We’re excited to feature a powerful conversation with Marcus Kirkman, Business Inclusion Manager at the City of Asheville Business Inclusion Office, in collaboration with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Marcus shares what’s currently happening within the Business Inclusion Office, key initiatives supporting minority-owned businesses, and how you can get involved with the Black Business Alliance.

If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, or community leader looking to expand your network, access resources, and be part of meaningful economic growth in Asheville — this episode is for you.

Tune in to learn:
✔️ What the Business Inclusion Office is working on right now
✔️ Opportunities for local businesses
✔️ How to connect with and support the Black Business Alliance
✔️ Ways to get involved and make an impact

Listen now and be part of the rise.

This series celebrates the strength, innovation, and leadership within our Black Business Alliance - and you won’t want to miss this conversation.

Learn more about upcoming events and how to get involved with the Black Business Alliance through the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce: ⁠www.ashevillechamber.org/blackbusiness⁠

The Asheville Rise - Stronger Together is a brand new podcast from the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, celebrating the people and places that make our community thrive. Together, we rise - stronger, bolder, and more connected than ever.

Learn more about The City of Asheville Business Inclusion Office.

Special thanks to our sponsors who help make this possible:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠828 Biz Marketing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DJ Molly Parti⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carolina Furniture Concepts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Asheville Rise Podcast continues our powerful series spotlighting our Black Business Alliance!

This week, we’re honored to welcome Keynon Lake, founder of My Daddy Taught Me That, to the show. Keynon shares the inspiration behind his work, the impact he’s making in our community, and why investing in the next generation matters now more than ever.

This series celebrates the strength, innovation, and leadership within our Black Business Alliance - and you won’t want to miss this conversation.

Learn more about upcoming events and how to get involved with the Black Business Alliance through the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce:
www.ashevillechamber.org/blackbusiness

The Asheville Rise - Stronger Together is a brand new podcast from the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, celebrating the people and places that make our community thrive. Together, we rise - stronger, bolder, and more connected than ever.

To learn more about My Daddy Taught Me That, visit https://mydaddytaughtmethat.org.

Special thanks to our sponsors who help make this possible:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠828 Biz Marketing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DJ Molly Parti⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carolina Furniture Concepts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

We’re kicking off an important series spotlighting the Black Business Alliance and we’re starting strong!

In this episode, we sit down with Ava Smith, owner of Flat Fee Recruiting and Vice Chair of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. Ava shares insights on building equitable business ecosystems, supporting Black-owned businesses, and why the Black Business Alliance matters for the future of our local economy.

If you’re a business owner, community leader, or someone who cares about inclusive growth in Western North Carolina - this conversation is for you.

Learn more about the Black Business Alliance: www.ashevillechamber.org/blackbusiness

Tune in. Join the conversation. Rise together.

The Asheville Rise - Stronger Together is a brand new podcast from the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, celebrating the people and places that make our community thrive. Together, we rise - stronger, bolder, and more connected than ever.

To learn more about Flat Fee Recruiting, visit https://flatfeehiring.com.

Special thanks to our sponsors who help make this possible:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠828 Biz Marketing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DJ Molly Parti⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carolina Furniture Concepts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Asheville Rise Podcast is wrapping up our Hurricane Helene season with a compelling conversation featuring Andre Daugherty of Pro.16 Productions.

In this final episode focused on Hurricane Helene, we explore what it truly looked like to own and operate a business during the storm , from navigating uncertainty to leading with resilience and showing up for the community when it mattered most.

This season has spotlighted the strength, adaptability, and grit of Asheville’s business community, and this episode brings it full circle. Tune in to hear Andre’s story and the lessons learned from an unforgettable chapter in our region’s history.

The Asheville Rise - Stronger Together is a brand new podcast from the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, celebrating the people and places that make our community thrive. Together, we rise - stronger, bolder, and more connected than ever.

To learn more about Pro.16 Productions, visit https://pro16productions.com.

Special thanks to our sponsors who help make this possible:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠828 Biz Marketing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DJ Molly Parti⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carolina Furniture Concepts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The next episode of The Asheville Rise features Tony Morris of Sun Soo Martial Arts.

We continue our Hurricane Helene series with a look at how Sun Soo Martial Arts navigated disruption, adjusted quickly, and stayed connected to their students and community during a critical moment. Tony shares what it took to keep moving forward and the lessons learned along the way.

Join us for a grounded, honest conversation about adaptability, service, and showing up when it counts.

The Asheville Rise - Stronger Together is a brand new podcast from the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, celebrating the people and places that make our community thrive. Together, we rise - stronger, bolder, and more connected than ever.

To learn more about Sun Soo Martial Arts, visit ⁠https://martialartsasheville.com.

Special thanks to our sponsors who help make this possible:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TruPoint Bank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠828 Biz Marketing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DJ Molly Parti⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carolina Furniture Concepts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

We’re sitting down with Kelly DeTample, co-owner of Recline & Unwind Social Spa, to talk about resilience in action. Kelly shares what it was like navigating their business through the hurricane, the tough decisions they had to make in real time, and how they found ways to keep operations going while supporting their team and community.

This conversation highlights the strength it takes to run a wellness-focused business during a crisis and the determination behind staying open when it matters most. Tune in for an honest look at leadership, adaptability, and perseverance right here in Asheville.

The Asheville Rise - Stronger Together is a brand new podcast from the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, celebrating the people and places that make our community thrive. Together, we rise - stronger, bolder, and more connected than ever.

To learn more about Recline & Unwind Social Spa, visit https://www.rusocialspa.com.

Special thanks to our sponsors who help make this possible:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TruPoint Bank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠828 Biz Marketing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DJ Molly Parti⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carolina Furniture Concepts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This week, we’re featuring Jay Cope, co-owner of Semper Fi Custom Remodeling, and the powerful story of resilience behind their evolution after Hurricane Helene.

Jay shared what Semper Fi Custom Remodeling endured as a business during the storm—and how rebuilding didn’t just mean recovery. It meant rethinking everything. Out of the challenges came innovation, leading them to create a separate business that allowed them to adapt, stay sustainable, and continue serving their community in a new way.

This is what Asheville Rise is all about: businesses facing adversity head-on and emerging stronger, smarter, and more resilient than before.

The Asheville Rise - Stronger Together is a brand new podcast from the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, celebrating the people and places that make our community thrive. Together, we rise - stronger, bolder, and more connected than ever.

To learn more about Semper Fi Custom Remodeling, visit ⁠https://sfcustomremodeling.com.

Special thanks to our sponsors who help make this possible:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TruPoint Bank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠828 Biz Marketing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DJ Molly Parti⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carolina Furniture Concepts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This week, we’re joined by Jordan Doty, owner of Asheville Free Walking Tours, for a real and inspiring conversation about resilience in Asheville’s tourism industry. Jordan shares what her tourism-based business went through during the hurricane, how the disruption impacted visitors and operations, and the ways she pivoted to adapt and keep her business moving forward during an incredibly uncertain time.

It’s an honest look at what it takes to lead and innovate in the tourism industry during a crisis, and a powerful reminder of the strength and creativity within Asheville’s small business community.

The Asheville Rise - Stronger Together is a brand new podcast from the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, celebrating the people and places that make our community thrive.

Together, we rise - stronger, bolder, and more connected than ever. To learn more about Asheville Free Walking Tours visit https://www.avlfreewalkingtours.com.

Special thanks to our sponsors who help make this possible:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TruPoint Bank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠828 Biz Marketing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DJ Molly Parti⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carolina Furniture Concepts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This week on the Asheville Rise we’re joined by Rusty Edwards, Regional Executive at First Bank, for an impactful conversation on leading through adversity and how First Bank supported customers and communities during the hurricane.

First Bank is a relationship-driven community bank committed to helping local businesses and families weather challenges and move forward stronger. Rusty shares valuable insights on resilience, leadership, and preparedness during uncertain times.

The Asheville Rise - Stronger Together is a brand new podcast from the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, celebrating the people and places that make our community thrive.

Together, we rise - stronger, bolder, and more connected than ever. To learn more about First Bank visit https://localfirstbank.com.

Special thanks to our sponsors who help make this possible:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TruPoint Bank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠828 Biz Marketing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DJ Molly Parti⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carolina Furniture Concepts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This week, we’re honored to feature Anne Smith, co-owner of College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk & Moving.

Anne joins us for a meaningful conversation about Hurricane Helene, sharing how their team responded during the storm, the challenges they faced, and how strong leadership and company culture guided decision-making in a time of crisis. From leading with empathy to mobilizing teams quickly, Anne offers insight into what it truly means to be a people-first leader while supporting community recovery.

This episode is a powerful reminder of resilience, leadership, and why we are truly Stronger Together.

The Asheville Rise - Stronger Together is a brand new podcast from the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, celebrating the people and places that make our community thrive.

Together, we rise - stronger, bolder, and more connected than ever. To learn more about College H.U.N.K.S. click HERE.

Special thanks to our sponsors who help make this possible:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TruPoint Bank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠828 Biz Marketing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DJ Molly Parti⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carolina Furniture Concepts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.