Before anything else, I want to extend my sincere thanks to Jason Gilmer for stepping in during my maternity leave and producing two outstanding issues of WNC Business. Jason brought thoughtful storytelling, strong reporting and a steady hand to the magazine, and I’m deeply grateful for his work.

Meanwhile, at home, my son Auggie continues to grow and amaze us every day. Like many parents, I’ve spent the past several months learning how to balance the competing demands of family and work. That experience has left me with an even greater appreciation for the countless business owners, managers, employees and entrepreneurs across Western North Carolina who are doing the same thing every day: building careers, growing businesses and strengthening our regional economy while keeping family at the center of it all.

That spirit is reflected throughout this issue. In our Family Business Series, we meet three families whose companies are shaped not only by business goals, but by shared values, relationships and a commitment to future generations. 

This issue also explores three industries that are critical to the future of Western North Carolina: manufacturing, education and agriculture. While each faces its own opportunities and challenges, they are deeply interconnected—and closely tied to our cover theme, Made in WNC.

Two of our Made in WNC stories have direct ties to this issue’s industry spotlights. Gaia Herbs demonstrates the power of agriculture as an economic driver, growing many of the herbs used in its nationally distributed supplements on its Brevard farm while maintaining a vertically integrated operation rooted in Western North Carolina. A-B Emblem exemplifies the strength of regional manufacturing, producing patches and insignia in Weaverville that are worn around the world—and have even traveled to the moon aboard NASA missions.

And in education, our story on the new ABM Works illustrates how every industry depends on a skilled workforce, and workforce development is essential to the long-term success of every sector of our economy.

Taken together, these stories reveal something encouraging about Western North Carolina. We are a region that still makes things. We grow things. We teach people. We innovate. We adapt. And we continue to invest in the next generation.

As always, thank you for reading and for supporting the businesses, organizations and individuals who make Western North Carolina such a remarkable place to live and work.

--Emma Castleberry