tag:www.wncbusiness.com,2005:/categories/it-s-my-jobIt's My Job | WNC Business Connect | Inform | Inspire2024-03-25T10:10:32-04:00urn:uuid:d392ad27-e7ad-4293-8e5f-dfa0e7e712a32024-03-25T10:10:06-04:002024-03-25T10:10:32-04:00It's My Job: Katie Dirrig - Pearl Property Support2024-03-27 10:10:05 -0400Randee Brown<span><p>Katie Dirrig’s background in social work nurtured her helpful demeanor, making her work as a transaction coordinator a natural fit for her skillset.</p><p>In real estate, a transaction coordinator works alongside agents providing client care and support. Dirrig helps coordinate vendors needed throughout the transaction including inspectors, appraisers, attorneys, and lenders.</p><p>“The end goal is to help agents and their clients with a smooth, on-time closing,” Dirrig said. “Transaction coordinators help real estate agents to focus more on building their business and providing great service, and can save agents approximately 10 hours per transaction.” </p><p>As a licensed agent herself, Dirrig can even help with writing client contracts, allowing agents in the field to get contracts signed in a more timely manner. She also has relationships with several lending partners, which can expand options for certain buyers.</p><p>As interest rates increase, many buyers are pausing their search for a new home, according to Dirrig. Some lenders are working with active buyers to provide creative financing options such as seller credits which can be applied to their loans.</p><p>“It helps to have good relationships with lenders,” Dirrig said. “Helping agents make these connections can make a difference for some of their buyers’ mortgages.”</p><p>Dirrig began her transaction coordinator position with Realty ONE and has expanded her reach to offer this service to agents in other firms. While some firms in niche markets may offer an in-house transaction coordinator, there are many boutique brokerages that may not be able to directly provide that type of support to their agents.</p><p>Some agencies do offer transaction support via a virtual, overseas team, but Dirrig said that doesn’t compare to working with someone locally. Local knowledge and connections help transaction coordinators understand the market and the needs of both sides of the transaction, which better serves the agents with whom they work. She also knows what it’s like to be an agent herself.</p><p>“It’s a lot of coordination,” Dirrig said. “I’m working with a lot of different personalities, and many have different ideas of various requirements throughout the process. Agents have a very solo career with many tasks, expectations, and a lot of pressure, so it’s really helpful to them to be that backup support.” </p><p>With an abrupt shift to a more balanced market, selling agents have begun to do a lot more work on marketing their listings. They are back to hosting open houses, which Dirrig said they didn’t have to do a year ago. Having to focus more on marketing means listing agents must have a solid presentation, push homes on social media, and rely on others that can help with some of those tasks.</p><p>Dirrig also works on new construction transactions, which are a significant part of many agents’ business. </p><p>“New construction transactions require different forms and it’s often a longer process,” Dirrig said. “On top of working with agents, I also work with builders and general contractors, so there are more people on the team. More coordination and more management from a support system like me can be helpful for the agent, and can create a better all-around client experience.”</p><p>Dirrig said every buyer is different, and no matter the type of home, she is delighted to be using her skills and knowledge to help ensure smooth transactions for both agents and buyers. </p><p>Katie Dirrig is the owner and transaction coordinator at Pearl Property Support, offering transaction coordinator services, web development, social media management, and copy writing. Learn more at PearlPropertySupport.com.</p><div><br></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.wncbusiness.com">WNC Business</a></small></p>urn:uuid:9cae1e82-718d-4850-a765-609a5cbde8462024-02-26T08:23:59-05:002024-02-26T08:24:38-05:00It's My Job: Marilyn Morrison - City of Asheville Employee Health Services2024-02-27 08:18:29 -0500WNC Business<span><p>A licensed practical nurse for more than 25 years, Marilyn Morrison has found joy in her current job at City of Asheville Employee Health Services.</p><p>Morrison’s nursing career has spanned several types of facilities. She worked in pediatrics for 15 years, spent several years working in a senior living facility, and recently worked as a nurse for a county jail.</p><p>Within the jail setting, Morrison was witness to a lot of mental illness and drug detox episodes. She was once attacked by an inmate, and was eager to return to an office clinic environment. In 2022, a new team took over the practice at City of Asheville Employee Health Services, and Morrison was happy to join.</p><p>“I really like that it’s a small practice,” Morrison said. “We all started together at the same time and have gotten to know each other really well. We are able to anticipate each other’s moods and moves and help each other out as needed, which keeps it a low-stress environment. Whether we are busy or not, the clinic always runs smoothly.”</p><p>City of Asheville Employee Health Services is a specialized clinic serving city employees including firefighters, police officers, sanitation drivers, various trades specialists, those in public works, and more. Physicians at the clinic can serve as primary care doctors for city employees. The staff also perform annual occupational health physicals for city staff members, and can serve as a walk-in clinic for urgent care needs if someone gets sick or hurt at work.</p><p>As the clinic has a smaller number of patients than some other practices, Morrison is able to get patients in and out quickly while handling a variety of tasks herself. Her regular responsibilities include checking patients in and out, completing their paperwork, checking vital signs, checking hearing and vision, collecting samples for bloodwork, and more. Since all City employees use the same insurance, she doesn’t have to file insurance or process any claims.</p><p>Morrison said she enjoys the predictability of her job. When there is a new class of academy graduates, each of them comes to the clinic for their physicals. Being clustered in this way creates an easy preparation process for her, though she said there are surprises from time to time.</p><p>“One patient had fallen into a manhole in a street and was pretty banged up,” Morrison said. “There are sometimes minor cuts or other injuries that require minor stitching, but much more than that will require a visit to the emergency room.”</p><p>After 25 years as a nurse, Morrison is happy to work at a practice offering that predictability, a lower number of daily patients to care for, and a regular schedule. She enjoys not having to be in a hurry and having conversations with her patients.</p><p>“Working with the City, I knew I would have better hours,” Morrison said. “It’s a regular Monday through Friday schedule with half days on Fridays. It’s also pretty low-key, more so than pediatrics. Those clinics have so many patients, it would sometimes feel overwhelming. Here, I usually see between five and 10 patients per day, and it’s nice to get to know the people representing our city.”</p><p>As she begins to think about retirement in the future, Morrison said she would enjoy taking more summers to work at summer camps for kids. She has done this four summers in the past, and two years ago spent two months at a girls camp in Maine with five other nurses. </p><p>“It was really fun,” Morrison said. “We saw the girls if they got sick or hurt, and had every Sunday off to explore the area. When I retire, I’ll do that every summer.”</p><p>For now, Morrison is thrilled with her job as an LPN at Asheville’s employee occupational clinic.</p><p>“I’ve met some really great people and enjoy working with my team,” Morrison said. “I live in Haywood County but love to get into the bigger city. I truly love the atmosphere it provides.”</p><p><i>Marilyn Morrison is a licensed practical nurse at City of Asheville Health Services. Learn more about City of Asheville Health Services at M</i><a href="http://marathon-health.com/"><i>arathon-Health.com</i></a><i>.</i></p><br></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.wncbusiness.com">WNC Business</a></small></p>urn:uuid:8c10df02-1d69-4588-8382-09d4198709ee2024-01-28T13:02:54-05:002024-01-28T13:04:31-05:00It's My Job: Cheyenne Mathews - ALLCHOICE Insurance2024-01-29 07:02:42 -0500Randee Brown<span><p>Working with a community-facing business provides a warm working environment for ALLCHOICE Insurance Risk Advisor Cheyenne Mathews.</p><p>After graduating from Western Carolina University with a bachelor’s degree in business marketing, Mathews went to work in banking with HomeTrust Bank and Equity Resources before meeting Jared Bellmund, managing partner of Hendersonville’s ALLCHOICE office. While learning about mortgages and insurance from a banking viewpoint, Mathews got to know Bellmund and saw how he conducted business.</p><p>“I saw how he valued his character and his morals,” Mathews said. “He has a family-focused philosophy and values his employees. I also met Jack (Wingate, ALLCHOICE President and CEO), and that took it to another level. He cares a lot about his employees and wants them to be in a position to succeed in business and in life.”</p><p>Since joining the ALLCHOICE team in 2022, Mathews has worked to advise and educate people about the best way to find the right coverage for the protection they need. By identifying clients’ risks and advising how to best protect against those risks, she helps people discover insurance policies that match their desired budget and value, making sure all the necessary benefits are included in their policies.</p><p>Before writing a policy, Mathews does more than collect information from clients. She uses a process of comparing insurance carriers to determine which will best meet her clients’ needs, creates a spreadsheet, and makes a video to let them know all the details about each carrier’s coverage.</p><p>“We lay it all out and help people get good knowledge and have a good understanding of which coverage is best for them,” Mathews said. “It’s important to us to make sure people are set up and protected well.”</p><p>Mathews strives to relate to clients and understand their “holdups,” and understands why price is so important to so many people. Teaching people the long-term value of an upfront cost while emphasizing her sensitivity to their financial concerns can be tough, but her job is to make sure her clients will be properly taken care of if an accident happens.</p><p>To overcome this challenge, Mathews said she operates how her father raised her and conducted business — by putting herself in other people’s shoes.</p><p>“I strive to be transparent and come from a place of understanding,” Mathews said. “I’ve talked about how to help save costs personally, and always let my clients know there are a variety of options out there that can work for them.”</p><p>Her reward for working through these challenges is hearing people express their satisfaction after she’s helped them find the right solution.</p><p>“Knowing the hours it took to prepare everything made them feel cared about feels good to hear,” Mathews said. “They know they are more than just a number, and it feels good to know I’ve helped to make finding the right insurance a stress-free situation.”</p><p>In addition to knowing her work genuinely helps her clients, another favorite aspect of Mathews’ job is the community involvement that ALLCHOICE encourages. She said every staff member receives an allocation to help support a nonprofit or cause they are passionate about. Mathews sits on the board at Hope Coalition, and is actively involved in the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce and the Fletcher Area Business Association, both of which encourage relationship building throughout the community.</p><p>Mathews also works as an assistant coach with the Henderson High School softball team, a nod to her own journey as a collegiate athlete playing softball for the WCU Catamounts. Her goal as a coach is to remove negative perceptions of collegiate athletics, making sure students have the mental confidence to know they are more than just athletes and they have healthy coping mechanisms to deal with the stress and pressure that come with performance.</p><p>“I want to make sure kids know they are more than just a win for their team,” Mathews said. “It’s their impact on the world that’s important."</p><p><i>Cheyenne Mathews is a Risk Advisor at ALLCHOICE Insurance. Learn more at AllchoiceInsurance.com.</i></p><div><br></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.wncbusiness.com">WNC Business</a></small></p>urn:uuid:6d182cd0-8945-4f2f-815d-1f26bf5bea052023-12-27T10:45:16-05:002023-12-27T10:45:21-05:00It's My Job: Heather Hockaday - Burnsville Town Manager2023-12-28 10:40:19 -0500Randee Brown<span><p>Initially contracted by the Town of Burnsville in 2014 as an attorney, Heather Hockaday became a full time administrator in February of 2020. As Burnsville moved from a mayor/council to a council/manager form of government, she became the Town Manager.</p><p>As regulations become more complex, it becomes more difficult for people in part-time community advocate roles to keep up with changes, according to Hockaday. Working through legal frameworks can be challenging, and it can be easier to put issues in the hands of a management team that brings decisions to a governing board.</p><p>With the overall responsibility of running the Town of Burnsville as an organization, Hockaday is the person to whom various department heads report. She oversees and delegates responsibilities and duties of departmental projects, attends monthly and special meetings, and reports information to the board.</p><p>“I spend a lot of time with public works directors, engineers, and grant writers,” Hockaday said. “We discuss plans on anything from big focuses on updating infrastructure like water and sewer systems to reviewing and preparing service contracts for vendors. I also draft a lot of policies and amendments, sit on the boards for economic development and travel and tourism, meet with the County Manager for projects, work with the finance director on compliance, and review zoning changes and amendments. It’s something different every day.”</p><p>Hockaday said she enjoys infrastructure projects the most. With many people having no idea how water comes and goes through their tap, she finds it very eye-opening to be a part of Burnsville’s efforts to maintain the town’s systems that were initially installed in 1925.</p><p>“It’s exciting to see broken things get fixed and know for years to come the system will work better for the citizens,” Hockaday said. “I grew up here and know many of the town’s business owners. We have a fabulous board and a great mayor, and everyone is working together to achieve the goals that will take the town and the county into the future.”</p><p>The challenge with installation of infrastructure is always money, according to Hockaday. These projects cost millions of dollars, which is increasingly challenging when dealing with a very small customer base.</p><p>“There’s only so much burden you can put on your end users,” Hockaday said. “A lot of people don’t understand property tax, and ad valorem taxes don’t transfer to water and sewer. Resources are finite, and for small towns, the biggest obstacle is to find the money needed for annual maintenance of systems.” </p><p>The Town of Burnsville also works with public and private funders to obtain financing for these important projects. Hockaday said municipalities have the ability to partner with entities such as local chambers of commerce, the state, or organizations like Dogwood Health Trust that can help the town to achieve major projects while responsibly managing its debt.</p><p>Hockaday said the majority of the public has one perception of who does what in local governments, but government work comprises many different fields. While she has worked in legal, administrative, and managerial positions for Burnsville, there are also opportunities in construction, community relations, outreach, recreation, emergency management, and, of course, public works.</p><p>“There are many positions in local governments coming open across the state,” Hockaday said. “We’re losing seasoned workers to retirement and to the private sector, and this is a fabulous career choice with competitive wages and benefits that not many people look into. It’s also a great opportunity to really make a difference in someone’s community.”</p><p>While her current position as Manager is the top in the town’s employment, she does sit at the pleasure of the board, and is happy to stay and move through changes in board directions or policies as concerns evolve over time.</p><p>“I’m very familiar with the local government here, and it’s a good fit for me,” Hockaday said. “My parents are here, my family is here, and my husband and I have our law office here where he practices. I’m very happy with my job and my community, and this is where I hope to stay and finish my career.”</p><p><i>Heather Hockaday is the Town Manager for the Town of Burnsville. Learn more about the Town of Burnsville at TownOfBurnsville.org.</i></p><div><br></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.wncbusiness.com">WNC Business</a></small></p>urn:uuid:7a422a17-b5ac-4534-9c42-dd5f374399cc2023-11-27T09:08:22-05:002023-11-27T09:08:27-05:00It's My Job: Jeannie McEwen - O.P. Taylor's Toy Store2023-11-28 09:06:45 -0500Randee Brown<span><p>Formerly a toy store owner herself, Jeannie McEwen helped John and Susie Taylor open the Greenville, SC location of O.P. Taylor’s Toy Store in 2002.</p><p>McEwen and her daughter were having coffee across the street from the Greenville location when McEwen suggested her daughter introduce herself to the Taylors and ask if the owners needed any help. Her daughter not only started working the next day, she suggested her mom come on to help manage the store. After speaking with the Taylors, McEwen was brought on board to help open the store as its manager. </p><p>“I had previously been a national sales rep at AmericasMart in Atlanta, GA where John was a wholesale customer,” McEwen said. “I knew the routine of wholesale selling, knew what to ask and what deals to make, and John knew it was valuable that I understood both sides of the business.”</p><p>Over the years, McEwen has worn many hats while working closely with other employees to look after the welfare of each store. Working as manager and district manager at various times, her goal has always been to contribute to the success of O.P. Taylor’s stores.</p><p>Upon arrival at a store, McEwen ensures it is clean, tidy, and ready for customers. She changes the display windows at the first of the month, receives merchandise — sometimes hundreds of cases at a time — and unboxes and prices the items, and enters them into the store’s inventory system.</p><p>Between those tasks, McEwen said the first priority is always waiting on customers that come into the store. She said every job has its standard duties, but here she gets to interact with families at some of their happiest moments.</p><p>“Families come in at Christmas time and on birthdays, or when kids have been saving their money and finally get to come in and dump it on the counter to see what they can buy,” McEwen said. “We get excited right along with them. Our job is to make sure they feel excited to be there. We’re really custodians of childhood magic.”</p><p>McEwen said the Taylors still have magic in their eyes when choosing toys. She talks with them about what toys their grandchildren are into, what toys are being played with in school, and what trends are popular at different times, then orders are focused heavily on those types of items. </p><p>O.P. Taylor’s also offers many extras like gift wrapping, batteries, and help with carrying packages to customers’ cars when needed. They’ll offer scissors to customers so kids can start playing with toys right away, demonstrate new products, and show off the latest toys that have just arrived. McEwen said they create an experience that is more than purchasing boxes off a shelf, and these experiences are what lead customers to return to the store again and again.</p><p>While fun and excitement are high priorities in her position, McEwen said there are some challenging moments. Summer camp and Christmas seasons create a “tsunami of freight,” especially in their Brevard store. Having so many cases of freight arriving daily to unbox, price, and put up for sale while keeping aisles clear and maintaining their high level of customer service can be a challenge, but it is important to her to make sure everyone that comes in has a good experience.</p><p>“Campers come to Brevard from all over the country, and for many families, a stop at O.P. Taylor’s is a family tradition,” McEwen said. “We want to keep the magic alive for each member of these families to pass on, and it’s our responsibility to make it a good experience for everyone.”</p><p>As a grandmother of 13, McEwen said working at the toy store is far more enjoyable for her than retirement. She gets the benefit of having meaningful, relevant conversations with her grandkids about toys and what they’re into, and unpacking freight and moving around in the store keeps her physically fit.</p><p>“I don’t thrive in front of the TV,” McEwen said. “Working here keeps me young because I’d much rather be up and out seeing people than sitting back; I’m just not that type. It’s far more enjoyable to be at the store and part of the activities. I don’t see the point of retiring because I’m already doing what I want to do, so why would I stop?”</p><p><i>Jeannie McEwen is the District Manager/Business Developer at O.P. Taylor’s Toy Store. Learn more about O.P. Taylor’s at OPTaylors.com.</i></p><div><br></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.wncbusiness.com">WNC Business</a></small></p>urn:uuid:370c1f6a-58ce-4e9d-9deb-3005c3dffc732023-10-23T12:16:03-04:002023-11-01T19:43:34-04:00It's My Job: Haylee Smith - Meals on Wheels Henderson County2023-10-29 23:11:52 -0400Randee Brown<span><p>Understanding the significance of what the Meals On Wheels program brings to its clients, Program Coordinator Hayley Smith said her job makes it easy to go home from work feeling really good about the work she is doing.</p><p>After attending college with an interest in nonprofit law, Smith joined Meals On Wheels in September of 2022 with some knowledge of the program from a volunteering family member. She began with a part-time position in September of 2022 and moved to a full-time position in January of 2023, taking on additional tasks including performing intake evaluations for nutrition service clients.</p><p>Smith’s duties primarily include communication with and scheduling logistics for delivery drivers as well as communication with MOW clients to make sure they are at home during delivery times. She also connects with other support services in the office to help get clients to resources for a variety of other things in the community. </p><p>“We now have about 300 active clients for Meals On Wheels, and we’re adding about 20 people a month for those services,” Smith said. “We receive about 10 intake forms per week, but there are some people coming off of these services as well. We are starting to see our waiting list go down, which is a great thing.”</p><p>Smith also jumps in to help pack meals for clients. Coming from Pardee or AdventHealth, meals and snacks are packed and organized in the morning with the help of about 20 volunteers per day then distributed throughout the county. She said there are about 35 different routes with about eight clients each, some clients receiving hot meals daily and others receiving five frozen meals once per week.</p><p>“The program had switched to all frozen meals during COVID,” Smith said, “and some of our clients really like that flexibility of not having to be home at certain times every day. For others, it is about more than a hot meal; it’s about socialization, and our drivers are also companions to many of these seniors. They take time to really get to know them and are building relationships with them.”</p><p>Building relationships with her clients has been impactful for Smith as well. She said she is glad to get to know so many people, and her desire to be helpful is growing because of that.</p><p>“I’m very passionate about working to make sure they are all okay,” Smith said. “I was very shy before, and this is also helping me to become more of a people person. The Council’s slogan is No One Ages Alone, and I really try to stand by that to make sure they’re not struggling.”</p><p>Some events really allow Smith to soak in the happiness that her job brings.On Christmas, in partnership with Bounty of Bethlehem and the Salvation Army, volunteers began cooking food at 4:00 AM to make sure meals were ready for clients. They received calls and thank you letters from many of them, and that made Smith realize how much she enjoys working with this population.</p><p>The biggest challenge, according to Smith, is the realization that she can’t immediately help everyone with everything. She said it takes time for clients to join some of these programs, and some people have these needs and are really struggling.</p><p>“The need is so great, and before I worked here, I had no idea,” Smith said. “With such a large aging population the need is only growing. There is only so much we can do, and something has to change on a bigger level.”</p><p>The staff within the Council on Aging and its nutrition programs, which include MOW, Congregate Dining, and Liquid Nutrition, help each other and their clients, according to Smith. There are so many amazing volunteers, and the staff members help each other and work hard to make sure everyone is taken care of. She said though it gets busy and tough sometimes, they all do the best they can to get resources to as many clients as they can.</p><p>“This job has really opened my eyes to the aging population and the importance of advocating for them,” Smith said. “They supported us and our generation, and they are the foundation of where we are now. There are a million other things I could be doing, but I would rather be here doing this.”</p><p><i>Haylee Smith is the Program Director for Meals on Wheels in Henderson County. Learn more at COAHC.org/Meals-On-Wheels.</i></p><br></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.wncbusiness.com">WNC Business</a></small></p>urn:uuid:a2698267-702d-49e5-8d7a-85d9b901f7d02023-09-25T09:37:47-04:002023-09-25T09:41:24-04:00It's My Job: Matthew Addis - Sugar Hollow Solar2023-09-28 09:33:03 -0400Randee Brown<span><p>As technological innovations continue to make their way into the green energy movement, Purchasing and Warehouse Manager at Sugar Hollow Solar Matthew Addis sees an incredible potential for new possibilities for moving away from using fossil fuels.</p><p>Addis said his daily tasks involve receiving and managing warehouse inventory, preparing job-specific equipment for installation crews, and scheduling long-term modular purchasing. </p><p>Solar installation projects are completed in phases. The project manager meets with the client to determine their energy usage, they come up with a proposal and a map of solar arrays. Each project is custom-designed according to the amount of energy needed, then Addis organizes the equipment from the warehouse in order for the installations team to have exactly what they need available.</p><p>Sugar Hollow’s calendar is typically booked anywhere from three to eight months out, according to Addis. He said a variety of businesses and organizations like churches, coffee shops, breweries, farms, warehouses, and other commercial accounts are becoming more popular, and he must schedule some product purchases up to 18 months ahead of time.</p><p>“We were recently accepted into a purchase cooperative called Amicus Solar,” Addis said. “There are more than 70 members that are solar companies, and through this cooperative, we are able to purchase directly from the manufacturer instead of from vendors. It’s a really awesome opportunity to meet directly with executives at big companies that we’ve been purchasing from indirectly for years.”</p><p>Building relationships and facilitating connections is another aspect of Addis’s position. He builds relationships with different product manufacturing companies and will work with them to try out new products. The company’s tech committee looks at new products and technologies as they come out and perform case studies. Sugar Hollow has a strict standard of who they purchase from as well as how long they wait to use brand new technology in the field. </p><p>“There are many new major players in battery energy storage,” Addis said. “There used to only be a few options and now there are 15. We will plug them in here at the shop and see how well they work. There are high warranty standards but we haven’t run into anything major yet; the high standards help a lot.”</p><p>Engineers at Sugar Hollow and the manufacturing companies have meetings to discuss the details of new batteries like composition, components, and software. While Addis facilitates the meetings, the engineers are the ones who ask all the questions, and he said he loves listening to engineers talk. </p><p>“I really like the big picture aspect of the job, imagining all the possibilities for our customers here,” Addis said. “There is always something great coming up that will help solar companies become ubiquitous across the landscape. There are local and global challenges, and exploring new products and new combinations and the solutions the industry comes up with is really fascinating.” </p><p>Just like technologies are often evolving, legislation is also ever-changing, according to Addis. He said while relationships with local, state, and federal governments as well as traditional power companies are mostly good, it can be a challenge to constantly adapt and shift to meet shifting tax breaks, power company rules, and mandates.</p><p>“We sometimes call it the ‘solar coaster’ because it can be very fluid,” Addis said. “There is lots of the same stuff, but constant change.”</p><p>Big-picture thinking is where Addis excels the most. Enjoying long-term planning, he said thinking six to 12 months ahead is pretty typical for him in this position. Even doing the ordinary little things every day is a piece of something larger that’s hopefully changing the world and how people think about energy and its sources and consumption.</p><p>Addis said anyone can earn a paycheck at any job, but this one offers an opportunity to set people on a new path. More opportunities for energy creation that rely on means other than fossil fuels helps everyone.</p><p>“It’s an industry that leads itself to dreaming,” Addis said. “The green energy industry allows you to imagine a better future. Even on hard days here, the days are still filled with hope. Hopefully I’ll be here for a long time.”</p><p><i>Matthew Addis is the Purchasing and Warehouse Manager at Sugar Hollow Solar. Learn more at SugarHollowSolar.com.</i> </p><div><br></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.wncbusiness.com">WNC Business</a></small></p>urn:uuid:f0c12a83-4024-4c51-be0f-8f3b20a1dc8d2023-08-29T10:07:47-04:002023-08-31T13:12:44-04:00It's My Job: Travis Dorsey - Tri-Hishtil2023-08-29 10:07:47 -0400Randee Brown<span><p>For Tri-Hishtil Greenhouse Manager Travis Dorsey, the people attracted to the company makes Tri-Hishtil a great place to work.</p><p>Growing up on a farm in Nashville, GA living and working in agriculture directed Dorsey’s educational path. He said he was comfortable with the lifestyle and enjoyed crop production, subsequently earning a bachelor’s and a master's degree in Entomology at the University of Georgia. After college, he worked in mosquito control before taking a job in Mills River growing crickets indoors for livestock feed. Having gone back home to spend some time on his family farm, he said he was happy to return to WNC when his current position became available.</p><p>Reaching his fourth year as Greenhouse Manager, Dorsey was new to the greenhouse industry when he began. “I really like the integration of tech into agriculture,” he said. “It’s fascinating to see where this business is headed, and the future of agriculture is really attractive. I want to be at the forefront of that.”</p><p>Tri-Hishtil grows a variety of fruits in a controlled greenhouse environment and distributes them to commercial growers nationwide. Dorsey said 90% of their plants are watermelon, often the seedless variety, which are grafted onto squash rootstocks. Growing the plants in this way allows more vigorous growth of the plant, promotes resistance to certain root- or soil-borne diseases, and in some instances helps the plants to be more drought tolerant.</p><p>“It’s more expensive for our customers, but the intention is for the customers to save money on pesticide application and irrigation,” Dorsey said. “They have a healthier plant extracting more nutrients out of the soil and are more resistant against the elements.”</p><p>As the Greenhouse Manager, Dorsey manages a team of eight full-time assistant growers, and they are working on hiring two more. Dorsey said they are cross-trained throughout all of the greenhouse’s zones, consisting of different plants at various stages of growth. Outside of his core team, there are 20 to 30 seasonal laborers working on a variety of tasks including record keeping, irrigation, and other physical labor.</p><p>There are approximately 115 staff members in the growing season, with the grafting room comprising 90 to 100 seats. Grafters and quality control specialists work under the Operations Supervisor, but Dorsey said part of his job involves lots of logistics, scheduling and figuring out what happens each day in the grafting room.</p><p>Dorsey’s additional responsibilities include overseeing the pest management program, adjusting plant protocols — “complicated recipe books for how to grow plants,'' preparing plants for grading and shipping, checking in with the growing team to perform assessments, and planning the following week’s grafting. It also involves quite a bit of intuition, according to Dorsey. He also conducts research focused on adjustments for growing protocols and standard operating procedures, the utilization of different fertilizers and production methods, and working with new crops to see if grafting techniques work within their existing infrastructure. </p><p>“All the work is done by hand; there’s no automation,” Dorsey said. “This business is a weird combination of farming and manufacturing and a little bit of a peak-hour restaurant. It’s a fast paced, dynamic workplace.”</p><p>Green tissue grafting allows for a faster healing process than woody plants require, and in a little more than a month and a half, each plant is off to a customer, allowing multiple harvests each growing season. He said the growing season can be demanding, but the strong team and positive work environment make it worthwhile.</p><p>The best part of working in this position, according to Dorsey, is taking a walk through the greenhouse. “I love to see all the plants growing,” he said. “When everyone is busy or on break, a greenhouse walk allows me to view the plants and use my intuition. It’s somewhat meditative.</p><p>The future looks green for Dorsey, as he said his goal is to continue working in the greenhouse or modern farm business in some capacity. “I grew up on a farm,” he said. “It’s in my blood.”</p><p><i>Travis Dorsey is the Greenhouse Manager at Tri-Hishtil. Learn more at TriHishtil.com.</i></p><div><br></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.wncbusiness.com">WNC Business</a></small></p>urn:uuid:1ecfb51d-717d-47f6-bf09-48295712bf272023-07-28T14:07:31-04:002023-08-02T09:07:11-04:00It's My Job: Josie Mundy - Woodson Branch Nature School2023-07-28 14:07:30 -0400Randee Brown<span><p>For Josie Mundy, working with children in an alternative education program and seeing the world through their eyes creates the perfect job for her.</p><p>Woodson Branch Nature School is a private K-8 school in Madison County that fosters a holistic approach to education by including experiential lessons in the classroom and in nature. Mundy began working with the school’s Founder, Deborah DeLisle, at Hot Springs Community Preschool in 2008 and transitioned to her current position with WBNS at the start of the school’s second year in 2017. </p><p>“Our school values academics as well as teamwork, critical thinking, and how we interact with the earth, as well as social/emotional aspects like centering and how to follow through when we experience strong feelings,” Mundy said. “This helps them become better all-around members of the community.”</p><p>Mundy said she wears a lot of hats as Director, making sure everything is running smoothly. Since the school doesn’t have as many indoor spaces as a traditional school and the students are outdoors in all types of weather, she helps to make sure all the kids are dressed well for rain or snow.</p><p>Other tasks include helping to facilitate any changes in parent’s pick-up times, caring for children who are not feeling well until their parents pick them up, and helping configure substitute teachers if necessary, occasionally stepping in to cover classes.</p><p>“I love when I get to sub in a classroom or be a volunteer reader,” Mundy said. “Reading is so valuable, and I love to read with lots of emotion to help the kids picture the story.”</p><p>A large part of the Director of School Operations position at WBNS also involves evaluating the curriculum to learn what the school is lacking, then reaching out to people offering just that, according to Mundy. She said she often reaches out to people and programs offering hands-on and body-movement activities and nature-based programs like the Forest Service and the Nature Center to complement the existing specials offered such as Outdoor Education, Survival, and Agriculture.</p><p>“We get to play around with the curriculum and build it to what we value is important,” Mundy said. “We are currently looking at adding music and perhaps foreign language. We will be adding a new STEAM lab to open this fall which will include a 3D printer and engraver, GoPro cameras and drones, claymation materials, an interactive SMART Board, and more. We will be incorporating a lot of STEAM lessons and using this lab with each grade level, and to think about all the possibilities is so exciting.”</p><p>Mundy said she also plays a large role in organizing fundraising events for the school, which she said are also unique and geared toward bringing the community together. These events include the infamous Muck Boot Ball, the Appalachian Heritage Festival, and a BBQ and plant sale.</p><p>“Students are deeply involved in each of these events,” Mundy said. “The kids help jar and make the labels for lavender honey made with campus-grown lavender. They sell pumpkins that they helped grow in our garden. They sow the seeds and make the markers for all of the starter plants in our plant sale. We fundraise with events aligned with who we are and our goals and passions, not things for parents to buy out of a catalog. We put love and energy into each thing we plant and sow and make here.”</p><p>Working at WBNS aligns with the values of her entire family, according to Mundy. “My mom, husband, and daughter work here, and I have a son attending school here,” she said. “We build relationships with the students in different ways, and it’s really nice to be able to go to work and come home together. We are an active family, and it’s great to work here in the fresh air and sunshine while supporting an alternative education program that truly listens to the needs of the children.”</p><p><i>Josie Mundy is the Director of Operations at Woodson Branch Nature School. Learn more about WBNS at MadisonCCLC.org.</i></p><div><br></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.wncbusiness.com">WNC Business</a></small></p>urn:uuid:a9e2abf3-9a90-47a7-a7df-a9f1beb122d02023-06-21T15:27:41-04:002023-06-29T00:03:50-04:00It's My Job: Cory Greene - Talisman Summer Camp2023-06-28 03:27:23 -0400Randee Brown<span><p>For Cory Greene, camp director at Talisman Summer Camp in Zirconia, the biggest reward he can ask for is the smile of a child.</p><p>Talisman Summer Camp operates with a focus on attendees with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and Autism. Their programs are designed with the necessity of understanding sensory sensitivity and possible motor movement skill limitations.</p><p>Approaching his fourth summer season as director, Greene is responsible for all of the summer operations including staffing and training. He plans activities and program schedules, and hires new and returning staff for summer seasons.</p><p>Working as assistant director the 6 years prior, Greene said the summer of 2020 was an interesting way of encouraging Talisman Summer Camp to examine their programs to see what was working and what they needed to update.</p><p>“Many of our programs were based on tradition,” Greene said. “The changes initiated by the pandemic gave us an intentional way to return to our core values, changing necessary procedures and activities while still being the summer camp that we want to be.</p><p>“Closing was not an option for us with only 18% of camps in the area opened during the summer of 2020, but we still felt the need to serve our campers.”</p><p>Activities at Talisman don’t typically differ tremendously from ‘typical’ summer camp activities, though Greene said there are some considerations that must be made to properly care for attendees with ADHD and Autism. He said that they offer activities such as rock climbing, archery, and kayaking, though the big difference is how the staff addresses each activity with the children.</p><p>“We do a lot of pre- and post-activity processing,” Green said. “We offer plenty of time for the kids to ask questions so that they fully understand the upcoming activity, and after the activity is completed we offer plenty of discussion to hear what each individual liked and didn’t like. It’s similar to traditional activities, just on a slower schedule.”</p><p>Another difference is the group structure. Greene said that in traditional camps, children may have an array of staff that they interact with for various activities. At Talisman, small groups are paired with three staff members that stick with them for the duration of their stay. Greene said that this model helps to build bonds that the kids value and allows them to feel more comfortable while they are at camp.</p><p>“Neurodiversity shouldn’t mean that some of these kids can’t go to summer camp,” Greene said. “We may have to do things a bit more differently, but we are giving them their fair shot.”</p><p>As times are progressing since the beginning of the pandemic, Greene said that he has noticed a trend of slowing down the progression of learning new outdoor skills. “Many kids have anxiety about getting outdoors because the experience is so new to them,” he said. “We work to help kids feel secure by doing campouts here on our property instead of in the wilderness, and slowly introducing new skills like kayaking and climbing.”</p><p>At the same time, Greene said that it is more important than ever for the camping industry to be progressive while taking these smaller steps and offer experiences that kids can’t do at home. He said that many camps are upgrading ropes courses and ziplines, adding BMX bike tracks, and even renaming cabins to mesh with modern popular culture.</p><p>“We can’t continue to rely exclusively on traditions,” Greene said. “We’ve got to upgrade and innovate.”</p><p>Greene said that the opportunities provided by Talisman are positive for both the kids as well as the counselors and staff. “My favorite thing is to see a kid smile,” Greene said. “They desperately want to make friends and have a good experience. The staff are gaining confidence in their skills and ability to get this job done. It’s so gratifying to walk around the camp in the summer and just stop, listen, and watch. I see the camp working, kids and counselors playing, everyone enjoying their time, and it just feels great. That means we are accomplishing our mission.”</p><p><i>Cory Greene is the Camp Director at Talisman Summer Camps. Learn more at TalismanCamps.com. </i></p><div><br></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.wncbusiness.com">WNC Business</a></small></p>