The Best of LKN
Welcome to The Best of LKN podcast! Here you’ll find a collection of interviews with the owners of Lake Norman’s favorite businesses. Small business is the heart and soul of a community, and The Best of LKN is here to shine a spotlight on the small businesses that are making the biggest impact here in the Lake Norman region of North Carolina.In addition to featuring exceptional small business owners, we’ll also be interviewing the most influential professionals that serve the LKN community. From bankers and realtors, to teachers and coaches, we look forward to introducing you to the best Lake Norman has to offer!We hope you enjoy these episodes. Thank you for following The Best of LKN!
Episodes
386 episodes
388: Stephen Grotz - Architecture, Renovation & Timeless Design
Stephen Grotz, founder of Stephen Grotz Architecture PLLC, joins the podcast to talk about his path from Culpeper, Virginia to building a multi-state residential architecture firm. Stephen shares how his love of home design started early — sket...
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51:24
387: Alongside Families - Meet Meghan Macy & Mary Kay Portaro
In this episode, Jeff welcomes Meghan Macy, COO of Alongside Families, and Mary Kay Portaro, board member and former staff volunteer, to share the story behind this Charlotte-based nonprofit. Founded in 2017 by Emily Kemmann, Alongs...
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28:26
386: Real Massage LKN - Therapeutic Massage in Denver/Sherrills Ford
Cindy and Eric are the husband-and-wife team behind Real Massage LKN, a new therapeutic massage studio located at 5206 Slanting Bridge Road in the Denver/Sherrills Ford area of Lake Norman. Cindy brings over two decades o...
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41:51
385: Carol White - Impeccable Closets
Carol White's road to owning Impeccable Closets wound through a corporate PR career at GTE/Verizon, a stint as a stay-at-home mom, and seven years managing sales and training at a big box organization retailer — where she discovered a passion f...
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38:14
384: Sarah Conrad - Growth, Running & Women of Strength
Sarah Conrad, owner of Clean Eatz Lake Norman, returns to The Best of LKN podcast to share updates on the brand's expansion to five Charlotte-area locations — Cornelius, Mooresville, Charlotte, and Concord — and what's new on the menu, from tur...
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37:04
383: Executive Women of Lake Norman - with Joanie Baker and Kellie Grutko
Jeff sits down with Joanie Baker, President of Executive Women of Lake Norman, and Kellie Grutko, the organization's Director of Communications. Together they share the story of a group that's been connecting Lake Norman's women in business sin...
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26:21
382: Charlene Ferrell White, DVM - Homeward Vet
Jeff sits down with Charlene Ferrell White, a veterinarian with Homeward Vet, to discuss the growing demand for mobile, in-home veterinary care across Lake Norman and the greater Charlotte area. Charlene shares her path from Northern Virginia t...
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25:21
381: Logan Sandate - The Carolina Factory
Logan Sandate rejoins the podcast to share what's happened since her first appearance last summer. Girl Power Carolinas Flag Football launched its inaugural season in Mooresville with over 80 girls, wrapped up an eight-week fall run complete wi...
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29:49
380: Garrett Tichy - Seemingly Overzealous Ice Cream
Garrett joins The Best of LKN podcast to talk entrepreneurship, community, and how Seemingly Overzealous Ice Cream grew from a pandemic-era experiment into one of Charlotte’s most distinctive food brands. He shares his early days in SEO and age...
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1:01:09
379: Mackenzie Murphy - Eternal Elegance Salon (Cornelius, NC)
Meet Mackenzie Murphy of Eternal Elegance Salon in Cornelius, NC. Learn about her personalized salon experience, entrepreneurship journey, and upcoming Lake Norman events.In this episode, Jeff sits down with Mackenzie Murphy, ...
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23:44
378: Stephen Chuilli - Lagniappe Homes
There's something special about meeting a builder who actually lives next door to his clients — and means it when he says, "We build it like we own it."In this episode, Jeff sits down with Stephen Chuilli, founder of Lagniappe Homes, to ...
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45:15
377: Living in Lake Norman - Cayce Blackley on Community, Small Business & Local Impact
Some people grow an audience.Others grow a community.In this episode, Jeff sits down with Cayce Blackley—the creator behind the wildly popular Instagram account Living in Lake Norman—for a warm, honest, and genuinely fun conversation...
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28:44
376: Brooklyn South Pizzeria - A Lake Norman Staple
In this episode of The Best of LKN, Jeff sits down with Craig and Lucy, the owners behind Brooklyn South, one of Cornelius’ most beloved local restaurants and a longtime staple of the Lake Norman food scene.Craig and Lucy share ...
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42:09
375: Lake Norman Golf Club - Meet Gavin Arsenault and Kyle Cerminara
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Kyle Cerminara, owner of Lake Norman Golf Club, and Gavin Arsenault, the club’s general manager, for a wide-ranging conversation about the rebirth of one of Lake Norman’s most talked-about golf properties.
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42:30
374: Jen Campbell Boles - Lake Norman Luxury Travel Expo
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Jen Campbell Boles, founder of Explore More Travel Co., for a wide-ranging conversation about intentional travel, customization, and building a relationship-driven business. Based in the Lake N...
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35:23
373: Dr. Henry Wilson, MD - Lake Norman Plastic Surgery
In this episode of The Best of LKN, Jeff sits down with Dr. Henry Wilson, board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Lake Norman Plastic Surgery, to talk about his journey, his new practice, and why Lake Norman felt like the right ...
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30:52
372: Bill Godwin - Paper Skyscraper
Paper Skyscraper has been a Charlotte favorite for decades—and now it’s officially part of the Lake Norman community. In this episode, Jeff sits down with Bill Godwin, owner of Paper Skyscraper, to talk about the brand’s long history, its cult-...
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24:14
371: Cheryl Luckett - Dwell By Cheryl Interiors
I sat down with Cheryl Luckett, founder and principal designer of Dwell by Cheryl Interiors, for a much-needed round two—this time in person after a tech issue cut our first conversation short. Cheryl’s story is a masterclass in the kind of dis...
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48:35
370: Ryan Webber - The Power of Video Marketing
In this episode, Jeff finally sits down with Lake Norman marketer and serial entrepreneur Ryan Webber to talk about the real work behind great content—and why most small businesses are overcomplicating it. Ryan shares his journey fr...
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49:26
369: Matt Phillips - Next Horizon Homes of Lake Norman
In this episode of The Best of LKN Podcast, Jeff sits down with Matt Phillips, owner of Next Horizon Homes — one of Lake Norman’s most trusted renovation and custom-home builders. Matt shares his winding journey from Army...
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33:08
368: Matt Doyle - Guild Mortgage
In this episode, Jeff sits down with mortgage expert Matt Doyle of Guild Mortgage—a longtime Lake Norman local who grew up in Sherrills Ford and has watched the region transform over the past three decades. Matt shares his journey from studying...
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34:51
367: Adam Wilson - Co-Founder of Learn Music
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Adam Wilson, founder of Learn Music in Cornelius, to unpack the inspiring journey behind one of Lake Norman’s most beloved creative organizations. Adam shares how a childhood split between Charlotte and Sout...
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31:25
366: Ivan Besancon - Lake Norman Pickleball Club in Mooresville
In this episode of The Best of LKN Podcast, Jeff sits down with Ivan Besancon, Director of the brand-new Lake Norman Pickleball Club in Mooresville, to talk about the sport that’s sweeping the nation — and now thriving right here in Lake Nor...
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20:26