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

This week's High Country weather brought its fair share of schedule disruptions, placing a premium on remote connectivity for the majority of us, from small business owners to local school students.

As a small business, how do you stay up-to-date on the technology needs within your workplace, and how are those processes and programs accessed on a day when Old Man Winter decides we aren't going anywhere!

On this amazingly topical episode of Mind Your Business, we visit with Nate Solberg and David Garner of Nordic IT Solutions and discuss technology strategies for local small businesses. We'll talk about practical IT strategies for High Country Businesses, when is the right time for small businesses to consider managed IT solutions, how a partner can take some of the tech strain off your staff, especially if this is not an area of expertise for anyone within your company. All of these answers have a local solution, ensuring your business is cared for by people that understand our area and connectivity and compatibility needs -- especially when it snows like it did Monday!

We will also roll out of final grouping of Holiday Shop Local businesses for this season, featuring Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, High Country 365 Dining Pass, and River Birch Nordic Sauna.

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.

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As we kick off the final month of the year, this edition of Mind Your Business serves up a fresh slate of insights and stories from across the High Country. 

We sit down with Jonathan Allen of Allen Wealth Management to break down the financial to-dos local businesses and individuals should check off before the calendar turns, and we look at some of the driving economic forces of the past year along with those poised to shape 2026 in our region. 

We’ll also spotlight our next trio of Holiday Shop Local businesses—each offering great ideas for those seeking holiday experiences—and we'll share details about the grand opening of Mercy Urgent Care, now serving Boone and beyond from their location in the Watauga Village Shopping Center. 

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

This Thanksgiving edition of Mind Your Business features a buffet of stories from across the High Country. 

We'll learn more about the recent expansion announcement made by GE Aerospace for its Ashe County campus, and what this economic development win means for the Northwest region. We'll also recap the Evergreen Voices Gala that inspired our Watauga Women in Leadership attendees last week, and we'll hear about a trio of family-owned local businesses who have our next Holiday Shop Local bundle. A perfect blend of gratitude, growth, and community connections. 

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.

Due to Thanksgiving Week, you can catch this week's show on Wednesday, November 26th at 1PM on WATA (1450AM & 96.5FM) in Boone.

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A holiday week is the PERFECT time to drop a bonus episode of Mind Your Business, just in case you need a podcast to get you through a long drive or out of an impossible conversation!

We take you inside the Inn at Crestwood for the 2025 Watauga Women in Leadership Evergreen Voices Gala. 

This year's conversation centers on work ethic and hustle, the drive that pushes us to do hard things, stay committed through challenges, and find purpose in the process. Our featured guests: 

• Pressley Laton, Local Singer/Songwriter
• Kim Pryor, Local educator, Head Coach of Watauga High School Volleyball
• Brittney Whiteside, Chief Strategy Officer, App State Athletics

This panel represents a dynamic mix of experiences, from athletics and education to music and mentorship. Each will share how lessons learned early in life, on the court, in the classroom, or on stage, laid the foundation for their leadership today.

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.

Support the show

Every race has a story, and the Mountaineer 10 Miler is no exception. 

On this week's Mind Your Business, we connect with Charlie Mercer and Ryan Anderson of Capstone Event Group, the visionaries behind this new event. They share how the race got its start, the lessons they’ve learned from successful events in other communities, and what that experience could mean for Boone. From inspiring participation to creating economic opportunities, Charlie and Ryan discuss how local organizations can get involved and benefit, and how the race strengthens connections across the High Country. 

We also are excited to share details about our first trio of participating businesses in our Holiday Shop Local campaign. This week we feature King Street Flowers, BRIGHT Eyes, and Go Postal 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

 Great perks can spark productivity, boost morale, and change workplace culture — but only if people know how to use them. 

On this week's Mind Your Business, we dive into what smart employers are offering now and how employees can make the most of every benefit available. We'll visit with Lisa Finaldi of Family Forward NC, who'll discuss popular benefits beyond just health insurance. 

Speaking of health insurance, we'll also hear from Susan Richards from Blue Cross Blue Shield NC with more specifics on Carolina HealthWorks.

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

Among the many things business leaders must consider these days is the rising cost of health insurance, and how extending these benefits can impact the bottom line.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we examine Carolina HealthWorks, a new program offered in partnership between the North Carolina Chamber and its Federation members and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. We'll speak with representatives of the NC Chamber about how this program was designed to save on health insurance costs for businesses that have 2 to 50 employees.

We'll also listen back to some of our favorite responses from Passing the Torch: A Dialogue on Leadership Transitions, hosted by the Watauga Leadership Institute at the Appalachian Theatre on November 3, 2025.

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

On Monday, November 3, 2025, the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and its Watauga Leadership Institute presented Passing the Torch: A Dialogue on Leadership Transitions. This program was made possible thanks to the sponsorship support of App State's Walker College of Business and Mast General Store. Our featured guests included:

Dr. Leslie Alexander, Superintendent, Watauga County Schools

Dr. Heather Norris, Chancellor, Appalachian State University

David Ray, Executive Director, Blue Ridge Conservancy

Katie Woodle, President/CEO, Blue Ridge Energy

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As businesses watch the calendar turn to November, many across the High Country are taking stock of October performance metrics. They are also trying to catch-up on everything else that's been going on during one of the busiest times of the year.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we visit with Eric Brinker of The Speckled Trout to get insight on October traffic for one of the area's multi-faceted brands. 

As guests and locals have traversed Downtown Boone this month, they have noted one side of the Howard Street Revitalization Project is beginning to take shape. We'll get the latest on construction progress and timelines from Lane Moody, Director of the Downtown Boone Development Association. 

We are also busy preparing for Monday night's Passing the Torch: A Dialogue on Leadership Transitions panel discussion. We'll talk with Dr. Jim Street, founder of Ridgeline Leadership and co-moderator of Monday's panel about opportunities during transition. We'll also get information on other program offerings under the Watauga Leadership Institute umbrella.

Mind Your Business is written and produced weekly by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. Thanks to Blue Ridge Conservancy for providing historical context to this story. 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

Organizations strive to stay true to their mission.

The Watauga Land Trust was formed in 1995, established by Appalachian State University students concerned with protecting Howard Knob, a mountain adjacent to the Town of Boone. 

The new organization raised local awareness about the unprecedented pace of development not just around Boone, but across North Carolina’s northwestern mountains. These concerns galvanized the local community and in 1997 the Watauga Land Trust changed its name to High Country Conservancy and expanded its jurisdiction to include Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties. The organization’s mission was “to protect the natural resources of Appalachia by conserving land with significant ecological, cultural, recreational, or scenic value in the North Carolina High Country.”

In May of 2010, Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust based in West Jefferson, North Carolina and High Country Conservancy, based in Boone merged to create Blue Ridge Conservancy, a private, non-profit organization that has protected over 22,000 acres in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey Counties.

In early October 2025, Blue Ridge Conservancy announced after 30 years of effort, it has secured the opportunity to purchase 73 acres on the north and east side of Howard Knob. This property adjoins the existing 5-acre park owned by Watauga County, and will protect the land forever and provide public access for nature-based recreation, including hiking and rock climbing. 

On this week's Mind Your Business, we speak with Eric Hiegl, BRC's Senior Director of Land Protection and Conservation Planning. We'll hear about how the organization's persistence saw them achieve their founding objective. We'll also discuss BRC's plans to enhance public access to this property in a manner that enhances outdoor recreation opportunities in storied area of Watauga County.

Mind Your Business is written and produced weekly by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. Thanks to Blue Ridge Conservancy for providing historical context to this story. 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