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Wachovia short-timer CEO Bob Steel is a significant investor in the group making a movie about a racist N.C. slaying in 1970. The investment in BDSMN LLC is valued at between $1 million and $5 million, according to Steel's last financial disclosure to his old employer, the U.S. Treasury Department.
Steel left the post in July to turn around Wachovia, but the feds only recently signed off on the disclosure. His stock, bonds and other financial interests were valued at somewhere between tens of millions and more than $300 million. That's not counting joint holdings with his wife or the multiple trusts and accounts for their children.
As in 2007, he still owns Bordeaux wine futures, office buildings in Greensboro, Carolinas timberland and a stake valued at $5 million to $25 million in several private planes with NetJets. The movie investment is new.
Historian Tim Tyson wrote the memoir “Blood Done Sign My Name” about racist white shopkeepers in Oxford who murdered a fleeing black Vietnam veteran. The movie of the same name was directed by Jeb Stuart, a Gastonia native who co-wrote the screenplays for “Die Hard” and “The Fugitive.” Some scenes were filmed this year in Charlotte.
Raise a glass with Jeff Gordon
NASCAR Sprint Cup champ Jimmie Johnson isn't the only driver popping a cork these days.
While his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon didn't win this year's title, he'll crack open a few bottles Tuesday night at Blue, the swanky uptown restaurant hosting an exclusive dinner with wines from the Jeff Gordon Collection.
That's right. One of NASCAR's most successful drivers also dabbles in the vino. See for yourself: www.jeffgordonwines .com.
Gordon isn't the only NASCAR guy to go ga-ga over grapes. Race team owner Richard Childress has vineyards near Lexington, N.C. As for what food goes with Jeff Gordon Wines, at $115 a pop the six-course meal includes pan-seared black grouper, cocoa-dusted duck breast and roasted Colorado lamb rack.
How UNCC topped fundraising goal
The fundraising total for UNC Charlotte's Center for Real Estate was $1,100 shy of $4.4 million prior to the Monday evening party marking the campaign's end. But that wasn't good enough for campaign co-chairs Fred Klein, senior managing partner at Childress Klein Properties, and Todd Mansfield, chairman and CEO of Crosland LLC. They did a little more fund gathering at the reception to reach the round number, a handsome 10 percent over goal.
And one of the notable first-time donors was Wells Fargo. Last month, the San Fran bank won the battle to buy Wachovia. But the $50,000 donation, made in August, predates the dealmaking. Perhaps local Wells senior veep Randy Hughes is prescient. Hughes, claimed by UNC Charlotte as an alum, shepherded the donation.
Researchers study Charlotte
Three academics from George Washington University's Institute of Public Policy – Patricia Atkins, Nancy Augustine and Travis St. Clair – were in town last week as part of an 18-month, eight-city economic study. The researchers are examining metro areas that have suffered big manufacturing losses over the years and how they have coped.
By their projections, Charlotte has fared better than expectations, so they're trying to find out why. Of course, their original analysis came before the city got whacked by the banking downturn. The other cities under the microscope: Cleveland, Rochester (N.Y.), Grand Rapids (Mich.), Scranton (Pa.), Indianapolis, Louisville and Hartford.
Uptown Magazine coming
Charlotte is about to join the ranks of New York City, Washington, Atlanta and Chicago when Uptown Magazine, a luxury lifestyle publication for affluent African Americans, expands into this market starting with its February issue. The magazine was launched in 2004. It is published quarterly, but will move to six times a year as part of the expansion.
A launch party was scheduled for Wednesday night at Bentley's on 27 in Charlotte.
