Our talented Chamber members are constantly working to expand, innovate, renovate, and achieve new milestones through business. Here’s our weekly roundup of notable accomplishments in the Chamber community.
Achievement
Park Ridge Health is honored to receive an “A” in the Spring, 2018 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade. Receiving an ‘A’ Safety Grade means Park Ridge Health is among the best in the country for preventing harm, medical errors, infections and injuries and putting their patients first, 24 hours a day.
On April 18th, INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced NWA’s patented product, the Rhino Wipe® Tote System as one of the three finalists vying for a prestigious award at the World of Wipes (WOW) Conference, held in Chicago, IL June 5-8th. The Innovation Award recognizes the winning product that both expands the use of nonwovens and demonstrates creativity, novelty, uniqueness and technical sophistication.
Pardee Hospital, as a part of the UNC Health Care System,has achieved Stage 7 designation – the highest rank possible – for hospitals, outpatient practices, and advanced analytics from HIMSS Analytics, a global healthcare research advisory firm. The Stage 7 honors confirms Pardee’s – and UNC Health Care’s – place as national leaders in health IT and analytics. UNC Health Care is the only health system in the U.S. to achieve Stage 7 status on all three HIMSS Analytics domains (inpatient, outpatient, analytics) and also honored as ‘Most Wired Advanced’ by the American Hospital Association (AHA).
Mars Hill University handed out awards to four members of the campus and local community, acknowledging the important work they do to make the community a better place. The presentation came during the university’s annual Convocation and Celebration of Community Engagement, held Tuesday, April 17, 2018, in Broyhill Chapel. Andrea Garber received the G. McLeod Bryan Caring Award for students, in recognition of her service work while a Mars Hill student, particularly to communities both in the U.S. and internationally which are facing economic and social hardship. Education Professor Deb Morris received the award for faculty and staff. Mars Hill University student Storm Cash received the Michael Emory Award for Outstanding Christian Servant Leadership. Mars Hill University President Dan Lunsford presented the I. Ruth Martin Award for Christian Service to Mars Hill resident Larry Burda.
Expansion
Asheville’s largest paddle-board operator, Wai Mauna Asheville SUP Tours, through their new service called Asheville Paddleboard Delivery, has expanded their offerings to provide paddleboard delivery services to Lake Lure, Lake Summit, Lake James, and any lake within 50 miles of Asheville.
Immedion LLC,a premiere provider of Cloud, data center and managed IT services, today announced the launch of its Object Storage solution to meet growing data storage demands. Backed by industry-leading SLA guarantees and always-on 24x7x365 support, Immedion’s Object Storage solution offers businesses a low-cost, scalable, secure and highly-available Cloud-based storage solution.
South College will offer an online degree for a master’s in information technology, an in-demand career track that can offer excellent career potential upon graduation. They will also begin offering a bachelor’s degree in business administration (BBA) with a concentration in project management.
Mars Hill University nursing students will have a brighter break room in which to relax between classes, thanks to a donation from a retired Mars Hill professor. John Hough, who taught in the education program from 1962-1984, and again from 1994 until his retirement in 1998, donated a painting made by his late wife, Beverly. The painting, of a barn located near the university campus, will hang in the break room on the third floor of the Ferguson Health Sciences Center.
Momentum Gallery announces an expansion that will be truly game changing for Asheville’s arts community. The gallery has acquired and plans to upfit approximately 15,000 SF of space at 52 Broadway in the heart of downtown. Once the plans to create a breathtaking space are complete, Momentum will be the largest and most accessible gallery in North Carolina. But to gallery owner Jordan Ahlers, the real news goes well beyond the space. “Our vision is to create the best contemporary art and craft gallery in the country,” said Ahlers. “In doing so, we look to strengthen this region and the City of Asheville as an art destination for people to discover and acquire museum quality art.”
Renovation
Angel Medical Center today announced that its Certificate of Need (CON) application for a new replacement facility has been approved, clearing the way to begin planning for construction. “We are so pleased to have successfully completed the regulatory phase and look forward to our project team moving forward with acquiring the selected site and preparing for construction of our new facility,” said Karen S. Gorby, RN, MSN, MBA, CENP, FACHE, President and Chief Nursing Officer of Angel Medical Center. “As we’ve said before, renovation of Angel Medical Center’s current, outdated structure was simply financially irresponsible and the constrained location was not in the best interest of the community. Mission Health’s strategic investment for this new facility is a testament to our commitment to the health and well-being of Macon County residents and is sure to meet our County’s future health needs for decades to come.”
Outreach
Smoky Mountain starry skies will be the backdrop of Friends of the Smokies’second annual stargazing event at the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center at Purchase Knob. On Friday, May 18, Friends of the Smokies will partner with the Astronomy Club of Asheville to raise money for science education in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The evening will begin at sundown with live music, dessert, and drinks at Purchase Knob, a grassy bald at more than 5,000 feet in elevation. After dark, the Astronomy Club of Asheville will provide telescopes to view the night sky.
Pardee UNC Health Care will host a free community skin cancer screening on Tuesday, May 8 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Mission Pardee Health Campus (second floor), located at 2775 Hendersonville Road. The screening is open the public and Spanish interpretation services will be available free of charge. To attend, please register online at pardeehospital.org/classes-events.
The Friends of the WNC Nature Center will fund 83% of the Asheville City Council’s approved $184,820 project: construction of a red panda habitat. The red pandas are the first species to be introduced to the Center as part of its new Prehistoric Appalachia project, part of the Center’s 2020 Wild Vision. Red pandas are endangered with less than 10,000 individuals living in the wild.
Innovation
On May 1, 2018, students at Odyssey School will participate in an incredible collaboration with Better Than Unicorns, a firm which specializes in virtual reality experiences. The firm is offering students a chance to explore art and design beyond any physical limitations. One virtual reality program will allow students to paint with fire, snow, smoke, and other incredible materials. Another program, developed for architectural design, will allow students to build and construct. The demonstration aims to translate virtual experiences into real creativity and solutions by the Odyssey students.
Rezaz restaurant did an overhaul of their restaurant to present a true Mediterranean Coast atmosphere, featuring powerful artwork, windows that showcase the bustle of Historic Biltmore Village, and upbeat, curated music of the bon vivant experience.
In November 2017, the Center for Craft and UNC Asheville hosted a special topic Craft Think Tank devoted to mapping and understanding the potential role and impact of craft in a makerspace setting. After identifying the important elements of space and craft, the two institutions will be prototyping a “craft makerspace” during the upcoming Creative Intervention event, May 5, 2018 from 3-9 p.m. on Carolina Lane in downtown Asheville, NC.
Announcement
Pardee UNC Health Care announced today that Josh Harris, PA-C, a certified physician assistant, has joined Pardee Adult and Family Medicine in Laurel Park, located at 1824 Pisgah Drive. Harris provides diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive care to people of all ages so they can live healthier, happier lives. He strives to deliver collaborative, compassionate and evidence-based care while fostering the health and well-being of his patients.