Business

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Ben & Jerry’s Franchise Owners Scoop Up Opportunities For Minorities And People Of Color

Antonio McBroom and Eric Taylor cofounded Primo Partners, LLC in 2008. The word “primo” means cousins in Spanish and top-notch in English – creative wordplay to describe their relationship and expectations for their company. PHOTO: Courtesy of Primo Partners

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Dermatology Practice Opens Its Doors To Everyone

In late 2019, Dr. Rachel Day launched OneSkin Dermatology in Chambersburg, a small town in south-central Pennsylvania. She chose an underserved community to build her practice. Advocacy, education and removing barriers to healthcare are vital to Dr. Day’s mission. PHOTO: Vince Ha

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Mastering The Game Of Life With A Mobile App

Tiffany Marr, founder and CEO of Wemblr, an Ohio-based financial technology company, noticed her kids engaging in conversations on social media about digital currency and investing, she knew it was the right time to launch a program for this age group. PHOTO: Steven Marr

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Sustainable Leather Goods From This Alabama-Based Business

Tenita Strand launched Status Co. Leather Studio in June 2019 online with handcrafted artisan back packs, duffle bags, eye glass cases, iPad covers, journals, pillow covers, purses and more. Later that year, she sold her products in a shared space in Daleville, Alabama. PHOTO: Courtesy of Status Co.

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Florida Business Designs And Manufactures Products From Scratch

Entrepreneur Keel Russell knew from an early age he wanted to start his own business. While attending the Keiser University in Ft. Lauderdale, Russell formed IcyTalent Group (“I see talent”), a social media platform for talented people.

NC Trend: Mills River

Mills River doesn’t have the tourism cachet of nearby Asheville, Hendersonville or Brevard, but it’s become a regional hot spot for economic developers. The town has landed industrial developments from Amazon, Norafin Americas and others that prize its low tax rate and relatively level land.

Pillars of NC: Harvey Gantt makes history with architecture practice

Harvey Gantt’s always been a trailblazer. As a teenager, he sat at lunch counters closed to people of color. He became the first African American student to attend Clemson University in 1963.

First-generation financial guru is crushing debt

When Bernadette Joy amassed more than $300,000 in school loan and mortgage debt with no clear plan on how to pay it off, she decided to make a change. Growing up in Queens, New York, as a first-generation Filipino American, Joy’s family didn’t discuss money. She lacked the skills and knowledge to proceed on her own. PHOTO: Jen Yuson Photography

Latinx Leadership Awards 2022: The early experience that had a profound impact on Bill.com's Salvador Chavez

When Salvador Chavez, Bill.com’s vice president of engineering, started kindergarten in Truckee, California, he only spoke Spanish. A fellow student pulled him aside and began teaching Chavez three English words a day. Chavez learned quickly and passed this new knowledge on to his younger brother. PHOTO: TOMAS OVALLE / THE SILICON VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Latinx Leadership Awards 2022: Steinberg Hart's Katia McClain strives for inclusion in the architecture profession

Growing up in Mexico City influenced Katia McClain’s approach to architecture. McClain, Steinberg Hart’s managing principal for Northern California, remembers how people in her hometown shared homes, personal space and sidewalks with others. PHOTO: TOMAS OVALLE / THE SILICON VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL

$150 million-plus gifting boosts N.C. nonprofits

In December, United Way of Greater Greensboro President and CEO Michelle Gethers-Clark assumed an email she received from MacKenzie Scott was yet another phishing attempt to steal personal data. Fairly quickly, she realized the message was real. PHOTO: Amy Akroyd

Pillars of North Carolina: Eva Clayton

In 1992, Democrat Eva McPherson Clayton made history when she became the first Black woman in North Carolina to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. She and Mel Watt were the first Black congressional representatives elected in the state since 1898. Photo: Courtesy of Eva Clayton

What it’s like for women who make liquor for a livinghem one.

When Chemist Spirits owner Debbie Word decided to open a distillery in downtown Asheville, N.C., she visited lending institutions in the area. Each one turned her down. PHOTO: Courtesy of Chaunci King

Cordial, AC Hotel’s new bar, will propel SouthPark into Charlotte’s rooftop scene.

SouthPark’s first public rooftop bar, Cordial, opens this spring at AC Hotel Charlotte SouthPark.

Photo: Courtesy of AC Hotel/The Plaid Penguin

Edenton deals with rental ruckus

Cheryl Orr searched the Carolinas for the right home to start a bed-and-breakfast business. By chance, she found a Queen Anne Victorian brick house built in 1900 on the edge of Edenton, one of North Carolina’s most historic towns. After renovating, she opened The Cotton Gin Inn with seven rooms in October 2016.

Tiff’s Treats opens its uptown location next week — bring on the warm cookie delivery

How long would you wait for a gooey chocolate chip cookie? In Arlington, Texas, a customer holds the record for waiting in line 26 hours for Tiff’s Treats’ cookies.

Exclusive: Popular Matthews Community Farmers’ Market booth expands to brick and mortar shop

Two years ago, Debbie and Joshua Chopas purchased Good Cup, a coffee booth at Matthews Community Farmers’ Market.

Fancy yourself a writer? A poet? You can join the Charlotte Lit community

I hesitated when a longtime friend suggested we meet at Pen to Paper, a free writing workshop at Charlotte Center for Literary Arts.

This group helps take nonprofits to the next level

When nonprofit consultant Josh Jacobson realized he was having the same types of conversations with the founders of new nonprofit organizations, he came up with the idea for CULTIVATE.

Get a Little Funny in Your Life

Mom’s Adhesive is an adult improv group led by Elizabeth “EB” Byland, director of improv at AOS. Byland, 31, has been teaching acting classes there to students ages 9 through adult for four years.

Twelve years after his release from prison, skyland owner Jimmy Kakavitsas won't forget

My interview with Skyland Family Restaurant owner Dimitrios Kakavitsas — or Jimmy to friends and customers — took an unexpected turn when he said...

5 Mompreneurs use talents, hobbies to craft home businesses

Several Charlotte-area stay-at-home moms are part of a growing trend to use artistic and creative talents and skills to become savvy business...

5 things to know before The Batch House opens

When Cristina Rojas-Agurcia was pursuing her master’s degree in clinical mental health, she was also baking on the side. In 2017, it became apparent she needed a website, so her marketing-minded...

Room and Board finally opening soon in NoDa’s former Revolution, Mellow Mushroom spot

Jamie Sprowles and Justin Sprowles have decided to pay homage to the history of the house on the corner of 36th and N. Davidson streets with the name of their new restaurant.

Travel + Food

Business

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Ben & Jerry’s Franchise Owners Scoop Up Opportunities For Minorities And People Of Color

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Dermatology Practice Opens Its Doors To Everyone

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Mastering The Game Of Life With A Mobile App

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Sustainable Leather Goods From This Alabama-Based Business