Dr. Lori Hoe at the Main Street Veterinary Hospital in Cornelius joins us for episode 40 of the podcast! Lori shares what inspired her to open her own veterinary practice with the help of another veterinarian, and how their practice has grown over the years. Lori describes the ups and downs of running a veterinary practice during the pandemic, and how her team and her clients have really helped navigate this difficult year. I do love talking about dogs and cats, and (as usual) I think you’ll lov...
Jan 11, 2021•28 min
Happy New Year Lake Norman! Let’s begin 2021 with some goal setting and healthier habits. The founders of Mbrace Studio join the podcast for the first episode of the new year to discuss positive habits, healthy eating, and their amazing fitness methodology. We talk about the Mbrace Studio’s philosophy of inclusion, creating a welcoming environment for people of all fitness levels, food freedom through the Whole30 program, and the convenient ways they deliver their fitness programming to their me...
Jan 04, 2021•1 hr 8 min
It’s Episode 38, and our last episode for 2020! I’ve had such a great time producing this podcast for you, and really looking forward to more great conversations in the new year! In this episode, I sit down with Ashley George – she’s Mrs. North Carolina 2020 and the creator of the highly successful lifestyle blog, Wonder and Wear. Ashley shares some of her background, and we chat about her journey as Mrs. North Carolina, working with area nonprofits, her own passion project “Empower Through Well...
Dec 28, 2020•38 min
In this episode, I am extremely honored to feature a conversation with one of the most thoughtful, talented, and adored small business owners in the Lake Norman community. Elizabeth Connelly, the owner of the boutique luxury lifestyle brand Elizabeth Rose in Davidson, has been recognized by several of my guests on this podcast. The beautiful company she has formed from her creative vision is truly amazing, and the love she has for her craft, and her community is simply inspiring. If this is the ...
Dec 18, 2020•38 min
Recently, I began reaching out to professional services firms in the area to feature their work on the podcast, such as financial advisors, real estate brokers, insurance agents, etc. When I ran across an article where Realtor.com had ranked the Charlotte real estate market the 3rd hottest in the U.S. in November, I realized that this might be a great time to feature a conversation with a highly successful mortgage banker. There’s a lot to consider when closing on a mortgage around the holidays,...
Dec 11, 2020•32 min
In this episode, I have a conversation with Alan Springate. Alan is the owner of one of my favorite area restaurants, eeZ Fusion & Sushi located in Birkdale Village. Alan and I talk about his background in the restaurant business, and the winding road he took toward the concept we know now as eeZ Fusion & Sushi. The conversation reminds me of something James Clear wrote in his book, Atomic Habits: In business, and in life, it is unlikely that your actual path will match the journey you h...
Dec 09, 2020•40 min
50-billion plastic water bottles are thrown away each year in the U.S. alone. Only a small percentage of those are actually recycled. The rest end up in landfills, waterways, and oceans. Boomerang Water Company has developed an entire new concept for purifying drinking water at the source, and then distributing the water in a sustainable way that eliminates the need for single-use plastic bottles. In this episode, I have a conversation with Boomerang Water founders Jason Dibble and Jared Freund....
Dec 01, 2020•43 min
Welcome back Sarah Conrad to the podcast! Sarah and her husband Jason joined me recently in episode 30 to feature their amazing restaurant Barrel & Fork. In this episode, Sarah and I talk about her Clean Eatz Cafés in Cornelius and Mooresville. Clean Eatz’s mission is to help be the first step you take toward living a healthy lifestyle, and what could be more timely or relevant around the 2020 holiday season than a conversation about clean eating? I’m a huge fan of Clean Eatz, and I’ve been ...
Nov 27, 2020•38 min
Many of my guests have echoed the same sentiment that 2020, despite its challenges, has brought us many gifts. In this episode of The Best of LKN podcast, I’m sharing one such gift. Courtney Buckley joins the podcast to share the inspiration behind her latest small business venture: Your Mom’s Bazaar in Davidson - a sister concept of Your Mom’s Donuts in Matthews and Charlotte. Your Mom’s Bazaar is a small and hyper-local market with a goal of fostering a community. You’re going to love this new...
Nov 18, 2020•25 min
In this episode, I have a great conversation with Joe and Katy Kindred, the owners of Kindred restaurant in Davidson, and Hello, Sailor in Cornelius. To say that Joe and Katy are superstar restaurateurs would not be an overstatement – their career experience has spanned the globe, and their first restaurant – Kindred in Davidson – transformed the culinary landscape in the Lake Norman area. During our conversation, Joe and Katy share the story of their entrepreneurial journey, and the inspiration...
Nov 09, 2020•1 hr 12 min
I am so pleased to bring you his episode featuring Barrel and Fork, a lovely and unique fine dining establishment located near the heart of Cornelius. Owners Jason Tuton and Sarah Conrad join me for a great conversation about the inspiration behind Barrel and Fork. My wife and I were actually able to take the time out of our schedules to enjoy an evening at Barrel and Fork and experience the place first-hand prior to recording this episode. It was a rare date night for us that we thoroughly enjo...
Oct 30, 2020•1 hr 1 min
Welcome HempLily owner Terri Long to the podcast! HempLily is an upscale boutique CBD oil store in Cornelius that is helping their customers find balanced wellness. In this episode, Terri shares her journey toward wellness after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia years ago. Terri founded HempLily in 2017, and her team’s mission is to soften the stigma of cannabis with a gentle name, bright, spa-like atmosphere and to educate everyone on the myriad of potential benefits that hemp CBD provides. Fro...
Oct 26, 2020•29 min
Welcome Race City Flight Operations to the podcast! Race City Flight Ops is the fixed base operator (FBO) and flight school at Lake Norman Airport in Mooresville. Owner, manager, and flight instructor Patrick Lofvenholm joins us for a conversation about the history of the airport, his acquisition of Race City Flight Ops, and the many services they offer at the airport. It’s a high-flying episode 28 of The Best of LKN podcast – enjoy! From the Race City Flight Operations website: “If you’ve ever ...
Oct 20, 2020•37 min
In this episode, I sit down with Ed Watkins to talk about his 24-year career as a NASCAR pit crew team member and his highly successful boat dealership on Lake Norman. Ed shares the story of how he began his long career in NASCAR, and the championship-winning principles that he has been able to bring to his own business - Ed Watkins Marine in Denver, NC. This episode will make you want to buy a boat - enjoy! From The Ed Watkins Marine website: "Ed Watkins is a former offensive lineman for ECU an...
Oct 13, 2020•35 min
Welcome Hearts on Fiber owner Kim Clark to the podcast! Hearts on fiber has been recognized as a favorite local business by a few of my guests, so I was really pleased to have this chat with Kim. She shares a lot of her background and inspiration for starting this crafty small business, along with stories of the special relationships she has formed with her customers and other local small businesses. Best of all: she started this business in her living room! I do love a story about a business th...
Oct 08, 2020•56 min
Welcome Larry and Ginger Griffin to the podcast! Larry and Ginger are the owners of Royal Bliss Brewing Company, a refined yet approachable craft brewery in Denver, NC. In this interview, Larry and Ginger share a bit about their vast experience as entrepreneurs and the inspiration behind building their own craft brewery here in the Lake Norman area. Enjoy! From the Royal Bliss Brewing Company website: “When you first walk into the space we hope you’ll sense an attention to detail that feels refi...
Sep 25, 2020•31 min
Welcome Hirschfeld Marketing Solutions CEO Todd Hirschfeld to the podcast. I chat with experiential marketing entrepreneur Todd Hirschfeld about the origins of his company, and the inspirations behind developing a team of forward-thinking engineers that build dynamic branded experiences for their clients. Based in Cornelius, Hirschfeld Marketing Solutions is truly one of Lake Norman’s most creative and unique companies. Enjoy! From the Hirschfeld Marketing Solutions website: “ We create experien...
Sep 15, 2020•30 min
Welcome back Mike Ratnofsky with CrossFit Cornelius to the podcast! Both Mike and his wife Kristin joined the podcast for the first episode (001) back in May, and in this episode Mike shares some exciting news for the local fitness community – the launch of OnUp Training, an online fitness platform designed to help you reach your full potential whether you have limited access to equipment or access to a full home gym! This is an awesome concept that is going to help so many people meet the chall...
Sep 04, 2020•54 min
Welcome Tiffany Ringwald to the podcast! Tiffany is a freelance photographer based in Mooresville and specializes in the area of interior architectural photography. In this interview, Tiffany shares her background in photography and visual media which began at a young age. During her career, she has worked in graphic design, web design, branding, and internet marketing, in addition to commercial photography work that spans several genres. Several years ago, Tiffany made a decision to pursue her ...
Sep 01, 2020•1 hr 10 min
Welcome Ana Vogel with Davidson Chocolate Company to the podcast! Ana shares the amazing story of her entrepreneurial journey and details the path that led her to owning Davidson Chocolate Company. I definitely feel like this should be a much longer interview - Ana's journey is an American Dream story that I know you will love! From Davidson Chocolate Company's website: "Growing up in her native Venezuela you would always find Ana helping her mom in the kitchen, watching cooking shows or reading...
Aug 28, 2020•42 min
Welcome Hudson Salon owner Hudson Styles to the podcast! In this interview, Hudson shares some of the story behind his entrepreneurial journey. We talk about his path to salon ownership, a few of the guiding principles that have served his company so well, and the way he and his team have navigated the challenges of 2020. He shares a few of his favorite local small businesses, books on small business and personal development, and even a few business lessons learned over the years. It's a 20th ep...
Aug 25, 2020•35 min
Welcome Ryan McDaniels, Executive Director of the Lake Norman Economic Development Corp. to the podcast! In this episode, Ryan shares the story of the LNEDC and how they are working to bring new capital investment and highly skilled jobs to the Lake Norman region. Ryan and his team assist local businesses with expansion efforts, develop and support workforce training initiatives, recruit highly successful businesses to the Lake Norman area, and consult with domestic and international corporation...
Aug 21, 2020•47 min
"We love building spaces within our community that families can enjoy." ~Zack Whitt Welcome Good Drip Coffee and owner Zack Whitt to the podcast! Husband, Dad, Pastor, Serial Entrepreneur, CrossFit coach - we have a lot to discuss in this interview! Zach shares some really valuable insights into what makes an entrepreneur successful. Beginning with his Why, and then the Who, followed by the What. Here are just a few of the topics we touch on: entrepreneurship, self care, spiritual health, mental...
Aug 18, 2020•37 min
Welcome Jacqueline Bassett to the podcast! Jacqueline owns Juelerye Fine Gifts and Art, a unique shopping destination in Cornelius. Jacqueline founded Juelerye in 2015 on the idea that a rewarding life is built with gratitude, purpose, and memorable moments. We discuss more about her inspiration for her small business, as well as how she and the artists she collaborates with have been able to successfully adapt to the current challenges facing small retail shops. This is a heartening interview w...
Aug 13, 2020•25 min
Welcome Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse in Davidson, NC to the podcast! One of the principle owners, Chad Hollingsworth, joins us for an interview. We talk a little while about Chad's background, and how a forensic accountant found a path to becoming a restaurateur. Chad shares the inspiration behind naming the restaurant "Flatiron," and how a Tap Tower would become the centerpiece for an upscale community gathering place. Chad also owns Seafoods.com, a company that distributes premium seafood selec...
Aug 11, 2020•29 min
Welcome Hoctor Chiropractic and Family Wellness in Cornelius to the podcast! Dr. John Hoctor joins me for an interview and shares some of his inspirations for becoming a chiropractor. We discuss his athletic background and current involvement in the sport of CrossFit, as well as his areas of chiropractic expertise. Here’s a hint: he treats a lot of athletes! John and I also discuss some of the great local fitness organizations that are creating inclusive and supportive environments for their mem...
Aug 06, 2020•37 min
Lindsey Williams joins the podcast to share the story of her journey from corporate lawyer to winemaker & small business owner. We talk a bit about the concept of an urban winery, the inspirational trip to Tuscany years ago, and the work that went into becoming a professional winemaker, as well as the process of renovating a historic space in Davidson to make a home for Davidson Wine Co. We are so lucky to have Lindsey on the podcast, and I know you'll love this episode! Cheers! From the Dav...
Aug 04, 2020•29 min
Welcome to episode 13 of the podcast! Dr. Carrie Uehlein joins us for an interview. Carrie is the co-owner of The Veterinary Hospital of Davidson, a vet clinic that integrates conventional medicine, surgery, and dentistry with natural treatments, such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, and holistic nutrition. We talk a little bit about Carrie's background and inspiration for becoming a veterinarian, and then we dive into all the ways that she and her team have set their practice apart from other v...
Jul 28, 2020•36 min
Jon Dressler joins the podcast for episode 12! Jon and his wife Kim lead Rare Roots Hospitality, a company here in Charlotte that owns Dressler's Restaurant in Birkdale Village, along with several other fine dining establishments throughout the Charlotte area. Jon shares the story of his entrepreneurial journey and the guiding principles that have served him, his company, and his dining guests so well over the past 17 years. This is a great interview with the leader of one of Charlotte's most ic...
Jul 21, 2020•30 min
Welcome to episode 11! I originally planned to interview Sean to learn about one of his businesses: Main Street Coffee & Coworking, located in downtown Huntersville. Little did I know, he is also one of the principle investors in a plan to revitalize a large section of downtown Huntersville. So, of course we spend some time discussing his vision for the project, as well as the exceptional craft coffee and co-working space at Main Street Coffee & Coworking. Sean also offers a little sage ...
Jul 15, 2020•50 min
