Epic Entrepreneurs

What does it mean to run a "boutique" architecture firm in today's market? Nate Webster, partner at ARCA Design in Asheville, North Carolina, reveals the strategic advantages of staying small and nimble while delivering projects ranging from custom homes to $20 million museums.

Growing up as the son of a residential contractor, Webster developed an early appreciation for construction before discovering his p...

What does it take to build a real estate empire from nothing? Tomas Villar knows firsthand, having transformed from a 17-year-old high school dropout to the successful owner of Villar 360 Enterprises over the past 15 years.

Villar's business approach is remarkably straightforward yet powerful: he raises capital from investors, builds custom and semi-custom residential homes, sells the properties, returns the investors...

What happens when theater directors and improv masters turn their attention to business leadership? Something magical, it turns out. Meet Gillian Bellinger and Angie Flynn-McIver, two creative professionals whose unlikely partnership is revolutionizing how we think about leadership in uncertain times.

Despite having remarkably parallel careers—Gillian with twenty years as an improviser and corporate facilitator, Angie as a...

When disaster strikes, how does a community rebuild? Not just structures, but hope, opportunity, and a vision for something better than before? In this compelling conversation with Cory and Justin from Financial Partners Inc, we explore exactly how the Asheville business community is transforming the aftermath of Hurricane Helene into a catalyst for growth and resilience.

As title sponsors of the upcoming WNC Asheville Bus...

Serial entrepreneur Tanner opens up about the remarkable journey of building two thriving, debt-free businesses from the ground up. Starting as a private gardener before founding Magnolia Landscape Group eight years ago, Tanner shares how he strategically expanded into construction during the pandemic, creating Noah's Ark Construction to ensure year-round work for his team.

What makes Tanner's story particularly ...

What does it truly take to build a multi-million dollar service business from scratch? Pete and Alicia Green's journey from operating a one-truck plumbing company out of their garage to managing a 65-employee multi-trade powerhouse offers profound insights for entrepreneurs at any stage.

The husband-wife team behind Go Green Plumbing Heating Air and Electrical reveals the strategic decisions that fueled their growth s...

What happens when genuine service gets lost in corporate sales tactics? On the Epic Entrepreneur’s Podcast, Dasean Willard, founder of Eagle Air Services and Repair, shares his mission to restore honesty and integrity in the HVAC industry. From flashlight holder at 13 to business owner, his journey offers timeless lessons for entrepreneurs across all fields.

"We've kind of lost our way a little bit in the service...

What happens when a passionate electrician and car enthusiast discovers the untapped potential of electric vehicle infrastructure? Lee McDowell's story of transformation from overworked contractor to thriving business owner offers a blueprint for entrepreneurial success in emerging markets.

Working grueling 90-hour weeks at a construction company, McDowell had little time for his young family. When personal research i...

Money talks, but what happens when you and your employee speak different languages about compensation? This candid discussion tackles one of the most common yet challenging workplace dynamics: the employee who believes they're worth more than their employer does.

The episode opens by addressing a crucial misconception, particularly among younger workers – the belief that increased pay should come before increased perf...

Ever wonder why some business leaders seem stuck while others scale effortlessly? The secret might be in the questions they ask. 

The journey from startup to scalable business follows a predictable evolution of questions. When we begin, we're trapped in the "How can I?" mindset - trying to accomplish everything through personal effort. As we mature, our questions evolve: "How can we do this?" ackno...

Have you ever watched someone effortlessly extract a person's life story within minutes of meeting them? That special ability to connect deeply and quickly with others isn't just a social superpower—it's a business advantage that can transform your professional relationships and opportunities.

After observing my wife's remarkable gift for human connection over four decades, I've identified the key ...

Lifelong learning starts with being a sponge – absorbing knowledge from every experience, job, and interaction around you. This mindset transforms everyday moments into valuable lessons that compound over time and fuel meaningful personal and professional growth.

• Asheville Business Summit coming in September with early bird tickets available July 4th
• Consider purchasing tickets for clients and prospects as a relati...

Are your teams falling short of expectations? Before pointing fingers at your staff, it might be time to look in the mirror. In this revealing episode, we tackle the uncomfortable truth that team performance often reflects leadership systems—or lack thereof.

Many leaders claim to dislike meetings, dismissing them as unproductive time-wasters. But what if the right meeting framework could transform your team's accounta...

What if the question wasn't "What skills do I have?" but rather "Who do I need to become?" This transformative mindset shift forms the foundation of our enlightening conversation with Jason De Los Santos, founder of Pixelated Stories, who shares how this approach has fueled his entrepreneurial journey.

Jason reveals how he transformed from a self-described "recovering introvert" into a su...

What happens when disaster destroys a successful business? For Sherrye Coggiola, Hurricane Helene's devastation of her 15-year restaurant venture became an unexpected doorway to a new entrepreneurial chapter as a business broker with Transworld of Western North Carolina.

Sherrye unveils the true mechanics of business valuation, explaining why most businesses sell for 1.5 to 3.5 times earnings and how owners can dramat...

Meet Calvin Denny, the founder of Atlas Mountain Contractors, who took an unconventional path from mental health professional to successful contractor. Calvin's refreshingly candid account of his entrepreneurial journey reveals both the challenges and unexpected simplicities of launching a business in the trades.

"I wish I would have done it sooner," Calvin confesses when reflecting on his first year in busi...

Erik Fabian transforms everyday sourdough challenges into innovative kitchen solutions with Sourhouse, born from his own bread-baking frustrations during the pandemic. 

What makes this entrepreneurial story particularly compelling is Eric's thoughtful approach to business building. Rather than rushing to market during the initial COVID sourdough craze, he spent two years perfecting his product. This patience positione...

What happens when a musician's frustration transforms into a thriving video production business? Ben's transition to filmmaking began when he noticed videographers missing key musical moments during performances. Taking matters into his own hands, he started directing his own music videos, discovering that his musical background translated perfectly to visual storytelling. Beyond technical skills, Ben credits his success ...

Two Jons with a trailer, a walk-behind mower, and absolutely zero business education decided to start a landscaping company. Seven years later, they're maintaining the grounds at Amazon's Asheville facility and transforming backyards into community-building spaces. This is the refreshingly honest story of Smith & Lloyd Landscaping.

Jon Lloyd pulls back the curtain on the entrepreneurial journey with disarming...