08/29/2026
Our Vision Forward: Finance Professionals session was a dynamic breakfast and learn hosted by our incredible partners at Mayland Community College, bringing seasoned veterans and rising professionals together for an important conversation around one of the biggest challenges facing small businesses: financial operations and decision-making.
The session created space for honest, practical conversation about what financial decision-making really looks like in a small business—from day-to-day cash flow and operations to the long-term impact that both personal and professional financial choices can have on a business's health and sustainability.
We believe this conversation is just the beginning of a long-overdue dialogue between our business owners and operators and the financial professional community across the High Country. Creating stronger connections between these groups is an important step toward building more financially resilient businesses and a stronger regional economy.
A massive shoutout to Elizabeth Dellinger of Mayland Community College, Natalie Harkey of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, Joe Walsh of Lees-McRae College, and April Gilbert of Mountain Community Bank for helping facilitate such an impactful and engaging conversation. We are grateful for the expertise and perspective each of you brought to the table!
And, of course, kudos to Chef Kenny Blalock for an absolutely impressive, curated breakfast menu that made the morning even more memorable. 👏 Be on the lookout for more information about his soon-to-be teaching kitchen coming to Avery County—we can't wait to see what comes next!
This is what Vision Forward is all about: bringing people together, sharing knowledge, building relationships, and creating the conversations that help move our business community forward.
📅 Save the Date: Our Operations & Human Resources Session is coming up on November 10th. We can't wait to close out this year's Vision Forward series with another opportunity to connect, learn, and look ahead together!
