NEWSMAKERS: ROAD TO SUCCESS

GEOFF FOSTER, CORE TECHNOLOGY MOLDING CORPORATION

Not many companies can claim they've grown 300% in the last 5 years. But Geoff Foster's company can! Foster runs the Core Technology Molding Corporation based in Greensboro, North Carolina. It's in the process of moving into a new $28 million manufacturing facility east of Greensboro. The company takes raw plastic pellets, melts them at high temperatures and injects that material into molds that form precision components for the world's large automotive and pharmaceutical companies. In this episode, Foster describes to Neill McNeill--among other things-- how one of his earliest inventions influenced his success.

BERNIE MANN: PRESIDENT "OUR STATE" MAGAZINE/FORMER BROADCASTER

You may not recognize his name, but there's a good chance he's influenced your life here in North Carolina's Piedmont-Triad in one way or another. 30 years ago, Bernie Mann bought what was a struggling publication and turned it into a "Celebrating North Carolina" powerhouse. But before he became a magazine publisher, he owned radio stations across the northeastern and southern sections of the country. In this episode, he describes how his upbringing in New York City led to one spectacular personal and professional life.

KEVIN BAKER: PIEDMONT-TRIAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

He's been a key figure in turning a quiet travel venue in central North Carolina into an economic development and aerospace powerhouse. Within the next few years, the Piedmont-Triad International Airport will be the home of one of the largest concentrations of aircraft manufacturers in the world! But it's also a traditional airport that--like many others--is facing challenges that include competition from other airports, recruiting airlines and dealing with aging facilities. In this episode, PTI's Executive Director Kevin Baker discusses all this with Neill McNeill including his back story that includes how his much older brother was a major influence.

GLENN DOBROGOSZ: GREENSBORO SCIENCE CENTER

During the last more than 20 years, Glenn Dobrogosz has turned a sleepy science center in Greensboro, NC into a legitimate tourist draw and--you could argue--an economic development machine. In this episode, the Greensboro Science Center's executive director tells Neill McNeill how and why he arrived in Greensboro, explains the "secret sauce" behind the facility's success and his big plans for the future.

DON STEWART TOYOTA BATTERY NC PART 2

Don Stewart leads what will soon become one of North Carolina's largest employers: Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina in the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite. By the time its fully operational within the next few years, it will employ at least 5,100 people. In this episode, Stewart and Neill McNeill talk about some of the major issues/challenges facing the electric vehicle industry and the facility itself--which is not unlike a small city.