Jim Heavner has been a writer, journalist, TV and radio announcer, and a self-described “accidental entrepreneur.” His Village Companies of Chapel Hill and VilCom, LLC, acquired or started media companies including radio stations and cable TV; regional and national publishing and marketing; and Tar Heel Sports Marketing, including its statewide play by play network, and all UNC-Chapel Hill sports media.

He started when in high school as an announcer at WKMT, Kings Mountain, his hometown radio station. He brought that experience as a student at UNC-Chapel Hill immediately to WUNC-FM, then WCHL Radio, WTVD Durham and WRAL-TV Raleigh.

His company growth sprang from his management of WCHL that led to acquiring ownership of it. Although his company was national, as was his leadership in trade associations, Jim was a diehard Chapel Hill local, deeply involved in local leadership. He is believed to be the only person in the NC Broadcasting Hall of Fame, the NC Journalism and Mass Media Hall of Fame and the Chapel Hill Carrboro Business Hall of Fame.