NC Idea's Thom Ruhe on Entrepreneurship, Execution, and NC's Innovation Ecosystem

Tweetsie Railroad's Chris Robbins on Fun That Never Goes Out of Style

Chris Robbins, whose family has owned Tweetsie Railroad since its early days, joins Triangle Business Journal's Lauren Ona Storch for a candid conversation about running one of North Carolina's most beloved theme parks. From selling Kodak film as a teenager to navigating Hurricane Helene's $2.4 million blow, Robbins shares what it takes to keep a nearly 70-year-old family business thriving in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He also opens up about balancing nostalgia with innovation, competing in a crowded tourism market, the surprising business complexity behind the park's Wild West charm, and what it would take to hand off the reins to the next owner. Mentioned in this episode: Elon University https://www.elon.edu/

Kristi Coleman’s summer of soccer

The CEO of Tepper Sports & Entertainment tells CBJ’s Erik Spanberg about getting her start in sports business, why an upcoming renovation of Bank of America Stadium means so much to the organization and explains why hosting the MLS All-Star Game is about much more than a week of spotlight events for the city and region. Mentioned in this episode: Elon University https://www.elon.edu/

Fresh Market CEO talks aggressive expansion, culture turnaround, if IPO likely to resurface

The grocer that once ranked one of the nation's worst places to work is now among the nation's most trusted companies. CEO Brian Johnson talks about the turnaround, how the grocer is growing its customer base and how quickly it can reach 200 stores total. Mentioned in this episode: Elon University https://www.elon.edu/

NC Idea's Thom Ruhe on Entrepreneurship, Execution, and NC's Innovation Ecosystem

In this episode, Lauren Ohnesorge sits down with Thom Ruhe, CEO of NC Idea — a private foundation dedicated to supporting high-potential entrepreneurs across North Carolina. Thom breaks down what it really takes to turn an idea into a business, why execution matters more than uniqueness, and how to find the right co-founder. He also shares his perspective on survival entrepreneurship, the changing venture capital landscape, and why you don't need a unicorn raise to build something real. Plus, Thom gives an inside look at NC Idea's expanding statewide reach, its partnership with the Tweener Fund, and the transformative potential of NC Innovation in tech commercialization. If you're thinking about taking the entrepreneurial leap — or just want to understand what's fueling North Carolina's startup ecosystem — this one's for you. Mentioned in this episode: Elon University https://www.elon.edu/

The Jobs President: Kandi Deitemeyer

Known as Dr. D to students and colleagues alike, Kandi Deitemeyer became president of Charlotte’s Central Piedmont Community College in 2017. Since then, she’s led the school through a once-in-a-century pandemic, crippling cyberattacks and a dramatically shifting job market — all while keeping the school’s scholarship fund growing. Now with 58,000 students, CPCC envisions a larger role creating careers in health, first-responder fields, and aviation, as well as the $25 billion transportation plan. And they’re not sleeping on A.I. either. Mentioned in this episode: Elon University https://www.elon.edu/