Epic Entrepreneurs

Want a behind‑the‑scenes blueprint for growing a creative business without burning out? We sit down with Kateri, founder of Kateri Jane Designs, to unpack the practical playbook that powers her interior design studio: flexible systems, honest communication, and boundaries that actually hold. No fluff—just the exact moves that turn chaotic days into smooth client experiences.

We start with the foundation: how choosing a mal...

Want a candid look at how a working musician turns raw talent into a real business without losing the joy? We bring on violinist and violist Mari Hashimoto to share the unglamorous truth behind dreamy ceremonies and flawless gala sets—boundaries, pricing with confidence, airtight planning, and relationships that actually move the needle. If you’ve ever wondered why some creatives thrive while others burn out, this conversation lays...

Start with one truck. Add a bankruptcy, a marriage, a few core subs, and a vision for building big. Nathan and Jen Dockery share how Dockery Group went from reset to rapid growth by anchoring every decision in values, stewardship, and service—and why general contracting pays for the development habit that fuels their creativity.

We get candid about the rebuild: hiring slowly, defining a clear customer avatar, and hunting w...

If growth feels random and networking feels like wasted donuts, this conversation will reset your playbook. We sit down with home inspector Michael Van Hall of Blue Mountain Home Inspections, a builder-turned-inspector who shows how stacked hands-on skills and structured outreach can turn a solo service into a reliable book of business. From farm fixes to framing houses with a master carpenter, Michael explains how real-world const...

What does it take to come back from losing every single truck overnight? We sit down with Brendan Hogan of Asheville Area Movers to unpack a hard-won playbook for rebuilding stronger: bold branding that makes phones ring, smart technology that shrinks overhead, and a people-first culture that turns stressful move days into positive stories customers tell their friends.

Brendan shares the moment he saw water over the trucks...

What if you could spot disruption weeks before it hits and turn it into momentum? That question drives our conversation with Wendy White, co-founder and CEO of Continuum Consulting Services, whose 30-year path runs from ropes courses and catamarans to culture design, change management, and multi-sector collaboration. We unpack how a single signal from a pharma client led her team to scenario-plan early for COVID, pivot their servic...

Moving day can feel like a storm. We sat down with Anne Smith of College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving in Asheville to unpack how her team turns chaos into calm through mindset, leadership development, and community-rooted service. From the moment they step on-site, their mission is simple: reduce stress. Anne explains why HUNKS—Honest, Uniformed, Nice, Knowledgeable, Service—is more than a catchy acronym; it’s the operating system...

What does it really take to turn a two-person hustle into a durable, people-first business? We sit down with Maja, co-founder of Carolina Outdoor Lighting, to trace the arc from answering irrigation clients’ lighting requests to building a design-led brand known for craft, culture, and steady growth. From the first two-day crash course to a recent acquisition in Brevard, Maya shares the decisions that mattered most—and the ones she...

Imagine walking into a home that felt chaotic yesterday and feels peaceful today. That’s the promise behind luxury organizing done right, and we brought back Jess Reed of Green Mountain Space to unpack exactly how her team delivers one‑day transformations, even across seven counties in Western North Carolina. From the first consult to the final label, Jess shares the systems, values, and leadership habits that turn a deeply persona...

What if the biggest block to your team’s performance isn’t strategy, but unspoken tension? We sit down with hospitality business coach Christine Smith to unpack how emotional intelligence, honest conversation, and patient self-trust can transform culture and results. Christine works with owners and small teams to clear friction, create safe spaces, and align people around goals without forcing anyone to hide behind a role.

What does it look like to grow a local contracting business without billboards, gimmicks, or chaos? We sit down with owner-operator Ryan Wooten, who went from a single excavator to a respected residential grading and retaining wall company by doing one thing uncommonly well: finishing what he starts and making clients glad they hired him. Ryan opens up about turning down septic installs that slowed the crew, tightening his focus to...

What if your contractor experience felt more like a five-star hotel stay than a gamble with your calendar and patience? That’s the challenge Cedric Merrills took on when he left wedding photography to build WOW 1 Day Painting in Asheville—a company that pairs speed with hospitality and backs it with systems anyone can understand. We talk about the surprising power of basic promises kept: estimates delivered before leaving the consu...

Buying or selling a home shouldn’t feel like a blindfolded leap. We sit down with Will King—former teacher, now owner of Highside Home Inspections—to unpack how steady maintenance, clear education, and intentional planning reduce anxiety and create real value in every step of the real estate journey. From pre-listing inspections that prevent last-minute chaos to simple fixes that quietly raise sale price, we explore the small moves...

Ever wonder why a $150/hour service call doesn’t mean the owner makes $150? We pull back the panel with Thomas Fleming, president of Strategic Electrical Solutions, to explore the real economics of the trades—7,000 hours of experience, a daunting license exam, payroll and workers’ comp, trucks and tools, and the thin margins that still have to fund safety, training, and great service. Thomas blends three decades in the field with n...

What if your logo could sell for you every day—quietly, consistently, and everywhere your customers go? We sit down with David Riddell of Big Frog Custom T‑Shirts to unpack a decade of growth powered by flexible production, community presence, and relentless follow-through. From single-shirt solutions to thousand-piece runs, David explains why a retail, touch-and-feel experience reduces guesswork, builds trust, and turns branded ap...

What if a remodeling company could also be a recovery engine for families and a launchpad for veterans? That’s the story Brad from WNC Built brings to the table—a ground-up look at how service, sales, and culture can scale a local business while delivering real impact in Western North Carolina.

We start with the work on the ground: additions, kitchens, bathrooms—and the heavy lift of Rebuild Haywood, a grant-backed effort ...

What happens when a banking executive and a registered nurse decide to completely reinvent their lives at age 55? Dale and Stephanie's journey from comfortable careers to launching Cedar Direct, a specialty lumberyard in Western North Carolina, offers a masterclass in mid-life entrepreneurship and business development.

"Pine is fine but cedar is sweeter" might be their catchy slogan, but the story behind Ced...

Justin Berger takes us behind the curtain of home inspection entrepreneurship, revealing how his business evolved from a simple scheduling concept to the comprehensive team-based approach that's driven 20% year-over-year growth for Home Inspection Collective since 2017.

What sets this conversation apart is Justin's refreshing honesty about the entrepreneurial journey. He candidly shares how self-awareness transfo...

What happens when you take a leap of faith, leave behind a successful business, and start over in a new community? Lyn Mabry, founder of Designing Spaces by Lyn, did exactly that when she followed her dream of living in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

After 25 years in the design industry and a thriving business in Louisville, Lyn handed her company to her team and ventured to a place where she knew just one perso...