We made it to episode 100 of the podcast! Listen in as we share news about our sponsors, the story of how and why we launched The Best of LKN back in May of 2020, and some of our plans for the coming year. This is a quick 15-minute solo episode with just the host of The Best of LKN. We are proud to be the best small business podcast in the Lake Norman area of North Carolina! Thanks for following along on this epic journey! Special thanks to our sponsors: Sodoma Law North Blumengärten Florist Cle...
Mar 31, 2022•18 min
We’re featuring SoundVision in Mooresville - a technology, automation, and networking company. SoundVision is simplifying life through technology in homes and businesses across the Lake Norman and Charlotte areas. What really makes this episode unique is that I was able to record my conversation with the leadership team at SoundVision in person. SoundVision has converted one of the spaces in their showroom into a bonafide podcasting studio. The audio turned out so good for this episode - I’m fin...
Mar 17, 2022•1 hr 4 min
Robert Hackney founded The Charlotte Business Group 5-years ago after a career change led him to notice a gap in the Charlotte area’s business networking scene. CBG began as a monthly casual “happy hour” gathering and has since grown into the Charlotte area’s largest private professional network. Charlotte Business Group celebrates its 5-year anniversary next week, on March 17th, 2022, at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in uptown Charlotte. This will be a happy hour business mixer that is free to CBG m...
Mar 10, 2022•46 min
In this episode, I sit down with Adam Bratton, the founder of MJ Bratton - a strategic business and marketing agency - and Human Powered Movement, an organization with a mission to facilitate greater human-powered experiences in all of us. Adam and I talk at length about his entrepreneurial journey and the path that led to opening his own marketing & consulting agency in 2019. Adam shares his thoughts on the value of longer-term plays in marketing, as well as the importance of consistent and...
Mar 03, 2022•1 hr 9 min
In this episode, I sit down with Jami Svay, a super talented and highly sought-after celebrity makeup artist based right here in the Lake Norman area. Jami was referred to me by our mutual friend, Ivy Robinson - the founder and principal at Ivy Robinson Events, the highly acclaimed wedding and event planning agency in Charlotte. During our conversation, Jami shares the story of her entrepreneurial journey and how she was inspired years ago to begin a career as a celebrity makeup artist. Now an i...
Feb 25, 2022•54 min
In this special episode, I sit down with Martha Honeycutt, she is the Mentors for Mom Program Director at the ANSWER Scholarship nonprofit organization based in Charlotte. ANSWER Scholarship’s mission: To mentor and prepare mothers of school-age children to achieve a college education and inspire them to be role models of academic, personal, and professional success for their children. ANSWER Scholarship has a deadline approaching for new applicants, and so we wanted to get this episode publishe...
Feb 22, 2022•47 min
In this episode, I sit down with the owner of Bluebird Bridal in Huntersville, Erin Connair. Erin shares with me the inspiration behind her bridal shop, which she opened back in 2016, and how she was able to bring her love for fashion and the wedding industry together to create a beautiful local brand. We talk a bit about the challenges of doing business during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how she and her team rebounded in 2021 ad now in 2022. Speaking of her team - Erin shares the love she has fo...
Feb 17, 2022•33 min
In this episode, I sit down with the owner of The Bungalow Market in Cornelius. Owner Greta McCoy shares the story of her small business journey, and how she was inspired to bring a boutique home furnishings and furniture shopping experience to the Lake Norman area. It’s a finely furnished episode 93 of The Best of LKN podcast. Enjoy getting to know Greta McCoy, owner of The Bungalow Market. The Bungalow Market 19725 Oak Street, Unit 10 Cornelius, North Carolina 28031 (980) 231-1275 Local busine...
Feb 10, 2022•39 min
In this episode, I sit down with the founder and principal at Laurel Belle Photography and Brand Design, Laura Tompkins. Laura shares the story of her entrepreneurial journey, as well as some great insights into the value of high-quality brand imagery and content curation. Laura has worked with several local Lake Norman businesses and nonprofit organizations that have been featured here on the podcast. So, it’s great to finally connect with her and have this opportunity to feature her business o...
Feb 03, 2022•37 min
In this episode, we’re featuring Launch LKN. This is an organization that I’ve been really hoping to feature on the podcast for a long time. I think the best way to describe Launch LKN is to simply quote the copy on their website. Here’s what I found on the launchlkn.com “our story” page: Launch LKN is a collaborative community of entrepreneurs, educators, mentors, and community leaders dedicated to sharing knowledge and motivating the growth of the technology startup scene in the Lake Norman ar...
Jan 27, 2022•45 min
In this episode, I sit down with Charlie Curtis, the Lake Norman Metro President for United Community Bank. Charlie shares of few of the details behind UCB’s recent acquisition of Aquesta Bank. We discuss the vision for United Community Bank’s expansion into the Lake Norman market, and what it means for local small businesses and former Aquesta clients. Aquesta Bank has been recognized by several of our guests here on the podcast in past episodes for their personalized service and excellence in ...
Jan 20, 2022•33 min
Joining me are the founders of Fifty Fifty Marketing & Creative - a brand development and marketing agency based right here in the Lake Norman area. Laura McGuire and Jason Clewell founded the agency after many years working at a large advertising agency, and after forming their own successful e-commerce business: HipStik Legwear. I do love talking about creative marketing strategies and concepts with industry experts, and Laura and Jason are very generous with their insights and advice in t...
Jan 13, 2022•54 min
Joining me for this episode is the reigning Mrs. North Carolina America, Tara Allmendinger. If you’ve been following the podcast for a while, you may remember last year we featured a conversation with the 2020 Queen, Ashley George of Davidson. Tara is also a Lake Norman area resident, and so we reached out to her and invited her to join the podcast for a conversation about her journey as Mrs. North Carolina 2021. Tara graciously accepted our invitation, and we met at our studio in Davidson for a...
Jan 06, 2022•58 min
Cornelius residents Laura and Aaron Aguilar join me to share the story of their entrepreneurial journeys and the formation of their own business partnership: Aguilar Design Studio. Laura shares her background in interior design, and how merging these talents with Aaron’s work as a general contractor has enabled them to bring their own full-service design-build concept to the Lake Norman area. We talk about the value of a business coach for new and seasoned entrepreneurs, the use of some really c...
Dec 30, 2021•57 min
Welcome back to the podcast. I really do feel lucky to have had so many really great guests on the podcast over the past year and a half, all of our guests are special. Now, having said that, let me just say that I have a real treat for you in this episode. Our guest first joined us back in the Fall of 2020 for The Best of Charlotte podcast - our sister production featuring conversations with founders, CEO’s, influencers, and nonprofits based in Charlotte, North Carolina. I recently invited her ...
Dec 23, 2021•35 min
Joining us for this episode are two of the founders of First Turn Innovations in Cornelius. First Turn Innovations is an engineering and prototype lab made up of the best and brightest in their fields. Their goal is simple: to help entrepreneurs advance their brilliant ideas from concept to testing. The team at FTI boosts your idea, provides access to startup capital, and helps connect you with a quality network of engineering and technical specialists. The team at First Turn Innovations is made...
Dec 16, 2021•47 min
In this episode, we’re featuring a conversation with one of our favorite non-profit organizations - Lake Norman Humane. Lake Norman Humane rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes companion animals. Their vision is of a community where pets are safe and healthy in loving homes. Lake Norman Humane works to keep families and their beloved pets together whenever possible through an array of programs and services. They facilitate the adoption of nearly 800 pets every year into loving, forever homes. To h...
Dec 09, 2021•44 min
Hello everyone and welcome back to The Best of LKN podcast. I have a great conversation lined up for you with the owner of Pedego Electric Bikes of Lake Norman, a new boutique electric bicycle shop located in Cornelius. Grace Kennedy is the co-owner along with her husband Tom of Pedego Electric Bikes of Lake Norman. Grace and Tom just opened their shop in 2021 and are super excited about the small business journey they’ve embarked on. Grace shares the details of how she and Tom decided to become...
Dec 03, 2021•50 min
Joining me in this episode is Vinny Giglio, an owner and partner at MV2 Investments - a privately held boutique real estate and development firm headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina. MV2 Investments is the firm behind Mill One, the amazing new luxury apartment building located in the heart of historic downtown Mooresville. Mill One is a unique mix of retail, office, and apartment living space with 90 high-end apartments and over 30,000 square feet of commercial and retail space. During o...
Nov 19, 2021•57 min
Hello friends, welcome back to The Best of LKN podcast. As always, I’m glad you’re joining me. I’m excited about this episode because I think it highlights a great opportunity for small businesses that serve the Huntersville area. More about that in a moment… But, first, I want to thank our copywriter, Abigail Smathers, for another wonderful article on The best of LKN blog. The article was just published on our website this week and features a deep dive into Lake Norman’s Best Speakeasy, and one...
Nov 11, 2021•33 min
Hello friends, and welcome back to The Best of LKN podcast. I have a really special episode for you today. If you’ve been following The Best of LKN for a while, you may recall an article we wrote for the blog featuring the 9 Top Lake Norman Realtors on Instagram. The idea of the article was to share some Instagram marketing advice for small business owners from a few of the most prolific professionals in the Lake Norman area. I felt very lucky to have received input for that article from THE MOS...
Nov 03, 2021•53 min
Here we are at episode 79 and I have a great guest for you. Brian Helfrich is the CEO at Summit Coffee Company based in Davidson. Summit Coffee just celebrated its 23rd year in business. In addition to the flagship shop located in the heart of downtown Davidson, Summit is a coffee roaster with distribution to 35 states currently. They began expanding the brand through franchise sales in 2020, and currently there are seven cafes in North Carolina with several more in development. During our conve...
Oct 29, 2021•49 min
In this episode, I sit down with Josette Giuffrida, the owner of REFRESH Medical Spa & Wellness in Cornelius. Josette shares the story of her entrepreneurial journey, as well as some great advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. We discuss all the amazing services she and her team provide their clients. Josette also shares how she has been able to implement her own line of skincare products. I personally love it when a service-based business can offer its own line of retail products, and I share ...
Oct 21, 2021•31 min
In this episode, I sit down with Christine Rinkert - she is the owner of Luna’s Lifestyle, a women’s clothing boutique in Cornelius - formerly known as Luna’s at the Lake. Christine has been recognized by several of our previous guests here on the podcast for her generous nature and commitment to nurturing the community of boutique businesses and artisans in the Lake Norman area. During our conversation, Christine shares how she came to own Luna’s boutique over a decade ago, and how she was able...
Oct 14, 2021•42 min
In this episode, I sit down again with Michal Bay at Merino Mill to learn the inspiration behind Alino Pizzeria. Michal shares the story of how he realized a need for high-quality casual family dining at Merino Mill, and that it only made sense to open a pizzeria. Pizza is after all one of America’s favorite foods! But, Michal wasn’t content with the idea of opening just any pizzeria at Merino Mill. He wanted to build something really special, and cook pizzas that are authentic to what you would...
Oct 07, 2021•24 min
I have a great conversation lined up for you with Hazel Jillian Pacion. She’s the owner of Dog Training By Hazel, a small business based in Huntersville that has actually grown and prospered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hazel moved to the Lake Norman area several years ago from Michigan to work in the NASCAR industry as an event planner and producer. She began her dog training business as more of a hobby to help friends and acquaintances with their dogs. When the COVID-19 pandemic reached the U...
Sep 30, 2021•38 min
In this episode, I sit down with Gabby Sillyman. She is the co-owner along with her sister, Savannah, of the Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop in Birkdale Village. We’ve been buying pies there since their opening in early Spring of this year for many of our special occasions with family and friends. I’ve been really looking forward to connecting with Gabby and featuring Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop on the podcast. Gabby shares the story of how she and her family first discovered the Buttermilk Sky brand back i...
Sep 23, 2021•47 min
In this episode, I’m really excited to bring you a conversation with the owners of LKN Images, Kathleen and Ed Martin. Kathleen is a top photographer in the Lake Norman and Charlotte metro areas. Her areas of expertise include high school senior photos, as well as family, sports, dance, and business photography. Her husband Ed joined the small business a few years back after selling his company to support Kathleen on the tech side and manage the back end of the business. Kathleen and Ed share th...
Sep 16, 2021•47 min
Here we are at episode 72 of The Best of LKN podcast, and we have an amazing guest for you to meet. Abby Kircher began her entrepreneurial journey at just 15 years old. She was inspired to begin creating her own nut butter spreads after reading the label one day on a jar of peanut butter. Abby loved peanut butter, but didn’t want to consume a product that was full of unhealthy additives and preservatives. So, she threw together some ingredients and fired up her mom’s food processor, and the next...
Sep 09, 2021•37 min
If you’ve been following this production for a while, you’ll remember back in the Spring of this year Lake Norman Currents magazine wrote a piece about this podcast. The article appeared in the March 2021 issue with the title “The Power of Storytelling.” I gotta tell you I was really honored that they thought enough of what we’re doing here at The Best of LKN to write about it and share a little of our journey with their readers. So, I couldn’t think of a better way to thank Currents Magazine th...
Sep 02, 2021•46 min
