AB Tech Community College graduates who want to continue their education with a bachelor’s degree now have a direct pathway to do so at Mars Hill University. Mars Hill President Tony Floyd and AB Tech President Dennis King signed paperwork this afternoon creating the Mountain Lion-Trailblazer Promise: A Direct-Entry Admission Program. The program will streamline the process for AB Tech’s associate’s degree graduates to continue their education by pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Mars Hill.
Announcement
Mark your calendar for Wednesday, February 26th; from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., community members are invited to check out the YWCA’s facilities and try the gym, pool, and group fitness classes for free. To encourage healthy lifestyles regardless of shape or size, the YWCA recently debuted a new campaign, called #YWCAisforeveryBODY. The open house will also be a celebration of the body positivity policy, which de-emphasizes weight loss and emphasizes health at every size. They hope to set an example of body positivity for other fitness centers locally and regionally.
Certification
South College has earned accreditation from the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) for the business and management programs offered through the School of Business & Technology. South College offers business programs at its campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee, and Asheville, North Carolina, and online.
Hire
John Hobson, M.D., a board-certified vascular surgeon, has joined Vascular Surgery at Pardee UNC Health Care in Hendersonville. Dr. Hobson is interested in cerebral and peripheral vascular diseases, as well as aortic aneurysms. Dr. Hobson earned his medical degree from Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem and completed his internship and residency at Carilion Health in Roanoke, Virginia, and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He is board-certified in vascular surgery, and is currently accepting new patients.
Pardee’s Mills River location also has a new addition. Kyle Judkins, D.O., CAQSM, a board-certified family medicine and sports medicine physician, has joined Pardee Family and Sports Medicine, located at 3334 Boylston Hwy, Ste. 20, in Mills River. He earned his medical degree from Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia; completed his internship and residency at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem; and completed a fellowship at Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) in Asheville. He is currently accepting new patients.
Josh Teague, a licensed North Carolina attorney with more than 12 years of experience, has joined Capua Law as part of its ongoing regional growth strategy. Founding attorney Paul Capua states: “I am very pleased to have Josh join our team. He is a skilled trial lawyer with extensive courtroom experience, and we look forward to bringing those skills into our firm.” Capua Law focuses on construction, business and employment law and has offices in North Carolina and Florida.
Van Taylor Jones has been named the next Director of Emergency Services by Buncombe County. Mr. Jones joins the county from Anderson County, South Carolina, where he served as Emergency Services Director for almost 12 years. His combination of administrative acumen and practical skills a true asset for the Emergency Services department.
Chow Chowhas hired its first executive director. Rebecca Lynch, formerly in charge of fundraising for the Asheville Art Museum, will helm the nonprofit and organize the second annual Chow Chow this coming September. She has also brought on Shay Brown of Shay Brown Events to oversee festival operations, design, and logistics.
Innovation
A-B Tech Community College graduates who want to continue their education with a bachelor’s degree now have a direct pathway to do so at Mars Hill University. Mars Hill President Tony Floyd and AB Tech President Dennis King signed paperwork this afternoon creating the Mountain Lion-Trailblazer Promise: A Direct-Entry Admission Program. The program will streamline the process for AB Tech’s associate’s degree graduates to continue their education by pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Mars Hill. To stay eligible for the Mountain Lion-Trailblazer Promise, students will need to maintain a 2.0 grade point average, earn an associate’s degree at AB Tech in a college transfer program or in an applied program for which there is an articulation agreement with Mars Hill, and enroll at Mars Hill within one academic year after receiving their associate’s degree.
Resources
The application process for Buncombe County’s Isaac Coleman Economic Community Investment Grants officially opens on Feb. 3, 2020. The grant is specifically for incorporated nonprofits who meet a public purpose, and employ strategies for eliminating racial inequalities, among other several other qualifications. Awards available range from $50,000 to $150,000. The application deadline is 5:00 pm on March 6, 2020. Buncombe County also seeks volunteers to serve on the review team.
Partnership
Brew Horizons Festival is gearing up for its second annual event, in which they expect to host an even larger number of breweries and guests than last year. The festival, which is organized by Green Built Alliance, is a celebration of craft beer going to a good cause – proceeds will support Blue Horizons Project, a nonprofit which connects community members to resources and programs to reduce and save energy. Save the date for the festival on Saturday, February 29.
Asheville Habitat for Humanity has partnered with Deerfield to create a new housing model for aging adults in its upcoming New Heights neighborhood. Older adults (55+) make up roughly 20% of Buncombe County’s population, but there is only limited housing available that can meet the needs of aging seniors. The new development of 8 single-level townhomes are designed to address that need for increased accessibility that comes with age.
Opportunity
Friday Staffing Serviceshas immediate openings in central Asheville, including plenty of machine operator and forklift positions. All are immediate openings – no resume and no experience required for most! They are now accepting online applications at www.friday-staffing.com.
MAU Workforce Solutions is looking for an Account Executive position in Hendersonville. This position is friendly to recent graduates, and a positive, growth-minded attitude is a must. Competitive pay. Check out the job listing to see if it would be a good fit.