Mind Your Business - A Podcast Series produced by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce

Across the Stage & Into the Workforce: The Class of '26 and Where They Go Next...and some BIG Chamber news.

The wheels on the bus are about to be parked for a few months, as Watauga County Schools dismiss for summer break. As the Class of 2026 makes their way across the graduation stage, many will take their first steps into workforce pathways that will set them up for decades. On this week's Mind Your Business, we visit with Dr. Leslie Alexander, Superintendent of Watauga County Schools [https://www.wataugaschools.org/], as she recaps the 2025-26 school year. She'll also give an early snapshot of testing results, discuss impending budget impacts, and share details on the scholastic impact of the Class of '26. We delayed this episode a day because we had some Chamber news to share that we could report until late yesterday. The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce [http://www.boonechamber.com] has been selected as one of 11 organizations across the country as a finalist for Chamber of the Year, presented by GrowthZone. [https://www.growthzone.com/] We'll tell you how this all came about and what comes next! Mind Your Business is written and produced weekly by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. [http://www.boonechamber.com/] This podcast is made possible thanks to the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate. [http://www.appalachiancre.com/] Catch the show each Thursday afternoon (Friday this week) at 5PM on WATA (1450AM & 96.5FM) in Boone.   Support the show [https://www.boonechamber.com/membership-information]

All Roads Lead to Money - A Recap of the 2026 Vision Northwest North Carolina Economic Development Summit

The 7th Annual Vision Northwest North Carolina summit [https://www.boonechamber.com/events/vision-northwest-north-carolina] is in the books, and discussions around transportation throughout the region highlighted an agenda filled with local leaders and regional experts. On this week's Mind Your Business, we offer a recap of that day — from keynote discussions to a real life example of why transportation infrastructure matters to areas businesses at the most practical level. Kenny Flowers, Chief Deputy Secretary of the NC Department of Commerce, delivered a keynote address, which coincided with the May 20th release of North Carolina's new Comprehensive Strategic Economic Development Plan — First in Opportunity [https://www.commerce.nc.gov/data-tools-reports/economic-development-reports/strategic-economic-development-plan-north-carolina/2026-first-opportunity-strategic-economic-development-plan]. The plan outlines four strategic goals covering infrastructure, economic competitiveness, community well-being, and workforce development.  Of the nine breakout panels that were hosted at Vision Northwest North Carolina,  we'l  recap the All Roads Lead to Money discussion, featuring Patrick Woodie, President/CEO of the NC Rural Center [https://www.ncruralcenter.org/], and economic development expert Dan Gerlach. The conversation covered the current state of transportation funding, the added strain of Hurricane Helene's $6 billion in road damage, and what a sustainable long-term investment strategy for North Carolina's transportation system looks like. Finally, we'll hear from Meagan Coneybeer of NC Innovation [https://www.ncinnovation.org/] on the Rootsii sweet potato processing project [https://today.appstate.edu/2026/05/15/rootsii] — and what transportation infrastructure means for its future. Mind Your Business is written and produced weekly by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. [http://www.boonechamber.com/] This podcast is made possible thanks to the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate. [http://www.appalachiancre.com/] Catch the show each Thursday afternoon at 5PM on WATA (1450AM & 96.5FM) in Boone. Support the show [https://www.boonechamber.com/membership-information]

Providing a Boost to the Childcare Industry & the Workforce Behind the Workforce

A landmark childcare partnership arrived in the High Country last week — one designed to stabilize two different workforces at once. On Friday, May 15th, UNC Health Appalachian officially announced their participation in the North Carolina Tri-Share Child Care Program, [https://www.unchealthappalachian.org/blog/2026/unc-health-appalachian-launches-first-of-its-kind-childcare-part/] becoming the first healthcare system in Western North Carolina to do so. On this week's Mind Your Business, we were at Friday's press conference and have the audio. You'll hear from Halee Hartley of Kid Cove, Jessica Sullins of the Hugh Chapman Early Learning Center, Nathan Nipper of UNC Health Appalachian, and Fred Hunter, Director of Program and Business Development for NC Tri-Share — on what this partnership means locally and what it signals for employers across the state. We'll also share the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation's announcement of a new fall fundraising campaign [https://www.boonechamber.com/news/foundation-launches-campaign-to-provide-retention-bonus-to-childcare-workers-in-watauga-county]— a direct, one-time retention bonus for every childcare worker at a licensed facility in Watauga County. The goal is $60,000 to $75,000, with distribution planned for October 2026. It's the third consecutive year the Foundation has run a targeted fall childcare campaign. To get involved, visit boonechamber.com/foundation. Also on this week's show — a Blue Ridge Parkway update [http://www.nps.gov/blri]ahead of Memorial Day weekend, covering Great American Outdoors Act construction progress and the latest on Hurricane Helene recovery repairs. Check nps.gov/blri before you head out. Mind Your Business is written and produced weekly by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. [http://www.boonechamber.com/] This podcast is made possible thanks to the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate. [http://www.appalachiancre.com/] Catch the show each Thursday afternoon at 5PM on WATA (1450AM & 96.5FM) in Boone. Support the show [https://www.boonechamber.com/membership-information]

Addressing the Needs of High Country Businesses Through Financial Awareness and Regional Advocacy

Global pressures are testing economies at every level — and the High Country is not immune. Gas prices, a new Federal Reserve Chair, ongoing conflict abroad, and a midterm election on the horizon are all part of a picture that demands clear-eyed perspective. This week on Mind Your Business, we bring local context to all these issues as we are joined by Jonathan Allen of Allen Wealth Management [http://www.allenwealthmanagement.com] for our quarterly economic check-in. He'll discuss what the current market conditions mean for investors and business owners here in the High Country, how energy prices affect our summer tourism season, and what smart financial strategy looks like at the midpoint of 2026. We also recap the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce's participation in the annual WNC Chamber Coalition Legislative Visit to Raleigh this week. Eighty-five business and civic leaders representing 14 chambers — including 20 from the immediate High Country — spent two days meeting with state officials, agency leaders, and members of the General Assembly. Governor Josh Stein addressed the group directly [https://abc11.com/post/nc-gov-josh-stein-meets-western-leaders-helene-recovery-small-business-struggles-persist/19094185/], and we'll share highlights from those conversations, including the latest on the state budget. Next week, the Chamber hosts Vision Northwest North Carolina [https://www.boonechamber.com/events/vision-northwest-north-carolina] — our annual regional summit — on May 21st at the Watauga Campus of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. This year's focus is transportation. Registration is open at boonechamber.com [http://boonechamber.com]. Mind Your Business is written and produced weekly by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. [http://www.boonechamber.com/] This podcast is made possible thanks to the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate. [http://www.appalachiancre.com/] Catch the show each Thursday afternoon at 5PM on WATA (1450AM & 96.5FM) in Boone. Support the show [https://www.boonechamber.com/membership-information]

A Community Wrap-Up Edition on Wheels!

This week, UNC Health Appalachian [https://www.unchealthappalachian.org/] became the first healthcare system in Western North Carolina to launch a partnership with the North Carolina Tri-Share program [https://www.unchealthappalachian.org/blog/2026/unc-health-appalachian-launches-first-of-its-kind-childcare-part/] — a childcare cost-sharing model that splits tuition three ways between the employer, the employee, and the state.  On this week's Mind Your Business, we visit with Alysia Price, Chief Human Resources Officer at UNC Health Appalachian, to discuss how the partnership works, who it serves, and what it could mean for other High Country employers who are watching closely. Also on this week's show, we mark the completion of Section 1B of the Great American Outdoors Act restoration work [https://www.boonechamber.com/news/blue-ridge-parkway-and-the-great-american-outdoors-act] on the Blue Ridge Parkway [http://www.nps.gov/blri] — running from Parkway School to Bamboo Gap in Watauga County — and recap last night's public scoping meeting where Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout and agency partners met with the community to begin planning Helene-related debris removal.   We also preview the full agenda for the 7th Annual Vision Northwest North Carolina Summit [https://www.boonechamber.com/events/vision-northwest-north-carolina] on May 21st at the Watauga Campus of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. This year's theme is Driving Regional Progress, with a day of keynotes and breakout sessions focused on transportation funding, workforce access, freight and mobility, and what it takes to move people across Northwest North Carolina. Registration is open now at boonechamber.com [http://boonechamber.com]. Mind Your Business is written and produced weekly by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. [http://www.boonechamber.com/] This podcast is made possible thanks to the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate. [http://www.appalachiancre.com/] Catch the show each Thursday afternoon (Friday afternoon this week) at 5PM on WATA (1450AM & 96.5FM) in Boone. Support the show [https://www.boonechamber.com/membership-information]