As businesses watch the calendar turn to November, many across the High Country are taking stock of October performance metrics. They are also trying to catch-up on everything else that's been going on during one of the busiest times of the year.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we visit with Eric Brinker of The Speckled Trout to get insight on October traffic for one of the area's multi-faceted brands.

As guests and locals have traversed Downtown Boone this month, they have noted one side of the Howard Street Revitalization Project is beginning to take shape. We'll get the latest on construction progress and timelines from Lane Moody, Director of the Downtown Boone Development Association.

We are also busy preparing for Monday night's Passing the Torch: A Dialogue on Leadership Transitions panel discussion. We'll talk with Dr. Jim Street, founder of Ridgeline Leadership and co-moderator of Monday's panel about opportunities during transition. We'll also get information on other program offerings under the Watauga Leadership Institute umbrella.

Mind Your Business is written and produced weekly by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. Thanks to Blue Ridge Conservancy for providing historical context to this story. This podcast is made possible thanks to the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.

Catch the show each Thursday afternoon at 5PM on WATA (1450AM & 96.5FM) in Boone.

Support the show

Organizations strive to stay true to their mission.

The Watauga Land Trust was formed in 1995, established by Appalachian State University students concerned with protecting Howard Knob, a mountain adjacent to the Town of Boone.

The new organization raised local awareness about the unprecedented pace of development not just around Boone, but across North Carolina’s northwestern mountains. These concerns galvanized the local community and in 1997 the Watauga Land Trust changed its name to High Country Conservancy and expanded its jurisdiction to include Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties. The organization’s mission was “to protect the natural resources of Appalachia by conserving land with significant ecological, cultural, recreational, or scenic value in the North Carolina High Country.”

In May of 2010, Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust based in West Jefferson, North Carolina and High Country Conservancy, based in Boone merged to create Blue Ridge Conservancy, a private, non-profit organization that has protected over 22,000 acres in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey Counties.

In early October 2025, Blue Ridge Conservancy announced after 30 years of effort, it has secured the opportunity to purchase 73 acres on the north and east side of Howard Knob. This property adjoins the existing 5-acre park owned by Watauga County, and will protect the land forever and provide public access for nature-based recreation, including hiking and rock climbing.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we speak with Eric Hiegl, BRC's Senior Director of Land Protection and Conservation Planning. We'll hear about how the organization's persistence saw them achieve their founding objective. We'll also discuss BRC's plans to enhance public access to this property in a manner that enhances outdoor recreation opportunities in storied area of Watauga County.

Mind Your Business is written and produced weekly by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. Thanks to Blue Ridge Conservancy for providing historical context to this story. This podcast is made possible thanks to the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.

Catch the show each Thursday afternoon at 5PM on WATA (1450AM & 96.5FM) in Boone.

Support the show

Conversations around the cost of healthcare and related insurance coverage brings a variety of emotions these days. While the Federal Government continues to use the renewal of tax credits related to the Affordable Care Act as a chief negotiating tool in budget conversations, High Country residents are among the millions of Americans gearing up for open enrollment and could see premiums skyrocket depending on how things land in Washington. No matter how this ends, it has become more apparent than ever that maximizing one's healthcare benefits is of the utmost importance, and employers have a role to play in that conversation.

On this week's Mind Your Business, we visit with Wayne Randall, Director of Blue Cross Blue Shield's Beyond Blue Neighborhood Center. We'll hear how his team works with community partners to make simple healthcare options like screenings, vaccine clinics and other services available to all, regardless of insurance coverage. He will also discuss timing of open enrollment for the Medicare and under 65 populations, so you stay up-to-date on the right time to make plan adjustments.

Mind Your Business is written and produced weekly by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. This podcast is made possible thanks to the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.

Catch the show each Thursday afternoon at 5PM on WATA (1450AM & 96.5FM) in Boone.

Support the show