Carolina Panthers fans attending a game at Bank of America Stadium this season will notice some significant changes.

Part of a five-year, public-private financing agreement, the most recent renovations cost $47 million and centered on the lower-level concourse, the Silver Club level and the playing field.

“We want to give our fans every reason to come to the stadium. We know the younger generation watches sports differently. Of course, we want everyone in the bowl cheering on the Panthers during the course of play,” Scott Paul, the Panthers’ executive director of stadium operations, told the Charlotte Observer.

— Mike Trainor, S&A Communications

This month Birdsong Brewing Co. will become the first brewery in Charlotte to invest in solar paneling.

The brewery expects to generate 50 percent of its power needs by adding solar panels, owner Chris Goulet told Charlotte Business Journal. A 75-kilowatt system will be installed on the roof.

Although the project’s investment is a high price of $110,000, the solar panels will generate $315,000 worth of electricity over the next 25 years, saving the brewery around $30,000 per year.

Other North Carolina breweries have invested in solar energy, including Highland Brewing, New Belgium and Sierra Nevada.

Leah Brown, S&A Communications

The used-car industry enjoyed sales over $100 billion in 2016. Here are some good business lessons from the dealers.

1. Know your local market

Successful dealers know what models sell well in their market, who their competitors are, and what margins to expect.

2. Data is critical

Online platforms now track both the local wholesale and retail prices of used vehicles.

3. Collaborate with peers

Distant dealerships help each other out by selling and trading models that sell well in their market.

4. Maintain good vendor relationships

Dealers work with vendors for everything from signage and advertising to software.

Glenn Gillen, APR, S&A Communications

Brilliant Sole is a startup from Wilmington, North Carolina, that creates virtual reality gear in the form of footwear. Founder Jeff Guard saw the opportunity when he realized the difficulty in navigating through virtual reality spaces.

Brilliant Sole gear places motion sensors on the underside of a shoe insole that allow the user to control their movement with weight distribution while remaining stationary. The gear can be used standing up or sitting down.

Brilliant Sole recently won NC Tech Madness in Raleigh in April. Since the win, Guard and the company have gained popularity and consumer interest in the product.

Ty Myatt, S&A Communications

There’s plenty of readily accessible information guiding appropriate attire for job interviews, and most people have a good handle on that. But what about day-to-day at the office? And the tricky casual Fridays? What constitutes daily professional attire versus business casual?

Many offices have a business casual guideline for Fridays or every day, but what is too casual?

Whether you’ve been working in an office for years or you’re new to it, it’s 2017 and things have changed, including the vibe at the office and the composition of the workforce.

Ladies: check out my blog for some guidance.

Deneen Bloom, S&A Communications

Returning to work after having a child can be a challenging transition. Regardless of which state or federal workplace laws apply, employers should consider these best practices for welcoming back new mothers:

– Talk to expecting employees about how much leave they will take and whether they may need flexible work hours when they return.

– Consider increasing a new mother’s workload gradually instead of expecting her to return to work at full capacity.

– When possible, avoid scheduling meetings beyond normal work hours, especially without notice.

– Allow breaks for mothers to pump breast milk in a comfortable, private space – not a bathroom.

– Lisa McGlynn, Fisher Phillips

Indian technology firm Infosys plans to bring 2,000 jobs to Wake County with a $72,000 starting salary. Infosys will hire local software developers, analysts, architects and technology professionals. To get the full incentives package, Infosys must maintain at least 1,600 employees and keep the minimum average salary above $65,000.

Currently employing 1,138 people in NC, Infosys has over 200,000 employees worldwide. It will spend around $8.7 million in capital investments to receive its full benefits. The state estimates the project will produce more than $24 million in state revenue between now and 2029.

– Ty Myatt, S&A Communications

It’s no surprise Charlotte and Raleigh topped the national rankings for fastest job growth in 2016.

Using U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics data, Headlight Data studied and ranked the top 10 metropolitan areas by job growth in the past year. Charlotte tied with Salt Lake City for fourth place, and Raleigh tied with Riverside, California, for sixth place.

Charlotte’s job growth rate of 3.7% reached more than double the national average of 1.7%. Raleigh was right behind, with a 3.5% growth rate. The construction, hospitality and transportation industries had the highest uptick in employment growth.

– Deneen Bloom, S&A Communications

The City of Statesville is poised for significant economic growth after the announcement of a business park aimed at creating 3,400 jobs over the next decade. City officials envision that the 1,020-acre Larkin Regional Commerce Park will become a regional hub for advanced manufacturing and e-commerce.

Statesville Mayor Costi Kutteh, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis and U.S. Congressman Ted Budd were among the dignitaries present at the announcement.

“The size and scope of Larkin will not only drive economic growth locally… but will be a boost to the entire state of North Carolina,” said Tillis.

– Mike Trainor, S&A Communications

A new machine in the Walmart in Wake Forest is revolutionizing online order pickups. The Pickup Tower is a large octagonal machine that stores small packages ordered online and distributes them to customers in a vending-machine style after they scan their order barcode on their smartphone. It takes under one minute to use.

Once an order is placed by a customer, an employee scans the package into the machine for the customer to pick up. Walmart has four other machines located nationwide in Atlanta, Houston, Detroit and Bentonville. Walmart is hoping to compete with Amazon with this new technology.

– Ty Myatt, S&A Communications

Competition in business is inevitable, whether you are first to market with a new concept, product or service, or whether you are entering an existing playing field. What is optional, however, is your approach to it.

Competitive spirit, when harnessed properly, is a motivating force that can save us from complacency. But rather than direct it outwards, use it inwards to set clear objectives, targets and metrics. The best runners are not only trying to win the race, but also break their own record. Pushing yourself to peak performance is the best way to leave your competitors in the dust.

– Tara Rogers-Ellis, The Dubai 100