Peoples Bank has promoted Rafael Intriago to senior vice president and area executive, focusing on expanding the bank's presence in South Carolina. Intriago will oversee commercial banking relationships, real estate, industrial financing, loan and deposit growth, and market development. He joined Peoples Bank in 2009, previously leading efforts in metropolitan markets and the Ballantyne area, successfully enhancing the bank's commercial presence in Charlotte, Raleigh, and other North Carolina locales. CEO Bill Cable remarked that Intriago's understanding of the Carolinas' opportunities positions him well for this leadership role.
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Intriago has previously served as a board member for the United Way of North Carolina and was named Businessman of the Year in Charlotte in 2014.
In related news, Water Babies has begun offering swimming and water safety lessons in South Charlotte. Classes launched in June at the Wingate by Wyndham Matthews pool, available for children from birth through early childhood. Franchisee Kayla Mason expressed excitement about supporting local families in creating special memories while ensuring children gain essential water safety skills. The company also offers a program called Swimvincible for kids aged 4 and older, focusing on skill development and independence.
In the latest NC IDEA SEED grant competition, three Charlotte startups—Brokerteq Tech, Scenergy, and TheoryNXT—have been selected as semifinalists from a pool of 195 applicants. These companies are invited to submit full proposals for a chance to receive $50,000 grants aimed at helping early-stage companies validate markets and grow. Grant recipients will be announced on November 12 during the NC IDEA Ecosystem Summit in Wrightsville Beach.
Movement Mortgage has appointed Tina Kosur as vice president of mortgage technology. Kosur will manage the technology roadmap for the company's mortgage and lending systems. With over 20 years of experience in the field, she previously worked at Blue Sage Solutions. COO Lyra Waggoner highlighted Kosur's understanding of the business as critical for enhancing operational efficiency.
In an innovation stride, Cirba Solutions and General Motors have completed a pilot program that utilized materials from decommissioned GM electric vehicle batteries to manufacture new battery cells. These materials, processed at Cirba's Ohio facility, were refined into recycled cathode active material for the new cells, later assembled into battery packs for vehicles starting production in September.
The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts has been named a finalist for the 2026 NC TECH Award in Public Sector Innovation for its Case Statistics Dashboard, which provides public access to North Carolina court data. This marks the third consecutive year NCAOC has been recognized, following individual awards given to Chief Justice Paul Newby and CIO Anthony Whitmore in 2025.
Lastly, for its 60th anniversary, Carolina Handling has launched its first Connected TV advertising campaign promoting expanded warehouse services. The commercial, titled "The Warehouse Playbook," began airing on September 25 and will run for 30 days across major Southeast streaming platforms, showcasing the company's automation and technology solutions.