Good morning! Today is Monday, June 8, 2026. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
Hi readers, Lindsey here. In case you missed it, this past weekend, uptown hosted the annual Taste of Charlotte food festival. The Ledger’s editor, Tony Mecia, went on Saturday and made a video about it. Pop on over to our socials to see for yourself, and if you went to the festival this year, leave a comment on what your favorite bite was. 🥘 And, if you’re not already following The Ledger, don’t be afraid to hit that blue button on Instagram and Facebook to get the latest news and updates in your feed.
Now, on to today’s newsletter…
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Q&A: How Tepper Sports & Entertainment’s Kristi Coleman went from being a Deloitte accountant to one of Charlotte’s most consequential executives
Kristi Coleman, CEO of Tepper Sports & Entertainment, says she earned owner David Tepper’s trust by being present and answering questions whenever they arose. (Photo courtesy of Tepper Sports & Entertainment)
Kristi Coleman is CEO of Tepper Sports & Entertainment and president of the Carolina Panthers. She oversees business operations for the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC and Bank of America Stadium. She helped secure the Charlotte City Council’s vote for a joint $800 million renovation to the stadium. She’s also a mother of two school-aged sons.
Coleman, 40, grew up in Fair Play, S.C., near Lake Hartwell, Ga. She graduated from Clemson with undergraduate and master’s degrees in accounting. She was named the Panthers’ chief financial officer in 2019, was promoted to the team’s president in 2022 and took the role of Tepper Sports’ CEO in 2024.
In a conversation with The Ledger’s Carroll Walton, Coleman shares insight into how she went from studying spreadsheets to advocating for the overhaul of Bank of America Stadium, what it’s like working with owner David Tepper and how she balances work and family time.
A version of this interview originally appeared in the May issue of Queen City Lifestyle magazine.
Q. How did you get your start with the Panthers?
I graduated with my master’s from Clemson in December of ’07, then started at Deloitte in January of ’08. Most people were already assigned to other jobs. The Panthers needed someone to do their [auditing], so I got assigned to them.
I was the envy of the office. It’s really serendipitous. I ended up in the right place at the right time.
Q. How did you make the jump from Deloitte to the Panthers?
I left Deloitte for a brief stint at a manufacturing company in Gastonia. I was newly married and thinking, “I need to spend more time at home.” But I realized all of a sudden, the grass isn’t always greener.
Deloitte wasn’t making me work crazy hours; I was working crazy hours. I was happy doing what I was doing. I had a clear trajectory. I liked the people I was with. Within two weeks, I was back on the phone with Deloitte. They took me back. Three months later, the Panthers called.
Q. When David Tepper bought the Panthers from Jerry Richardson in 2018, how did you prepare for that transition?
Two months after we were told Mr. Richardson was going to sell the team, I found out I was pregnant with my son, Charlie. I thought I was going to lose my job. I thought, “I’m just going to do the best I can.”
I met Dave and got to know some of the people on his team through the process. That was helpful because they were the people I ended up working with and still work with now. Dave bought the team in July, and I got to keep my job. It's been great.
Q. How did you earn Tepper’s trust?
I showed up. Whatever questions they had, I answered whenever they asked them. I was available all the time. It wasn’t much more than that.
Q. Was there ever a time you had a child in the tub and the phone rang with one of those questions?
That's great about Dave; it always has been. He could call anytime, but if he heard kids in the background when I was at soccer or baseball fields, he'd say, “What's going on?” I'll say, “I'm at the game,” or “My boys are in the car.”
He'll say, “Wait until later and call me back.” He's always respectful of my time with my kids.
People don't realize Dave's actually very close with family and his friends. That's important to him. He's got a grandson and a granddaughter now. He's always with them. He and Nicole (his wife) care a lot about family time.
Q. What are you most proud of in the work you’ve done with TSE?
The stadium renovation. The city/private partnership with [the city] — their $650 million, $150 million from us and an additional $421 million over the period of the contract. Getting that done and demonstrating what the stadium means to the community is probably the proudest moment.
Q. What did it require of you?
A lot of work. It started the day they put me in the role of team president. For whatever reason, there was some distrust. I was a person behind a computer screen in my Excel spreadsheets. No one knew me, and probably not really Dave that well, either.
I felt like I had to get out there and make relationships. I've got to get to know people. I've got to figure this out.
Q. How did you do that?
Charlotte is such a relationship community. That is so important to what this region really is. What allowed us to get that done was us building relationships and being able to show, “This is what we have been doing, this is what we're doing and this is what we're going to do.” I had a lot of phone calls to make, a lot of lunches.
Q. What does it take to thrive in a male-dominated industry?
Not to worry about being in a male-dominated industry. I don’t get caught up in male, female, any of that stuff. You just have to do your job and focus on doing a good job.
Q. Which is harder: being CEO of Tepper Sports or a mom?
I feel very lucky to be able to do both. Both have their demands, and both have their own time. I try to be present where I am, in the moment, but I also try to integrate my family into my work life. My kids and my husband mean the world to me, but I think I've been successful in doing both. They’re not mutually exclusive.
Q. What excites you about Charlotte and business opportunities here?
What I think makes this region so special is these relationships. I just had a CELC (Charlotte Executive Leadership Council) meeting with all the major companies in Charlotte and their CEOs. That doesn't happen everywhere. You’ve got Bank of America and Ally sitting right next to each other at the table. We have great leaders in this community who want to work together.
Q. When it comes to where to eat or shop in town, what are your go-tos?
During the week, when my kids have baseball and other things, we like to pop into Providence Road Sundries for dinner. It’s laid back. They can be noisy. We see local folks there. I do like to shop; the NFL has a partnership with Veronica Beard. They’re one of my favorites. I like Kendra Scott. They’re a partner of ours, too. I like David Yurman.
Q. With the Panthers making their first playoff run since 2018 last season, what’s the energy around the team right now?
From the week leading up to our home playoff game through the final snap, the support was incredible. That connection between the team and the community made it a special moment for the organization. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and the momentum we’re building.
Carroll Walton covers Charlotte FC for The Charlotte Ledger’s Fútbol Friday newsletter. Reach her at [email protected].
Today's supporting sponsor is Carnegie Private Wealth. At Carnegie Private Wealth, we bring clarity to complexity. Through thoughtful planning and personal attention, we help you pursue opportunities and reclaim time for what matters most.
Plans for toll lanes on Independence Boulevard are still moving forward; seen as less objectionable than I-77
By now, you probably know that local politicians rejected the proposed toll lanes on I-77 south of uptown.
But what about the ones planned on Independence Boulevard?
You might be surprised to learn that I-77 is not the only road in the Charlotte region for which the N.C. Department of Transportation has been planning toll lanes — in addition to those already on I-77 north of uptown, I-485 in south Mecklenburg and the Monroe Expressway.
The state’s road-planning documents show NCDOT is planning to convert the bus lanes on a six-mile stretch between I-277 and Margaret Wallace Road to toll lanes, with construction expected to start in 2033. It’s estimated to cost about $355M. Express bus service in those lanes started in 1998, and transportation officials have been studying converting them to toll lanes since around 2007, according to NCDOT’s online history of the project.
A rendering from a public meeting in 2020 shows toll lanes on Independence Boulevard in the middle of the regular lanes. At the time, it was thought construction could begin as early as 2024, but the date has been pushed back to 2033. (From NCDOT public meeting materials)
NCDOT is also planning to add toll lanes to a five-mile stretch from Margaret Wallace to I-485 in Matthews, but there’s no estimate on timing for that portion.
Like the I-77 lanes, which the Charlotte City Council and a regional transportation planning body rejected last month, information on those projects has been available for years, and local officials have signed off on the idea.
Some of the local officials who led the charge against the I-77 toll lanes say they’re not inclined to try to stop toll lanes planned for Independence.
“I’m not a fan of tolls, period,” said Matthews Mayor John Higdon. “But at least this will be much more reasonable and could provide some congestion relief.”
Unlike the I-77 lanes, which are run by an outside company, the Independence lanes would be run by NCDOT, just like those on I-485 and the Monroe Expressway. The tolls on state-run toll lanes are less expensive than those that are privately operated. Traveling the full 18 miles of the state-run Monroe Expressway costs a set fee of $2.96 (with an NC Quick Pass). The 26 miles of I-77 toll lanes to north Mecklenburg have variable pricing that can be as much as $70.
Higdon says he has no plans to try to remove Independence tolls from state planning documents, as the regional panel indicated it would do with I-77 lanes. –Tony Mecia
🎭 TOPPMAN ON THE ARTS
Local arts criticism — from touring Broadway shows to community theater and museum exhibits — from longtime critic Lawrence Toppman.
“Lush Life,” a 1997 self-portrait of David McGee on oil and canvas. (Photo courtesy of The Bechtler Museum)
Charlotte arts critic Lawrence Toppman says “David McGee: The Griot and the Nightingale” at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art is a witty, visually striking survey that blends autobiography, Black history, music and art-historical references.
The exhibition, which pairs art with curated music, runs through Aug. 23 at The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art (420 S. Tryon St.).
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📫 Reader mailbag: Opinions on ‘The Charlotte Way’ and the changing ties between local businesses and politicians
The Charlotte Ledger’s piece last week examining the apparent waning influence of the business community on local politics seemed to strike a chord with readers.
The article — “Does Charlotte business still call the shots?” — looked into whether the longstanding close relationship between business and political leaders here is fraying in light of several recent local political decisions. Some business leaders are warning of disastrous consequences, while some residents and advocates say the emerging split is a sign of civic health.
We heard from plenty of folks with thoughts or observations, including:
“Great email regarding Charlotte business calling the shots today. I have been asking that question to many people over the past few weeks. Things are definitely different these days.”
“This is a great and very brave article. I have had many calls in the last week. Had folks come up to talk at Rotary yesterday about the situation we find Charlotte in.”
“Business calling the shots? That's called a ‘partnership’? At least someone called it right.”
“That was the best write-up of the current climate I have read in the last two years. Anyone who needs to understand Charlotte right now needs to read that.”
“I loved your piece this morning. Keeping a finger on the pulse of the city is good, but y’all are tracking all the vital signs, and I, for one, appreciate it.”
“I do wonder how many of the protesters are using AI to inform their views, writing, etc. and see no connection to their use of data centers. On the other hand, I always describe Charlotte as a real estate development power, no longer a banking power (unless you count backroom operations). The real estate development industry has had too much power here.”
“Good article on The Charlotte Way. I’ve been in Charlotte for years and am pleased to see this shift. I’ve lived in an unincorporated township south of Steele Creek for almost 13 years, and we are mostly left out of consideration for many of the city’s so-called improvements. I would argue, for example, that additional transit options would be more meaningful here than the already dense north and center city.”
“If these business ideas referred to in your article are so great, why are they built away from the homes of businesspeople — in particular data centers? I doubt any one person in the group of people in your picture of residents protesting data centers near their homes is not pro-business. Black people, including myself, are tired of being scapegoats for every business idea that white people would also protest if they were planned to be built in their communities.”
“Charlotte business leaders need to stop whining and start thinking about the overall welfare of the city, which includes business. The I-77 plan did a terrible number on minority neighborhoods that were already cut up when I-77 went in — which I expect business leaders thought was fine. Business leaders quoted seemed to take the position that development is all that matters and the effect on the citizens be damned.”
“I think you’ve started to scratch the surface on this dynamic. The level of disengagement and decentralization over the past several years has contributed to this. And a similar conversation about this has been going on for at least as long in leadership circles. This is a big one. And its momentum will be difficult to slow down or redirect.”
We also heard from a former elected official, Jennifer De La Jara, who served on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education from 2019-2023 and had this to say:
“It’s worth noting that the business community has also changed. At one time, they stood for progressive values like advocating against the harmful effects of HB2 on workers and our economy. But in recent years when the school board asked them to engage in advocacy around Leandro or teacher pay, we got crickets from business leaders. Instead, they often touted their philanthropic contributions. But $5K – or even $50K – grants are no match to the multiple millions that are needed for the state to bring educators to a living wage. I think people are finally fed up with big corporations paying lower taxes while hardworking, everyday Americans suffer.”
This is an important topic, and we plan to keep the conversation going. Look for more over the next few weeks.
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
TOMORROW: “Coffee with the Chamber,” 8:30-9:30 a.m., at Taylor Farm Apartments, 2311 Odell School Rd. Join the Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce for an invigorating morning event that brings together coffee lovers and business professionals from across the Charlotte area. Whether you're a startup founder, a seasoned executive or just a morning person, this event is the perfect opportunity to brew new connections and spark innovative conversations. Registration required. Free for members. $5 for non-members.
WEDNESDAY: “Gallery Talk with Wesley Mancini,” 6-6:45 p.m., at Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Rd. Wesley Mancini, Charlotte-based textile designer and prominent figure in the local LGBTQ+ community, is known for his discerning eye and deep appreciation for global textile traditions. Join Mancini for a walk through the exhibition to learn more about the Kuba textile designs that continue to influence contemporary fabrics and design. Free.
JUNE 15: “Chill at IPH,” 10 a.m. to noon, at The Independent Picture House, 4237 Raleigh St. Summer is coming in hot, so chill out with the talented faculty at UNC Charlotte’s College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences (CHESS)! This is the second year of the CHESS Initiative of Lifelong Learning at IPH, and it will comprise a full schedule of short, multisession workshops for those hungry for community, intellectual stimulation or just a place to get away from internet streaming during the hottest hours of the day. Registration required. $150.
In brief
8 local companies on Fortune 500: The Charlotte region is home to eight companies on the Fortune 500 list this year, one more than last year, with the addition of Davidson-based industrial manufacturer Ingersoll Rand. Bank of America was again the region’s largest public company, at No. 20 overall. The region also had 11 additional companies ranked between No. 501 and 1000. (Observer/Yahoo News)
Inmate dies in Mecklenburg jail: A 21-year-old inmate died Saturday after being found unresponsive during a medical emergency at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center-Central, prompting an investigation by the sheriff's office and the State Bureau of Investigation into the death. (Fox 46)
Area parks system ranks 90 out of 100 cities: Charlotte-Mecklenburg remains near the bottom of the Trust for Public Land’s annual park rankings, placing 90th out of the 100 largest U.S. park systems – though county officials argue the methodology unfairly penalizes its sprawling geography and fragmented park network. (Axios)
American suspends two routes at CLT amid war: American Airlines will temporarily suspend its Charlotte-to-Ontario and Charlotte-to-Sacramento routes in August and September, due to rising jet fuel costs linked to the ongoing conflict in Iran. The airline says the cuts are not permanent and affected passengers will be offered rebooking options or refunds. (WBTV)
2nd bakery incoming: French-inspired bakery chain Maman plans to open a second Charlotte location, in Eastover. It opened its first Charlotte spot in Plaza Midwood last month. (Scoop Charlotte on Instagram)