© 2016 Mountain BizWorks 153 S. Lexington Ave Asheville, NC 28801 828.253.2834 www.mountainbizworks.org

Dave Bluth | Strategic Planning, Real Estate

Dave specializes in real estate procurement and analysis, sales and marketing development, and strategic management. Dave has an MBA from Western Carolina University. He has extensive experience in retail, green business, and health and wellness. Dave has developed and run his own yoga and healing center with retail components, and currently runs a

real estate investment company and small business planning organization.

Adriana Chavela | (Spanish/English) Strategic Planning, Marketing

For more than a decade, Adriana has helped to connect local nonprofits and businesses to the Latino community. Her work focuses on grassroots marketing, traditional advertising, social media for start-ups, and translation for business communication to Spanish-speaking audiences.

Glenn Geffcken | Brand, Content Marketing

Glenn is an author, blogger, facilitator, and coach with a focus on brand strategy, content marketing, culture, and leadership. Glenn has a passion for helping small business owners become better versions of themselves through authentic marketing that connects more powerfully with intended audiences. His background includes large-scale event production, sales and

business development, publishing, and sustainability.

Helaine Greene | Product Development, Retail, Finance

Helaine has more than 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur. She co-owned Candle Station Ltd., a local manufacturing and retail business that employed 50 people, and currently co-owns and manages Riverview Station, a 110,000 sq. ft. building in the River Arts District leasing studios to artists and entrepreneurs. She brings expertise in

cash management, projections and planning, product development and pricing, production, sales, human resources, and retail.

To learn more or to request coaching, call 828-253-2834 ext. 10 or email info@mountainbizworks.org

Jensen Gelfond | Digital Strategy

Jensen provides on-site help, setup, and teaching for technology and people of all kinds. Jensen specializes in helping entrepreneurs and small businesses use their technology more effectively and joyfully. He also provides productivity training to help busy people manage their email inboxes and be more productive by

going paperless with a digital filing system.

Mountain BizWorks has been developing small businesses and economic justice in Western North Carolina for more than 25 years.

Our primary platforms are lending and learning, each with the goal to grow small businesses and create economic opportunity for all. We proudly create access to capital for start-ups and existing businesses in spite of barriers to traditional lending sources. We support the entrepreneurial spirit by

offering individualized coaching and training. Most importantly, we turn the dream of business ownership and success into a reality.

Ravi Gaikwad | Market and Product Development, Finance Ravi is an experienced business executive with 18 years of collective experience in business planning, financial planning, market analysis, product marketing and positioning, business development, and operations. Ravi has worked with BellSouth and AT&T on developing and implementing strong technical concepts. He has an MBA in

finance from Texas A&M University.

John Bonham | Strategic Planning, Finance

John Bonham is a business consultant who provides analysis and solutions to new and growing businesses. John has a master’s in agricultural and applied economics from Virginia Tech. His collective 17 years of experience in finance and economics includes teaching economic classes at A-B Tech and reviewing for the USDA Value Added Producer Grant program.

Chris Grasinger | Strategic Planning, Preparing for Funding

Chris serves as the executive director of High Country Local First and Ascent Business Network, not-for-profit organizations that provide entrepreneurial support to existing and prospective business owners. Chris specializes in start-up task management, facilitating operating agreements, and securing capital. He also serves as the CEO of Center 45 Climbing and Fitness in Boone, NC.

Michelle Fleckner | Entrepreneur and Group Coaching

Michelle, owner of Insight AVL, has over 23 years of business and sales executive experience and 12 years as a business coach. She assists with revenue strategies, communication strategies, team development, sustainable practices, business growth planning, and support for work-life balance. Her specialty is in troubleshooting and resolving problematic, reoccurring

situations and patterns with revenues, customers, vendors, and employees.

Dane Barrager | Software Development, Strategic Planning

With 30 years of software experience and 9 years experience as a SCORE volunteer, Dane works with startups and existing businesses. His expertise is in software development and Business Strategy: from Concept to Plan to Implementation to Marketing and Improvement. His recent experience includes mobile app development (iOS and Android) and Mobile Web with Database Integration using Amazon Web Services.

Franzi Charen | Strategic Planning, Social Enterprises

Franzi has been an independent business owner in Asheville for 14 years. From small manufacturing, retail, festival and non-profit work, she is well versed in the diversity of businesses needed for a community to thrive. Specializing in social enterprises and mission driven businesses, she can help you dive deep into intentional growth. Her guidance to

ground your path from a core sense of self will help you achieve your personal goals and unveil strengths to overcome your challenges.

Joseph L. Fox, Ed.D., PHR | Strategic Planning Dr. Joseph Fox has provided entrepreneurial services to clients

for more than 30 years. He is a former Department Chair of

Business Administration at Asheville-Buncombe Technical

Community College. He specializes in all areas of

entrepreneurial planning and development, and contributed

to the writing of the North Carolina Community College

System’s Entrepreneurship Program curriculum.

Barry Gupton | (Spanish/English) Finance, Management, Planning

Barry has 10+ years of experience in construction management with a family-owned and operated business that has adapted and grown over multiple decades and generations. Barry graduated with an MBA from Western Carolina University and also has experience in property management, mortgage lending, and eco-agriculture.

Annie Price | Strategic Planning, Mission & Vision Annie is an entrepreneurial learning facilitator, trainer, and consultant. While she enjoys maintaining a broad client base, she has particular skills and interest in serving clients within the sectors of food and agriculture, health and wellness, and arts and crafts, with an overarching interest in social enterprises. Annie integrates personal and

professional development and brings a global perspective to her client work from her extensive international experience.

Russ Towers | Strategic Planning, Real Estate, Retail Russ has over 25 years of commercial and investment real estate experience, including assisting dozens of Asheville clients to secure locations for their businesses. He is the founder and co-owner of Second Gear, a consignment shop that specializes in outdoor gear, clothing, and accessories. Russ is a graduate of Leadership Asheville and has served on

the boards of the Mountain Sports Festival, West Asheville Business Association, and the former Haywood Road Market Co-Op.

John Woods | Strategic Planning, Marketing, and Development John specializes in new business start-up assessment and execution, strategic planning, marketing planning, and sales planning/training. John has more than 25 years of marketing and sales management experience in packaged goods corporations such as Ralston-Purina, Cadbury-Schweppes, Block Drug, and Carnation. He also brings 20 years of small business consulting experience, mostly in the

area of strategic planning and training/teaching.

Ellen Haynes | Bookkeeping

An Asheville native, Ellen brings 10 years of QuickBooks and bookkeeping expertise as well as enthusiasm to her work. Ellen helps you see the big picture of your business by minding the little details and ensuring that financials become your mission in action. She has extensive experience in payroll, invoicing, balancing bank statements, and budgeting.

Thomas Montgomery | Restaurant Planning & Execution In 2005, Thomas and his wife, Sabra, opened 12 Bones Smokehouse in the River Arts District of Asheville. After culinary school, Thomas’ specialty became the set-up and start-up of new food service facilities for corporations and restaurant owners throughout the U.S. Thomas assists with discussing the “technical” side of the kitchen:

organization, purchasing, inventory control, cost cutting, food cost, and floorplan layout.

Bob Perlstein | Marketing Bob Perlstein is a seasoned veteran of the advertising, direct marketing, and promotions industries. He has proven abilities in product development and promotion, strategic marketing, media selection, sales management, and executive leadership. Bob is a recognized national marketing executive, experienced public speaker, blogger

and nonprofit ambassador.

Sheila Neisler | Marketing Sheila Neisler has a passion to serve small and mid-size companies. By working directly with business owners and their leadership to create “marketing conversations” – i.e. ways to stay in front of their ideal client throughout their sales process, Sheila is able to implement a 360° Approach to reach target market and to leverage marketing resources strategically.

Juliet Matthews | Strategic Planning, Legal Structure Juliet is a business planning consultant and retired attorney with over 15 years of legal experience representing small and large business clients. She specializes in helping new businesses develop a comprehensive business plan, navigate licensing and permitting requirements, and learn the differences between business structures and operations. She also instructs in the development of hiring,

training, and employee management plans.

Candy Williams | Bookkeeping As a QuickBooks ProAdvisor with 25 years of bookkeeping experience, Candy’s passion is empowering business owners to take control of their financial management systems. She has worked with 400+ businesses as a freelancer, and has coached 500+ business owners through Mountain BizWorks and Southwestern Community College.

Jodi Rhoden | Strategic Planning, Social Media Marketing Jodi is an entrepreneur with a focus on food systems and social justice. She is the founder and former owner of Short Street Cakes, and is a writer and teacher on the subjects of Southern food and culture. Jodi specializes in social media and authentic marketing. She relishes working with small-scale food producers, independent artists, healing arts practitioners, and other entrepreneurs to discover meaning

through developing their mission and vision.

Marsha Ott | Finance, Bookkeeping

Marsha has extensive experience as a CPA in the areas of

corporate, nonprofit, and governmental accounting. Her

focus is on creating accounting practices that are most rele-

vant and maintainable for the individual organization. She

has been active in the Asheville private and nonprofit arena

and views her participation in Mountain BizWorks as an

opportunity to grow our vital economic community.

Tony Zeoli | Digital Strategy

An Internet entrepreneur with his first successful exit in 2000, Tony’s expertise is in end-to-end digital strategy planning, including mobile responsive web and mobile Application development, social media integration, email marketing, search engine optimization, multimedia production, advertising, analytics, information architecture

and user experience design. He is considered a leading expert in WordPress.

Jeff Weathers | QuickBooks Setup, Training and Support Jeff is a certified Advanced QuickBooks ProAdvisor and the owner of Integrity Bookkeeping Services. Jeff has over 11 years of knowledge, gathered across multiple companies, industries, and QuickBooks versions. His expertise is teaching small business owners how to properly setup their books and enter transactions to get quick, accurate, and concise reports so they can make sound business decisions.