After working for Procter and Gamble for 33 years, Bill Bigham decided he wanted to do something more with his time than hit the links.  The new goal: Chef.  He was accepted into the Inaugural Freshman Class of Johnson and Wales University in Charlotte, N.C., and at the young age of 56, he went back to school. But golf was not off the table.  While at Johnson & Wales, he was lucky to land an internship at the exclusive Pinehurst Resort during the 2005 U.S. Open. Bigham, now Chef Bill...

"I realized that I could change somebody's day because I'm the first person they're speaking to, most likely." Magnolia Coffee Co's Production Manager, Ben Alleman, got into the coffee scene because he wanted a change from the restaurant industry. He quickly fell in love with what he calls the 'counter-culture.' Magnolia's goal is to make the top 3-5% of coffee accessible to the everyday coffee drinker. While Alleman himself hasn't gone to the origin spots of the coffee, Magnolia's owner...

Stomp, Chomp & Roll Restaurant Group owner, Will Bigham, grew up in the restaurant industry.  He describes himself as 'always learning,' which is probably why he's seen success operating a wide variety of restaurants ranging from a dessert business to fast-casual Asian cuisine, and now the popular Charlotte, NC brands Improper Pig, Flying Biscuit, and Pizza Peel.  Follow Stomp, Chomp & Roll: Facebook LinkedIn   Follow Albemarle Paper Supply: albemarlepapersupply.com...

Manolo Betancur has a plan -- to bring his Latin bakery concept to the poorest towns of NC in hopes to create jobs, growth, and spark life on desolate Main Streets that can use some love.   It's this attitude that has helped his Charlotte, NC bakery, Manolo's Latin Bakery, find success. "Business is not about money, business is about people," says the former Colombian Navy vet.  A Colombian native, Betancur grew up 'under the influence of the U.S.'  He came to America and studied at King...

Head Brewer, Kiel Arrington, takes Nick on a mini-tour of the brewery and what goes into making your favorite beers. Owning a business was always in the back of Arrington’s mind and Vaulted Oak wasn’t his first attempt at starting a brewery business.  In 2015, he pitched a brewery to investors and they didn’t bite.  But Arrington wasn’t deterred and counts it as a good learning experience. “It took years, up to a decade, in the food and bev industry to grow into where I am today,” says...

We may be a paper company, but this crew is makin' that paper! We get a fascinating view inside the workings of CT Commercial Paper in Oakboro, NC with Kat Palm & Mollie Guffy. Not only do they make the best paper products (Single Roll Tissue, Jumbo Roll Tissue, Hard Wound Roll Towels, Kitchen Roll Towels, Folded Towels, Napkins, Toilet Seat Covers, and more) but their products do not require the destruction and depletion of the world's precious natural resources. They utilize sustainable...

After a wide and varied journey through all sides of the restaurant industry, bbq fan Lewis Donald launched his shop, Sweet Lew's, in the Belmont neighborhood of Charlotte, NC because he felt Charlotte needed a true barbecue shop and "I felt like that was my best avenue to be me, have fun and I could see myself doing it for the rest of my life." He chose the neighborhood because BBQ is all about community. His restaurant sits amongst residential houses across from a few other local eateries...

We’re back with another episode of the Paper Trails podcast. This week we have the owners of Primeline Capital, home loan experts of Charlotte, NC.