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Pop quiz for you here: This nearly 200 BILLION DOLLAR industry employs is responsible for more than 4 million jobs in the US and generates nearly $70 million in tax revenue every year. Any guesses?? 

If your answer was the alcoholic beverage industry, you’d be right. And that market is forecast to continue growing, with new products and product categories entering the ring every day. 

Daniel Sarjeant & Brian Thomason represent two of those newcomers to the market, and they’re here to tell us all about it here in the BrandBuilders Podcast studio. 

 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:56 — 53.5MB)

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North Carolina has come a long, long way since it earned an economic reputation based on tobacco, furniture, and textiles. Agriculture and manufacturing still play a role… but they share the spotlight with aerospace, fin-tech, energy, banking, bio-tech and more, in an a statewide economy that is far more diverse than it was just 10 or 20 years ago. 

“Business North Carolina” magazine has been following the news, the trends, the ups and downs, and the names and faces that have shaped the state’s economy since 1981. 

Ben Kinney has served as publisher for 20 years. He’s seen many of those changes first-hand … along with changes in the news business itself. He’s our guest today on this episode of the award-winning BrandBuilders podcast. 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:20 — 56.8MB)

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For years, SouthPark has had the reputation of being a destination for high-end retail and restaurants, active neighborhoods and desirable schools. SouthPark is, of course, home to one of the most popular malls in the region, several apartment complexes, offices, and restaurants, with more redevelopment coming to the area soon.

Adam Rhew is one of the names and faces you’ll see often as this fast-growing area continues to expand. He’s president of SouthPark Partners… and he’s our guest today on the BrandBuilders Podcast.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:50 — 74.0MB)

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If you’ve been in Charlotte for even a few months, listening to the radio or watching local TV, or whatever… you’ve likely heard an ad for one of the Keffer Auto Group’s 8 car dealerships like Hyundai, Jeep, Volkswagen, or Kia – and many more. 

What you may not know is that the Keffer family has a long, local history of putting people behind the wheel here in the Charlotte area. Jim Keffer is the owner and investing partner in a catalog full of car brands here in the Carolinas… and that’s not all he’s up to. 

This Renaissance man is also our guest this week on the award-winning BrandBuilders Podcast. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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!

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

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