Mind Your Business - A Podcast Series produced by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce

The Boone Area and Blowing Rock Chambers of Commerce present the 2026 Watauga County Meet the Candidates Forum.

This episode features Len Hagaman, the incumbent Democratic candidate for Watauga County Sheriff.

Candidates for Watauga County Board of Education, Watauga County Board of Commissioners, and the North Carolina Senate and House of Representatives were featured as part of our in-person forum on Thursday, October 1st, at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country.

Candidates for Watauga County Clerk of Court, Watauga County Sheriff, and the US House of Representatives (NC-5) were interviewed individually by David Jackson, President/CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce.

Due to the nature of these individual interviews, candidates were not held to time constraints.

All archives for each race are available at boonechamber.com. 

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The Boone Area and Blowing Rock Chambers of Commerce present the 2026 Watauga County Meet the Candidates Forum.

This episode features Holly Fehl, the Democratic candidate for Watauga County Clerk of Court.

Candidates for Watauga County Board of Education, Watauga County Board of Commissioners, and the North Carolina Senate and House of Representatives were featured as part of our in-person forum on Thursday, October 1st, at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country.

Candidates for Watauga County Clerk of Court, Watauga County Sheriff, and the US House of Representatives (NC-5) were interviewed individually by David Jackson, President/CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce.

Due to the nature of these individual interviews, candidates were not held to time constraints.

All archives for each race are available at boonechamber.com. 

Support the show

The Boone Area and Blowing Rock Chambers of Commerce present the 2026 Watauga County Meet the Candidates Forum.

This episode features Charles Haynes, the incumbent Republican candidate for Watauga County Clerk of Court.

Candidates for Watauga County Board of Education, Watauga County Board of Commissioners, and the North Carolina Senate and House of Representatives were featured as part of our in-person forum on Thursday, October 1st, at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country.

Candidates for Watauga County Clerk of Court, Watauga County Sheriff, and the US House of Representatives (NC-5) were interviewed individually by David Jackson, President/CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce.

Due to the nature of these individual interviews, candidates were not held to time constraints.

All archives for each race are available at boonechamber.com. 

Support the show

It's been nearly two years since Hurricane Helene's impact was felt across Western North Carolina. 

In January 2025, Governor Josh Stein appointed a special Advisory Committee for Western North Carolina Recovery and established GROW NC (Governor's Recovery Office for Western North Carolina) to serve as the lead organization to guide immediate physical and economic recovery efforts.

In early 2026, a sub-committee was formed to examine the region's long term economic outlook, and make recommendations to Governor Stein and State leaders that would set Western North Carolina down a path toward recovery and future economic prosperity.

On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, Governor Stein and GROW NC released the Western North Carolina Economic Recovery Plan, a document that focuses on eight core principles that harness current resources and industry proficiency, while aligning goals that will advance the region's efforts to create economic diversity and resilience across all sectors.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we unveil the core tenants of the plan, and how the High Country is poised to benefit from this collaborative effort. We'll also talk with Dan Gerlach, a long-time economic strategist and policy advisor in the State about the research that led to the plan. He'll explain how this framework can build off current regional strengths while protecting a unique cultural experience that separates Western North Carolina from many other parts of the country.

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.

Support the show

Fall color is about a month away from its peak here in the High Country, but the seasonal shift toward autum economic behavior is already underway. The impact on visitor counts, the type of interactions people enjoy during their stay, and how events are communicated business to business all impact the visitor experience. The current date on the calendar matters greatly when it comes to how businesses schedule staff, how they throttle their operational expectations, and ultimately the impact the see on their bottom line for an entire year.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we examine the hospitality and event industries, and how they work together to curate exceptional visitor experiences in the High Country. Danielle Neibauer owns The Inn at Crestwood and also leads the management team that operates The Horton Hotel in Downtown Boone. She'll detail the seasonal impacts on the hospitality industry, and even explain a few things locals may not know about the hotels they drive past each day.

We'll also hear from Suzanne Livesay, Executive Director of the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country. A major factor in the success of an event is related to when the event is scheduled, as much as the make-up of the act itself. Suzanne discusses how she seeks specific events, what she tends to avoid, and how the collaborative approach of experience planning benefits everyone.

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 (Friday this week) at 5PM on WATA (1450AM & 96.5FM) in Boone.

Support the show

This just in...sometimes it's hard to move around in Watauga County due to traffic congestion!

The Watauga County Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) is the steering document that looks at transportation needs for a 25-30 year snapshot, and that document is currently going through a planned revision. 

On this week's Mind Your Business, we explain the CTP process, how an important survey is gathering public input that informs this work, and how your experiences can be added to future considerations.

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 (Friday this week) at 5PM on WATA (1450AM & 96.5FM) in Boone.

Support the show

The game of football means a great deal to the High Country and its economy. For decades, championship success on the field has fueled business growth and activity throughout the surrounding High Country region. How the business of college athletics moves forward has a direct impact on the economic performance of a key time of year for our community.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we bring you our annual conversation with App State Director of Athletics Doug Gillin. Heading into his 12th season in the AD's chair, we'll talk about the current trends in the business of college football and athletics in general, and how the evolving landscape of college sports will impact gamedays. We'll also discuss how App State athletics is brining entertainment other than sports to the High Country and -- perhaps refreshingly --  we'll hear about possible connection points for student-athletes in the community as they look to make a positive impact on the area during their time in Boone.

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.

Support the show

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Students are back at they are EVERYWHERE! The economic impact of the ringing of the school bell certainly drives business, but it also includes a boost to the local workforce, as students settle into their new routines and begin to look for money to spend.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we hear from some voices that see the direct benefit of the student economy, from meals served to jobs filled. Aram and Megan Kevorkian own SouthEnd Brewing Company on King Street, and will discuss the differences in their high-traffic patterns and hiring needs, and how students influence both of those trends.

As App State students returned to class, they found a pothole-less Howard Street as they walked to campus. Lane Moody, Director of the Downtown Boone Development Association has the latest on the ongoing revitalization project.  We'll discuss what comes next in terms of deliverables and how the town is studying the new pedestrian impacts of this connection between Downtown Boone and the campus community.  

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.

Support the show

The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce hosts Spirit of Boone, its 77th annual membership gathering, September 24th in the Grandview Ballroom at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

The full slate of honorees was announced on WATA's Mark in the Morning show on August 11th, marking the beginning of the storytelling about the accomplishments of this year's class. 

On this week's Mind Your Business, we unveil this year's list of honorees, and talk about what made them a choice for this year's spotlight. We also reconnect with Ashley Galleher, the 2025 Kathy Crutchfield Citizen of the Year award recipient, and we'll hear how ZRC Skate has been impacted over the last year by more through community awareness of this unique business.

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.

Support the show

Registration opened this week for the 3rd installment of the Encore program, the latest offering from the Watauga Leadership Institute. 

On this week's Mind Your Business, we visit with Dr. Jim Street, Curriculum Coordinator for the Watauga Leadership Institute and Founder of Ridgeline Leadership. He'll preview this year's Encore program, and we'll talk about the value of team and individual skill development, and how that applies to work, life, and helps define ones sense of community.

Encore is a cohort-style course offers attendees the opportunity to expand their leadership knowledge, mindset, and skills. Each two-hour session will examine a specialty topic that builds off the core elements of the Watauga Leadership Institute curriculum, while encouraging the self-renewal of your guiding leadership principles.

We'll also provide updates on two important and highly visible traffic projects currently underway in the Town of Boone.

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.

Support the show