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Greater Conversations showcases our local businesses, our community, and the stories of the people that live, work, and play in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. As you immerse yourself in each episode, you'll understand why our team at Greater Winston-Salem, Inc, is excited to share these stories and why this area attracts new development, sparks innovation, and draws people from all walks of life to plant roots here. This is where it starts. This podcast is proudly sponsored by Truliant.
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"We want businesses to learn how to work on their business rather than in their business. That's the goal – for a business owner to not be in the daily grind, if at all possible, but to be able to strategically plan, and to look at the future." Martha Larson, Director of the Forsyth Tech Small Business Center, has been in business development for o…
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"We have a duty ... to equip them and give them tools and skills they need to go to the next level." Since 2021, Alesia Hilton, Director of Career Readiness at Greater Winton-Salem, Inc., has led the creation and development of the ASPIRE WS internship program, serving high school juniors and seniors in Title I schools throughout the Winston-Salem/…
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Stephanie Miles and her sister Cherese Blue launched a joint venture to offer direct primary care and mental health services – a first in Winston-Salem. In 2022, they opened Smith's Primary Care & Wellness to ensure their community is cared for physically, mentally, and emotionally, all in one location. Stephanie, a board-certified primary care Nur…
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Imagine your preschooler reading your shopping list and then asking you to add their favorite snack because it wasn't on the list. Children are learning to read as early as age three at Bailey Preschool, recognized as one of the best preschools in Winston-Salem by Kid-Friendly Triad. The preschool utilizes a whole-child approach addressing child he…
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We recently lost a pillar in our community, Mr. William Alexander McClain, lovingly known as Mr. Bill. In memory of someone who gave so much to our community, we'd like to share this episode with you again. Please enjoy the conversation. // At the age of 16, with 8-track tapes of James Brown, BB King, and Aretha Franklin in hand, Bill McClain fell …
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In part two of our conversation with Christy Cox Spencer, president of JKS Incorporated, we chat about her passion project, Robert Hall, a private event space with an eclectic, urban vibe in the Industry Hill neighborhood of Winston-Salem. Christy shares the challenges during the renovations, the story of the authentic 1920s mahogany bar said to ha…
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What do NASCAR, music festivals, bowl games, and Industry Hill have in common? JKS Incorporated – an experiential marketing company based in Winston-Salem with clients across the US. Christy Cox Spencer, president of JKS, joins us to share the excitement of celebrating the company's 40th anniversary and the lessons in resiliency she has learned as …
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Shayna Smith and Tevin Swinson grew up together in Winston-Salem. Years later, they started their careers just days apart at The Winston-Salem Chronicle. Shayna, the marketing communications manager, and Tevin, a senior reporter for The Chronicle, join us to share the history of this multi-award-winning periodical as it marks its 50th anniversary. …
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Banks Shepherd fell in love with college sports at an early age. His parents told him some of his first words as a toddler were related to college sports! Today, Banks is the General Manager for Wake Forest Sports Properties in Winston-Salem and is living his dream. He joins us to share what his team does behind the scenes to create a great fan exp…
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"Transportation is access – and it's access to opportunity." Courtney and Gregory James, co-owners of Support Systems of Forsyth County Transportation, join us to share their entrepreneurial journey. What started as an idea for a supportive service in Winston-Salem has become an award- and multi-grant-winning business in four years, growing its fle…
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"To create the ideas and then for them to see the ideas actually work ... puts people in a different place to take their business to the next level." Micah Ray launched D4 Concepts with his business partner and lifelong friend Mike Witt. These Winston-Salem natives use their talents and experience to help strengthen small businesses with people dev…
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Winston-Salem has had a history of professional ice hockey since 1973, when the Polar Twins played in the Southern Hockey League. Now, fans are supporting the Carolina Thunderbirds in its eighth season with the Federal Hockey League. Co-owner Cary Ross, Head Coach Steve "Harry" Harrison, and Assistant Coach Jon Buttitta, join us to share the team's…
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Carol Davis, Executive Director of SG Atkins Community Development Corporation, joins us to share the historic connection between the organization and Winston-Salem State University. In this pivotal role, Carol is on a mission for equity and social justice to increase the homeownership and business ownership rates in East Winston-Salem. For more th…
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"They have this well-deserved, well-earned feeling of accomplishment that they can learn and tackle these new challenges. They're capable, and they're ready." Dan Wellman, Program Director for Moji Coffee + More, joins us to share his excitement and the mission of Winston Salem's only nonprofit coffee shop that provides meaningful employment and en…
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"The main thing is that they have autonomy and ownership over the destiny of their economic futures." Luke Hoffman, Regional Director, based in Winston-Salem, and Lauren Tudor, Executive Director of the North Carolina Employee Ownership Center, join us to talk about employee participation when they have a stake in a business and are involved in dec…
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"We search for a 'yes.' We look for ways to make deals work." Jamarkus Swinson is a yes-maker – in business and his personal life. He was part of the inaugural cohort of the Piedmont Federal Savings Bank GPS Program, an on-the-job training curriculum meant to recruit candidates of diverse backgrounds to become commercial bankers. In three short yea…
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Hasani Mitchell, Community & Economic Development Program Administrator for Forsyth County Government, joins us to discuss his team's strategic work – from business recruitment and tax incentives to job creation. Hasani identifies and supports opportunities to increase economic development incentives, affordable housing, infrastructure development,…
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In part two of our conversation with Darrell and Abbey Garner, founders of ByGood Coffee in Winston-Salem, we dive into their entrepreneurial background and how Abbey's heritage sparked the creation of ByGood specialty loose-leaf teas. They also "spill the tea" on the next big thing they're working on to build community. Follow GWSI on social media…
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"Our core values are to put people first, listen then respond, innovate continuously, and give back to our community." Founded in Long Island, New York, in 2016, Darrell and Abbey Garner wanted to bring awareness of specialty coffee and loose-leaf tea to the area. During the height of the pandemic, the husband and wife duo relocated their small-bat…
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"If it goes on your floors, it’s in our stores." Blake Cook, District Manager, and Emily Winfrey, Store Manager and Design Consultant for USA Flooring, join us to chat about the meaning behind their motto and why selecting flooring isn't something to jump into lightly. USA Flooring is a full-service flooring retailer with five brick-and-mortar stor…
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The two Aarons of a/perture join us to chat about the art house cinema in the heart of downtown Winston-Salem. Aaron Botts is the theatre manager, and Aaron Kepley is the deputy director of this unique, nonprofit cinema founded by Lawren Desai. A/perture features diverse programming and award-winning films on its screens through partnerships with S…
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Identifying challenges and setbacks that cause stress and anxiety is the goal of Counseling with a Purpose. Founded in 2018 by Winston Under 40 Leadership Award Winner Shawanna Nicole Moore-Geter, her team uses advanced modalities such as brainspotting to help people facilitate change and achieve their goals. "Our real job is to ask the next best q…
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"We all go through things in life, and sometimes you need someone to help you filter through that information." At age 18, Mark Steele, executive director of Solutions for Independence, was paralyzed from his chest to his cervical five level. It was from this point of view, sitting in a wheelchair, that led him into the field of counseling. Mark jo…
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"Every brand is unique and should be presented in a unique way." The ability to think differently about brand creation and design is a concept that Elephant in the Room prides itself on. Chad Cheek, the owner of the award-winning firm, joins us to share ideas on brand design and strategic marketing, collaboration, and his passion and involvement in…
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"Small, small steps will add up to big results in your health." Alice Smith, registered dietitian and founder of Alice Approved, joins us to share ways everyone can fuel their bodies for success. A regularly featured expert on television and stage, she enthusiastically shares actionable steps to achieve wellness goals. Alice's philosophy is simple …
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"Give everyone what you've got and teach it, and they'll be great." From helping his mom in the kitchen growing up to becoming a corporate trainer to help young chefs hone their craft, Brian DePaulis has had a lifelong love of food. He joins us to share his journey of opening Elevated Catering in Winston-Salem, the story behind the name, and his ap…
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Cyrus Bush, a coach and mentor based in Winston-Salem, specializes in helping professionals, business owners, and entrepreneurs achieve success in relationships, business, and life through emotional freedom techniques or EFT. Cyrus joins us to share how EFT or tapping can help release negative emotions and limiting beliefs to break down barriers th…
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Kathy Carr, executive director of SECU Family House, joins us in a conversation about this unique non-profit that serves adult patients and their caregivers when they travel to Winston-Salem for medical care. SECU Family House is a compassionate, comfortable alternative to a hospital waiting room or an expensive hotel. For over a decade, thousands …
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Ben Schwab, partner and architect at STITCH Design Shop, joins us to discuss the award-winning architectural and interior design firm that started in Winston-Salem. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary in the City of Arts and Innovation with a recent expansion into Greensboro, Ben shares how the business started and expanded with focuses on commerc…
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The CARes Project is a nonprofit social enterprise and CDFI that offers vehicle financing for those with low and moderate incomes "because it's important for people to be able to get to work." Participants of the program become financially self-sufficient. Clients receive a low-interest car loan, money management skills, a personalized household bu…
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Growing up in a single-parent home, Jeff Davids witnessed his mother work three jobs to make ends meet. He realized that he must do something different to secure his financial future. So, he began building a retirement portfolio. "Everybody starts at zero," says Jeff. The more he learned, the more compelled he was to help his co-workers, especially…
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After a long and rewarding 20-year career with Forsyth County Social Services, Wyomie Watson decided to jump into the world of entrepreneurship. Inspired by her grandmother's love of baking, Wyomie and her husband Eric launched RubyG's Buttercreme Sensations in 2019. The business has grown from a kiosk in Marketplace Mall in Winston-Salem to its ow…
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In 2019, one month after his 22nd birthday, Mack Long took over the reins of Piedmont Disposal, the company his father, Kevin, started in 1999 with just one truck and a couple of dumpsters. Piedmont Disposal has expanded exponentially since its humble beginnings as a site solutions company specializing in commercial dumpster rental, portable restro…
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"When there's someone in need, and they don't have a voice, then you step in and help out." This philosophy shaped the life of Frank Cardenas, Co-Founder of FEDlogic, a federal benefits consulting firm. Growing up as a first-generation Mexican American, he helped his parents navigate and acquire the federal and state benefits they needed for his si…
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In 2009, some people thought the co-founders of Sightsource were out of their minds for launching a custom software development company in the middle of a financial crisis. "Regardless of the overall economic conditions, it's just a good space to be in." Sightsource's CFO and co-founder, Balint Gaspar, joins us to share the story behind this Winsto…
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As a young man growing up in Winston-Salem, Lou Baldwin would walk around downtown with its empty buildings and dusty streets and dream about what it could be. After graduating from UNC, he returned to Winston-Salem and purchased the real estate business his grandfather started in 1928. Lou then began a journey to get involved from a civic standpoi…
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The spirit of entrepreneurship continues to thrive in Winston-Salem, with new businesses opening their doors in unique spaces across our community. Aubrey Linville, owner and partner at Linville Team Partners Commercial Real Estate, sits down with us to reflect on his experience watching downtown come alive and Linville Team's first ten years suppo…
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Winston-Salem: the city of arts, innovation, and made-to-order bagels! We chatted with Marc Singer and Amy Singer Douglass, siblings and two of the three current owners of Bagel Station, which first opened its doors on Oakwood in 1990. Taking over the business in 2016, Amy describes themselves as "stewards" of the business, keeping everything quint…
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Youth, college, and semi-professional soccer have been part of the Triad's sports scene for a long time. We now have even more reason to get excited about the sport with the addition of professional men's soccer. Carolina Core FC, an independent club, will join MLX Next Pro for the 2024 season. Managing Partner Megan Oglesby, President Andy Smith, …
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Some listen to their inner voice for guidance when launching a business. For Tim Beeman, president of Such-N-Such Limited, Inc, the sound of his voice inspired him – from voice-overs and sound effects to podcast hosting and production. "There's an art to saying the right thing at the right time." There's also an art to making what is said become an…
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Brittany Todd, CEO of B Balanced Counseling & Wellness in Winston-Salem, founded the practice with a clear mission of community and collaborative care, spreading mental health awareness, and bringing people together in health and wellness. "Mental health does not start or stop with a counseling session. It's just a small percentage of what it takes…
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Plakous Therapeutics, a biotech start-up in Winston-Salem, is pioneering regenerative healing from traditional stem cell therapies. Using proteins from the human placenta, the company is developing medicine to combat necrotizing enterocolitis, also known as NEC. NEC is a condition that affects premature babies weighing less than three pounds and be…
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In 2017, Toni Truno accepted the challenge to answer "... the one question no artist wants to be asked – how do you monetize that?" She founded Visual Index, a woman-owned art gallery in the downtown arts district of Winston-Salem. Formally educated as a photographer, Toni uses her photography skills to curate contemporary craft and fine art in a r…
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Michelle Russo made a bold business move during the pandemic — opening two franchises in two cities. She found her niche in the beauty industry, specifically in the lash extensions and brow services market. Michelle, who holds a master's degree in organizational management, joins us to discuss what makes her Deka Lash studios unique and the teams s…
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Natalie Sahloff views life through art. She grew up in a creative household with artistic parents, had a camera in her hand since she was 12, and had an entrepreneurial spirit at an even younger age. "Everything's creative. Even down to the way we communicate. The words we use, how we talk. It's all a picture." As the founder of Winston-Salem-based…
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Andrew Florence, Director of Experiential Learning, and Holly Kessler, Senior Director of Communications at Crossnore Communities for Children, join us to share the impact the organization has made in Winston-Salem and throughout North Carolina for more than 100 years. A recognized leader in helping children who have experienced abuse or other trau…
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NC Fusion is a nonprofit youth sports organization that runs several programs – from soccer and lacrosse to field hockey and football. Its mission is to create intentional experiences through sport that positively impact families for life. NC Fusion's CEO Scott Wollaston and Chief Experience Officer Sarah Bridges join us to share the club's core va…
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Jamie Southern has always loved being surrounded by books. As Executive Director of Bookmarks, a literary arts nonprofit in Winston-Salem launched in 2004, she loves introducing people to new authors and new worlds. Bookmarks has become a community connector through its independent bookstore, year-round events, and outreach programs. This year Book…
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President of the Winston-Salem Dash Brian DeAngelis and the Dash's Marketing and Social Media Coordinator Amanda Weaver join us and share some surprising history about our hometown team, upcoming community-focused events like 336 Day, an exciting new partnership with Marvel, and sports careers beyond the baseball diamond.…
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After receiving degrees in both home furnishings marketing and interior design and traveling the world with renowned companies, including Natuzzi, Cassandra Brunson launched an immersive design experience that offers more than most studios. As President and Principal Designer of Design+ by CassandraMichelle, she makes dreams of safe, functional, an…
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