Dr. Elizabeth Teagarden

31- John Evans, Founder & Owner, Lemuria Books

John Evans
Founder & Owner, Lemuria Books

In 1975, John Evans and his wife Mel decided to create an alternative bookstore, named after the submerged and forgotten continent of Lemuria. Intended to foster a counterculture mentality in my hometown of Jackson, Mississippi, the store occupied a converted apartment on the backside of a small shopping complex. The balcony faced a swamp, and the tiny Lemuria storefront was nestled between a ladies’ dress shop and Poet’s, the best music bar and restaurant in town.

Fifty years later, my hometown bookstore continues to thrive as a hub for readers and writers alike. A “place where the books talk to each other,” Lemuria has, in fact, become an institution that has managed to solve for the tectonic shifts that have changed the bookselling industry during its remarkable 5 decade run. From malls and mass distribution, from ebooks to Amazon, Lemuria continues to be a place to find real books, real readers, and a better reading experience.

John Evans is our guest today on The @Work Podcast.

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Lemuria Books

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30 - Patricia Massey Hoke and Nikki Jarrell, Woman's Impact Fund

Patricia Massey Hoke, Executive Director, Woman's Impact Fund
Nikki Jarrell, Tax Managing Director at KPMG LLP

Patricia Massey Hoke and Nikki Jarrell

Patricia Massey Hoke is the executive director of the Women’s Impact Fund: an association of women with a mission of strengthening communities by maximizing women’s leadership in philanthropy through collective giving, education, and engagement.

Nikki Jarrell is the board chair of the Women’s Impact Fund. She has been a member since 2014 and has served as Treasurer and Finance Chair, Audit Chair, and on the Community Impact Committee. In her day job, Jarrell is a managing director in the tax division with KPMG.

What began as a special initiative of the Foundation For The Carolinas, the Women’s Impact Fund has grown into an influential nonprofit organization with more than 1,000 women having been members over time. Founded in 2003, the Fund has awarded almost $8 million in 100 grants to 96 unique nonprofit organizations in Mecklenburg County.

Patricia Massey Hoke and Nikki Jarrell are our guests today on The @Work Podcast.

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Patricia Massey Hoke

Nikki Jarrell

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29- Jordan Schindler, Founder, Nufabrx

Jordan Schindler
Founder, Nufabrx

In 2011, Jordan Schindler discovered that his acne was caused from not washing his pillowcases often enough. Determined to find a better solution, the idea for NUFABRX was born. After years of research and development in partnership with a formulation scientist, Schindler developed his revolutionary patented platform technology.

Nufabrx is an innovative technology company focused on the controlled delivery of active ingredients through clothing. Called “healthwear,” the technology seamlessly integrates medication and textiles to create wearable clothing and simplify health and wellness for consumers. Providing all day relief and lasting through 15+ wash cycles, the patented technology is activated by body temperature and moisture.

Today, Nufabrx is an 8-figure revenue business with national retail distribution, headquartered here in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Nufabrx team is made up of scientists and award-winning designers who all share the common goal of making your wellness journey easier. Each Nufabrx product is manufactured and tested right here in the company’s North Carolina based facility.

Jordan Schindler is our guest today on The @Work Podcast.

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Jordan Schindler

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28 - Chef Ron Ahlert, Executive Director, Community Culinary School of Charlotte (CCSC)

Chef Ron Ahlert
Executive Director, Community Culinary School of Charlotte (CCSC)

Chef Ron Ahlert, Community Culinary School of Charlotte (CCSC)

Chef Ron Ahlert is the Executive Director of the Community Culinary School of Charlotte, a pioneering organization dedicated to transforming lives through culinary education. Under Chef Ron’s guidance, CCSC has become a cornerstone in workforce development, offering comprehensive training and job placement support to adults overcoming employment barriers.

With a focus on culinary skills, job readiness, and personal development, CCSC empowers individuals to build sustainable careers in the food service industry. Chef Ron’s leadership has been instrumental in driving the school’s mission to address poverty’s root causes by fostering self-sufficiency and economic independence among its students.

Chef Ron Ahlert is our guest today on The @Work Podcast.

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Chef Ron Ahlert

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27- Henry Batten, President, Concrete Supply Company

Henry Batten
President, Concrete Supply Company

Henry Batten, Concrete Supply Company

Henry Batten is the President of Concrete Supply Company, the Carolina’s premiere source for top quality Ready-Mix concrete products, with 90 plants producing nearly 3 million cubic yards of concrete annually throughout the Carolinas.

Henry’s current and past responsibilities include the organization’s general management, dispatch, engineering, quality control, and administrative support functions. He has led and participated in various operational committees aimed at improving safety, customer service, quality, productivity, cost control, and operational effectiveness.

Henry Batten is our guest today on The @Work Podcast.

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Henry Batten

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26- John Gordon, Chief Executive Officer, Leroy Springs & Company, Inc.

John Gordon
Chief Executive Officer, Leroy Springs & Company, Inc.

John Gordon is CEO of Leroy Springs & Company, and the Executive Director of the Anne Springs Close Greenway, located in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

John’s organizational expertise is driven by more than 15 years of operational and leadership experience at some of the area’s most respected recreation facilities, including the U.S. National Whitewater Center, and the YMCA Camps Thunderbird and Cherokee.

Leroy Springs & Company, Inc. was founded in 1938, and since that time has provided affordable, quality recreation and community activities and facilities in the regional home of the historic Springs Cotton Mills. This 86-year-old nonprofit operates four Springs Golf courses, the Anne Springs Close Greenway, Springmaid Mountain, and the Flyers Afterschool Program. In addition, Leroy Springs & Company, Inc. provides financial assistance for its recreation opportunities through the organization’s Bridge Program awarding $1.8 million in assistance since 2018.

John Gordon is our guest today on The @Work Podcast.

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John Gordon

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25- Linda Kirby - Executive Vice President, Boingo Graphics

Linda Kirby
Executive Vice President, Boingo Graphics

Linda Kirby, Boingo Graphics

Linda Kirby is part owner and Executive Vice President of Boingo Graphics, which specializes in printing and marketing collateral. Linda is recognized as an innovative and creative business leader who prioritizes strong client relationships.

Linda originally became interested in print communications through a graphic arts vocation program in high school and then followed this passion into a career in printing operations.

Linda is driven by providing opportunities for the Boingo team to grow, contribute, and succeed. In addition, she shares her time and energy with several nonprofits in our community through the Boingo Cares program.

Linda Kirby is our guest today on The @Work Podcast.

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Linda Kirby

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24- Jill Marcus, President, Something Classic & The Mother Earth Group

Jill Marcus
President, Something Classic & The Mother Earth Group

Jill Marcus is the founder and president of Mother Earth Group, a food service company that is locally rooted and globally inspired. Mother Earth Group includes the catering company, Something Classic, and the restaurants Mariposa, Coquette, and many others.

Jill opened Something Classic in 1989, shortly after graduating from Davidson College. She quickly expanded to open some of Charlotte’s most beloved restaurants, including Halcyon, which was a James Beard Award-nominated farm-to-table restaurant; Fern, which was Charlotte’s much-anticipated vegetarian restaurant; the world-to-table concept Mariposa; and now Coquette, a French restaurant.

When she’s not working in the Charlotte food scene, Jill adds stamps to her well-worn passport and tastes her way around the world. She brings back souvenirs of these travels to her menus, infusing North Carolina flavors with international influences. Jill Marcus is our guest today on The @Work Podcast.

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Jill Marcus

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23- Peter Browning, Lead Director, ScanSource

Peter Browning
Lead Director, ScanSource

Today, we welcome an experienced business leader, Peter Browning, on the first in an occasional series of special episodes of The @Work Podcast we are calling the “Wisdom Series.” These unique episodes will feature guests who have a lifetime of business leadership experience.

Peter Browning is the managing partner of Peter Browning Partners, a board advisory consulting firm founded in 2009, and a well-known authority on board governance. Since 1989, Browning has served on the boards of 14 publicly-traded companies, including ten years at Wachovia Bank, now Wells Fargo; six years at Lowe’s, six years at Nucor, where he served as non-executive chairman and lead director; and finally, 14 years at EnPro Industries.

Across his career, he has sat in a variety of seats from chairman and CEO, to non-executive chair, lead director and chair of audit, compensation, governance, and nominating committees. Browning was the Dean of the McColl Graduate School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte from 2002 to 2005, and is co-author of The Director’s Manual: A Framework for Board Governance. Peter Browning is our guest today on The @Work Podcast.

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Peter Browning

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