kids” with favorite sports teams or athletes, or an activity like snow skiing, that would otherwise be out of reach. It takes a lot of work, and a lot of fundraising, and the help of “Dream Teams,” to make it happen. But it was an idea that founder Brandon Lindsay couldn’t push aside, and almost 10 years later, with wife Liz working side-by-side, it’s a reality. We’re happy to welcome them both to the BrandBuilders Podcast! Thanks for being here!