TC Spotlight

Twin County Media Group
  • 5.0 (4)
  • News
  • Updated Weekly

Our mission is to highlight the positive news and events taking place in Nash and Edgecombe counties. We shine the spotlight on those people doing interesting things in our community.

  1. 5d ago

    Jamie Holcomb - NC Children's Museum

    Big news for downtown Rocky Mount! On this episode, we sit down with Jamie Holcomb, CEO of the North Carolina Children's Museum, to talk about the announcement that the museum will make the Imperial Centre its flagship headquarters. Under a proposed lease between the city and the museum, the NC Children's Museum will renovate and upgrade the Imperial Centre facilities, then operate and program the space — bringing a major new anchor for families right into the heart of downtown.We also trace Jamie's path from college to a career in the Museums of North Carolina, and what it takes to lead a statewide institution. It's a conversation about leadership, community investment, and what this move means for the future of Rocky Mount.

  2. Sep 1

    Gabby Pacelli - Pacelli's Bakery

    What happens when an engineer trades formulas for flour? On this episode of TC Spotlight, we sit down with Gabby Pacelli — founder and head baker of Pacelli's Bakery, Rocky Mount's newest artisan bakery — to talk about her leap from a career in engineering (she holds a Master of Engineering) into the craft of baking. Gabby shares how early days learning in her family's bakery planted the seed, how she built a devoted following through local markets and pop-ups starting in 2025, and what gave her the confidence to open her own storefront at 1137 Jeffreys Road in 2026. If you've tasted one of her creations, you already know: for Gabby, sourdough is a living thing, and cake batter is "just a formula at the end of the day — but made with love."We dig into what she's serving up — fresh sourdough, authentic bagels, delicate macarons, and gourmet pastries made with quality ingredients and traditional technique — and the high standards of someone who says she won't serve anything she isn't proud of. Gabby also talks about her vision for the bakery: a welcoming neighborhood spot where customers are known by name, conversations happen naturally, and every visit feels personal. Whether you're a regular from her pop-up days, a bagel lover who's picked one up before, or just curious what an engineer-turned-baker is cooking up in Rocky Mount, this is a conversation about passion, precision, and community you won't want to miss.

  3. Aug 25

    Dr. Jason Miller - North Carolina State University

    The First Dream Comes Home On Friday, August 28th at 7:30 PM, the Rocky Mount Mills Power House becomes hallowed ground for a historic homecoming—one that will echo across six decades and reconnect our city with its place in civil rights history. North Carolina State University's Dr. Jason Miller brings his documentary about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to the very community where it all began. Because here's what most Americans don't know: the "I Have a Dream" speech that shook the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, was first spoken nine months earlier in the gymnasium of Booker T. Washington High School right here in Rocky Mount. On November 27, 1962, Dr. King stood in our city and dreamed out loud for the first time. Dr. Miller discovered the original reel-to-reel recording of that speech gathering dust in the Braswell Memorial Library in 2013—a 1.5-millimeter acetate tape that rewrote history and proved Rocky Mount's role in birthing one of America's most iconic moments. You can learn more about Dr. Miller's discovery and the story behind the recording here: https://www.pbs.org/video/origin-of-the-dream-lyntp3/ This screening isn't just a documentary showing. It's a reunion. Two people who were actually present in that high school gym in 1962—the same students who heard Dr. King speak "I have a dream" for the very first time—will be in the audience. Living witnesses to the moment before the March on Washington, the moment when Rocky Mount made history. Come out for an evening of remembrance, reflection, and reverence to celebrate that night in 1962. This is more than a screening. It's Rocky Mount remembering its place in Dr. King's dream. Friday, August 28th • 7:30 PM • Rocky Mount Mills Power House Featuring Dr. Jason Miller (NC State University) and two original witnesses to King's First Dream

  4. Aug 18

    David Ess - Pate, Horton, & Ess

    David Ess, partner at Pate, Horton & Ess, isn't your typical Twin Counties professional. In this episode of TC Spotlight, David shares the story of his 3,800-mile cross-country bike ride — completed in just 54 days — half of which he completed alone.We dig into what it takes to ride solo across America, the mental shift between partnership and self-reliance, and the spiritual elements of solitude on the road.Join us for a conversation about endurance, independence, and knowing when to keep pedaling.

  5. Aug 11

    Pam Gould - STEP

    Pam Gould is a lifelong resident of the Twin Counties with over 30 years in education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Old Dominion University and a Master of Arts in Education from East Carolina University. Her career spans Edgecombe County Public Schools, Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools, Edgecombe Community College, and Nash Community College — starting as a middle school teacher and coach, then moving into roles as a counselor, Crisis Intervention Specialist, Educational Consultant, and Director of the Redirections Day Treatment Program. She's presented at state and national conferences and delivered professional development to hundreds of local educators. In this episode, we talk with Pam about her path from the classroom to running one of eastern North Carolina's most impactful workforce development organizations as Executive Director of S.T.E.P. — the Strategic Twin Counties Education Partnership. We dig into STEP's mission: connecting students in Nash and Edgecombe counties to real local careers, shattering the myth that "there are no good jobs here," and making sure dual-enrolled high schoolers graduate with industry-recognized credentials in hand. We also preview STEP's upcoming Education & Business Leaders' Summit — a half-day AI Summit on Thursday, September 24, 2026 at Nash Community College in Rocky Mount (7:30 AM – 12:00 PM). Industry leaders, educators, and innovators come together to explore what artificial intelligence means for the workplace, the classroom, and the future of the Twin Counties economy.

  6. Aug 3

    Tonia Grimsley - American Heart Association

    In this episode of TC Spotlight, we sit down with Tonia Grimsley, MPH — Development Director for the American Heart Association in Eastern NC, adjunct professor of public health at NC Wesleyan University, and head cheerleading coach at NCWU. Tonia is a native of the Twin Counties — she was inducted into SouthWest Edgecombe High School's Athletics Hall of Fame, earned her MPH from NC Wesleyan while working full-time and coaching, and built a career at the intersection of public health, nonprofit fundraising, and community building. She lives in Edgecombe County, teaches the next generation of public health professionals, and has brought AHA CPR training directly into Rocky Mount housing communities. She's also served as emcee for Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce events — a visible, engaged voice across the region. We also talk about the upcoming Twin Counties Heart Walk this September — one of the region's flagship community health events that Tonia has helped lead for the past three years. We get into how AHA dollars actually reach Eastern North Carolina: the programming they run locally, the cardiovascular research they fund, and how a national organization translates into real impact in places like Nash and Edgecombe Counties. Tune in for our conversation with Tonia and to learn more about AHA's role in promoting public health in the Twin Counties!

  7. Jul 28

    Jeff Ellis - Ribeyes & Flo's Kitchen

    In this episode of TC Spotlight, we sit down with Jeff Ellis, the entrepreneur behind Ribeyes and Flo's — two of the Twin Counties' most recognizable restaurant brands with locations in both Wilson and Rocky Mount.We dig into the business side of food and beverage: what it takes to run successful restaurants in two different Twin County markets, how the food and beverage landscape is shifting right now, and what Jeff sees coming next for the industry. From supply chain pressures to changing consumer habits to how independent operators are competing in an increasingly crowded market — Jeff's got a front-row seat on all of it.And of course, we talk biscuits. Because no conversation with the owner of Flo's would be complete without getting into the art and science behind one of the most iconic items on the menu.

  8. Jul 21

    Dr. Alexis Brown Exum - Rocky Mount Children's Dentistry

    Dr. Alexis Brown Exum is a Rocky Mount native who came full circle — graduating from Northern Nash High School, earning her DDS at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry, and completing both her advanced education in general dentistry and pediatric dentistry residencies at ECU before returning home to open Rocky Mount Children's Dentistry. In this episode, Dr. Alexis talks about her journey from Yellow Jacket to board-certified pediatric dentist, why she chose to come back to Rocky Mount to serve the community that raised her, and how she's making dental visits something kids actually look forward to — Netflix ceilings, play areas, and a warm, relationship-first approach that puts anxious little patients (and their parents) at ease. We discuss preventative care, early intervention, building trust with families, her vision for school partnerships across Nash and Edgecombe counties, and what it means to be a young professional investing her career back into the Twin Counties. Rocky Mount Children's Dentistry — 901 N. Winstead Ave, Ste 360 | (252) 740-2100 | rockymountkids.com

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Our mission is to highlight the positive news and events taking place in Nash and Edgecombe counties. We shine the spotlight on those people doing interesting things in our community.

Information

  • Creator
    Twin County Media Group
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    176
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Twin County Media Group
  • Show Website
    TC Spotlight

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