Business Developers

Dave Bluth

Dave has extensive experience in retail, green business, and sales and marketing development. He has developed and run his own yoga and healing center, and currently runs a real estate investment company and small business planning organization.

John Bonham

John has a master's degree in applied economics from Virginia Tech and has experience in agricultural development and farmland protection. He specializes in financial analysis, applying economic principles to help entrepreneurs.

Adriana Chavela

Esther Chavez

Esther is a community organizer and a volunteer and board member of Nuestro Centro and Center for Participatory Change. Previously she was a community organizer for American Friends Service Committee and director of a non-profit in New Jersey.

Helaine Greene

Helaine co-owned Candle Station Ltd., a local manufacturing and retail business, and currently co-owns and manages Riverview Station in the River Arts District. She brings expertise in retail, production, scheduling, planning, pricing, and HR.

Kimberly Hunter

Kimberly is a serial entrepreneur with an expertise in sales, operations, and successful implementation of advanced marketing techniques for small business growth. She is also an adjunct Instructor at AB-Tech and a radio host.

Carol Lynn Jackson

Carol Lynn is a local food system advocate and owns Manna Cabanna, a local, organic CSA and road-side market in downtown Saluda. She is the founding president of Slow Food Foothills, and has worked at the Mill Spring Agricultural Development Center.

Bill Johnson

Bill has worked various sectors including telecommunication, financial services, general contractors, and small retail. His specialties are strategic planning, marketing strategy, leadership development, conflict resolution, and financial planning.

Wendy Outland

Wendy has over 25 years of experience in the visual arts and is the owner of WHO KNOWS ART, an art consultant service. She has served as curator, exhibit juror, grants panelist, and coordinator for numerous projects and events.

Stephanie Paulson

Stephanie is co-owner of Melt Your Heart food truck. She has a business management degree and almost 20 years experience in the food service industry.

Steven Paulson

Steven is co-owner of Melt Your Heart food truck. He has a culinary management degree and has worked in all facets of the restaurant industry.

Annie Price

Annie has a business background in art, retail, and home-based businesses. She maintains her own family arts and crafts business and brings a global perspective that stems from her experience in international microenterprise.

Jane Renfroe

Jane is a Professor of Art at Mars Hill College, a craft artist, and an entrepreneur. Jane has a special interest in arts, agriculture, wellness, microenterprise and start-up businesses. 

Jodi Rhoden

Jodi owns Short Street Cakes in West Asheville, and is the author of an award-winning blog, My Life in Cake, and the book, Cake Ladies: Celebrating a Southern Tradition. Jodi was previously a social worker with a focus on food security, social justice, and job training.

Robert Simon

Robert owns and operates Western Property Management, Inc. serving clients with needs in commercial, investment, and residential real estate. He is a member of the Asheville Board of Realtors.

Anthony Thomas

Anthony has extensive experience as a trainer/consultant in software development and career development. He founded All-Clean Residential & Commercial Services and currently owns Cytext Mobile Marketing Solutions.

Russ Towers

Russ has over 20 years of commercial and investment real estate experience. He is the founder and a co-owner of Second Gear, a consignment shop that specializes in outdoor gear, clothing and accessories with two Asheville locations.

Candy Williams

Candy is a certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor with more than 20 years of bookkeeping experience. She has owned a small business since 2000 through which she strives to meet clients on their level by going on-site to teach or work.

John Woods

John has 25 years of marketing and sales management experience in packaged goods corporations. This is overlaid with a private practice psychotherapy specializing in mid-life issues including career planning.