2020 Sky High Growth Awards

At the Asheville Chamber, we believe that together, we are MORE. Our combined efforts are more impactful in moving our community forward than any one business, special interest or industry. As THE local champion for a balanced, thriving economy, we are honored to recognize the successes of businesses right here in our community.

The 2020 Sky High Growth Award Winners are overcoming challenges. Reaching beyond past successes. Taking their businesses to the next level. Sky High winners are creating jobs, and they are giving back. We applaud you for your business successes and for the contributions you make to the community.

We were thrilled to host a drive-thru Sky High Awards reception on July 21st to honor this year’s winners.

Facebook live stream of the 2020 Sky High Growth Awards
Photos from the drive-thru reception

(pictured above from left: Jessica Kanupp, Asheville Chamber; Amy Jackson, Asheville Chamber; John Scroggs, TD Bank; Ric Davenport, FASTSIGNS of Asheville; Kristi Shrum, Insurance Service of Asheville; Fielding Lowe, Park National Bank.)

In his presenting sponsor remarks, Fielding Lowe from Park National Bank (formerly represented in the area by Carolina Alliance Bank and Forrest Commercial Bank) said: “For over 100 years, Park National Bank has continually adapted to serve our communities and our customers. Just like the members of this Chamber, we are proud to be part of this community. Supporting it through monetary support and involvement remains a priority.”

2020 Sky High Growth Award Winners:

APEX Brain Center

Since opening seven years ago, APEX Brain Center has had a strong vision and sound business model. APEX Brain Center has achieved steady growth through continued clinical excellence, never straying from their vision and having achieved true thought leadership and influencer status in their areas of expertise.

Asheville Arborists

Asheville Arborists is a team of Certified Arborists and Tree Workers that have served Western North Carolina since 2010. The team’s passion for trees is evident in their well-researched and expertly managed approach to tree care, pruning, and removal. A strong commitment to continuing education allows each Asheville Arborist employee to reach their highest potential as well as provide excellent customer service. In the last four years, Asheville Arborists has steadily increased its workforce and annual revenue.

Asheville Art Museum

The Asheville Art Museum has undergone a major reconstruction project resulting in a state of the art, world class American art museum. From the grand re-opening in November until COVID-19 required a temporary closure, the Asheville Art Museum saw an unprecedented number guests from around the world and has doubled its membership base with families and patrons from around WNC. The renovation of the Asheville Art Museum has anchored Asheville as an arts destination.

Avadim Health, Inc.

Avadim is a high-growth, healthcare and wellness company that sells topical products to improve immune health, neuromuscular health and skin barrier health. Avadim Health reaches for new ways to improve health and enhance quality of life. Avadim’s innovative products and therapies are making a difference in a wide range of areas—from infection and wound care to muscle cramps and more. They have received the Sky High Growth Award for the past six years.

Big Frog Custom T-shirts & More

Opened in 2015, Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More offers custom apparel branding, screen printing and embroidery. This small business says “It’s all about community.” Owner David Riddell and his team give time, money and products to community causes. David has been a great connector within the  community and the chamber.

Blue Ridge Pharmacy

Blue Ridge Pharmacy is one of few independently owned and operated long term care pharmacies in North Carolina. As a long-term care pharmacy, Blue Ridge Pharmacy provides extended care support to improve the health and wellbeing of the elderly, and people with mental and physical challenges. This past year, Blue Ridge Pharmacy increased their service component to include detention facilities within the Carolinas. Consistent efforts to expand and discover new service avenues in 2019, continue to push Blue Ridge Pharmacy’s footprint further into a regional service partner, now extending from the coast of southeastern South Carolina to the northeastern coast of North Carolina and sites as far west as Nashville, Tennessee.

Carolina Furniture Concepts

Founded in 2020, Carolina Furniture Concepts has increased showroom from 35K sq ft to 70K sq ft. Over the past year, this small business also added additional delivery teams to deliver merchandise more quickly to customers.

Carolina Hemp Company

Carolina Hemp Company has developed a plan for long term sustainable growth in this emerging industry. The company says it has been a momentous effort to navigate the political and regulatory landscape while simultaneously achieving growth. Carolina Hemp Company has also dedicated a great amount of time and energy building strong collaborative relationships and educational forums.

Carolina Mornings

Carolina Mornings continues to be a local leader of vacation rentals in the Asheville area. Relationships with property owners, guests, and community help Carolina Mornings thrive and fulfill their mission of creating positive experiences for everyone they interact with.

East Fork Pottery

Since its inception in 2013, East Fork Pottery has consistently grown their business. Beginning with three co-founders, East Fork reached 78 employees in 2019. While consistently maintaining a core design, the ceramics company has created a “collector mentality” through seasonal color releases that are continuously evolving. The company has exceptional brand loyalty, as well. East Fork aims to pursue growth thoughtfully and responsibly—not for its own sake—but rather in service to their mission, vision and values while prioritizing solid middle-class jobs in WNC. CEO & Co-Founder, Alex Matisse said: “In the end, we commit to two things above all else: our people and our process.”

Greater Asheville Regional Airport

Asheville Regional Airport has been an economic cornerstone in our region for nearly 60 years – now contributing $1.5 billion in annual economic impact and generating 9,000 jobs for the region. The airport has experienced seven consecutive years of growth, and the past six years have been years of record growth. The airport ended 2019 with an astounding 43% increase in passenger utilization, one of the highest growth percentages among airports in the country. They have worked hard to manage the growth with the addition of a parking garage, more parking under construction, additions of aircraft ramp (parking) space, more passenger amenities (like food and beverage options and a parking shuttle service), and more.

Harmony at Reynolds Mountain

Harmony at Reynold’s Mountain offers Independent, Assisted and Secured Assisted Living. Since opening in 2016, Harmony at Reynold’s Mountain has seen continued growth. They continuously strive to provide top notch services to residents residing in our community. The leadership team at Harmony at Reynold’s Mountain works diligently to support one another and grow their teams and departments with one goal in mind: to provide high quality services to residents. They say, “We are Family Serving Families.”

Hi-Wire Brewing

Hi-Wire Brewing is a growing staple of the Asheville homegrown-business community. The brewery has been growth-oriented, while remaining true to its spirit and its core values, since its inception in 2013. Since winning a Sky High award in 2015, Hi-Wire has continued to grow, despite significant a slowdown in its industry. H-Wire’s growth is attributed to the brewery’s quality, consistency, brand loyalty, and perhaps most importantly, its evolving and adapting products and business plan. Over the past few-years Hi-Wire has focused on collaborative projects with local, regional, and national breweries, taking their beer to outside markets for distribution and opening taprooms all in an effort to grow the Hi-Wire family.

IFB Solutions

IFB Solutions provides opportunities for persons who are blind or visually impaired in need of training, employment and services. They believe that all persons who are blind or visually impaired have the right to succeed in every area of life. IFB Solutions attributes their success to bringing in new products, an Increase in government spending with military contracts and partnership with other government contractors.

Kudzu Brands

Kudzu Brands, like its namesake, has grown each year since it the company was founded in 2009 -increasing revenue and adding jobs. The full service marketing and branding agency work has supported the growth of over 500 businesses in the region. Kudzu Brands demonstrates resiliency, tenacity and the drive to \”keep on keeping on\”. They attribute their success to listening to clients and adjusting to clients’ needs, as well as the needs of the changing market.

Mercy Urgent Care

Local, not-for-profit Mercy Urgent Care is celebrating 120 years of mercy for the mountains!  The Sisters of Mercy arrived in Asheville in 1900, operating St. Joseph’s Hospital until its sale in 1998. Since 1985, Mercy has been here for 1.5 million patients, providing more than a half-million dollars in charity care locally and internationally each year, all while increasing access to quality, affordable care from 3 to 8 centers in the past 3 years. Mercy has also partnered with local physicians to treat their patients when they can’t especially holidays, after hours, and on weekends.

Mosaix Group

In 2019, event and destination management company Mosaix Group hired three new full-time staff. A nine time Sky High Growth Award winner that continues to strive for excellence…

Because of the significant revenue increase the company saw in 2018, 2019 was a year for investment in additional office space and marketing initiatives. In 2019 and early 2020, the company truly saw a significant jump in the level of long-term partnerships with high-profile clients. The company secured contracts with large media firms, a well-known restaurant group, a multi-national electronics retailer, and multiple automotive groups. Additionally, staff tackled several high-profile sporting events, including the official pre-game for the Dr. Pepper ACC Championship in Charlotte.

Physio Physical Therapy and Wellness

Since 2012, Physio Physical Therapy and Wellness has made its utmost mission to help as many people as possible become their best, most active selves. Over the years, this company has grown and continued a healthy increase in revenue year over year. Physio has focused on being active in the community and working diligently on solidifying their team. That focus has helped the company achieve a good reputation which in turn inspires them to do great things.

Solfarm Solar

SolFarm Solar Co. is a local solar installation company dedicated to making Asheville a better place for future generations to live and thrive. They have a passionate and talented team of folks dedicated to reducing carbon emissions and fighting climate change. They attribute their success to SolFarm’s vision, passion, and dedication to a cause that they believe in.

Sona Pharmacy + Clinic

After years of listening to patient needs, pharmacists Todd Tamplin and Dean Clayton put together a team of experts to build a new model – and Sona Pharmacy + Clinic was born — a locally-owned community pharmacy and clinic where you can find doctors, nurses, and pharmacists working together on your behalf. Outside of traditional community pharmacies, Sona also partners with local employer groups to actively manage and reduce their employee benefit pharmacy spend. This program has helped companies significantly reduce their costs and improve their employee benefit offerings. Keeping the patient at the center of every business decision has allowed the company to build a new and innovative pharmacy model that the Asheville community continues to embrace.

Storm Guard of Appalachia

Founded in 2016, Storm Guard continues to more than double year over year and has set itself apart nationally. It is the winner of multiple awards and commendations and continues to bring future business and stability to this region with its growth and income potential. Storm Guard has qualified as a platinum contractor  – a distinction less than 1% of contractors in America are able to qualify for.

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific has demonstrated sustained growth in sales and employment opportunities over the past 4 years. In 2019, the company added 57 new positions and increased revenue $33 million versus prior year. Following Thermo Fisher’s 4 Values of Integrity, Intensity, Innovation and Involvement make up the company’s culture and guide employees’ interactions – with customers, suppliers and partners, and with each other. These four values are the very foundation of Thermo Fisher’s culture, and have been fundamental to their continued growth.

TurnKey Vacation Rentals

In two and a half years, TurnKey Vacation Rentals has gone from startup to 2 million dollars in revenue. And they have grown from 1 full-time employee in 2017 to 6 local full-time employees and more than 30 part-time employees in 2020. They attribute their success to networking through the Chamber and Association of Realtors, great partnerships and a very good business model.

Wicked Weed

Since 2012, Wicked Weed Brewing has built five unique concepts and facilities over the last 7 years. The company opened with 60 employees and ended 2019 with 317 employees working in Buncombe County. And Wicked Weed’s revenue has grown from $5 million to $30 million in 2019. Wicked Weed has won numerous awards from beer, to culinary, to entrepreneurial, to philanthropy and continues to set their sights on the next adventure to take on. Wicked Weed has always focused on quality and innovation. The goal has never been to copy what is going on in the industry but to be trailblazers and set the trends.

Zoe Dental

For three years in a row, Zoe Dental has set company records. As a team, Zoe Dental sets high standards in comprehensive care, creating lifelong relationships and community outreach. CEO Dr Stamatiades sets the tone for the company’s culture by creating a business that not only delivers top-quality dental care, but also cultivates an environment that allows his team to thrive both personally and professionally. Dr. Stamatiades has expanded both the clinical and administrative teams within the past year, and added a fourth doctor to the team of providers, which directly and positively affected the success and growth of the practice. Zöe Dental is both a leading dental provider in WNC and a philanthropic entity that gives back to both Asheville and the surrounding communities.