Chatter with BNC

On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Richard Mathieu, campus president of Johnson & Wales University's Charlotte campus, marking the program's 22 years in the city. Richard traces a higher-ed career that started in his father's footsteps — a professor and dean at the U.S. Naval Academy — through eight years as dean of the McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte, and how a grandfather who owned a manufacturing company and a grandmother who ran a bakery pointed him toward hospitality. They dig into the Maple project, converting a former DoubleTree hotel into a 288-bed residence hall, a record career fair with 80+ employers, and why J&W was the first North Carolina university approved to offer a three-year, 90-credit-hour bachelor's degree built around work-integrated learning. Plus the always-on music segment.

On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Jennifer Tolle-Whiteside, president and CEO of the North Carolina Community Foundation, as she approaches her final year in the role. Jennifer reflects on a career shaped by her father, an estate attorney, and her mother, a nonprofit community volunteer, tracing a path from child protection and Preventing Child Abuse NC to leading a statewide organization with more than $600 million in charitable assets and 53 affiliates. They talk rural North Carolina's changing needs, the Foundation's $35 million raised and $21 million in grants for Hurricane Helene recovery, and why mid- and long-term rebuilding work is where community foundations matter most. They close with the traditional music segment.

On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Joe Graziose, EVP of Residential Construction and Development at RXR, about the firm's ambitious 1,100-acre mixed-use community, Veridea, in Apex. Joe shares his journey from a Long Island construction family to running a global water and sewer business, and how a diner coffee with RXR's CEO reshaped his career. He details landing Wake Tech and the new Children's Hospital as anchors, navigating NCDOT roadwork, and building deep community ties — from free meeting space to high school mentoring. The conversation closes with a soundtrack spanning Led Zeppelin to Luther Vandross to country.

On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Mack Paul, co-founder and partner at Morningstar Law Group and co-author of *Miracle Road: The Story of Research Triangle Park*. Mack shares his winding path from litigation to land use law, and the origin story behind the book — a collaboration with his journalist father, spanning nearly 10 years and 160+ interviews. They explore how visionary leaders like Romeo Guest launched RTP in the 1950s, when North Carolina was one of the poorest states in the nation, and the four pillars of collaboration that made it succeed. They also swap 80s playlist picks.

On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Ryan W. Simons, president of the Wilson Chamber of Commerce, about all that makes his hometown tick. Ryan shares his journey from county planner on the Outer Banks to economic development champion, and why Wilson's collaborative "special sauce" between government, nonprofits, and private enterprise drives real growth. The two talk thriving downtown development, the new Wilson Ballpark, a billion-dollar Johnson & Johnson investment, and a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem powered by Gig East. They also dig into the eternal debate: is today's music actually worse, or are we just getting older?