Thank you to our sponsors Park National Bank, The Matt & Molly Team, Sierra Nevada and FASTSIGNS for making this event possible!
View photos from the event on Facebook here.
A Look at Asheville is a female-owned and operated coffee table publication showcasing Western North Carolina’s local businesses and creatives to its 3 million readers. A Look at Asheville is always looking to create a beautiful publication with fresh editorial content and photography that will well represent Asheville and its surrounding communities. In response to changing visitor patterns, the company has expanded its distribution to vacation rentals and retail stores. With the launch of its new website in 2023, A Look At Asheville anticipates further growth in revenue and job positions to support ongoing blog content and editorial highlights.
ActionCOACH Growth Partners, a business and executive coaching firm founded in 2006, has experienced continued growth in the past few years. The company helps business owners, entrepreneurs, and CEOs grow their business by building better teams, earning more money, and finding the time to do the things they went into business for in the first place. With plans to add an administrative team member, a business development person, and a business coach this year, the company attributes its success to community involvement, innovation, and its commitment to providing high-quality business education, coaching, and accountability. When facing adversity, the company offered free workshops, coaching sessions, and webinars during the pandemic, and plans to launch a free young entrepreneurs education course in 2023.
All Souls Counseling Center, a leading nonprofit provider of quality mental health counseling focusing on underinsured and uninsured people, experienced substantial growth in 2022 and 2023. The Center added two new full-time positions last year and two new part-time positions in 2023 this year to enable the Center to better respond to the growing demand for mental health counseling in the community, particularly among vulnerable populations such as those experiencing homelessness. All Souls Counseling has responded creatively to challenges, securing grants to expand its services and collaborating with community partners, donors, and volunteers to serve more clients.
Allegra Image 360, the full-service printing and marketing company, has experienced steady job and revenue growth over the past few years. The company has added several full-time positions in the past two years and plans to continue adding more as the business grows. Celebrating 25 years in business in 2023, they attribute their success to their excellent reputation, networking opportunities, and direct mail campaigns, and have responded to the tightening labor market by increasing salaries and focusing on employee retention. Additionally, the company is actively involved in supporting many local non-profits and charities.
Since its inception in 2020, Atelier Maison & Co. has experienced momentous growth. With a focus on healthy, sustainable furniture and accessories, the company has established itself as a leading home furnishings destination in the Asheville Design District. Its revenue has doubled in the last three years, and the company has added numerous new positions, including Design Consultants, Marketing staff, and a Buying Dept. manager. Atelier Maison & Co. has remained agile and committed to its mission of inspiring positive growth in both its clients and the community, including monthly company volunteering at local charity partners.
Carleton Collins Architecture (CCA) works with a variety of public and private clientele to explore how architecture can enrich and sustain community life. Carleton Collins Architecture has experienced meaningful growth since its founding in 2017, focusing on designing for people, purpose, and place. Despite challenges in finding employees, CCA has responded with creativity and innovation, integrating technology and sustainable design features into their projects. CCA is also active in the community, sponsoring events and serving on boards to contribute to the development of Asheville and surrounding areas. With a growing base of clients and a diverse range of project types, CCA is poised for continued growth and a positive impact on their community.
A ten-time Sky High Growth Award Winner, Carolina Mornings, Inc. is the longest-running vacation rental management company in Asheville. They have grown their business by managing over 150 vacation properties in Western North Carolina. To maintain a good work-life balance for its team members, the company has added several new positions over the past two years, ranging from full-time housekeeping assistants to property management coordinators. The company has responded to changing market conditions by investing heavily in growth, aligning company roles, and increasing the number of employees to ensure it can consistently exceed its high standards.
The craft soda company, Devil’s Foot Beverage, sources organic roots and fruits from local and regional farmers to brew their delicious farm-to-can sodas. The company has grown rapidly since it was founded in 2016. With two full-time positions created in 2021, including a “Soda Ninja,” as well as two part-time positions, the company anticipates hiring more positions this year. With innovation key to its mission and values, Devil’s Foot has diversified its business to include craft canned cocktails via Devil’s Foot Distillery and collaboration distilleries. The company attributes its success to its outstanding staff, community, quality and character. Devil’s Foot actively supports the community, including hosting monthly nonprofit fundraisers called “Doing Good through Business.”
Since its founding in 2018, Franny’s Farmacy, the seed-to-shelf CBD company, has shown remarkable workforce growth and revenue growth. The company has added various positions to its team to empower its employees and facilitate business growth, resulting in an anticipated 2023 job growth in event planning and franchise support. In response to hardships iver the last two years, Franny’s Farmacy made swift changes to ensure job retention and growth, exhibiting creativity and innovation by releasing three new product lines and remaining involved in the community by participating in local events and donating to non-profit causes such as Last Prisoner Project, a nonprofit to help those in prison for nonviolent cannabis crimes to be released.
In the past year, GoMinis Portable Storage has experienced significant growth due to diversification into the restoration and renovation business. Because of increased demand for portable storage containers in the community, the company has added 48 new GoMinis in the past year and innovated by changing its platform for clients and staff service. A three-time Sky High Growth Award Winner, the company has also been involved in community initiatives such as Toys for Tots, Homeward Bound, and Safe Santa.
Hulsey Media, the leading magazine publisher in Western North Carolina, has experienced continued growth since its founding in 2014, expanding its portfolio of targeted, content-rich publications and digital marketing solutions, including include WNC Business, Aging Resources Magazine, Hendersonville Magazine, Hendersonville Holidays, Healthcare Resources of WNC, The Real Estate Book of Asheville/Hendersonville, WNC Homeowners Resource Guide, Asheville Ale Trail, Upstate Ale Trail, and Discovery Maps. The company has created new job opportunities in Sales and Marketing, Business Development, Editorial, and Operations Management positions, and anticipates further growth in 2023. Hulsey Media has continued to prioritize its customers, community, and team members while exhibiting creativity, innovation, and community involvement.
I Need A VA, a virtual staffing and outsourcing company, has experienced major growth since its inception in 2021. With a focus on providing highly trained and vetted virtual staff for small businesses and non-profits, the company hired 19 full-time virtual assistants in 2021, and 65 in 2022, with plans to add 100-150 new full-time virtual assistant positions in 2023. In addition to its growth, I Need A VA is involved in the community, particularly in supporting domestic violence victims, and its CEO, Brittany Bettini, is a recognized entrepreneur named one of Business Elite’s 40 under 40.
Since its founding in 2008, Kaplan CFO Solutions has experienced steady growth by providing part-time CFO services and financial leadership to small and medium-sized businesses. The company has added five new full-time positions in 2021 and 2022 and anticipates adding six more in 2023 to meet the demand for their services. Kaplan CFO Solutions has been able to serve clients all over the country by working remotely and has helped them navigate various financial challenges. Their CFOs serve on 19 different boards and finance committees across the community and have helped many companies, non-profits and medical practices thrive and grow.
Twelve-time Sky High Growth Award winner Mosaix Group is an Asheville-based company that provides full-spectrum corporate events and meeting experiences defined by quality, collaboration, and creativity. Mosaix Group hit its creative stride in 2022, leading to a record sales year, which the company attributes to high-value referrals based on a long history of successful projects and increased demand following the pandemic. The company experienced job growth in 2021 and 2022 with strategic hires and promotions, streamlining of departments, and successful completion of key projects, positioning it as a contender in new markets.
Nomadic Marketing + Software, the full-service digital agency founded in 2019, has experienced significant growth in recent years. With its primary departments offering digital marketing and software engineering services, the company has added several new positions to its workforce, with an anticipated six more positions to be added in 2023. Nomadic Marketing + Software has responded to adversity by investing in employee benefits and has exhibited creativity and innovation by providing interesting cultural benefits and experiences for its employees. The two-time Sky High Growth Award winner is also involved in the community, having volunteered hundreds of hours for organizations it believes in.
Physio Physical Therapy and Wellness
Local health and wellness company, Physio Physical Therapy and Wellness has been steadily growing in the last few years, including opening a second location in West Asheville. They have added multiple full-time positions, including therapists and administrative staff, and plan to continue this trend by adding at least four full-time positions in 2023. A four-time Sky High Growth Award winner, Physio focuses on providing excellent customer service and has been voted the Best Physical Therapy Clinic in Asheville for 10 consecutive years.
Printville, the printing company founded in 2009, has grown significantly in both revenue and workforce over the past few years. The company’s commitment to providing high-quality printing services with integrity and speed has helped it remain resilient during challenging times. Printville has responded to supply-chain issues within the industry by taking on new customers and building sustainable, long-term relationships, and it has also been involved in the community through sponsorships and donations to non-profit organizations. With multiple locations in Western North Carolina and plans for future growth, Printville is a five-time Sky High Growth Award winner and continues to be a valuable resource for startups in the region.
Quility Insurance was founded in 2020 to protect American families from financial hardship after losing a loved one and since then has experienced significant growth and revenue. With a focus on innovation, strong community and business partnerships, and a dedicated workforce of full-time employees in WNC, the company is projected to continue expanding several departments, creating over 40 new positions by 2023. Additionally, Quility has exhibited adaptability in tough times and a commitment to community involvement through philanthropic partnerships and employee engagement.
From holding over 100 onsite flu clinics at businesses to coordinating daily free deliveries to hundreds of patients across WNC, Sona meets the community where they are and rises to whatever the need is, ensuring that Asheville and WNC residents have all their pharmacy needs taken care of by people who truly care. That commitment has driven Sona’s success, including expansion of their delivery team and service area to serve patients in rural communities; expanded services and reaching new patients at their existing pharmacies; and plans to open a new location this summer in South Asheville. The six-time Sky High Growth Award winner has also created partnerships with Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP), YMCA of WNC, and organizations like WNCAP to support community health initiatives focused on creating healthy lifestyles, as well as providing aid to previously marginalized communities.
Tessier Associates, is a full-service real estate firm offering property management and brokerage services. The company has experienced considerable growth since its founding in 1985 and is a three-time Sky High Growth Award winner. The company has added multiple new positions to its team, with plans for continued growth in 2023. Tessier’s growth has been attributed to its focus on relationships, providing excellent service and hiring dedicated, hardworking individuals. Despite facing adversity over the past two years, including the COVID-19 pandemic and rapid growth, Tessier has adapted to change by creating internal systems and policies and by continually improving technology. In all they do, Tessier remains committed to supporting and reinvesting in its community.
Since its formation in 2011, The Matt & Molly Team has become one of the top real estate teams in Western North Carolina, with a workforce that has grown from just two to 15 full-time employees. Since joining forces, Matt & Molly have been one of the top real estate teams in our region, have been voted # 1 Real Estate Agents in Western North Carolina for multiple years running, have been recognized by Keller Williams International and continue to have fun doing what they love. The team is constantly challenging each other to evolve and excel while maintaining its consistency and commitment to client satisfaction. A five-time Sky High Growth Award winner, the team is deeply involved in the local community, donating to various organizations, sponsoring events, and volunteering their time.
Winning their fourth Sky High Growth Award, Union Transfer & Storage has experienced growth in an array of ways in recent years, expanding their business lines to fit a growing market by adding interior design concierge, special projects, and commercial warehousing. The company expects to add several new full-time positions expected to be in 2023. Union Transfer & Storage responded creatively to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic by cross-training employees to operate in different roles and pivoting to meet the needs of the community. Having served the area for almost 100 years, Union Transfer & Storage strives to be an active part of the community by offering moving services free of charge to those in need, donating time and resources to local businesses, and partnering with community members to serve the community.
In the past few years, UPM Raflatac, a global provider of self-adhesive paper and film products, has experienced growth in revenue and employment, with plans for continued expansion. The company attributes its success to its innovation in sustainable labeling solutions, commitment to responsible business practices, effective commercial strategy, and growth in label market demand. A two-time Sky High Growth Award winner, UPM Raflatac prides itself on being a major and responsible manufacturer in our community, providing both quality job opportunities while striving to create an inclusive, diverse and safe workplace. They have responded to changing workforce dynamics by prioritizing employee well-being, implementing flexible working environments, and creating new positions to meet market demand. Additionally, the company is actively involved in the community and focused on innovating sustainable sourcing and operations.
Since its founding in 2013, Warren Restoration has seen continued growth, expanding from to 22 full-time employees to support homeowners and businesses with expert and compassionate service when disaster strikes from water damage, fire damage, storm damage and mold remediation. The two-time Sky High Growth Award winner has increased revenue 43%, which can be attributed to increased marketing, word of mouth, and community involvement. Warren Restoration successfully navigated the pandemic as an essential emergency service. The company has been actively involved in the community, engaging with various organizations and expanding its services, including the 1800BoardUp division and a plumbing franchise to increase water loss leads.