NATALIE AND JONATHAN STEWART
In a city that loves its power players, Natalie (“Nat”) and Jonathan (“Stew”) Stewart occupy a category all their own. He’s the former Carolina Panthers running back, who is coaching middle school football at Charlotte Christian alongside fellow Panthers alums Greg Olsen and Luke Kuechly. She’s the creative force behind their media company, Charlotte Lately, which spotlights the people and places shaping the Queen City. Together, they’ve turned storytelling into a family business, while also keeping up with daughters, Kaia Grey, 8, and Nora Cole, 4. Whether they’re building their community platform or watching their girls put on a show in their living room, the Stewarts do it with heart, humor, and a whole lot of hometown pride.
WHERE TO FIND HER MOST DAYS: Her schedule swings between on-camera hosting to school pickup.
WHERE TO FIND HIM MOST DAYS: When he’s not co-hosting their reality-style series, “Lately with Natalie & Jonathan Stewart,” he’s on the golf course or practicing his golf swing at home.
WHO MADE THE FIRST MOVE?
Natalie on Jonathan: “Stew,” Natalie says. “We first met in 2008 when a mutual friend tried to set us up. Life happened, and it wasn’t until 2015 that we reconnected—just as friends. One night after a Panthers game, we went out with a group to celebrate. At the end of the night, Stew walked me out, we hugged, and said something like, ‘Well, it was good bumping into you.’ I got into my Uber. And then he came back out. He yelled, ‘Nat!’ I turned around, thinking I’d forgotten something. Instead, he said, ‘I know God put you back in my life for a reason.’”
Jonathan on Natalie: “I’ll add that she was kind enough to hold my plate of chicken wings while I was trying to eat standing up that night after the game.”
iF YOUR RELATIONSHIP HAD A THEME SONG, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
“Firm Foundation (He Won’t)” by Maverick City. “Our marriage is rooted in our faith, and that foundation is what we’ve worked hard to build,” Natalie says. “When everything stems from that truth, we are truly aligned. It’s in our weaknesses, our commitment to doing the work marriage requires and our willingness to grow that real strength is formed. That’s what we believe truly makes us—or anyone—a powerful couple.”
WHO IS THE CEO OF THE RELATIONSHIP? WHO IS THE HEAD OF HR?
“I’d say Stew is definitely the leader of our family, but we share a lot of the roles that come with being the CEO and head of HR,” Natalie says. “Life is busy, and we’ve learned the hard way what happens when we’re overextended, so we’re intentional about saying no more than we used to. Doing that takes a lot of mutual decision-making—being on the same page, agreeing on the choices we make and praying through decisions together before moving forward.”
WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU CURRENTLY BINGEING?
“We’re bingeing football and rewatching old ‘Dancing With the Stars’ with the girls,” Natalie says, “though the real show is them in costumes performing in the living room.”
WHO IS A BETTER GIFT-GIVER?
“We don’t really do traditional gifts anymore,” Natalie says. “Neither of us is a big gift person—we’d rather invest in experiences, memories, and trips together.”
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND AN UNSCHEDULED DAY IN CHARLOTTE?
“For us, spending time together looks like finding a spot like Good Food on Montford and going on the early side when there’s not a crowd yet,” Jonathan says. “Then heading home to chill, going on long drives and just being together. When the weather’s good, we’ll sneak in a tennis or golf outing, too.”
ERIN McDERMOTT WHITE AND BRYAN WHITE
Erin McDermott White built one of the city’s most beloved jewelry brands, while Bryan White keeps Charlotte’s skyline buzzing in his role as executive managing director at Jones Lang LaSalle. Between her color-forward designs—now carried by Nordstrom—and his commercial real estate world, they juggle big careers, community ties, and the everyday whirlwind of raising three young daughters (Coco, 11; Georgia, 9; and Gwynnie, 7). In true Queen City fashion, they make it all look easy—and genuinely fun.
WHERE TO FIND HER MOST DAYS: In the studio or happily at home with her family. “I’m trying to be more extroverted,” she says, “but if I’m being honest, I really love being home.”
WHERE TO FIND HIM MOST DAYS: When he’s not working, you can almost always find him with one child tethered to him at a sports game, cheering loudly on the sidelines.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION OF EACH OTHER?
Erin on Bryan: “I was a server at Mellow Mushroom in Charlottesville when Bryan came in and asked me on a date. A few weeks later, we finally went out, and I completely forgot I had to work later that night. Mid-date, I got a call, and he dropped me back at the restaurant. Around 11 p.m., I called to say I’d just gotten off work, but still had to fold boxes for the next day’s lunch shift. Twenty minutes later, he showed up with his entire football team (he was a linebacker on the UVA team). We folded every single box in the restaurant, then went back out on our date. My first impression was that he was respectful, a total team player and someone who really got me.”
Bryan on Erin: “Hardworking, intriguing, curious. Like someone I had never met before and wanted to know more about!”
IF YOUR RELATIONSHIP HAD A THEME SONG, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
“Still Crazy After All These Years” by Paul Simon. “It fits perfectly,” Erin says.
WHO IS THE CEO OF THE RELATIONSHIP? WHO IS THE HEAD OF HR?
“We truly share it all,” Erin says. “Between work, family and life, we operate as a team and don’t really have set roles. Team mentality all the way.”
WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU CURRENTLY BINGEING?
“Shark Tank.”
WHO IS MORE LIKELY TO LEAVE A HALF-FINISHED COFFEE SOMEWHERE IN THE HOUSE?
“Erin, without question,” Bryan says. “And usually the milk, too.”
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND AN UNSCHEDULED DAY IN CHARLOTTE?
Mornings often start with a bike ride: Erin on her beach cruiser, Bryan heading out for a longer road ride. Then they meet back up at Laurel Market for breakfast sandwiches. “Our kids are always on the move, so there’s often a sports game involved, but we also love hanging out on the Queens campus, finding whatever event is happening, and ending the night at Stagioni,” Erin says. “We’re lucky to have a great sitter, so a date night is always the perfect finish.”
NATHALIE AND CARLOS JORGE
Nathalie and Carlos Jorge are the husband-and-wife team behind Companion Health, a concierge medical practice that pairs high-tech medicine with personal coaching. Nathalie runs the business and guides clients through everything from nutrition to stress, while Carlos—a triple board-certified physician—handles the medical side with a holistic, root-cause mindset. Outside the office, they’re parents to two grown daughters, Leah and Sophie, and their King Charles Spaniel, Hermes. No matter how busy life gets, they keep one rule front and center: their marriage comes first, the business second.
WHERE TO FIND HER MOST DAYS: After a 7 a.m. run, she’s in the office she calls “Optimist Hall” as a nod to her general operating philosophy.
WHERE TO FIND HIM MOST DAYS: At Companion Health, taking care of clients and playing office DJ.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION OF EACH OTHER?
Nathalie on Carlos: “Carlos and I met as undergraduates at the University of Virginia. During my first year, a friend introduced me to Carlos and his then-sidekick, Rory. My first impression? Not stellar. They both had a ‘too cool for school’ vibe. I didn’t think about Carlos again until two years later, when we ended up in a Zen Buddhism class together.”
Carlos on Nathalie: “She was ‘too cool,’” he says. “Didn’t talk to me.”
WHO MADE THE FIRST MOVE?
“Carlos asked me to a Bahamas party at his fraternity, but I genuinely didn’t think it was a real date,” Nathalie says. "The first thing I saw was one of his fraternity brothers guzzling a pitcher of beer. A week or two later, he asked me to lunch at The Virginian, a Charlottesville icon, and then to dinner and jazz at Miller’s. That’s when things started to click.”
IF YOUR RELATIONSHIP HAD A THEME SONG, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together.” “It’s a reminder that good and bad days happen, and we always reconnect and are on the same page,” Carlos says.
WHO IS THE CEO OF THE RELATIONSHIP? WHO IS THE HEAD OF HR?
“Our 11-year-old dog, Hermes,” Nathalie says. “He runs the show and keeps the peace.”
DO YOU ROOT FOR THE SAME TEAM, OR ARE YOU A DIVIDED HOUSEHOLD?
“Nathalie is a huge Saints fan, so that’s an issue,” Carlos says. “For college, we’re on the same page—UVA and Chapel Hill.”
WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU CURRENTLY BINGEING?
“The Bear.”
WHO IS THE BETTER GIFT-GIVER?
“I think we both do a pretty good job,” Nathalie says. “This year, for Carlos’ birthday, I surprised him with Stephen Wilson’s artwork. And he surprised me with a necklace out of the blue this November after I leaned into a professional fear and came out the other side.”
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND AN UNSCHEDULED DAY IN CHARLOTTE?
Their ideal weekend morning starts with a run, followed by breakfast and the New York Times crossword puzzle. Nathalie loves to visit the Cotswold Farmers Market when it’s in season. “After that, I love putzing around the kitchen,” she says. “I adore cooking and trying new recipes when I have the time.”
JAMIE BROWN AND JEFF TONIDANDEL
Jamie Brown and Jeff Tonidandel don’t just open restaurants—they preserve a part of the city’s history. The spouses and business partners behind six beloved Charlotte restaurants, including Supperland, Ever Andalo, and Leluia Hall, have built their culinary empire in the bones of historic buildings. It’s a signature move that’s earned them national attention, a spot in the Michelin Guide and now their own TV show, Fork & Hammer. Between filming, managing packed dining rooms and raising three kids (Isabella, 16; Eli, 13; and Isaac, 10), the pair still manages to make it look effortless.
WHERE TO FIND HER MOST DAYS: After a morning workout, she makes the rounds at their restaurants until about 3 p.m., when she goes home to cook dinner and shuttle the kids to activities.
WHERE TO FIND HIM MOST DAYS: Playing tennis in the morning and bouncing from one restaurant to another the rest of the day. He’s usually home by 4 p.m. to work from home before dinner and carpools.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION OF EACH OTHER?
Jamie on Jeff: “He was so jovial and always lighthearted.”
Jeff on Jamie: “It was actually through the lens of her twin sister, Kerry.” (“He was good friends with her before he met me,” Jamie explains.)
IF YOUR RELATIONSHIP HAD A THEME SONG, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
“I’m Still Standing” by Elton John. “Life can be challenging in a lot of ways, but we keep going,” Jamie says. “Through business, difficulties in our personal lives, failures, coping with loss—all the things life brings—we keep getting up, we keep showing up for each other, and just as important, we keep showing up for ourselves.”
WHO IS THE CEO OF THE RELATIONSHIP? WHO IS THE HEAD OF HR?
“Jeff is the CEO, mostly because I don’t like to do taxes,” Jamie says.
“Jamie is the head of HR,” Jeff adds, “mostly because if there’s an injury or tears or a brawl, she’s the one to break it up or mend the situation.”
DO YOU ROOT FOR THE SAME TEAM, OR ARE YOU A DIVIDED HOUSEHOLD?
They’re a divided house. “I’m from Cleveland and continue to cheer on the rebuilding decade(s) of the Browns,” Jeff says. “Jamie is from Pittsburgh, and you can’t take the steel out of her blood.”
WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU CURRENTLY BINGEING?
“I love Nobody Wants This’ because it’s lighthearted and easy to watch,” Jamie says. “Jeff’s isn’t a TV person; he likes the podcast ‘The Rest is History.’”
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND AND UNSCHEDULED DAY IN CHARLOTTE?
They love a leisurely walk to breakfast, reading on the porch while the kids run around outside with their friends, and grilling out for dinner. “We just have one pan, one plate and simple seasonings like salt and pepper,” Jamie says. “It’s easy to make and easy to clean. We then move the hot embers to the fire pit and sit around the fire, with the sounds of kids playing some sort of hiding game all around the neighborhood.”
JENNY AND DAVE CALLAWAY
In a city full of high achievers, Dave and Jenny Callaway still manage to stand out. Dave, an emergency physician and nationally-recognized leader in disaster and crisis response, spends his days preparing communities for the moments they hope never come. Jenny, an emergency physician and wound care specialist, is also a two-time cancer survivor. Together, the pair balances demanding careers, a shared commitment to public health, and the messy magic of raising 12-year-old Ellie and 10-year-old Lily.
WHERE TO FIND HER MOST DAYS: Working at the Wound Care Clinic, caring for some of the most vulnerable people in our community, volunteering at their daughters’ school, or shuttling the kids around town for their activities.
WHERE TO FIND HIM MOST DAYS: At various offices working to solve complex problems that our community faces—climate change, disaster response, national security, social inequity—or caring for patients in the Emergency Department at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center (CMC Main).
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION OF EACH OTHER?
Jenny on Dave: “He walked into the resident education conference room on his interview day, and I thought, ‘Hm, I’ve never seen that cute guy before.’ After a couple of dates, I knew I was in trouble. Not only was he cute, but he was also super funny, thoughtful and had a huge heart.”
Dave on Jenny: “The first time I saw her, there was literally a glow around her. Everything else blurred, like an iPhone photo in portrait mode. Then I actually talked to her and knew she was the one—smart as a whip, fearless, funny, beautiful and full of life.”
WHO MADE THE FIRST MOVE?
“Over the past 20 years, the story has evolved, and I like Dave’s version the best,” Jenny says. “Witty one-liners, playing dominoes and enlisting a former bouncer to clear a room of people so we could dance alone. Though I did lock it down by grabbing his hand for the first time as we crossed (Boston’s) Beacon Street, heading to 4th of July fireworks a couple of weeks after we met. Sort of like a tornado meeting a hurricane.”
IF YOUR RELATIONSHIP HAD A THEME SONG, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
“The Story” by Brandi Carlile. “She is dope and the song rings true,” Dave says. “No matter the experience, it is empty without family and friends with whom to share.”
WHO IS THE CEO OF THE RELATIONSHIP? WHO IS THE HEAD OF HR?
“Not sure who is the CEO,” Dave says, “but Jenny is definitely the COO, CTO, CIO and head of HR.”
DO YOU ROOT FOR THE SAME TEAM, OR ARE YOU A DIVIDED HOUSEHOLD?
The whole family roots for Charlotte FC.
WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU CURRENTLY BINGEING?
“The Diplomat.”
WHO CONTROLS THE THERMOSTAT?
“Jenny,” Dave says, “You can’t take the Cuban out of Miami.”
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND AN UNSCHEDULED DAY IN CHARLOTTE?
“In the magical world where we might have an unscheduled day, first I would put the unicorns back into their candy cane stable,” Jenny says. “Then Dave would probably take our daughters on a secret mission in the tunnels below Charlotte, and then we would do a family trip to the Whitewater Center with whatever friends are around.”