Recapping the 10th Annual 4 Under 40 Awards

The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its 10th annual 4 Under 40 Awards ceremony, Wednesday, March 18th, at the Appalachian Theatre in Downtown Boone.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we hear from each of the 16 finalists, including reaction from each of the category winners as their names were called.

Mind Your Business is written and produced weekly by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. This podcast is made possible thanks to the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.

Catch the show each Thursday afternoon at 5PM on WATA (1450AM & 96.5FM) in Boone.

Transcript

SPEAKER_20 0:02

The next generation of leaders in the high country took center stage last week will recap the 10th annual 440 awards. From the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, this is Mind Your Business.

SPEAKER_19 0:19

Mind Your Business. Brought to you by Appalachian Commercial Real Estate, providing professional commercial real estate services. Visit Appalachian CRE.com.

SPEAKER_20 0:30

Hello and welcome into Mind Your Business. I'm David Jackson, President and CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. Thanks for joining us once again this week, whether through the airwaves of WATA and Boone or as a subscriber of the podcast version of this program made possible each week by our great friends at Appalachian Commercial Real Estate. If you are not a subscriber yet, no problem. Great day to do it. Just search for Mind Your Business wherever you get your podcast. You can gain access to full archives, occasional bonus content, extended episodes, and plenty more as we connect you with the business news that you can use from right here in the mountains of Western North Carolina. How have we reached the end of the last full week of March already? It just stopped snowing, right? Right? Maybe. Anyway, as we move toward real spring, life starts to get busy and events start happening in this community. Last week we helped get the party started with the 10th annual 4 Under 40 Awards held in front of over 200 people at the Appalachian Theater of the High Country in downtown Boone. Sixteen finalists, four honorees, one amazing night, and a glimpse into who's next in terms of community leadership. This week on Mind Your Business, we'll recap the event. We'll let you hear from each of the category finalists, and you'll hear the reaction from our category honorees as their names were called. As you listen, I hope you hear some of the common connections that link purpose and passion to the person across these four different professions. When we look for people that are willing to lead in a community context, we often see highly motivated individuals with a desire to impact something bigger than themselves. I trust you will hear a bit of that spirit from all sixteen of our honorees on this episode. Lots of folks to cover, so we're going to get right to it. You are listening to mind your business.

SPEAKER_19 2:34

Appalachian Commercial Real Estate provides professional commercial real estate services in the Boone area. They provide sales, leasing, consulting, and appraisal services to owners and users of commercial real estate. For more information, go to their website at Appalachian CRE.com.

SPEAKER_20 2:53

Welcome back to Mind Your Business. I'm David Jackson. Before we head under the bright lights of the 440 stage, let's shine a light on a great resource to help you on your journey toward your next award-winning business location. That's James Milner and Appalachian Commercial Real Estate. They solve simple and complex commercial real estate problems in and around the Boone area and beyond. Whether you own or lease commercial real estate, regardless of the property type, have an advocate on your side, along with the expertise and experience to assist you and your business. For more information, check them out on the web, AppalachianCRE.com. James Milner, the founder of the feast when it comes to four hundred forty. We thank him and Appalachian Commercial Real Estate for their continued commitment to this annual showcase and for their continued support of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. All right, four categories of honorees rising star, education professional, nonprofit professional, business owner. We're going to hear from them all a bit of the presenters' remarks and then the reaction of each of the honorees when their name was called. You'll hear some applause along with some off-the-cuff comments. I do believe that you'll agree that any of these sixteen ultimately could have been selected, and our community is a better place because of the efforts of this collective group. Let's meet the 2026 class of rising star finalists. Shirley Alexander has been a member of the team at Moonshine Brewing Company since October of 2020, starting as a tasting room assistant manager and leading her team through the uncertainty of COVID-era operations in the food and beverage industry. In just four years, she rose to the position of general manager of the tasting room, leading a team of more than 60 employees while working to establish a workplace culture that is felt throughout the entire business. A graduate of Emory University in Atlanta, Shirley is a consistent motivator, inviting her team to Shirley's School for intentional one-on-one sessions focused on life skills and personal growth. Speaking of growth, she has helped turn Boonshine into a fundraising machine, directing more than$370,000 in charitable contributions across the community. At the end of the day, Shirley sees her job as a community creator, whether it's casual conversation or a holiday gathering.

SPEAKER_15 5:15

I always say it like this: if I can get you to want to bring your family in while they're visiting, if I can get you to want to celebrate your birthday, if I can get you to want to hit the river and then come to Boonshine, then I did my job correctly, you know? And the added perk of making that statement and seeing my staff live it in real time is some of the best parts of my day. I always say that beer is the reason to have a conversation. You know, how many times have you called a friend and said, let's go grab a beer, I haven't seen you in two weeks. So when we do our holiday parties, we try we truly try to create a space where it's like, man, my family just got to town and this is how we want to kick off our Christmas vacation together, or how we want to uh kick off Thanksgiving together, is by coming here and, you know, shooting the breeze with each other.

SPEAKER_20 6:08

Ladies and gentlemen, Shirley Alexander. A native of Watauga County, Will Burrow brings a homegrown passion to his role as head winemaker at Grandfather Vineyard and Winery, blending science and hospitality to create exceptional experiences for all. Under his leadership, the winery has grown production from 4,000 to nearly 7,000 cases per year, earning accolades at competitions including NC Find Wines and the Mid-Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition. Will leads the decision-making process for wine production and supervises intense chemistry that sets Grandfather Vineyards' product apart from many others. He also leads a team of seller hands and orchestrates the daily tasks in both the front and back of the house. A proud product of the fermentation sciences program at App State, Beyond the Barrel, Will is a mentor within the industry and serves on the Boone ABC board, creating safe spaces where people connect over good wine and conversation.

SPEAKER_17 7:06

The most rewarding aspect of my career is definitely the people in the community. The people that come out, the people that I meet, uh, the people that you just share what I do with. Uh again, I think that wine and most of like the food and beverage industry really is centered around community and being with people and sharing a meal and just kind of getting to know each other, like tearing down those barriers between us uh that are all weirdly kind of intangible. Uh and I feel like it's always nice to be able to like peel everything back and just get to know people uh in a fully welcoming and safe environment. Not even just like friends that we have up here, uh, but also we have a wine club when we do dinners, and sometimes when I'm saying there, I just get to know these people on a completely different level, it feels like.

SPEAKER_20 7:46

Ladies and gentlemen, Will Burrow. Kate Prisco has been shaping the recreational landscape of Beach Mountain since 2014, earning her certified parks and recreation professional credential in 2020, and growing the town's holiday market, farmers market, and annual events into beloved high country staples. As assistant director for parks and recreation, she has expanded fitness offerings, launched successful wellness programs, and brought a loyal following to nearly every corner of the town's programming. A graduate of nearby Tusculum University, Kate also serves as board chair for girls on the run of the high country and coordinates the organization's two annual 5Ks, while championing the growth of a program that serves over 3,500 high country girls in grades three through eight. A graduate of Leadership Avery in 2017, she keeps her toes in the chamber waters as finance director for the Beach Mountain Chamber of Commerce.

SPEAKER_22 8:41

Oh, the most rewarding aspect of my career is getting to meet everybody and being involved with my community and then making my community be involved with me. You know, I love to be outdoors. I love to do things, try new experiences. So fortunately, unfortunately, when you're my friend, you get to do all that too. If you want to go run a 5K, cool. You want to go crochet night? I'm in.

SPEAKER_20 9:04

Ladies and gentlemen, Kate Prisco. Dr. Kelly Whitely has spent the last eight years helping grow Mountaineer Dental and Sleep Center from a two-doctor practice to a four-doctor practice with a support team of more than 20 professionals, bringing the latest in dental technology and genuine commitment to exceptional patient care to the high country. She implemented annual retreats and holds meetings to help further education of the staff on current and trending topics in dentistry through her curriculum called Bite-Size Insights. She is the past president of the Tar Heel Dental Study Club, a local continuing education chapter for high country dentists. Kelly is the lead coordinator of Soldier Smiles, North Carolina, an annual Veterans Day event that has provided over$90,000 in free dental care to veterans in just three years, and has volunteered with the North Carolina Missions of Mercy Free Dental Clinic since 2008. Closer to home, she is a dedicated mentor for Western Youth Network and often leads fundraising drives for Hospitality House and the Watauga Humane Society. By strengthening the industry and honing her own skills within the dental practice, Kelly enjoys seeing how her work transforms the lives of others.

SPEAKER_07 10:16

People see your smile first before they see the rest of you. And when you have a smile that really impacts your confidence and makes you timid and mature, and being able to give you and help you achieve the smile that you've always dreamed of, that's just really rewarding for me to watch patients look in the mirror for the first time after we've, you know, fixed that chipped tooth or redone their whole smile because they've been, you know, saving for years to be able to do it and have the smile that they want. And then they look in the mirror and just to see that confidence move up from their mouth to their eyes and to the rest of them. You can even see a posture change. It's a really great experience to be a part of that and to be able to do that for somebody.

SPEAKER_20 10:56

Ladies and gentlemen, Dr. Kelly Whitely, Beach Mountain Resort presented this year's Rising Star Award. Here's Talia Freeman.

SPEAKER_11 11:04

So each of these nominees all have a different story and they certainly have a different leadership style. But what stood out to me is something very simple. They all want to be here. They want to be right here in the high country, in the Boone area. They want to grow their careers here, invest in their community, and be a part of watching it thrive. And that's what makes Will, Dr. Wiley, Shirley, and Kate such incredible nominees for this award. And now it is my honor to present the 440 Rising Star Award, Dr. Kelly Wiley.

SPEAKER_08 11:42

Thank you so much. It really is such an honor to be just included in this community of 16 people who are doing such meaningful and impactful work in our community. I didn't expect this, so this is a little off the cuff, and I apologize. I'm usually more prepared. If anyone knows me, you know that I do everything three times in advance first. But I was not anticipating this, so it really means a lot to me. I do want to thank my husband for always supporting anything that I want to do and being there, especially with our son, so that I can go out and do the things that I want to do when our baby can't come with us. Um to my family and all my friends, um, and especially uh Dr. Julia Snyder. She's the owner of the practice where I work, and she is one of the most supportive people when it comes to me doing any dentistry-related things that I want to do or bring into the office. Um, so I thank you so much for for that. And again, just thank you. I really appreciate this, and I'm really looking forward to getting to see everyone else. Good luck to everybody. Oh, and don't forget to floss.

SPEAKER_20 12:41

Up next, representing a community that knows a thing or two about how to teach and inspire others, let's meet our education professionals. Jackie Garner is a powerful presence inside ABState's Walker College of Business, serving as Associate Director of Employer Relations and Student Programming, where she plays an integral role in the Women of Walker program. A boon native with a passion for mentorship, Jackie's energy and organization puts students and community partners immediately at ease. A two-time graduate of ABSate, she serves on the Girls on the Run advisory board, participates in Western Youth Network Festival of Trees, and has completed both cohorts of the Wataga Leadership Institute. Jackie's work is focused on supporting students, and they provide her career inspiration.

SPEAKER_05 13:29

I think they have a lot more dedication and creativity and commitment than most people give them credit for.

SPEAKER_20 14:14

Bethany Gonzalez has spent over four years as associate director of the Student Veteran Resource Center at Appalachian State University, ensuring military-affiliated students have every resource, opportunity, and advocate they need to succeed. She manages VA benefit certifications, chairs the Military Affairs Committee, advises the Student Veteran Association, and has raised tens of thousands of dollars to support students' individual needs. A two-time graduate of App State, her alma mater's distinction as a military-friendly gold school is a reflection of Bethany's desire to provide a clear path and a helping hand to veterans as they arrive in the high country.

SPEAKER_23 14:54

So much of college success can depend on how students fit into their new college environment. Obviously, I work with student veterans, so making that transition out of the military into a college setting can be a lot and it's really challenging. The High Country has such an amazing sense of community and so many different things to get involved with that I just love watching students find what they're passionate about that helps them make that transition to civilian life and to student life. Um, whether it be something that we offer on campus, whether it be Student Veteran Association, whether it be working with the Hunger and Health Coalition. I like connecting students to those external opportunities that help them feel like their sense of purpose is renewed, especially once they separate from the military.

SPEAKER_20 15:46

Ladies and gentlemen, Bethany Gonzalez. Megan Laws shows up for young people twice a day, every day. First as a kindergarten teacher at Parkway School, where she sparks joy and curiosity in her students. And then as a Girls on the Run coach who has been a part of the program dating back to her own days as a participant. She is among the decorated alumni of App State's Wright College of Education, where she earned her undergraduate and master's degrees. Megan serves as secretary of the Girls on the Run of the High Country Board of Directors and was honored with the Lee Cooper Wallace Award by the organization in 2025, sharing a common interest in helping students find their inner strength with the award's namesake. Megan brings the excitement of learning to our youngest students every day in an energetic and empathetic style. Watching children discover their passions and abilities is among her daily affirmations as an educator.

SPEAKER_06 16:44

Definitely the most rewarding part about working with students is all the light bulb moments, both in the classroom, in kindergarten, and beyond. I continue to see them have light bulb moments and have passion and excitement about things throughout their whole KA experience. And I hopefully we'll follow them into high school and continue to see all the cool and amazing things that they're doing because they're all great students doing amazing things, and I think that's really cool. I also love seeing those light bulb moments outside of the classroom in our community on the ski slope, at their soccer games. They're just so passionate and excited at all the plays and performances they're in. It's really amazing just to see them get so excited.

SPEAKER_20 17:22

Ladies and gentlemen, Megan Laws, an instructional technology specialist for curriculum at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, Ashley Roberts has transformed the way courses are built and delivered, making online learning more seamless and accessible for faculty and students alike. She is equally as passionate about her own academic pursuits as she holds degrees from Arizona State, Southern New Hampshire, and is currently pursuing a PhD in education from Kaiser University. Ashley is a problem solver, helping streamline delivery of classes for instructors while keeping students organized and connected. As a member of the English Department faculty, she also works to ensure students build a solid foundation for their academic success.

SPEAKER_16 18:08

For me, the most rewarding aspect of working with a student would be watching them grow and find their place in our community, um, in school, watching them find their own identity. We had students who were really big into anime. They loved it, but now I'm we're talking about the single students who didn't really talk to anybody. And we held an anime event, and oh my, it had like, I mean, you know, they started meeting after school. Your place can be anything. It doesn't have to be like, you know, down to one area.

SPEAKER_20 18:37

Ladies and gentlemen, Ashley Roberts. Returning to present this year's award, 2017 Education Professional Honoree, Dr. Caleb Marsh.

SPEAKER_18 18:48

One of the things this award has helped showcase over the years is the sheer breadth of career paths available within our profession. We've seen honorees stay committed to the work, taking on new roles and greater responsibilities, and I expect tonight will be no exception. This year's class features a broad group of honorees, a kindergarten teacher and mentor for young girls across the region, three connectors on college campuses dedicated to enhancing the student experience. Each has a passion for connecting with individuals and helping them chart a course for success. Education is what we do in this county and across the region. Our honorees tonight reflect our place as an incubator for talent within the profession, and they are also a showcase of how dedicated professionals in any walk of life can have a meaningful impact on those that we serve. To our finalists, this recognition honors your impact today, but it's also a nod towards your potential for tomorrow. Try to enjoy the next 10 years because they go faster than you think. Please join me in celebration as I present this year's honoree for the 440 education professional. This year's winner is Jackie Garner.

SPEAKER_05 20:06

Thank you all. Appreciate it. Um first I want to thank the chamber for hosting this fantastic event. It does feel really nice to even be nominated for an event like this, um, but just to be acknowledged for the work that we're doing in our community. Um goodness, okay. Let me take a breath. Uh this is just amazing. Um, second, I want to thank my husband, David Garner. Thank you so much for your support. Um, if you don't know me, then you won't know that I have three very young children. I have a six-year-old, a three-year-old, and an eight-month old. And David is fantastic about stepping up to do dinner, bedtime, bathtime, all that fun stuff when I have to work late or travel for work. Um, he's been a huge supporter of my career. So I really appreciate that. Um, but I also get to work with a fantastic team in business career services. Um, Amy Odom is our director, and she has been so supportive, the best boss I could ever ask for. A lot of my team is here tonight. So thank you, Abby and Annie and Michelle, for coming out and supporting me in that way. Um, just feel so grateful to get to be a part of this community. And um, I've been working on campus for 12 years now and love the university, love app state, but also love Boone. I was born and raised here. So I'm just thankful to get to continue to develop and be part of this community. So thank you all so much.

SPEAKER_20 21:29

We'll take a break and continue our four under 40 recap right after this. You are listening to mind your business.

SPEAKER_19 21:35

Appalachian Commercial Real Estate provides professional commercial real estate services in the Boone area. They provide sales, leasing, consulting, and appraisal services to owners and users of commercial real estate. For more information, go to their website at Appalachian CRE.com.

SPEAKER_20 21:52

Welcome back to Mind Your Business. I'm David Jackson. We continue our recap edition of the tenth annual 440 awards as we hear from Our nonprofit professionals. In 2013, John Cavany started a seasonal job at Grandfather Mountain that blossomed into a career of environmental leadership. Now Vice President of Conservation and Education for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, he oversees outreach and programming that connects citizens to the habitats and events that make Grandfather Mountain a unique destination for the environmentally curious, no matter their age. John has taken the lead on the Yanny's Clubhouse Project, set to open this spring, which will further connect young learners to conservation education. He was instrumental in the creation of Grandfather Glows, an event that brings the mountain to life under dark summer skies, providing another captivating experience at one of North Carolina's premier attractions. John is an abstate recreation management graduate and has postgrad degrees from Oregon State University. A mountain search and rescue responder, certified hunter education instructor, and a leader in regional collaboration, he is one of the lucky ones to have found mission alignment between his work and his passions.

SPEAKER_01 23:08

My organization's mission and values align directly with what my personal mission and values are. The philosophy that Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation has on conservation and education and getting people involved and connecting with the natural resources that we have is exactly the things that I'm most passionate about. I firmly believe that people aren't going to appreciate things that they don't know about or that they don't care about. And so, you know, we see on average just under 300,000 visitors a year. We have an opportunity to connect with a lot of people and plant a seed in them that hopefully they're going to become heroes for conservation at some point. Ladies and gentlemen, John Cavany.

SPEAKER_20 23:53

A little food can go a long way toward building community. And Shane Hillman has led by example in his four years as program director at Farm Cafe. His role allows him to help create delicious meals that are mostly sourced from local farmers and growers, while he also feeds the soul of the high country through volunteer coordination and programming that makes Farm Cafe one of the most admired businesses of its kind in the entire country. A graduate of SUNY Oswego, Shane came to Boone to work for WideaWater and also created his own small business. He brings that entrepreneurial spirit to his work today by connecting Farm Cafe to local markets, using digital technology to enhance the customer experience. And he is a lead organizer for the annual small plate fundraiser. He continues to find community through volunteering with other nonprofit efforts as well, working with Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, Hunger and Health Coalition, and the High Country Young Professionals, promoting the ideas of food security and local sourcing of food to leaders throughout the community.

SPEAKER_02 24:58

Serving food for people with a smile, you know, maybe changing their day by just talking to them as I'm making their plate. Once the staff found out that I could cook and I had leadership experience, you know, they were so happy to put that to work too. And it was really, really clear for me because I remember that feeling, you know, 10 years ago of just that, wow, I feel like I do belong here. I don't even know these people and they're making me feel like I belong. And now I get to like create that feeling for so many people in Boone every day. Um, you know, people that don't have another place to go or they don't have a community, and Farm Cafe is able to offer that to them.

SPEAKER_20 25:33

Ladies and gentlemen, Shane Hillman. Just a few years into his professional career, Miles Stacey has become a lead voice and advocate for issues related to the aging population. Serving as a family caregiver and support specialist for the High Country Area Agency on Aging, he works within a seven-county territory to strengthen the region's caregiving infrastructure and help older adults age with dignity in their homes. Annually, Miles supports over 50 caregivers throughout the region with individualized assistance, education, and coordination of services. He's enhanced funding for programs as well, raising over$50,000 that directly supported caregivers and grandparents raising grandchildren. His programs cater to over 100 active participants engaged in educational programs and events designed to reduce caregiver isolation, build skills, and improve quality of life for both caregivers and those they support. Miles' experience has helped him see new opportunities for support and education. He expanded his dementia caregivers and friends program. He remains active as a volunteer with OASIS, and he travels routinely to lend his voice to advocacy efforts in Raleigh and Washington. Just this year, Miles completed the Homegrown Leaders Program, offered by the North Carolina Rural Center. With multiple degrees, including a Master of Social Work from AP State, Miles brings personal experience as a caregiver to his profession in a manner that will impact generations to come.

SPEAKER_12 27:03

Well, I was inspired because not only am I, you know, invested in this community, I'm planning on putting roots down here. You know, I'm looking, we're looking at houses, me and my family, and we are all aging. That's one universal thing that ties us all together. And what we put in place now is what we may benefit from when we reach a certain age. Um, so we really need to invest in our older adult population because that's also investing in us.

SPEAKER_20 27:30

Ladies and gentlemen, Miles Stacy. Willard Watson III lends his voice to the history and traditions that rest at the center of the high country arts community. Working as the program and outreach director at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, he creates exhibitions and recurring programs that tie the history of the region into engaging discussions around what is on view at the museum. Willard recently organized an exhibition called The Cardboard History of Blue Ridge Music, which highlighted the importance of bluegrass music in the United States. In 2024, his work with Capasa Appalachia helped inspire a special exhibition, A Tapestry of Our Roots, highlighting the importance of immigrant culture in our community. His roots have sprouted toward other areas of the high country as well. He serves on the Farm Cafe Board of Directors and teaches a course on the influence of Doc Watson's music at Appalachian State.

SPEAKER_14 28:25

The arts are important. You know, man cannot live off of bread alone. These are the things that feed the soul. I believe in the holistic power of art to heal, to honor traditions, and to build community. I see it every day at the museum when we have ages from 2 to 92 coming through the museum, getting arts experiences. I've seen it through our expressive arts therapy workshops that we did following Hurricane Helene and will continue to do. I've seen it at music festivals. I mean, look at Boonerang. 20,000 people come here and they celebrate the um the music of this region. They support the local businesses, right? Like that's what it's all about. And they're building community and fellowship. That pays forward. Those relationships that you build in during those fun times, they help you out in the not-so-fun times. Ladies and gentlemen, Willard Watson.

SPEAKER_20 29:20

Carolina West Wireless presented this year's nonprofit award, and to do the honors for them, our inaugural nonprofit honoree, Western Youth Network's Jennifer Warren.

SPEAKER_00 29:31

You know, it can be intimidating to have the spotlight on you. Um you can start to wrestle with feelings of insecurity or feeling like, well, this award doesn't belong to me. There's so many other people who supported my development. Um, but really it is a confidence builder. And so that's what I tried to lean into tonight is um this feeling. Uh like some of you may have heard um uh former President Barack Obama trains a lot of future leaders, and he told them, Do not let anyone make you think that you do not belong in this room. So he said, you know, often we will look around and think somebody has more money, somebody has more um prestige, somebody else has a bigger better reason for being in that room. But he said, you know, really what it comes down to is they've just had more exposures and more opportunity to build confidence to feel like they belong in those spaces. So I just want to thank David in the chamber so much for elevating all of the leaders and you know, the nonprofit leaders right alongside the business leaders to help us build confidence and to know that we belong in these spaces and that we really make the high country a better place that we all enjoy living and working in. Um and I just want to say the connectedness to people seems to be a common thread among all of tonight's nominees. John impacts young learners while Miles works to make life more manageable for our aging population. Shane serves mules in a way that connects the market path for local farmers, and Willard creates opportunities for local artists to tell their stories and have their work shown. Nonprofits are often designed to help people, and our honorees represent that and so much more. Now it's my privilege to recognize this year's honoree for the 440 nonprofit professional category, and the winner is Miles Stacy.

SPEAKER_12 31:19

Okay, I generally was not expecting this. You know, I have so many people here tonight supporting me. I have my colleagues from the Council of Governments, I have some of my best friends here in the audience. Um, most importantly, I have my husband and my mom here in the audience supporting me tonight. So I just want to give them thanks. And you know, I don't get this opportunity often, so um, I'm gonna talk to you guys a little bit about caregivers and caregiving in this country. So one in four US adults are caregivers for someone, whether that be a grandchild, a spouse, a parent, someone in that sandwich generation who also has young kids and is caring for a parent. And they deserve community support. They deserve options in their community so that they can keep their loved one at home. They're not only saving our rural hospitals millions of dollars a year by providing medical care, but most importantly, they're keeping that older adult in our communities where they belong. So I just want everyone a round of applause for our caregivers. I think that's it. Thank you, everyone.

SPEAKER_20 32:28

We wrap our recap with the entrepreneurs as we recognize our business professionals. Armed with over 15 years of experience and a genuine passion for helping others succeed, Laura Edmonds launched Help Well Co in 2025 to give local business leaders high-level flexible support without the overhead of additional staff. From project coordination and strategic planning to marketing and HR, Laura steps in as a trusted partner so business owners can get back to doing what they love. Before striking out on her own, this Virginia Tech graduate honed her skills in marketing at Samaritan's Perth and served as marketing and HR coordinator at 444. Beyond the office, Laura has been an active volunteer across many Helene recovery efforts. After spending her career working for others, Laura has deep insight for those that are considering taking the leap toward business ownership.

SPEAKER_04 33:20

Like just go for it. But find someone in your life that is encouraging, that understands you, and that sees you and share your idea with them. Because you need that cheerleader, that safe space, that person uh that can be there for you, you know, as you go about setting up your business and launching it and all of that. And then two, I think it's really important to celebrate the wins, not just the big ones. Like I think it's also important to celebrate the little stuff, you know, that as you go about your day. Um, it's hard work being a business owner. So making sure that you make time to celebrate, I think is really important. And the last one I'll say is you have to learn how to delegate. You can't do everything on your own. You'll find that out real fast as a business owner, and you'll hit that cap, and you have to learn how to delegate and how to delegate effectively.

SPEAKER_20 34:08

Ladies and gentlemen, Laura Edmonds. Trevor Moody has been shaking up the boon bar scene since long before he owned his own place. Starting as a line cook, working his way into management, and then taking the keys as owner of Lily's Snack Bar in April of 2024. Serving as the poster child for the value of trust within the service industry, today Trevor leads with that same example, providing an inclusive atmosphere for customers and employees that offers a safe space and a great time for all involved. His experience in starting at the ground floor of his own business helps him maintain perspective as he strives to pay staff a living wage, connects his business to community events and causes, prioritizes leadership from within, and cherishes the opportunity to mentor the next generation of business owners in this demanding line of work.

SPEAKER_13 35:02

Part of it is always you're never quite ready for that big thing. You have to step into it and then you make that, you make the ready happen. Chris, Scott, Charlie, and Seth, some of those guys over at the Cardinal as well, uh, and they were just so amazing while I was their employee in developing me and giving me opportunities to learn and continuing to be mentors as as uh the transition happened and I've taken over the business. And then some really wonderful folks, you know, at Western Youth Network and um at Oasis and other and other spots like that. Mentorship is just so important. Finding those people in the field that you want to do business in that are running businesses that you admire, those people are more often than not really willing to share their time uh and share their knowledge, and it's invaluable.

SPEAKER_20 35:46

Ladies and gentlemen, Trevor Moody. Garrett Norris took a family legacy to the next step as he built Norris Plumbing Company from the ground up, channeling a lifetime of hands-on experience and an instinct for leading with integrity. He runs the business with the same reliability and consistency he brings to everything he takes on, with genuine pride for each job, while striving to build trustworthy relationships with every client he serves. With a background in emergency response and law enforcement, Garrett also serves as a volunteer deputy chief of Wataga Rescue. He's a paramedic instructor and has been active in many disaster relief projects. The transition of jumping into the family business has been made easier by relying on the trust and dedication to tasks that have been core traits of his own professional journey.

SPEAKER_21 36:38

The trust is your real currency, and once that's damaged, it's going to be hard to earn back. Or I started plumbing uh throughout high school. Um 2004 was when I was a freshman, and my dad started, you know, he took me on jobs for years. But uh during the summers of high school, I actually worked for him, and then after high school from 2008 to 2012, and then most recently I got back in the game about March of 2023, so three years of now after I left law enforcement. And uh my dad had retired, he had closed his business down, and I said, Well, this is a perfect opportunity to build off of that. Um, the 40-50 years of plumbing that he provided to this area. Um, so now this gives me the opportunity to build off of his reputation, which is you know well known in the community.

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Ladies and gentlemen, Garrett Norris. Tiffany Weigsen co-founded Wonder Pelvic Therapy and Wellness to bring specialized pelvic health care to people of all walks of life, breaking down stigma and making expert care feel accessible. She has combined clinical excellence, entrepreneurship, and community leadership in a way that's delivered a measurable impact on Boone and the surrounding high country in a very short period of time. In just two years, the practice was recognized as Watauga County Startup Business of the Year. Tiffany and her team have built a trusted local resource while consistently reinvesting time, energy, and financial support back into the community through free education, nonprofit sponsorships, and collaborative programming. Her leadership extends beyond business ownership, demonstrating a long-term commitment to both economic growth and community well-being by working to improve quality of life for individuals and families across the high country. Tiffany is a regular at events, especially those that get people moving, like Mammy Walks, Runs for Buns, Hunger and Health Coalition's annual turkey trot, and girls on the run events throughout the region.

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I think of my business as my baby. So if you're having a baby or raising a child, you have to have a village around you. And so that's super important to have like my business partner, my husband, my family, they're all very supportive. The chamber has been extremely helpful in us surviving the hurricane and um keeping us going through a lot of that. So that's huge, like really having those people around you to help support you. Um, and then I mean, I'm super passionate about what I do. I will do kind of anything to help make sure that people know that there's help out there for their, you know, very intimate needs.

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Ladies and gentlemen, Tiffany Weitzen. KidCove presented this year's award, and no better person to do that than owner and past 4 under 40 honoree, Haley Hartley.

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Behind every successful business is a long list of things that didn't go as planned. A few lessons learned the hard way, and at least one. This seemed like a good idea at the time moment. The individuals we honor tonight have navigated all of that and more. Through their hard work, innovation, and commitment, these honorees are not only building successful businesses, they remind us that the strength of the place we call home comes from the people who choose to invest in their ideas, use their energy, and chase their dreams. And perhaps most importantly, they remind us that success isn't just built in the spotlight, it's built in the early mornings, the late nights, and all the behind-the-scenes moments no one else sees, but every business owner understands. The winner of the 2026 business owner 440 is Tiffany Watson.

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Standing on the stage tonight is something I could have never imagined. And if you had told me a few years ago I'd be accepting a business owner award, I would have laughed and said, You've got the wrong girl. Seven years ago, almost to the day, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I remember going home and immediately starting to plan how to make my house wheelchair accessible. In that moment, I started saying no to life, trying to avoid anything that might trigger a flare-up or make my symptoms worse. My world became very small. And the life I had imagined for myself, one where I was making a difference, felt like it had disappeared. But over time, with the support of an incredible team around me and learning to trust my body again, I slowly began to say yes to life. And when I did, the doors started opening. Launching my business was never a part of the original plan. But today I feel incredibly grateful to walk through the doors of Wonder Pelvic Therapy and Wellness, knowing that we help people every day regain trust in their bodies and help them return to the lives they want to live. This kind of work is only possible because of all the people around me. Um and I want to take this moment to thank my incredible business partner, Aaron, my wonderful team, the Wonder Women, my fabulous husband, Branch, and my family, and this incredible community that has supported us from the beginning. Um and if my journey has taught me anything, it's that sometimes the doors we're most afraid to walk through are the ones that lead us exactly where we're meant to be. Thank you.

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Congratulations to each of our honorees. You can watch the full recap of the program at our Boon Chamber YouTube channel and view more elements from the evening on our recap page at Boonchamber.com. You are listening to mind your business.

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Are you a young professional looking to expand your network? The High Country Young Professionals, affectionately dubbed the High Country YoPros, is a dedicated group of 200 plus professional young adults under the age of 40 serving in various industries across the high country. Join us for a casual networking event on the first Tuesday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m. As we visit locations across the high country. Events are free of charge. However, donations are appreciated. Not a chamber member? That's okay. No membership needed to join us. You just have to be under 40. Learn more about High Country YoPros at Boonechamber.com slash HCYP.

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Mind your business. Brought to you by Appalachian Commercial Real Estate, offering sales, leasing, consulting, and appraisal services. Visit Appalachian CRE.com.

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The Chamber team is on the move this week. Wednesday, we were honored to attend the Family Forward NC Summit hosted by the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation down in High Point. Businesses, human resources experts, and other leaders from across the state were in attendance to hear more about family-friendly workplaces and HR practices that promote retention of staff while also helping people care not only for their young children, but we've talked a lot about policy related to elder care as well. Perhaps a nod to what Miles Stacy shared earlier. We look forward to sharing more of those details in the next few weeks. The remainder of the week, the chamber staff will represent our area at the North Carolina Rural Summit, hosted by the North Carolina Rural Center. Hundreds of colleagues from communities, agencies, and businesses across North Carolina's more than 80 rural counties will continue. To hear more about the future of infrastructure throughout the state that will support our entire state for decades to come. More on this event next week on this program. Back to wrap things up after this, you are listening to Mind Your Business. We are back to shut the door on another Mind Your Business, and speaking of convenings, the chamber is excited to announce the opening of registration for our annual Vision Northwest North Carolina Summit, which will be held May 21st at the Watauga campus of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. This year's focus, transportation, its impacts, and future as we consider how to move people around Northwest North Carolina and beyond. More details can be found at Boonechamber.com. That does it for this episode of Mind Your Business, this program written and produced each week by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. Thanks to WATA for putting us on the airwaves each week. If you're not a subscriber to the podcast, do it now. Just search Mind Your Business wherever you get your podcast. You can visit us online anytime at Boonechamber.com. Until next week, so long, everybody.