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

It doesn't take long to think about someone in your life that has stayed in the working world for longer than they may have liked. The retirement dream and target has changed a lot over the years, and that exit from the daily grind becomes more complicated when retiring from a business you own, and that entity has a less than certain future. How do you step away while still providing employment opportunities for your team? How do you get the full value for decades of hard work?

On this week's Mind Your Business, we unlock Employee Ownership, not only as an exit strategy for business owners, but also as an employee incentive for small businesses that dream of seeing their company and its culture survive for generations. Illa Burbank, Executive Director of the North Carolina Employee Ownership Center (NCEOC) is our guest this week, and she'll help provide a definition to employee ownership as we explore the different tools within this strategy. We'll also talk about how entrepreneurs can use this ownership system at the start of their business journey, giving them more options for their eventual exit.

The NCEOC is hosting the North Carolina Business Continuity & Employee Ownership conference in Raleigh on Wednesday, September 16th, where business owners can learn more about these strategies, and how employee ownership can be positioned as a unique employee retention incentive.

Following up on last week's episode, we'll give you the details about a major grant announcement that will have an impact on Western North Carolina's long-term economic recovery from Hurricane Helene.

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

It's been almost 21-months since Hurricane Helene's impact was felt across Western North Carolina. While the region has largely recovered from some of the notable physical aspects of the story, the economic recovery will be going on for quite some time.

Last week, Governor Stein's Advisory Committee for Western North Carolina recovery met in Boone, where the draft version of the region's Long-Term Economic Recovery plan was discussed. While the full version has not yet been released, valuable feedback came from this discussion that will inform the full report, set to be released later this fall.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we visit with Sharon Decker, Governor Stein's Senior Advisor for WNCs Long-Term Recovery. She and the GROW NC team have been hard at work, collecting data and experiences from across the region, with the goal of leaving Western North Carolina in a stronger position than what existed pre-Helene. We'll discuss how this plan will be communicated and how existing assets can prepare the region for economic growth in popular sectors.

To advance this work, it's been made abundantly clear from lawmakers at the State and Federal level that additional funding will be required. Earlier this week, Senator Ted Budd testified before US Senate colleagues, and we'll hear exactly what he shared as he works to keep the voice of Western North Carolina alive in Congress.

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

Support the show

The Federal Reserve System is the central bank of the United States. Its mandate is to promote the effective operation of the U.S. economy. Sometimes such high-flying agencies or policy influencing organizations can feel detached from the day-to-day experiences that make up the High Country economy. However, the Federal Reserve uses a network of economists and data analysts to ensure the voice of Main Street is being heard and helping inform Federal policy and direction.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we visit with Bethany Greene, Regional Economist for the Charllotte Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Bethany monitors regional economic trends through data analysis and engagements with the business community in North and South Carolina. 

We'll discuss the role of the Fed, and how they extract data from locations across the region in a manner that ultimately shows up in policy shaping discussions. We'll also talk about the recent transition of Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, what Western North Carolina can expect, economically speaking, as we move further away from the physical impacts of Hurricane Helene, and what's on the horizon in terms of economy shaping influences.

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

July is prime time for tourism season across the High Country. As the calendar flips, vacationers flock to the area, especially those melting in the record heat off the mountain. 

On this week's Mind Your Business, we will discuss the intentionality that goes into creating the visitor experience, and what July means to both the anchor attractions as well as other businesses that benefit from increased traffic. Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation Executive Director Jesse Pope returns to program to talk July tourism from the perspective of one of our region's most recognizable and frequently visited attractions. We'll learn how he and his staff help set visitors up with great experiences as they depart the gates and head toward other locations. We'll also get the latest on Blue Ridge Parkway road work, and how to access Grandfather Mountain and some of the area's more popular trails and features throughout the month of July.

Speaking of road work, we'll also bring Downtown Boone Development Association Director Lane Moody back to the show, as she gives us the latest updates on the Howard Street Revitalization Project.

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

As we move through the month of June, the Mountaineer 10-miler, High Country Jazz Festival, and Boonerang are among the summer events that are officially in the books.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we dive into the early numbers regarding the economic impact of the Mountaineer 10-miler and Boonerang. 

Charlie Mercer, CEO of Capstone Event Group rejoins the show to discuss the post-race survey results from over 850 participants in the Mountaineer 10-miler, which includes a breakdown on runner demographics, lodging impacts, shopping and dining activity, and likelihood of repeat trips to the High Country. 

We then turn attention to the inital visitor data from the 5th annual Boonerang Music & Arts Festival, which further supports the impact event weeknds have on the entire High Country.

To wrap up the show, we'll visit with Victoria O'Connell, Water Conservation Program Coordinator with the Town of Boone, as she explains the recently announced Stage 2 Water Restrictions enacted by Boone Town Council, and what this means for residents and businesses.

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

There are businesses in the High Country that truly connect their product to the place. 

This week on Mind Your Business, we continue our Built in Boone series, and step inside Booneshine Brewing Company, and talk with President and Co-Founder Tim Herdklotz. As we take a walking tour through the tasting room and production facility, we'll talk with Tim about Booneshine's origin story, their capacity for growth, and the intentionality that allowed them to develop a business that helps "make Boone shine."

We'll also go over some logistics for this weekend's Boonerang Music & Art Festival and we'll play a new game called "What are they building over there?"

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

Earlier this month, the Hunger & Health Coalition welcomed Lindsey Sullivan as the organization's new Executive Director. Lindsey is no stranger to the non-profit scene in Watauga County, having served as Health Strategist at AppHealthCare, where, among other projects, she was a lead voice in the creation of STABLE Workplaces.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we catch up with Lindsey at the ribbon-cutting for the newly renovated home of Hunger and Health Coalition, a space that connects their footprint to the Community Care Clinic, following a merger of the two organizations in 2025. After the event, we sat down to discuss leading through transition, the value of listening in the early days of a new role, and how prior knowledge of a business can accelerate opportunity for growth.

We'll also provide some fresh news on the FY27 budget plans for Watauga County and 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

The wheels on the bus are about to be parked for a few months, as Watauga County Schools dismiss for summer break. As the Class of 2026 makes their way across the graduation stage, many will take their first steps into workforce pathways that will set them up for decades.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we visit with Dr. Leslie Alexander, Superintendent of Watauga County Schools, as she recaps the 2025-26 school year. She'll also give an early snapshot of testing results, discuss impending budget impacts, and share details on the scholastic impact of the Class of '26.

We delayed this episode a day because we had some Chamber news to share that we could report until late yesterday. The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce has been selected as one of 11 organizations across the country as a finalist for Chamber of the Year, presented by GrowthZone. We'll tell you how this all came about and what comes next!

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 7th Annual Vision Northwest North Carolina summit is in the books, and discussions around transportation throughout the region highlighted an agenda filled with local leaders and regional experts.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we offer a recap of that day — from keynote discussions to a real life example of why transportation infrastructure matters to areas businesses at the most practical level.

Kenny Flowers, Chief Deputy Secretary of the NC Department of Commerce, delivered a keynote address, which coincided with the May 20th release of North Carolina's new Comprehensive Strategic Economic Development Plan — First in Opportunity. The plan outlines four strategic goals covering infrastructure, economic competitiveness, community well-being, and workforce development. 

Of the nine breakout panels that were hosted at Vision Northwest North Carolina,  we'l  recap the All Roads Lead to Money discussion, featuring Patrick Woodie, President/CEO of the NC Rural Center, and economic development expert Dan Gerlach. The conversation covered the current state of transportation funding, the added strain of Hurricane Helene's $6 billion in road damage, and what a sustainable long-term investment strategy for North Carolina's transportation system looks like.

Finally, we'll hear from Meagan Coneybeer of NC Innovation on the Rootsii sweet potato processing project — and what transportation infrastructure means for its future.

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

A landmark childcare partnership arrived in the High Country last week — one designed to stabilize two different workforces at once. On Friday, May 15th, UNC Health Appalachian officially announced their participation in the North Carolina Tri-Share Child Care Program, becoming the first healthcare system in Western North Carolina to do so.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we were at Friday's press conference and have the audio. You'll hear from Halee Hartley of Kid Cove, Jessica Sullins of the Hugh Chapman Early Learning Center, Nathan Nipper of UNC Health Appalachian, and Fred Hunter, Director of Program and Business Development for NC Tri-Share — on what this partnership means locally and what it signals for employers across the state.

We'll also share the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation's announcement of a new fall fundraising campaign — a direct, one-time retention bonus for every childcare worker at a licensed facility in Watauga County. The goal is $60,000 to $75,000, with distribution planned for October 2026. It's the third consecutive year the Foundation has run a targeted fall childcare campaign. To get involved, visit boonechamber.com/foundation.

Also on this week's show — a Blue Ridge Parkway update ahead of Memorial Day weekend, covering Great American Outdoors Act construction progress and the latest on Hurricane Helene recovery repairs. Check nps.gov/blri before you head out.

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