Raising Cane’s opens first Triad location
Chicken finger chain's area leader calls Greensboro "a pretty incredible community" and sees opportunities for more Triad locations in the future.
Welcome to Triad Business Journal
Manufacturing
ITG Brands CEO to retire, British exec taking over
ITG Brands is the third-largest tobacco manufacturer in the United States and has around 3,500 employees nationwide.
Residential Real Estate
Triad firm plans 80 townhomes in W-S
The Winston-Salem City Council approved rezoning for the project, which will have lot sizes ranging from 0.3 acres to 0.5 acres.
Career & Workplace
Here's best way to find 15 Best Places to Work in Triad (PHOTOS)
Pinnacle Financial Partners maintained its hold on the Extra Large category while Hospice of the Piedmont won for the first time in the Large category. Other winners were RUD Fleet, Graham Personnel Services, and Jeff Harris and Associates.
Career & Workplace
TBJ honors HR leaders at Biscuitville, Inmar, Smith Leonard
Triad Business Journal's HR Impact Awards celebrates the leaders who are crucial to a company's culture.
Manufacturing
NC sues to reclaim Chatham megasite
North Carolina is taking legal action after the electric vehicle maker failed to follow through on its plans for a 7,500-job manufacturing facility.
Retailing
Family-owned furniture store closes after 54 years
The family-owned retailer, founded in a basement in 1972, will remain open for a going out of business sale and until special orders are completed.
Featured
President, Wake Forest University
Peter Rodriguez
Wake Forest University
Peter Rodriguez will become Wake Forest University’s 15th President on July 1, 2026. A distinguished economist and transformative academic leader, Rodriguez comes to Wake Forest from Rice University, where he has served as dean of the School of Business since 2016. At Rice, he doubled MBA enrollment, grew the tenure-track faculty by 40%, and launched the Virani Undergraduate School of Business, earning Poets&Quants' 2025 Dean of the Year honors. He came to Rice from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. Known for his strategic mind and relational leadership, Rodriguez brings decades of expertise in international trade and public finance. While at Rice, he strengthened entrepreneurship and experiential learning and had a significant impact on the University and the broader community. His new home city, Winston-Salem, will benefit from his leadership and engagement.
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Employers and Who's Who
Best Places to Work (X-Large)
5 Businesses
Triad Business Journal reveals the winners and finalists for the 2026 Best Places to Work extra-large category. The extra-large category includes companies that have 300 or more employees. Employees ranked their workplace through a survey administered by Quantum Workplace. To nominate your company for the 2027 Best Places to Work awards, or for information about this and other Triad Business Journal Lists, please contact Data Reporter Carl Wilson by email at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or by phone at 336-370-2915.
Employers and Who's Who
Best Places to Work (Large)
5 Businesses
Triad Business Journal reveals the winners and finalists for the 2026 Best Places to Work large category. The large category includes companies that have 100 to 299 employees. Employees ranked their workplace through a survey administered by Quantum Workplace. To nominate your company for the 2027 Best Places to Work awards, or for information about this and other Triad Business Journal Lists, please contact Data Reporter Carl Wilson by email at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or by phone at 336-370-2915.
Employers and Who's Who
Best Places to Work (Medium)
5 Businesses
Triad Business Journal reveals the winners and finalists for the 2026 Best Places to Work medium category. The medium category includes companies that have 50 to 99 employees. Employees ranked their workplace through a survey administered by Quantum Workplace. To nominate your company for the 2027 Best Places to Work awards, or for information about this and other Triad Business Journal Lists, please contact Data Reporter Carl Wilson by email at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or by phone at 336-370-2915.
Employers and Who's Who
Best Places to Work (Small)
9 Businesses
Triad Business Journal reveals the winners and finalists for the 2026 Best Places to Work small category. The small category includes companies that have 25 to 49 employees. Employees ranked their workplace through a survey administered by Quantum Workplace. To nominate your company for the 2027 Best Places to Work awards, or for information about this and other Triad Business Journal Lists, please contact Data Reporter Carl Wilson by email at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or by phone at 336-370-2915.
Employers and Who's Who
Best Places to Work (Micro)
10 Businesses
Triad Business Journal reveals the winners and finalists for the 2026 Best Places to Work micro category. The micro category includes companies that have 10 to 24 employees. Employees ranked their workplace through a survey administered by Quantum Workplace. To nominate your company for the 2027 Best Places to Work awards, or for information about this and other Triad Business Journal Lists, please contact Data Reporter Carl Wilson by email at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or by phone at 336-370-2915.
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Featured 
Nonprofit
Goodwill Industries of Central NC (Triad Goodwill)
general news
Triad Goodwill (Goodwill Industries of Central NC, Inc.) is not merely a thrift store; it is a results-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit leader committed to economic development, workforce development, and a more sustainable future. Last year Triad Goodwill drove $186.5 million in economic impact across a five-county territory. Serving Alamance, Caswell, Guilford, Randolph, and Rockingham counties since 1963, the organization operates under a proven “Donate – Shop – Recycle – Train – Work” self-sustaining business model. By converting donated goods into revenue, Triad Goodwill funds workforce development programs including career classes and workshops, resume writing, digital skills training and specialized training opportunities such as HVAC, CDL, and construction classes. Triad Goodwill also provides intensive services to justice-involved individuals through the “Careers on the Outside” program that has drastically reduced the local recidivism rate by providing support for successful employment and community reintegration. Ultimately the services offered by Triad Goodwill empower local citizens to find meaningful employment and achieve financial stability. Triad Goodwill is major regional leader in sustainability, diverting more than 17.5 million pounds of materials from local landfills through the sale of items in retail stores or through recycling efforts with partners. The sale of donated items directly supports the local circular economy by extending the life of millions of items. Last year Triad Goodwill recycled 300,000 pounds of glass, 275,000 pounds of cardboard, 434,000 pounds of metal, 231,000 pounds of e-waste, 30,000 pounds of plastic, 1,000,000 pounds of books and 5,400,000 pounds of textiles. These efforts highlight a holistic and innovative strategy towards environmental stewardship and a more sustainable future. For Triad Goodwill, success is measured in helping individuals find gainful, long-term employment, being environmentally sustainable through a robust recycling program, and being a major contributor to the local economy.
Featured
Nonprofit
Guilford County Partnership for Children
general news
For 30 years, the Guilford County Partnership for Children (GCPC) has been a cornerstone of the local early childhood education system, working to ensure every child in Guilford County enters school safe, healthy, and ready to succeed. As a partner in the Smart Start network, GCPC is a trusted convener and collaborative leader bringing together public, private, and nonprofit partners to strengthen families, support early childhood educators, and create opportunities for children prenatal to age five. Each year, GCPC strategically invests over $18 million in evidence-based programs that improve early learning, family well-being, and workforce stability. Among its most significant contributions is the administration of North Carolina’s largest NC Pre-K program, providing over 2,200 high-quality classroom placements for eligible 4-year-olds across a wide range of community-based settings. This investment directly supports working families, closes opportunity gaps, and fuels long-term educational and economic outcomes for the region. Innovation and responsiveness are hallmarks of GCPC’s approach. Through initiatives like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, thousands of children receive free, age-appropriate books delivered directly to their homes monthly, fostering a love of reading and strengthening early literacy skills. GCPC leads with data, recently completing a countywide early childhood needs assessment to better understand current needs and emerging challenges and guide smart, community-driven solutions. GCPC’s impact extends beyond individual programs. By addressing systemic issues such as the child care crisis and early childhood educator workforce shortages, the organization plays a critical role in Guilford County’s broader economic vitality. The Partnership's collaborative, cross-sector model aligns resources, informs policy, and builds sustainable systems that benefit children, families, and employers alike. In 2026, GCPC proudly celebrates its 30th birthday, marking three decades of progress, partnership, and positive outcomes for young children. This milestone year is not just a celebration of the past, but a reaffirmation of GCPC’s ongoing commitment to innovation and collaboration. The organization continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of families and early childhood educators while remaining grounded in its mission to give every child a strong start. GCPC stands as a model for how strategic investment, shared leadership, and long-term vision can create lasting community impact for generations to come.
Featured
Nonprofit
Crossnore Communities for Children
general news
For more than 100 years, Crossnore Communities for Children has been one of North Carolina’s most trusted names in child safety, protection, and welfare as a provider of holistic care, bringing hope and healing to children who have experienced abuse, neglect, and trauma. Through a robust continuum of services, Crossnore serves children at risk of entering, already in, or transitioning out of foster care. Our programs include in-home family stabilization and preservation, therapeutic services, an array of foster care programs, trauma-responsive education, and adoption from foster care. We work to help children achieve permanency and ensure families build resilience so they can thrive in their homes, schools, and communities. Crossnore has three office locations—in Winston-Salem, Avery County, and Hendersonville— that serve as hubs for child-centered work throughout North Carolina. To find out more, visit www.crossnore.org.
Education
South University
expansion
South University, High Point has opened its newly expanded campus at 4050 Premier Drive, marking a new chapter for healthcare education in the Piedmont Triad. The university celebrated the milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 7, featuring remarks from South University CEO and Chancellor Benjamin J. DeGweck, campus leadership, and community partners. The new space spans over 13,000 square feet and includes two new clinical skills labs, nursing simulation labs, clinical exam rooms, a wellness space, a student lounge, and dedicated student learning areas. The expansion is designed to support the campus's focused selection of healthcare and nursing programs, including the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and the Associate of Science in Allied Health Science. The investment comes at a critical time for the region. North Carolina will need an estimated 17,500 additional nurses over the next decade to keep pace with the state's aging and growing population, according to the NC Center on the Workforce for Health. The Triad is among the areas projected to be hardest hit by the shortage. SU, High Point's programs are positioned to address this gap by preparing qualified graduates for high-demand roles across the region's hospitals, clinics, and healthcare systems. “This investment shows our confidence in the future, and we stand ready to partner in this work to create opportunity, strengthen healthcare, and help more people achieve the American dream,” said High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson. The High Point campus features small class sizes, one-on-one faculty engagement, and industry-grade training facilities with plans for further expansion. Clinical partnerships with Novant Health, Moses Cone, and Gateway provide students with hands-on placement opportunities and a pathway into the local healthcare workforce. "Our High Point campus is a testament to South University's mission to serve with purpose and lead with impact," said DeGweck. "The Piedmont Triad needs more healthcare professionals, and we're putting resources behind that need – investing in facilities, faculty, and a student-centered experience that prepares graduates to make a real difference in their communities." South University, founded in 1899, serves over 10,000 students across 11 ground campuses and online. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate degrees.
Featured
Banking & Financial Services
TowneBank
general news
As part of its ongoing commitment to the community, TowneBank appointed Mark Doughton to the Triad Board of Directors in 2025. The board is comprised of individuals with close ties to the community they represent, providing guidance and leadership for the unique needs of the Triad. Mark Doughton retired as Executive Vice President of Inmar and President of the Supply Chain and Pharmacy Services division after a 25-year career with Inmar. After retiring, Doughton, alongside his business partner, started Doughton and Rodgman Career Development to prepare recent college graduates for the job market. Before Inmar, Doughton held sales positions with three other companies. In addition, he led the development of the Supply Chain and Logistics division at a start-up venture to a business with revenue exceeding $120 million. Doughton received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has served on the boards of the UNC Charlotte Athletic Foundation and the UNC Charlotte Foundation, and he currently serves on the board of the Winston-Salem Street School. “TowneBank is privileged to welcome Mr. Doughton to the Triad Board of Directors,” said Scott Baker, president of TowneBank Triad. “His executive leadership experience, along with his knowledge of and engagement within Winston-Salem and the broader Triad community, will serve as a valuable contribution to our board and the Triad community.”
Highlights
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