The Charlotte Ledger

Advocate Health, which is known in the Charlotte area as Atrium Health, has named Steven Smoot as its new division president for North Carolina and Georgia, effective June 2. In this role, Smoot will oversee strategic direction, operational excellence and community engagement across both states. He succeeds Ken D. Haynes, who was recently promoted to executive vice president and chief enterprise services officer for Advocate Health. Smoot brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in healthcare, most recently serving as chief operating officer at SSM Health, where he oversaw operations for 23 hospitals and more than 300 physician offices. He previously held leadership roles at Intermountain Healthcare and is recognized for his work in strategy development, operational transformation, and physician partnerships. Advocate Health CEO Eugene A. Woods said Smoot’s experience and values make him a strong fit to help advance the organization’s mission of redefining care for all. Smoot holds a bachelor’s degree in hospital administration from Weber State University and an MBA from Brigham Young University. A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, he has been honored with the ACHE Regents Award twice.

Joe Bost, chief advocacy officer at the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, is taking on a new role at University of North Carolina at Charlotte as special assistant to the chancellor for external relations and partnerships, the Alliance announced Tuesday. He’ll be stepping into the position held by Betty Doster, who is retiring, and will focus on strengthening the university’s relationships with government, economic development organizations, and the business community. Matthew Panik, currently VP of government affairs at the Alliance, will assume Bost’s role as chief advocacy officer. Panik has played a key role in advancing the business community’s priorities at the local, state, and federal levels. He and Bost will work together over the coming weeks to ensure a smooth handoff. Bost spent eight years at the Alliance, helping give voice to regional business interests on major issues such as transportation, education and childcare.

Tony-award winning “Akimbo” — which won for best musical, book and score in 2023 — is at Knight Theatre through April 27 as part of the Blumenthal Performing Arts’ Broadway Lights series. Arts critic Lawrence Toppman raves about the performance of actress Carolee Carmelo, 62, who plays a 16-year-old with a condition that causes her to age at four to five times the rate of the average person. He calls her a “genuine Broadway star” who has been nominated for three Tonys. She brings to life the theme, which Toppman writes, “is not oddity or uniqueness but the need we all have in common: To be fully seen and known for what we are.” 📷Photo courtesy of Blumenthal Arts Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e_TSy44b #thecharlotteledger #blumenthal #cltledger #toppmanonthearts #akimbo

✨ Experience an unforgettable evening honoring Charlotte’s most remarkable leaders at the 40 Over 40 Awards, presented by U.S. Bank. 🎉 From unsung heroes to industry pioneers, this celebration is about impact and inspiration. Enjoy delicious food and drinks from Heist Brewery, networking with some of Charlotte's brightest stars, and entertainment by Uptown Dueling Pianos 📅 May 8th, 2025, 6pm - 9pm | 📍 Heist Brewery and Barrel Arts 🎟️ Secure your spot 👉 https://lnkd.in/ezc-5Ktk #Charlotte40Over40 #ExperienceMatters #CharlotteEvents #CharlotteAwards #40Over40 #Ledger40Over40

In a time of economic uncertainty and market volatility, understanding where things stand—and where they’re headed—feels more important than ever. In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger editor Tony Mecia talks with economist Mark Vitner. Vitner, a longtime Charlotte-based economist formerly with Wells Fargo, is now chief economist for Piedmont Crescent Capital, a boutique economic consulting firm. He explains why the Charlotte region has remained resilient—and what clouds may be gathering on the horizon. Listen for his insights on what lies ahead, why he thinks airline traffic is a good indicator for economic turbulence, how a downturn might affect local real estate, what it means for Charlotte to be considered what he calls a regional center and more. You can listen to this episode of 'The Charlotte Ledger Podcast' by searching wherever you get your podcasts or right here 🎧: https://lnkd.in/eB_s_9DK #CLTeconomy #thecharlotteledger #ledgerpodcast #cltstories #charlottepodcast

It’s hard to imagine that a last-minute addition during last summer’s transfer window who isn’t even under contract for the full 2025 season — at least not yet — could be the central attacking midfielder Charlotte FC has been looking for for four years. But Pep Biel is playing like that guy. Charlotte FC is currently ranked second in the Eastern Conference. The club has scored a total of 13 goals this season, 12 in open play and Biel has either scored or assisted eight of them, through eight games. The 28-year-old Spaniard has scored a team-high three goals himself, including the lone goal in a 1-0 win Saturday in Montreal, but it’s the passes and making his teammates better that’s means the most to him. 📷Photo by Justin Potter of The 5 and 2 Project   Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dawPDd9a #thecharlotteledger #futbolfriday #cltledger #charlottefc 

It's 40 Over 40 Friday! Where we celebrate local unsung heroes aged 40+ who are doing great things in our community. This week we are highlighting 2024 winner Cynthia Wood, CEIM, executive director, Mind Body Baby NC. Cynthia transformed Mind Body Baby from a small group into a significant nonprofit, driven by her experiences with postpartum challenges. She's dedicated to supporting Charlotte's perinatal community, recently initiating a doula program for low-income families. Subscribe to The Charlotte Ledger today to receive exclusive updates about the 2025 40 Over 40 Awards! https://lnkd.in/gsDsW7ug

🎙 On the podcast: Building a sustainability program, with Esther Moberly of Coke Consolidated Did you know April is “sustainability” month? What better time to talk with a professional in the field. Esther C. Moberly has made a 20-year career out of being a good steward of the environment, including the last two as Charlotte-based Coca-Cola Consolidated's first ever sustainability manager. In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger staff writer Lindsey Banks sits down with Moberly to get her expert take on how the largest Coke bottling company in the U.S. goes about minimizing its impact on the environment through emissions, water and recycling initiatives and how they are helping others in the Charlotte community do the same. This episode is sponsored by Coca-Cola Consolidated, Charlotte’s local bottler and the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the U.S. From package recycling, emissions reduction and water leadership, Coca-Cola Consolidated is championing industry-leading sustainability solutions and best practices that put the planet first.  You can listen to this episode of 'The Charlotte Ledger Podcast' by searching wherever you get your podcasts or right here 🎧: https://lnkd.in/e4i7zt_8 #cokeconsolidated #thecharlotteledger #ledgerpodcast #cltstories #charlottepodcast

On a typical summer day at Lake Lure, thousands of people swim, boat, canoe, paddleboard and relax on the beach. This summer, the lake where the movie “Dirty Dancing” was filmed, will have to settle for being a backdrop. It’s still closed for cleanup of debris and sediment left from Hurricane Helene. The hope is brides still choose the refurbished gazebo for wedding venues and the lake can serve as a beautiful background. As the primary tourist season arrives in the North Carolina mountains, Lake Lure is just one example of challenges the region faces. Tourism-dependent economies need visitors more than ever but some of the biggest attractions —the lake, several state parks and parts of Asheville — remain closed, and travel in some areas is tricky because of road and bridge outages. The message from local leaders: Please come, but adjust your expectations. “We need everybody in this state to come with all the money they can in their pockets,” said Kit Cramer, president of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, in a recent interview on the PBS program “Carolina Business Review.”... You can come and have a great experience. … There are plenty of things you can do. Your experience will be different.” Find the article here: https://lnkd.in/eeTtMcSM #thecharlotteledger #hurricanehelene #cltledger #westernnc 

Hornets Sports & Entertainment (HSE) has named Mike Behan as its new chief business and revenue officer. In this role, Behan will lead key areas of the organization’s business operations, including ticket sales, partnerships, business intelligence, and more. He joins HSE from Legends, where he served as president of Legends College and forged revenue-driving partnerships with major universities such as Notre Dame and Ohio State. Behan also brings prior NBA experience, including roles with the league office and the Cleveland Cavaliers. He will relocate to Charlotte with his wife and three children. Behan’s hiring is part of a broader strategy by HSE to bolster its leadership team and enhance revenue and fan engagement, the team said in a news release. He will report to Shelly Cayette-Weston, president of business operations, and oversee newly promoted or hired vice presidents in premium sales, partnerships, and ticketing. As the Charlotte Hornets move into a new chapter with Spectrum Center renovations and a new performance center underway, Behan said in a statement that he looks forward to helping elevate the franchise’s profile and deepen its connection with fans and partners across the Carolinas.